SimplePractice vs Alma 2026: Practice Management vs Therapist Network

At a Glance

What Each Product Is Actually For

SimplePractice is the most mature mental health practice management software in the US market. It includes scheduling, telehealth, charting, billing, claims, secure messaging, and an AI note-taker add-on. Therapists using SimplePractice run their own practice end-to-end: they get credentialed independently, bill insurance themselves, and handle their own marketing.

Alma is a therapist network that takes much of the administrative burden off solo clinicians. For a flat monthly membership, Alma credentials therapists with major commercial insurance plans, processes insurance claims, pays therapists at a guaranteed rate, and lists therapists in a public-facing directory that drives client referrals. Therapists still see their own clients and practice independently — Alma is not an employer.

The Real Decision: Insurance Strategy

The choice between SimplePractice and Alma usually comes down to insurance. Getting credentialed with major commercial payers as a solo therapist is slow (often 3-6 months), opaque, and frustrating. Alma's central value proposition is that it does this for you. SimplePractice gives you tools to bill insurance yourself, but it does not credential you. If you already have your insurance panels and want full software control, SimplePractice is the answer. If you want to skip the credentialing process and accept guaranteed rates in exchange for the membership fee, Alma is the answer.

Cost Math

SimplePractice Essential ($69/mo) plus the AI Note Taker add-on ($35/mo) is roughly $104/month, comparable to Alma's $125 membership. The difference is what you get for that money. Alma includes credentialing and claim processing; SimplePractice gives you software.

HIPAA and Compliance

Both platforms are HIPAA-compliant and offer BAAs. Both are widely used by US therapists in private practice.

Which to Choose

• Choose SimplePractice if you are already credentialed with insurance, want full software control, and prefer to run your own admin
• Choose Alma if you want to start accepting insurance but do not want to handle credentialing or claims yourself — and value built-in directory referrals
• Consider both: some Alma therapists also use SimplePractice as their EHR while Alma handles billing

Bottom Line

SimplePractice and Alma are not direct substitutes — they are complementary options at different points on the independence-versus-support spectrum. The right choice depends on whether you want software (SimplePractice) or partnership (Alma). Many therapists ultimately use both.