PracticeQ vs SimplePractice (2026): Pricing, ePrescribe, Intake & Which Fits
PracticeQ (IntakeQ) and SimplePractice compared on published plan pricing, appointment limits, team accounts, ePrescribe/EPCS add-ons, AI notes, telehealth and BAA – with a solo prescriber cost example. Admin and operations only.
Key takeaways
- Sticker prices: SimplePractice Starter $49, Essential $79 and Plus $99 per month; PracticeQ Starter $59.90 and Pro $84.90 per month.
- PracticeQ Starter caps each practitioner at 25 appointments, 50 SMS and 25 form submissions a month, so most full-time practices need Pro (500 appointments).
- Team: PracticeQ includes up to 10 free assistant accounts and adds practitioners for $25 (Starter) or $30 (Pro) a month. SimplePractice adds team members only on Plus, at $74 per clinician a month for 2–5 clinicians.
- ePrescribe: PracticeQ is $65/mo per prescriber, the same price with controlled substances (EPCS; DEA required), with ID.me identity proofing included. SimplePractice is $49/mo per clinician plus an $89 one-time setup fee, with EPCS after identity proofing and token registration.
- AI notes: SimplePractice sells Note Taker for $35/mo per clinician; PracticeQ has no native AI scribe and relies on integrations, so budget for a separate scribe if you want one.
- Both state HIPAA compliance with a BAA. Both offer free trials (PracticeQ 2 weeks, SimplePractice 30 days), so run your real intake and booking flow in each before you move any patient data.
 PracticeQ (IntakeQ) |  SimplePractice | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starter $59.90/mo (25 appointments, 50 SMS, 25 form submissions per practitioner/mo); Pro $84.90/mo (500 appointments, 300 SMS, 500 form submissions); 1 practitioner + up to 10 free assistant accounts; extra practitioner $25/mo (Starter) or $30/mo (Pro); Engage add-on from $99.90/mo; 2-week free trial (vendor site) | Starter $49/mo, Essential $79/mo, Plus $99/mo; team members only on Plus ($74/clinician/mo for 2–5 clinicians); eligible new customers 50% off for 3 months if they subscribe in the first 7 days of the 30-day trial (vendor site) |
| Built-in AI | No native AI scribe (third-party review) | Note Taker AI notes $35/mo per clinician; Care Aide AI suite $59/mo (vendor site) |
| e-Prescribing / EPCS | Add-on – e-prescribe $65/mo per prescriber, same price with controlled substances (EPCS; DEA required); ID.me identity proofing included; up to 5 supporting staff free, $5/mo each after (vendor support) | Add-on – ePrescribe $49/mo per clinician + $89 one-time setup fee, on all plans; controlled substances (EPCS) after identity proofing and token registration (vendor support); PDMP add-on reported separately |
| Telehealth | Yes – included on every plan (in-house, Zoom or Google Meet) (vendor site) | Yes – included on all plans (vendor site); group telehealth is a $20/mo per clinician add-on on Essential, included on Plus (vendor support) |
| Billing & claims | Claims & superbills with clearinghouse integrations, invoicing and payments included on every plan (vendor site) | Insurance Essentials claims from $0.39/claim ($0.50/claim on Starter); card processing 3.15% + $0.30 (vendor support) |
| HIPAA BAA | Yes – HIPAA compliant with BAA, listed in every plan (vendor site) | Yes – BAA accepted automatically at signup on all plans; HIPAA compliant and HITRUST certified (vendor support) |
| Best fit | Solo and small practices that want heavy intake automation and forms; prescribers who want flat-price eRx with EPCS | Therapy-heavy practices that want a polished plug-and-play EHR; prescribers via the ePrescribe add-on |
| Last checked | · source | · source |
| Next step | Full listing Visit site ↗ | Full listing Visit site ↗ |
Which fits your practice?
- SimplePractice fits practices that want plug-and-play setup and are mostly therapy: a polished interface, client portal and insurance billing work out of the box, and the entry price is lower.
- PracticeQ often comes out ahead on value for prescribers and practices that rely on heavy intake automation: flexible branded forms and automated workflows, flat-price ePrescribe with EPCS, free assistant accounts and cheap extra practitioners.
- Watch the limits: PracticeQ Starter allows only 25 appointments per practitioner a month, and SimplePractice Starter drops appointment reminders, customizable templates and team members. Expect to compare PracticeQ Pro with SimplePractice Essential or Plus.
- If you want an AI scribe, SimplePractice Note Taker ($35/mo) is built in. With PracticeQ, add a separate scribe from our scribe directory.
Solo prescriber: monthly cost example
One practitioner who e-prescribes, at standard published prices before promotions, taxes, claim fees and card processing. Computed only from the vendor prices on this page.
| Setup | Base plan | ePrescribe | Monthly total | One-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PracticeQ Pro + e-prescribe | $84.90 | $65 (EPCS included) | $149.90 | $0 |
| SimplePractice Essential + ePrescribe | $79 | $49 | $128 | $89 setup |
| SimplePractice Starter + ePrescribe | $49 | $49 | $98 | $89 setup |
| PracticeQ Starter + e-prescribe (25-appointment cap) | $59.90 | $65 | $124.90 | $0 |
SimplePractice Starter leaves out appointment reminders, customizable note templates and team members, and charges $0.50 per electronic claim. Adding Note Taker ($35) to a SimplePractice setup or a separate AI scribe to PracticeQ changes the totals. SimplePractice's 50%-off-for-3-months offer for eligible new customers is not included.
PracticeQ (IntakeQ)
EHR & Practice ManagementPractice management built on IntakeQ: scheduling, billing, claims and intake. Integrates with Athenahealth, Elation and RevolutionEHR plus open API (vendor integrations). HIPAA BAA included (vendor site).
SimplePractice
EHR & Practice ManagementPopular all-in-one EHR for therapists and mental health practices; added psychiatric features via its Luminello acquisition.
Frequently asked questions
Is PracticeQ the same as IntakeQ?
Yes. PracticeQ is the practice management product built on IntakeQ (same company), adding scheduling, billing, claims, telehealth and a client portal to IntakeQ's intake forms.
Which is cheaper for a solo prescriber?
At standard prices, SimplePractice Essential plus ePrescribe is $128/mo plus an $89 one-time setup fee, and PracticeQ Pro plus e-prescribe is $149.90/mo. SimplePractice Starter plus ePrescribe is $98/mo but drops reminders and customizable templates. Claim fees, card processing and any AI scribe come on top.
Do both support controlled-substance e-prescribing (EPCS)?
Both vendors document EPCS. PracticeQ's $65/mo e-prescribe add-on costs the same with controlled substances and requires a DEA registration; SimplePractice's $49/mo ePrescribe add-on requires EPCS registration with identity proofing and a token. Confirm state requirements with the vendor.
Can I add staff without paying for another clinician seat?
PracticeQ includes up to 10 free assistant accounts on both plans (one section of its pricing page says 5, so confirm). SimplePractice lets you add billers, schedulers and supervisors at no cost, but only on the Plus plan.
Which has a built-in AI note taker?
SimplePractice sells Note Taker for $35/mo per clinician, and a broader Care Aide suite for $59/mo. PracticeQ does not list a native AI scribe; it advertises API and AI integrations, so most practices pair it with a separate scribe.
Do both sign a BAA?
Both state HIPAA compliance with a BAA. SimplePractice says the BAA is accepted at signup on all plans; PracticeQ lists HIPAA compliance with BAA in every plan. Keep a copy before you enter patient data.
Is this clinical or legal advice?
No. This comparison covers admin and operational features and published pricing only. Confirm pricing and compliance terms directly with each vendor.
Weighing a switch? PracticeQ (IntakeQ) alternatives · SimplePractice alternatives · all alternatives
Disclaimer: This site covers administrative and operational workflows only. It is not clinical, legal, or compliance advice. Pricing and BAA status come from vendor sites or third-party reviews as of the date shown and can change – confirm directly with each vendor and your compliance advisor before using any tool with protected health information.