Alma vs Headway
Headway scores 7.2/10 vs 7.0/10. Best for: Solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing.
Headway scores higher overall at 7.2/10 vs 7.0/10. Buy Headway if you're a new solo therapist who wants zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing. Skip if you want full control over your insurance panels or run a group practice.
Alma 
Headway Rank
#23 of 41
Rank
#20 of 41
Features
14/18
Features
12/18
Starting at
$125/mo
Starting at
$0/mo
User reviews
4.1/5 (92)
User reviews
—
What they cost
| Alma | Headway | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $125 /mo | Free /mo |
| Free trial | No | Free tier available |
| Number of plans | 2 | 1 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Headway looks cheaper at $0/month vs $125/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Alma wins
- Flat $125/mo includes insurance credentialing that normally takes months and costs thousands
- Built-in referral network sends clients directly to your profile
- AI Note Assist for session recording and transcription
- Handles both insurance and out-of-pocket billing in one place
Where Headway wins
- Completely free for providers — zero monthly cost
- Insurance credentialing done in weeks instead of the usual months
- 65,000+ providers across all 50 states
- AI-assisted session notes via built-in Scribe
Where Alma falls short
- Must credential with Aetna, Cigna, or Optum — no flexibility to pick other panels
- No group practice support (individual memberships only)
- No mobile app, web-based only
- 3.6 Capterra rating with only 26 reviews is concerning
Where Headway falls short
- Headway owns your credentialing — if you leave, you may need to re-credential
- Commission from insurance reimbursements means you earn less per session
- No e-prescribing
- Not built for group practices — every provider must be individually licensed and credentialed
Who is each product built for?
Alma
Target: 1 provider
Buy Alma if you're a solo therapist who wants insurance credentialing done for you and a steady stream of referred clients. Skip if you run a group practice, want to pick your own insurance panels, or need a mobile app.
Headway
Target: 1 provider
Buy Headway if you're a new solo therapist who wants zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing. Skip if you want full control over your insurance panels or run a group practice.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Alma | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance & Security | ||
| HIPAA compliant | ||
| Telehealth / video sessions | ||
| Secure messaging | ||
| Scheduling & Clients | ||
| Online scheduling | ||
| Client portal | ||
| Intake forms / assessments | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Clinical | ||
| Progress notes / documentation | ||
| Treatment plans | ||
| E-prescribing | ||
| Outcome measures / assessments | ||
| Billing & Payments | ||
| Insurance billing / claims | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Superbill generation | ||
| Automated billing | ||
| Platform | ||
| Group practice support | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Integrations / API | ||
Common questions
Headway scores 7.2/10 vs Alma's 7.0/10 in our ranking. Headway is the better pick for 1 provider. Alma is better if you need solo therapists in private practice who want insurance credentialing done for them and a built-in referral network to fill their caseload.
Alma starts at $125/month. Headway starts at $0/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-01.
Alma: No free trial. Headway: Free tier available. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Alma covers 14 of 18 features we track. Headway covers 12 of 18. Alma has broader feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
No, Alma does not have a mobile app. Headway does have one.
Yes. The main effort is migrating your data (customer lists, job history, invoices). Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both. Most healthcare practice management tools can import CSV data. Ask both vendors about migration support before you sign.
The bottom line
Pick Alma if...
Solo therapists in private practice who want insurance credentialing done for them and a built-in referral network to fill their caseload
Pick Headway if...
Solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing