Simple Practice AI is helping therapists reclaim hours of their week, and the numbers prove it.
83% of clinicians who tested it completed their notes faster, saving on average up to 5 hours per week. That translates to 10 extra appointments per month and up to $950 in additional monthly income. In fact, 50% of clinicians already use AI for daily tasks such as documentation and calendar management. Yet 37% still want to learn how to use AI tools for therapists more effectively.
I’ve dug into Simple Practice AI notes, Simple Practice reviews, and Simple Practice pricing to see if this tool lives up to the hype. Here’s what therapists are actually experiencing with AI therapy notes in 2026.
What Is SimplePractice AI and How Does It Work?
SimplePractice AI, marketed as Note Taker, functions as an AI-powered documentation assistant embedded directly within the SimplePractice EHR platform. The tool was developed with input from over 1,000 participating therapists who helped shape its functionality around real clinical workflows.
Core Features Overview
Note Taker operates through a four-step process that keeps clinician oversight at the center. When activated, the tool securely captures session audio, which can be stopped at any time. After the appointment ends, the system transcribes the conversation and immediately deletes the original recording. The AI then drafts a clinical note by analyzing both the transcript and the client’s previous progress note to match your documentation style and preferences.
The tool supports SOAP, DAP, and BIRP note formats. Unlike generic transcription services, Note Taker learns from your past notes to understand formatting preferences, writing style, complexity level, and overall structure. This means each draft adapts to how you document care for that specific client.
Multi-device functionality allows you to capture sessions from tablets or mobile devices, then access those AI therapy notes from whatever device you’re using. Transcripts and draft notes typically become available within 10 minutes after a session.
SimplePractice AI meets HIPAA standards and holds HITRUST certification, which verifies the strictest level of security compliance. Recordings are deleted immediately after transcription, usually in less than 5 minutes. Once you review and sign the note, all identifying information is removed from the transcription data. If notes aren’t finalized within seven days, identifying data is automatically deleted.
Who SimplePractice AI Is Built For
Note Taker was designed for clinicians who want basic note automation within their existing workflow. The tool works with couple and group appointments, not just individual sessions. It currently supports 14 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.
Integration With SimplePractice EHR
Note Taker exists as an optional add-on to your SimplePractice subscription. Because it’s built directly into the EHR, notes flow into client charts without external integrations or copy-paste workflows. The tool accesses your previous progress notes to generate drafts that align with your established documentation patterns for each client.
SimplePractice AI Note Taker: Features That Actually Save Time
Recording begins with a simple tap during telehealth sessions or through the mobile app for in-person appointments. The system generates transcripts in real time, allowing you to pause and resume recording as many times as needed during a session. This flexibility matters when clients need breaks or when discussing off-record administrative details.
Real-Time Session Transcription
SimplePractice AI uses speaker differentiation to distinguish between therapist and client voices during transcription, improving clarity and accuracy in session documentation. Transcripts remain available for your review for 7 days or until you sign and lock the note, whichever comes first. If you prefer not to record during sessions, the dictation tool lets you speak your thoughts afterward, or you can upload audio or text files for processing.
AI-Generated Progress Notes (SOAP, DAP, BIRP)
The tool references your previous progress note for each client to match your unique documentation style, analyzing formatting preferences, note sections, writing complexity, and overall structure. Draft notes automatically generate in your preferred format and appear ready for review within minutes of session completion.
Multi-Device Access and Mobile Functionality
The SimplePractice for Clinicians app on iOS and Android devices enables full Note Taker functionality from tablets or phones. You can record audio securely, edit draft notes, and review transcripts directly from mobile devices. Updates sync automatically across all devices.
HIPAA Compliance and Security Standards
SimplePractice holds HITRUST certification and SOC 2 Type II certification with annual third-party audits. The platform uses 128-bit SSL encryption for all web pages and APIs, multi-factor authentication, and advanced key management with transparent data encryption.
Session Summaries and Action Items
Pre-session summaries pull information from previous progress notes to provide clinical alerts, safety concerns, and treatment goals before appointments begin. Post-session summaries include action items for clients and follow-up tasks.
SimplePractice Pricing: What You’ll Actually Pay in 2026
Understanding what you’ll pay requires looking at both the base platform subscription and the AI add-on cost.
SimplePractice EHR Base Plans ($49-$99/month)
SimplePractice operates on three subscription tiers, all billed monthly with the option to cancel anytime. The Starter plan begins at $49/month for one clinician and includes core features with free credentialing support. Essential, their most popular tier, runs $79/month for one clinician and builds on Starter with additional workflow tools. The Plus plan costs $99/month for one clinician and adds group appointments, group telehealth, premium support, and automatic insurance status checks.
For group practices on the Plus plan, you can add unlimited non-clinician team members at no extra charge, including practice schedulers, billers, and supervisors. Additional clinicians cost $74/month each for practices with 2-5 clinicians, $72/month for 6-15 clinicians, and $69/month for 16 or more clinicians.
AI Note Taker Add-On Cost ($35/month)
Note Taker costs $35/month per clinician after your 30-day trial ends. This add-on works with all three subscription plans, including Starter. SimplePractice positions this as an optional feature given the significant computing costs for AI transcription, speaker differentiation, and session summarization.
Total Monthly Investment Breakdown
A solo practitioner on Starter with Note Taker pays $84/month ($49 + $35). Essential with Note Taker runs $114/month, while Plus with Note Taker totals $134/month.
30-Day Free Trial Details
SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial requiring no credit card. The Note Taker trial also runs 30 days, and notably, your trial period continues for the full 30 days even if you toggle the feature off temporarily.
SimplePractice Reviews: Real Therapist Results and Time Savings
Survey data from November 2024 reveals what therapists actually experience when using Note Taker in their practices.
83% Report Faster Note Completion
SimplePractice’s internal survey found that 83% of clinicians who used Note Taker agreed it helped them complete notes faster. This matches broader adoption trends, given that 50% of clinicians now use AI for daily tasks, including documentation.
Average 5 Hours Saved Per Week
Clinicians using Note Taker save on average up to 5 hours per week. The tool also reduces weekend notes workload by 15%.
10 Extra Appointments Possible Monthly
With reclaimed documentation time, clinicians can take on 10 more appointments per month. SimplePractice estimates this translates to up to $950 in additional monthly income.
Note Accuracy Improvements (4 in 5 Clinicians)
4 out of 5 clinicians agreed that Note Taker helped improve note accuracy. Additionally, 86% of clinicians reported that the tool helped them create more comprehensive notes.
Common Complaints: Speed and Cost Concerns
Transcripts typically arrive within 10 minutes after sessions, which some therapists find too slow for tight scheduling. One clinician noted that note generation takes more than 5 minutes with SimplePractice compared to 3 minutes with other programs. Cost increases over time also frustrate users.
SimplePractice vs Mentalyc: Key Differences
Mentalyc offers more flexibility with post-session uploads and dictation options, while Note Taker works only in real-time during sessions. Mentalyc supports multiple note formats and provides deeper customization.
Conclusion
Overall, SimplePractice AI delivers real-time savings for therapists already on the platform. The 5-hour weekly reduction is substantial, and the potential $950 monthly income boost makes the $35 add-on worthwhile for most clinicians. Sure, the 10-minute processing time feels slow compared to competitors, and the cost increases sting. Still, the 30-day trial gives you enough time to see if those efficiency gains actually materialize in your practice before committing.