Epic vs TherapyNotes

Epic vs. TherapyNotes

Healthcare practices evaluating new software need solutions that streamline operations, maintain compliance, and improve patient care. Epic and TherapyNotes serve very different segments of the market, yet both offer tools that can enhance efficiency and compliance. In this comparison, we will examine service scope and customization, compliance and data security, usability and interoperability, and pricing flexibility to help decision-makers determine which platform best aligns with their practice.

Service scope and customization

Epic delivers one of the most comprehensive enterprise healthcare platforms, designed for hospitals, large health systems, and academic medical centers. Their scope includes electronic health records, patient engagement, telehealth, analytics, and population health management. With broad configurability and the ability to scale across multi-specialty and multi-location networks, Epic is often chosen by organizations that require a deeply integrated solution supporting a wide variety of clinical and administrative workflows.

TherapyNotes, by contrast, is built specifically for behavioral health practices. They focus on specialty features such as psychotherapy note templates, treatment planning, scheduling, billing, and integrated telehealth. While their platform does not extend into population health or enterprise-level analytics, it is highly customized for therapists and counselors who require a system that mirrors their day-to-day documentation and patient interactions.

Compliance and data security

Epic maintains extensive compliance certifications, including HIPAA, SOC 2, and HITRUST, and adheres to international standards like ISO 27001. Their infrastructure includes enterprise-grade encryption, multi-region redundancy, and disaster recovery to support hospitals that require large-scale security safeguards. Epic also provides advanced audit trails and administrative controls to align with the needs of highly regulated environments.

TherapyNotes also upholds HIPAA compliance and secures all data with encryption at rest and in transit. They maintain SOC 2 compliance and conduct routine security assessments to protect sensitive information. While their certifications are not as broad as Epic’s, they are designed to meet the data protection standards expected by small and medium-sized behavioral health practices that may not need the same level of enterprise-scale protections.

Usability and interoperability

Epic is highly powerful but known for its complexity. Implementation typically requires months of preparation, on-site training, and IT support to configure workflows. Once adopted, it integrates widely with external health systems through HL7 and FHIR standards, offering strong interoperability across EHRs, labs, pharmacies, and insurance networks. Epic is a leader in data exchange, but often demands significant investment to maximize its capabilities.

TherapyNotes emphasizes a straightforward and user-friendly experience. Their system is designed for mental health providers to adopt quickly, with intuitive tools for scheduling, progress notes, and billing. Training requirements are minimal compared to Epic. While interoperability is more limited, TherapyNotes supports connections with insurance clearinghouses and telehealth tools, offering enough integration for behavioral health practices without the overhead of a full enterprise EHR.

Pricing and payment options

Epic follows an enterprise-level pricing model tailored to the size and complexity of each client. Costs vary significantly depending on modules, services, and support, and pricing is typically negotiated in long-term contracts that include licensing, training, and maintenance. Flexible short-term contracts are uncommon, and expenses can be substantial, reflecting Epic’s positioning in the enterprise market.

TherapyNotes publishes clear, subscription-based pricing that charges per clinician on a monthly basis. They provide a free trial, straightforward cancellation, and minimal fees for data export. With month-to-month contracts, TherapyNotes offers flexibility and transparency that align with the budgets of independent providers and small to mid-sized practices. While they do not publish uptime service guarantees, their system is consistently available and stable for users.

Conclusion

Epic is best suited for large health systems and hospitals that need a scalable, enterprise-grade EHR with advanced compliance, analytics, and interoperability. Their comprehensive platform is ideal for organizations managing complex workflows across multiple specialties, though implementation requires significant resources and IT infrastructure. TherapyNotes, on the other hand, is a strong fit for behavioral health professionals and small to medium-sized practices that value ease of use, specialty-specific tools, and transparent monthly pricing. Both platforms are reliable, but the choice depends on whether your practice prioritizes enterprise scalability or behavioral health specialization.