10 Best Athenahealth Alternatives & Competitors (2026)
Athenahealth has long been a leading cloud-based EHR and practice management platform for medical practices of all sizes. However, as 2026 approaches, many providers are actively seeking alternatives due to rising costs, rigid contract terms, lack of specialty-specific customization, and occasional user interface frustrations. Whether you're a solo practitioner managing a small clinic or a large multi-specialty group, the right EHR can dramatically affect your workflow efficiency, patient satisfaction, and bottom line. In this article, we explore the top 10 Athenahealth alternatives—including both free and paid options—to help you make an informed decision in 2026.
1. Kareo (Part of Tebra)
Description
Kareo, now integrated into the Tebra ecosystem, offers a cloud-based practice management and EHR solution built for independent providers and small practices. It provides scheduling, billing, e-prescribing, and a patient portal.
Pricing
Starts at around $80/month for the basic PM (practice management) plan. The combined PM + EHR plan is approximately $150/month. Per-provider pricing is typical.
Best For
Small to medium-sized independent medical practices looking for an affordable, intuitive alternative to Athenahealth.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Low price point, easy to set up, excellent billing support with Tebra, clean user interface, strong telehealth features.
- Cons: Limited specialty-specific templates, no population health tools for larger groups, customer support can be slow.
2. Practice Fusion
Description
Practice Fusion is a free, cloud-based EHR (with paid add-ons) designed for independent physicians and small clinics. It provides charting, e-prescribing, lab integration, and a patient portal.
Pricing
Base EHR is free (includes e-prescribing, charting, and lab integrations). Paid upgrades offer additional features like billing, telehealth, and advanced scheduling, starting at $149/month.
Best For
Solo practitioners and very small practices that want to start with a free, fully functional EHR without a long-term commitment.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Free tier available, simple and quick onboarding, good for primary care, integrated e-prescribing with EPCS.
- Cons: Billing module is extra cost, limited customization, data storage concerns (hosted, not on-prem), basic reporting.
3. eClinicalWorks
Description
eClinicalWorks is a comprehensive, full-featured EHR and practice management platform widely used by medium and large healthcare organizations. It includes population health tools, telehealth, patient engagement, and revenue cycle management.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on practice size and modules. Typically ranges from $350 to $600 per provider per month for the full suite. Implementation fees may apply.
Best For
Medium to large practices and multi-specialty groups needing robust population health and interoperability features.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Rich feature set, strong interoperability (Carequality, CommonWell), extensive specialty templates, advanced analytics.
- Cons: Higher cost, steeper learning curve, reported user complaints about customer service response times.
4. NextGen Healthcare
Description
NextGen Healthcare offers an ambulatory EHR and practice management system tailored to specialty practices. It provides robust clinical decision support, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement tools.
Pricing
Not publicly listed; typically ranges from $400 to $900 per provider per month depending on modules and services. Implementation and training fees are separate.
Best For
Specialty practices (e.g., dermatology, orthopedics, cardiology) that require highly customizable templates and deeper clinical workflows.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Extensive specialty content, strong charting flexibility, excellent billing analytics, good support for value-based care.
- Cons: Expensive for smaller practices, user interface can feel dated, longer implementation time.
5. AdvancedMD
Description
AdvancedMD is a fully cloud-based EHR, practice management, and medical billing software. It offers scheduling, telemedicine, patient portal, and revenue cycle management, all from a single platform.
Pricing
Plans start around $500 per provider per month for the full PM/EHR bundle. Lower-tier PM-only plans may be available. Additional fees for advanced modules like population health.
Best For
Medium-sized practices that want an all-in-one, scalable solution with strong billing and analytics.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Unified platform, excellent billing and claim management, advanced reporting dashboards, strong telehealth integration.
- Cons: Higher price point, some users report a steep learning curve, customer support can be inconsistent.
6. DrChrono
Description
DrChrono is a mobile-first EHR and practice management platform that runs on iPad and web. It includes customizable templates, scheduling, billing, and patient portal.
Pricing
Starts at $199/month per provider for the EHR alone. The Pro plan (with PM and billing) is $299/month. Free trial available.
Best For
Providers who want a highly mobile, tablet-friendly solution, especially those who see patients in multiple locations (Urgent care, house calls).
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Excellent mobile experience, strong API for custom integrations, easy charting via templates and voice dictation.
- Cons: Smaller company – may have limited support resources, billing features not as robust as some competitors, limited specialty templates.
7. CareCloud
Description
CareCloud is a cloud-based suite of practice management, EHR, and revenue cycle management tools. It offers a modern user interface, analytics, and patient engagement features.
Pricing
Pricing is custom but generally starts around $300 per provider per month for the EHR+PM bundle. Separate billing services are available at a percentage of collections.
Best For
Small to medium-sized practices looking for an all-in-one solution with a focus on aesthetics and user experience.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Visually appealing interface, strong revenue cycle management, good analytics dashboard, integrated telemedicine.
- Cons: Less popular in larger groups, some users find scheduling workflow clunky, limited mobile functionality.
8. Greenway Health (Intergy EHR)
Description
Greenway Health offers Intergy, a comprehensive EHR and practice management platform designed for multi-specialty and large groups. It includes advanced revenue cycle support and population health capabilities.
Pricing
Custom pricing. Typically ranges from $500 to $1,000 per provider per month, depending on modules and practice size. Implementation fees are additional.
Best For
Large multi-specialty groups and healthcare organizations that need robust interoperability and advanced billing capabilities.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Very scalable, strong for large practices, comprehensive reporting, good integration with hospital systems.
- Cons: High cost, complex implementation, user interface can be cluttered, support response times vary.
9. Meditab (IMS EHR)
Description
Meditab is an integrated EHR and practice management software designed for small to medium-sized practices. It includes scheduling, billing, e-prescribing, and a patient portal.
Pricing
Starts around $250 per provider per month for the full PM/EHR suite. Lower-cost options for small practices available. Implementation fees may apply.
Best For
Independent practices and small clinics that need an affordable, all-in-one solution with good customer support.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Affordable, easy to learn, good support (based on user reviews), solid billing features.
- Cons: Limited specialty templates, less advanced analytics, not as well-known as larger vendors.
10. SimplePractice
Description
SimplePractice is a practice management and EHR platform specifically designed for mental and behavioral health professionals, but also used by some other solo providers. It offers scheduling, teletherapy, billing, and a client portal.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for the basic plan (solo provider). The Plus plan for EHR and billing is $59/month. No long-term contract required.
Best For
Behavioral health practitioners (therapists, psychologists, counselors) who want an affordable, user-friendly solution with strong teletherapy features.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Extremely affordable, intuitive interface, excellent client portal, built-in telehealth, good for solo practices.
- Cons: Not suitable for primary care or specialty medical practices, limited charting options, no population health tools.
Comparison Table
| Software | Starting Price (per provider/month) | Best For | Free Option | Cloud-based | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareo (Tebra) | $80 | Small independent practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| Practice Fusion | Free (EHR) / $149 (bundles) | Solo practitioners | Yes (basic EHR) | Yes | Yes (limited) |
| eClinicalWorks | $350–$600 | Medium to large practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| NextGen Healthcare | $400–$900 | Specialty practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| AdvancedMD | $500 | Medium-sized practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| DrChrono | $199 | Mobile-first providers | No (trial available) | Yes | Yes (iPad/iPhone) |
| CareCloud | $300 (est.) | Small to medium practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| Greenway Health (Intergy) | $500–$1,000 | Large multi-specialty groups | No | Yes | Yes |
| Meditab (IMS) | $250 | Independent practices | No | Yes | Yes |
| SimplePractice | $29 | Behavioral health solo providers | No (low cost) | Yes | Yes |