ICANotes vs Valant

Founded in 1999 and based in Annapolis, Maryland, ICANotes is an electronic health record system designed exclusively for behavioral health clinicians. They serve psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals seeking streamlined, compliant documentation with minimal typing. Their platform includes point-and-click note templates, customizable treatment plans, and integrated tools for assessments, group therapy, and medication management. ICANotes also supports patient tracking, real-time charting, secure messaging, eligibility verification, and telehealth, all accessible online. Their modernized interface, ICANotes+, introduces faster navigation and an updated layout, although it has received mixed feedback during early adoption. Many users appreciate their documentation speed, compliance readiness, and wide array of mental health–specific templates. Others have noted issues with billing processes, mobile limitations, and system reliability during the platform transition. ICANotes offers flexible pricing for full-time and part-time providers, with optional features like telehealth and revenue cycle management. They are fully HIPAA-compliant and ONC-certified, making them a specialized choice for behavioral health professionals. Read our full review to see if their tools and workflows align with your practice’s needs.

Valant is a privately held healthcare software company based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2005 by psychiatrist Dr. David Lischner. They focus exclusively on behavioral health, offering an integrated electronic health record (EHR) and practice management system for therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health clinics of all sizes. Their platform combines clinical tools, billing workflows, scheduling, telehealth, outcome tracking, and patient engagement features in one system. What sets Valant apart is their emphasis on streamlining mental health-specific workflows. Features like prepopulated notes, integrated outcome measures, and group therapy tools are tailored to support efficient care delivery and administrative management. Their platform includes API support, digital billing assistance, and a patient-facing mobile app. Valant receives mixed reviews from users. Many praise their behavioral health specialization and ease of use, while others point to limitations in customization and support responsiveness. They are not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau and have varying scores across review platforms. This review explores Valant’s full range of features, pricing approach, support options, and how they compare to other providers. If you're considering software built around behavioral health needs, this breakdown will help you decide if Valant aligns with your practice goals.