Documentation eats therapists’ evenings — hours a week on session notes, treatment plans, and billing codes that help no client. AI scribes built for therapy practices now draft SOAP and DAP notes from session audio, suggest billing codes, and run outcome assessments. Here’s the honest 2026 shortlist: what each tool does, what it costs, and how it handles HIPAA — because with client data, the compliance story matters as much as the features.
The 7 best AI tools for therapists in 2026
1. Upheal — best all-in-one for solo and small practices
Upheal is an AI-native EHR for therapists: AI session notes (SOAP, DAP, and more), telehealth, scheduling, intake forms, payments, insurance billing, and treatment plans — plus an AI tool that migrates you off SimplePractice. It’s $1 per completed session capped at $69 a month per provider, with a $39-a-month standalone AI Notes plan and a free tier. States HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, and GDPR compliance with SOC 2 Type II and a BAA on every account. Best for telehealth-first practices that want one platform instead of stitching tools together.
2. Freed AI — best notes layer if you keep your current EHR
Freed is an ambient AI scribe: it records sessions, generates notes, auto-suggests ICD-10 and CPT codes, and pushes everything to your EHR in one click. Starter is $39 a month (40 notes), Core $79 unlimited, Premier $119 ($104 annually), with a 7-day trial. States HIPAA compliance; raised a $30 million Series A led by Sequoia with 17,000+ paying clinicians, and launched an AI receptionist add-on in April 2026. Best for therapists happy with their EHR who just want the notes handled.
3. Blueprint — best for measurement-based care on a budget
Blueprint pairs AI progress notes and treatment plans with automated client outcome assessments — PHQ-9, GAD-7, 250+ measures — plus a free built-in EHR. It’s $0.99 per session with no monthly minimum (credits never expire), or $69 a month unlimited. States HIPAA and PHIPA compliance, SOC 2 Type II, a published BAA, and audio permanently deleted after transcription. Best for outcome-focused clinicians (especially CBT) — and the cheapest option for light caseloads.
4. Heidi Health — best free tier
Heidi is a general-medicine AI scribe with heavy mental-health adoption: ambient transcription, structured note drafts, templates, and evidence lookup. The free tier is the most generous here — unlimited basic transcription with 10 Pro Actions a month. Clinician is $150 per user per month billed annually, with a 14-day Pro trial. Vendor states HIPAA compliance plus SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 — but BAA availability may be tier-gated, so verify on your plan before recording protected health information. Best for starting free, or integrated-care teams where therapists work alongside prescribers.
5. Mentalyc — best therapy-specific template library
Mentalyc turns session audio, dictation, or uploads into SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, or 100+ custom templates, with a treatment planner, progress and alliance analytics, and auto CPT codes. Plans run from Mini at $19.99 a month (40 notes) to Super at $119.99 (330 notes), with annual billing from $14.99 and team seats near $50–$60 unlimited. States HIPAA and PHIPA compliance, SOC 2 Type II, a BAA on every plan, recordings auto-deleted within days, and data never used for AI training. Best for practices wanting the deepest therapy-specific library without changing EHRs.
6. SimplePractice AI Note Taker — best if you’re already on SimplePractice
SimplePractice’s native add-on drafts SOAP, DAP, and BIRP notes right in the client’s chart — recording through SimplePractice Telehealth or the Clinicians app — with the Care Aide bundle adding a session sidekick and treatment planner. It’s $35 a month per clinician on top of a SimplePractice plan ($49–$99); Care Aide is $59 for the owner, $49 per additional clinician. HIPAA and HITRUST certified with SimplePractice’s existing BAA. Note: reviewers flag that since June 2026, SimplePractice retains a de-identified transcript copy by default for opted-in clinicians — there’s an opt-out, but check the setting. Best for existing users wanting zero new vendors.
7. TherapyNotes (TherapyFuel) — best for group practices on TherapyNotes
TherapyFuel is TherapyNotes’ AI suite inside its EHR: note summarization and drafting, with an ambient scribe still rolling out. The pitch is one vendor for scheduling, billing, notes, and AI. Base EHR is $69 a month solo plus $40 a month per clinician for the AI add-on. States HIPAA compliance with a BAA and HITRUST AI Security certification. Best for group practices and agencies already standardized on TherapyNotes.
AI therapy tools compared
| Tool | What it does best | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upheal | All-in-one AI EHR + notes | $1/session (cap $69/mo) | Solo/small telehealth practices |
| Freed AI | Ambient scribe, code suggestions | $39/mo | Therapists keeping their EHR |
| Blueprint | Notes + outcome assessments | $0.99/session | Measurement-based care, light caseloads |
| Heidi Health | Transcription + note drafts | Free tier; $150/user/mo | Free start; integrated-care teams |
| Mentalyc | 100+ therapy note templates | $19.99/mo | Template depth without switching EHRs |
| SimplePractice | Native notes in your EHR | $35/mo + plan | Existing SimplePractice users |
| TherapyNotes | AI inside TherapyNotes EHR | $69/mo + $40/clinician | Group practices on TherapyNotes |
Which AI tool should your practice buy?
Start with your setup. Open to switching systems? Upheal replaces the most vendors. Happy with your EHR and just want notes done? Freed or Mentalyc. Doing measurement-based care or watching every dollar? Blueprint. Already on SimplePractice or TherapyNotes? Their native add-ons are the path of least resistance. And whatever you choose: get the BAA in writing, review every AI-drafted note before signing — the tool drafts, you own the record.
Frequently asked questions
Are AI scribes HIPAA compliant?
The reputable ones state HIPAA compliance and sign a Business Associate Agreement — Upheal, Mentalyc, and Blueprint do so on every plan. But it’s a vendor claim, not a certification, so confirm the BAA covers your specific plan before recording sessions.
Do AI note tools replace clinical judgment?
No. They draft; you decide. Every tool here expects the clinician to review, edit, and sign the note. Never sign something you haven’t read — it’s your license on the record, not the software’s.
What’s the cheapest AI notes option?
Blueprint at $0.99 per session with no monthly minimum is the cheapest paid option for light caseloads; Heidi Health’s free tier covers unlimited basic transcription.
Do I have to tell clients I’m recording?
Consent requirements vary by state and country. Beyond the law, it’s good practice: disclose that you use an AI scribe, explain how the data is handled, and get written consent before the first recorded session.
Featured image: “Psychotherapy.JPG” by Jty33, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.