Every medical practice faces the challenge: you need to send a timely reminder, schedule a telehealth visit, or pull a report, and Healow’s workflow is just complicated enough to slow you down. Maybe it is the $449 per-provider monthly for eClinicalWorks, or the realization that after years of payments, you are still renting your own patient engagement system. Add in the slow support queues and the surprise "that's an add-on" messages, and you start to wonder if there is a better, saner way. You are not alone. Most clinics are searching for Healow alternatives that do not require you to keep paying forever just to use your own data, or to do the basics your practice needs.
If you are looking to cut through per-provider fees, avoid another round of contract lock-in, and actually own your practice's software, you are in the right place. The strongest Healow alternatives right now are Kareo (Tebra), AdvancedMD, DrChrono, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, NextGen Healthcare, Practice Fusion, Modernizing Medicine, and a custom build from Devaims. The honest truth? Every major player rents you access, except Devaims, which hands you the keys. Let us dig deeper into the numbers, the real pain points, and the only way to truly own your platform.
Why medical practices look for Healow alternatives
Healow is widely adopted, but its model leaves many clinics frustrated. Here are the core reasons practices seek alternatives:
Per-provider fees stack up quickly: Healow and its peers often run $250 to $800 per provider monthly. For a 10-provider group, you are looking at $30,000 to $50,000 a year before any add-ons. Over five years, that is $150,000 to $400,000, money that could have gone toward building something you own. These fees rarely decrease, even if your usage stays flat or drops.
Contract lock-in and unclear terms: Many EHRs and patient engagement platforms keep contract terms vague until late in the sales process, making it hard to plan or switch without penalty. Auto-renewal clauses, data export fees, and unclear cancellation policies can trap you in a system that is no longer the right fit.
Extra charges for essentials: Features like e-prescribing, lab integrations, or even patient communication can cost extra, turning "all-in-one" into "pay-as-you-go." For example, some platforms charge additional monthly fees for telehealth modules or secure patient messaging, and costs can escalate quickly as your needs grow.
Support that slows you down: Clinics report slow responses and unresolved tickets, especially with larger vendors. Your practice cannot wait days for a password reset or a critical data fix. In healthcare, delayed support can mean missed appointments, billing errors, or compliance risks.
Limited customization and integration: Most platforms only play nice within their own ecosystem. If you want a custom workflow, you are out of luck or facing another fee. Integrating with labs, imaging centers, or billing partners outside the vendor’s network can be complex or blocked entirely. Practices needing specialty forms or unique workflows often find themselves boxed in.
If you have ever felt these pains, you are already searching for Healow alternatives. The good news: more options exist than ever before, but not all are created equal in terms of pricing, flexibility, or ownership.
Quick comparison of the best Healow alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | You own it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kareo (Tebra) | Small practices | $250/mo per provider | No |
| AdvancedMD | Multi-specialty groups | $130 to $399/mo | No |
| DrChrono | Mobile-first clinics | Request quote | No |
| Athenahealth | Billing-heavy practices | 3 to 7% of collections | No |
| eClinicalWorks | Feature-rich EHR | $449/mo per provider | No |
| NextGen Healthcare | Enterprise groups | $800/mo per provider | No |
| Practice Fusion | Cloud-first clinics | $149/mo per provider | No |
| Modernizing Medicine | Specialists | Request quote | No |
| Devaims | Clinics who want to own | One-time build | One-time build, you own it |
Always confirm current pricing before you decide. Rates and fees can change year to year, and many platforms offer "introductory" deals that increase after your first contract term.
The 9 best Healow alternatives
1. Kareo (Tebra) (Best for small practices)
Kareo (Tebra) is favored by smaller clinics and independent practices who want a cloud-based EHR and practice management system in one. Its interface is clean and relatively easy for front-office staff to learn. Kareo covers core scheduling, clinical documentation, e-prescribing, claims management, and patient communications. It supports basic telehealth, but its telemedicine features are not as deep as some competitors.
Pricing: Starts at $250 per provider per month. Add-ons for e-prescribing, telehealth, and billing integrations can increase costs.
- Affordable entry point for small practices
- Clean interface and easy onboarding
- Mobile app for providers on the go
- Limited customization for advanced workflows
- Some integrations require extra fees or are unavailable
- Support response times can be slow for technical issues
On a custom build, those "extra" features are just part of your platform, not another fee.
2. AdvancedMD (Best for multi-specialty groups)
AdvancedMD targets multi-specialty practices and midsize clinics that need comprehensive scheduling, telemedicine, and billing in one platform. Its feature set is among the most extensive, including advanced scheduling, revenue cycle management, telehealth, customizable workflow templates, and reporting capabilities.
Pricing: $130 to $399 per provider per month, plus setup and migration fees for larger groups.
- Flexible scheduling and multi-location support
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Open API for third-party integrations
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Customization and integrations often require paid consulting
- Support tickets may take days to resolve
With Devaims, training and onboarding is tailored to your workflow, since the system fits your clinic from day one.
3. DrChrono (Best for mobile-first clinics)
DrChrono is built for practices that want to chart, schedule, and communicate on iPads and iPhones. Unlike Healow, which offers a mobile app as an add-on, DrChrono’s native iOS experience is central to its offering. The system allows doctors to chart with Apple Pencil, use voice-to-text, and review labs or prescriptions directly from a tablet or phone.
Pricing: Custom quote required. Pricing is typically per provider per month, with add-ons for telehealth and billing.
- Best-in-class mobile EHR experience
- Supports Apple Pencil and voice-to-text
- API for custom integrations
- Web version is less robust than mobile
- Pricing and contract terms are often unclear
- Customization and reporting are limited for complex needs
4. Athenahealth (Best for billing-heavy practices)
Athenahealth is a cloud-based EHR and billing platform that charges as a percentage of collections, rather than a fixed monthly fee. It is particularly strong on revenue cycle management, claims scrubbing, and payer rules, making it a favorite for billing-heavy practices and those seeking to maximize reimbursement.
Pricing: 3 to 7% of collections, plus potential setup and migration fees.
- Automated claim submission and denial management
- Regular updates for payer rules and compliance
- Marketplace for integrations with labs and imaging
- Percentage-based pricing can become expensive as revenue grows
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Customization is limited to Athenahealth's options
With Devaims, your revenue stays yours, no percentage off the top, ever.
5. eClinicalWorks (Best for feature-rich EHR)
eClinicalWorks is the maker of Healow and a giant in the EHR space. It covers everything from telehealth to billing to patient messaging, offering an extensive feature set. eClinicalWorks is popular among midsize and large practices that want robust functionality, but it comes at a premium price and is known for support bottlenecks.
Pricing: $449 per provider per month, with additional fees for integrations and advanced features.
- Comprehensive EHR and patient engagement features
- Large library of specialty-specific templates
- Chronic care and population health management tools
- High per-provider monthly fee
- Support can be slow to resolve issues
- Customization is limited to vendor options
On owned software, you add integrations as you need them, not when the vendor approves.
6. NextGen Healthcare (Best for enterprise groups)
NextGen Healthcare aims at enterprise medical groups and large health systems, promising deep customization, analytics, and advanced security. Its suite covers EHR, practice management, revenue cycle management, population health, and patient engagement. NextGen is known for its scalability and ability to handle complex, multi-location operations.
Pricing: Starts at $800 per provider per month, plus consulting and migration fees.
- Enterprise-grade analytics and compliance tools
- Customizable workflows for large organizations
- Specialty modules and regulatory reporting support
- Highest starting price among mainstream platforms
- Customization and integration require vendor consultants
- System complexity can overwhelm smaller practices
7. Practice Fusion (Best for cloud-first clinics)
Practice Fusion is a web-based EHR designed for small and midsize practices seeking a straightforward, low-cost solution. Its cloud-first approach means there is no software to install, and onboarding is quick. Practice Fusion covers basic scheduling, charting, and e-prescribing, but is lighter on advanced telehealth or billing features compared to Healow.
Pricing: $149 per provider per month, with add-ons for telehealth and reporting.
- Low monthly cost for small practices
- Quick setup and easy onboarding
- Basic compliance and documentation support
- Limited telehealth and analytics features
- Minimal customization options
- Data export can be labor-intensive
8. Modernizing Medicine (Best for specialists)
Modernizing Medicine (ModMed) focuses on specialty practices, offering EHR and patient engagement tools tailored to fields like dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and gastroenterology. Its specialty-specific templates and workflows set it apart from more generic systems like Healow.
Pricing: Custom quote required. Pricing increases with add-ons and additional specialties.
- Specialty-specific EHR modules and templates
- Adaptive learning for documentation
- Strong outcomes tracking and analytics
- Pricing can rise quickly with add-ons
- Support may be slow to resolve technical issues
- Workflows can be siloed for multi-specialty groups
9. Devaims (Best for owning your platform)
Devaims builds custom medical and patient engagement software, handing you the source code and control. You set the workflow, integrations, and features. No recurring per-user fees, no lock-in, and no "that’s extra" surprises. If you are tired of renting and want to own your system, this is the alternative every other tool cannot offer.
- You own the code and the system, no monthly per-user fee
- Tailored to your clinic’s exact workflow and patient needs
- Integrates with any EHR or billing platform you want
- Flat maintenance cost, no surprise price hikes or features locked behind paywalls
Other Healow alternatives worth knowing
- Cerner (Oracle Health): Big in hospitals, but overkill for most clinics. Known for analytics and population health, but pricing and complexity are high.
- Elation Health: Great for direct primary care and small practices. Focuses on clinical-first workflows, but limited on specialty modules and advanced billing.
- Some open-source projects (like OpenEMR): Free, but require steep IT skills and time. No guaranteed support, and compliance is your responsibility.
How to choose the right Healow alternative
- Budget: Are you paying per provider, per location, or a percentage of collections? Add up everything, including hidden fees, setup costs, and migration expenses. Calculate the five-year total, not just the monthly rate.
- Customization needs: Do you need custom workflows and integrations, or will a standard package do? If you have unique documentation or want to automate specific tasks, off-the-shelf systems may not suffice.
- Practice size: Some platforms scale better for enterprise groups, others are built for solo docs and small teams. Make sure the system fits your future growth plans.
- Support and migration: How much help will you get moving data, training staff, and resolving issues? Check vendor references and reviews for real-world support experiences.
- Ownership: Are you willing to rent forever, or would you rather own and control your system? Consider long-term flexibility and exit costs.
If you want to explore what owning your software looks like, here is how Devaims compares.
Stop paying rent on software you could own
Every Healow alternative, Kareo, AdvancedMD, DrChrono, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, and the rest, offers the same promise: convenience now, for a monthly fee, forever. But every one of them is rented. The moment you stop paying, your access and data pipeline are at risk. What if you could own the system outright and only pay for what you actually use?
Devaims builds medical and patient engagement platforms you own. You get the source code, so you control the features, the integrations, and the data. No per-user fees. No contracts. No "that’s on the next tier" conversations. If you want, we can connect your new system to any EHR or billing stack you already use.
- No more per-provider fees: Add users, locations, or features with no extra charge.
- Flat, predictable costs: A one-time build, then a straightforward monthly maintenance fee, no surprises or price hikes.
- Full control: You decide what your platform does, how it integrates, and who can access what.
- Keep your data (and your patients’ trust): Your system, your rules, your security standards. No third-party vendor can cut off your access or hold your data hostage.
| Tool | Ownership | Customizable? | Typical 5-yr cost (10 providers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kareo (Tebra) | Rented | Limited | $150,000+ |
| AdvancedMD | Rented | Yes, with fees | $200,000+ |
| eClinicalWorks | Rented | Limited | $269,400 |
| Devaims | You own it | Unlimited | $32,000 |
| Year | Rented (10x $449/mo) | Owned (Devaims) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $53,880 | $28,100 (build + $500 maint) |
| 2 | $107,760 | $28,600 |
| 3 | $161,640 | $29,100 |
| 4 | $215,520 | $29,600 |
| 5 | $269,400 | $30,100 (now ahead) |
If you have 10 providers, you are paying $4,490 per month, $53,880 per year, and $269,400 over five years to rent, and you never own the code. A Devaims build runs about $28,100 up front and $500 per year for maintenance. You break even before year five, and after that your savings keep compounding. Want the numbers for your clinic? We will run them with you, no pressure.
Ownership makes the most sense for clinics who plan to grow, want to control their data, or are tired of per-user fees eating up the budget. If you want to keep your options open and your costs flat, owning is the way forward. In fact, many clinics find that the cost to build a custom system is less than what they would pay in just two or three years of renting, especially as their provider count increases or as they add new locations or services.
How to switch from Healow
- Export all patient data, schedules, and documents from Healow and eClinicalWorks. Request a full data export in a format compatible with your new platform. Verify that all attachments, scanned docs, and custom fields are included. This may require several rounds of communication with your current vendor.
- Choose your new platform and complete any required contracts or agreements. For rented systems, review all terms carefully for migration support, data ownership, and exit clauses. For Devaims, you own the code from day one and can specify migration milestones in your build plan.
- Import your data into the new system using migration tools or vendor support. Most vendors offer migration assistance, but the quality varies. For complex migrations, consider hiring an IT consultant or working with Devaims to ensure all data is mapped and verified.
- Reconnect billing, payment processors, labs, and third-party integrations. Test all integrations before going live. Document any custom workflows that need to be rebuilt or adapted in the new system.
- Train your staff on the new workflows and features. Schedule onboarding sessions, create quick-start guides, and give staff time to practice in a test environment. Devaims builds training into the project, tailored to your actual workflows.
- Run both systems in parallel for a short period to confirm everything works as expected. This overlap helps catch any missing data or integration issues before fully switching over. Monitor scheduling, billing, and patient communication during this phase.
- Review your old Healow/eClinicalWorks contract to avoid surprise auto-renewals. Notify your old vendor in writing and confirm your data is fully transferred before canceling.
With a custom Devaims build, the migration is handled as part of the project, with a dedicated project manager guiding you through each step and verifying data integrity before go-live.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Healow alternative for small clinics?
Kareo (Tebra) and Practice Fusion are the easiest for solo and small group practices. Kareo’s interface is simple, and Practice Fusion is quick to set up for basic charting and scheduling. Both offer lower monthly costs, but you are still renting and may face limits in customization or integrations. Devaims is the only true own-it alternative, if your practice is growing or needs unique workflows, ownership may cost less in the long run and give you more flexibility.
Which Healow alternative is the cheapest?
Practice Fusion is the lowest-priced mainstream option at $149 per provider per month, but this comes with fewer features, limited integrations, and extra charges for essentials like telehealth or reporting. If you plan to grow, or need more than a basic EHR, costs add up fast. For long-term savings, a Devaims build is often cheaper over five years, especially for practices with more than a few providers.
Is there a free Healow alternative?
Open-source EHRs like OpenEMR are technically free, but require significant technical skills and time to set up, customize, and support. Most clinics find the learning curve steep and support non-existent. Compliance, security, and integration are your responsibility. There are no fully-supported, free platforms in this category, "free" typically means trading your time and accepting higher risks.
Which Healow alternatives have the best telehealth features?
DrChrono and eClinicalWorks both offer strong telehealth and patient engagement. DrChrono is best for mobile-first clinics who want to conduct visits from iPads or iPhones and chart on the go. eClinicalWorks has a deep telehealth module integrated into its EHR, suitable for high-volume practices with complex needs. For custom telehealth workflows or integration with unique video platforms, Devaims can build exactly what you need, no monthly telehealth add-ons.
Can I keep my patient data if I switch from Healow?
Yes, you can export patient data from Healow and eClinicalWorks, but expect some friction. The export process can be tedious, and some vendors charge extra for full data exports. Attachments, images, and custom fields may not come across cleanly. With a Devaims build, you own all your data from day one, and migration is managed for you, including mapping custom fields and verifying completeness.
When should a practice switch from Healow?
If you are frustrated with per-provider fees, slow support, feature limitations, or find yourself paying for basic features as add-ons, it is time to consider Healow alternatives. If your costs have already passed what it would take to own your own system, you are likely better off switching. Practices planning to grow, add new services, or needing unique workflows benefit most from owning their solution.
What is the real difference between renting and owning with Devaims?
Renting means paying monthly forever, with your features and data controlled by the vendor. You are subject to price increases, feature restrictions, and contract lock-ins. Owning with Devaims means you pay once to build, keep your code, and pay only flat maintenance, no per-user or per-feature fees ever again. You decide when to upgrade, what to integrate, and how to manage your data. It is a shift from being a customer to being an owner.
The bottom line
Here is the real test: add up what Healow or any major alternative will cost your practice over the next five years. If that number would have built you a system you own, you already have your answer. Most clinics cross that threshold faster than they expect, especially as provider counts, locations, or feature needs grow.
Renting locks you into monthly fees, contracts, and vendor priorities. Owning puts you in control, with flat costs and real equity in your own workflow. If you are ready to stop renting and start owning, Devaims can show you exactly how the numbers work for your practice, and build a platform that fits you, not the other way around.
For more insights, visit the Devaims blog, or explore related alternatives: eClinicalWorks alternatives, Athenahealth alternatives, and NextGen Healthcare alternatives. For independent reviews, see Software Advice and G2’s EHR category.
