DrChrono vs Heard
Heard scores 7.5/10 vs 6.8/10. Best for: Solo therapists in private practice who want someone else to handle bookkeeping and taxes.
Heard scores higher overall at 7.5/10 vs 6.8/10. Buy Heard if you hate bookkeeping and want someone else to handle your practice finances and taxes. Skip if you can handle QuickBooks yourself or if you thought this was practice management software — it's not.
DrChrono 
Heard Rank
#29 of 41
Rank
#13 of 41
Features
18/18
Features
1/18
Starting at
$249/mo
Starting at
$169/mo
User reviews
3.5/5 (522)
User reviews
—
What they cost
| DrChrono | Heard | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $249 /mo | $169 /mo |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Number of plans | 4 | 3 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Heard looks cheaper at $169/month vs $249/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 DrChrono wins
- iPad-native app is a genuine differentiator for mobile-first practices
- Award-winning open API with hundreds of integrations
- E-prescribing with EPCS controlled substances included in all plans
- Strong template library for specialty practices outside behavioral health
Where Heard wins
- Done-for-you monthly bookkeeping saves therapists the most hated admin task
- Tax prep and filing included — personal on Essential, business on Premium
- S corp election guidance that reportedly saves $5,000+/year in taxes
- Built specifically for therapy private practice finances, not generic accounting
Where DrChrono falls short
- Starting at $249/provider/mo makes it one of the most expensive options in this category
- 3.5 G2 rating with declining user satisfaction in recent reviews
- No free trial to test before committing to a monthly contract
- Apollo Plus at $1,200/mo minimum is enterprise pricing aimed at small practices
Where Heard falls short
- NOT practice management software — handles finances only, not clinical work
- $169/mo is a lot when QuickBooks Self-Employed is $15/mo
- No G2 or Capterra reviews for independent comparison
- Premium at $255/mo needed if you're an S corp
Who is each product built for?
DrChrono
Target: 1-50 providers
Buy DrChrono if you run a specialty medical practice and want iPad-native workflow with a strong API. Skip if you're a therapist or small behavioral health practice — this wasn't built for you and the price reflects it.
Heard
Target: 1-5 providers
Buy Heard if you hate bookkeeping and want someone else to handle your practice finances and taxes. Skip if you can handle QuickBooks yourself or if you thought this was practice management software — it's not.
Feature comparison
| Feature | DrChrono | Heard |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Heard scores 7.5/10 vs DrChrono's 6.8/10 in our ranking. Heard is the better pick for 1-5 providers. DrChrono is better if you need tech-forward specialty medical practices that want ipad-native charting and a strong api ecosystem.
DrChrono starts at $249/month. Heard starts at $169/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-01.
DrChrono: No free trial. Heard: No free trial. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
DrChrono covers 18 of 18 features we track. Heard covers 1 of 18. DrChrono has broader feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
Yes, DrChrono has a mobile app. Heard does not.
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 DrChrono if...
Tech-forward specialty medical practices that want iPad-native charting and a strong API ecosystem
Pick Heard if...
Solo therapists in private practice who want someone else to handle bookkeeping and taxes