SimplePractice Hidden Fees in 2026:
The Full List of Extra Costs
SimplePractice's plan prices are just the start. Depending on how you use the platform, additional fees can add $30-150+/month to your true cost. Here is every fee, who pays it, and how to minimize it.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays it | Typical monthly cost | Can you avoid it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearinghouse fee | $0.25 per claim | Insurance billers on Essential or Plus | $7.50-50/mo depending on volume | Use Office Ally (free external clearinghouse) |
| Credit card processing | 2.95% + $0.30/transaction | Anyone accepting card payments | $15-60/mo on typical practice revenue | Encourage ACH transfers (1%, $1 min) |
| ACH bank transfer | 1% (minimum $1) | Anyone using bank transfer payments | ~$5-20/mo | Cannot avoid if accepting online payments |
| AI Note Taker add-on | $35/month | Optional for any plan | $35/mo | Use Mentalyc or other AI note tools |
| ePrescribe add-on | $49/month | Prescribers (psychiatrists, NPs) only | $49/mo | Not applicable for non-prescribers |
| CPT licensing fee | $20/year per clinician | Anyone submitting insurance claims | ~$1.67/mo per clinician | Cannot avoid if billing insurance |
True Monthly Cost: Real Practice Scenarios
Cash-pay solo therapist, telehealth
Card processing varies by revenue volume. Use ACH to reduce this.
Insurance-heavy solo therapist
Insurance copays via card add more. ACH encouraged.
The CPT Licensing Fee: The Most-Missed Hidden Cost
SimplePractice charges $20/year per clinician for access to AMA CPT codes used in insurance billing. This is a real cost most therapists discover only when they see their first annual charge.
For a solo therapist: $20/year ($1.67/month). For a 10-clinician group: $200/year ($16.67/month). It does not break the budget but it is a genuine hidden cost that no competitor prominently discloses either.
How to Minimize SimplePractice Hidden Fees
Use Office Ally instead of built-in clearinghouse
Saves: Up to $25/mo for high-volume insurance billers
Encourage clients to pay by ACH bank transfer instead of card
Saves: $3-4 per session (2.95% vs 1% rate)
Skip the AI Note Taker if you have another solution
Saves: $35/mo
ePrescribe only needed for prescribers (psychiatrists, NPs)
Saves: $49/mo if not applicable to you
Honest Verdict: Are Hidden Fees a Dealbreaker?
For most therapists, no. A solo therapist on Essential with moderate insurance volume pays $100-120/month all-in, which is reasonable for a full EHR. Knowing about the fees lets you budget properly and compare fairly with competitors who bundle costs differently.
TherapyNotes at $49/month also has per-claim fees. Jane App bundles some costs differently. The honest comparison requires calculating total cost for your specific practice, which is what the cost calculator does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SimplePractice have hidden fees?
Yes. Beyond the monthly plan fee: $0.25/claim clearinghouse fee, 2.95% + $0.30 credit card processing, 1% ACH, $35/mo AI Note Taker (optional), $49/mo ePrescribe (prescribers only), $20/year CPT licensing (insurance billers). A typical insurance-billing solo therapist pays $100-115/month total.
What is the CPT licensing fee?
$20/year per clinician for access to AMA Current Procedural Terminology codes used in insurance billing. Often missed when calculating SimplePractice costs. Adds about $1.67/month per clinician.
How much does the AI Note Taker add-on cost?
$35/month. It transcribes sessions and drafts notes automatically. Mentalyc is an alternative AI note tool that integrates with SimplePractice at potentially lower cost depending on your volume.
What is the ePrescribe cost?
$49/month. Only relevant for prescribers (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners). Therapists who do not prescribe medications do not need this add-on.