Headway vs Valant
Headway scores 7.2/10 vs 5.8/10. Best for: Solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing.
Headway scores higher overall at 7.2/10 vs 5.8/10. 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.
Headway 
Valant Rank
#20 of 41
Rank
#41 of 41
Features
12/18
Features
17/18
Starting at
$0/mo
Starting at
$100/mo
User reviews
—
User reviews
3/5 (333)
What they cost
| Headway | Valant | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | Free /mo | $100 /mo |
| Free trial | Free tier available | No |
| Number of plans | 1 | 3 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Headway looks cheaper at $0/month vs $100/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 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 Valant wins
- 80+ built-in reportable outcome measures that auto-send, score, and graph over time, which is the deepest measurement-based care in the category
- E-prescribing with EPCS and PDMP integration included, so psychiatrists can prescribe controlled substances without a separate tool
- MYIO patient portal app for iOS and Android handles intake, payments, and appointment management from the client side
- Telehealth supports group sessions with up to 30 participants, screen sharing, and whiteboard, which is more than most competitors
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
Where Valant falls short
- G2 rating of 3.0/5 is among the lowest in the category, with complaints about navigation, glitches, and a steep learning curve
- No published pricing means you must contact sales for a quote, and reported costs of $100-300/mo make it one of the pricier options
- No free trial available, so you commit based on a demo rather than hands-on testing with your own workflows
- Multiple reviewers report that telehealth sessions drop or lag, and the patient portal setup is described as an administrative headache
Who is each product built for?
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.
Valant
Target: 1-50 providers
Buy Valant if measurement-based care and psychiatry features like EPCS are non-negotiable for your practice. Skip if you want transparent pricing, a free trial, or reliable telehealth.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Headway | Valant |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Valant's 5.8/10 in our ranking. Headway is the better pick for 1 provider. Valant is better if you need behavioral health practices that need built-in measurement-based care with 80+ outcome scales and want to demonstrate treatment effectiveness to insurers.
Headway starts at $0/month. Valant starts at $100/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-01.
Headway: Free tier available. Valant: No free trial. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Headway covers 12 of 18 features we track. Valant covers 17 of 18. Valant has broader feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
Yes, Headway has a mobile app. Valant 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 Headway if...
Solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing
Pick Valant if...
Behavioral health practices that need built-in measurement-based care with 80+ outcome scales and want to demonstrate treatment effectiveness to insurers.