MentalNote vs Abridge
Facts checked on 14 October 2026. Prices change, so check each vendor's page before you decide.
The short answer
- Choose Abridge if you work in a health system that already uses it, or one that runs Epic and wants an enterprise ambient AI platform across specialties and care settings.
- Choose MentalNote if you are a solo clinician or small practice and want to start today: a free plan with no credit card, a published price, and note formats written for therapy and psychiatric visits. MentalNote is HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan.
Side by side
| MentalNote | Abridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is sold to | Solo clinicians and small practices; sign up yourself. | Health systems. Abridge says it is trusted by 300+ health systems and built to scale with the largest enterprise healthcare systems. |
| How to start | Free plan: 5 web-app scribe sessions a month, no time limit, no credit card. | A contact form that asks for your organization and its number of physicians. |
| Price | Premium: $99 a month, or $990 a year ($82.50 a month). | The Abridge pages we checked on 14 October 2026 (home, product, contact) did not list a price, and abridge.com/pricing returned "not found". |
| EHR | Copy or export the reviewed draft. No direct EHR write-back. | Integrated into EHR workflows, including Epic: capture in Haiku and review drafts in Hyperspace. |
| Specialties and settings | Built for therapists and other mental health clinicians. The Intake format includes psychiatric history, medications and mental status observations. | Outpatient, emergency medicine and inpatient, with medical terms across specialties. |
| Note formats | SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIRP and Progress notes, plus Intake and Treatment Plan workflows. | Clinically useful and billable notes, with problems grouped in language that aligns with billing codes. |
| Checking the draft | The app instructs the AI to use only what was said and to write "Not documented in session" for gaps. You review every draft. | "Linked Evidence" lets you trust and verify each draft against the conversation. |
| HIPAA and BAA | MentalNote is HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan. | Abridge says its technology is "100% HIPAA-compliant". |
Where Abridge is stronger
- Deep EHR integration. Abridge works inside Epic workflows. MentalNote has no direct EHR write-back.
- More settings and specialties. Abridge names outpatient, emergency medicine and inpatient care, and medical terms across specialties. If most of your visits are primary care or another non-behavioral specialty, Abridge covers them today.
- Billing support. Abridge groups problems in language aligned with billing codes. It has also announced real-time prior authorization in partnership with Highmark Health and AHN.
- Traceable drafts. Linked Evidence ties the draft back to the conversation.
Where MentalNote is stronger
- You can buy it. A solo clinician can sign up, use the free plan and upgrade without a sales process. Abridge's site offers a contact form, not a sign-up.
- A published price. $99 a month or $990 a year.
- Mental-health formats. BIRP, GIRP and PIRP sit next to SOAP and DAP. The Intake format includes psychiatric history, medications and mental status observations.
- Note rules against invented details. The app instructs the AI not to add a diagnosis you did not state, and to include risk content only if it was discussed.
Which should you pick?
| If you... | Pick |
|---|---|
| Work in a health system that offers Abridge | Abridge |
| Need notes inside Epic | Abridge |
| Run a solo or small practice and want to start on your own | MentalNote |
| Write therapy notes or psychiatric intakes | MentalNote |
| Want to know the price before you talk to anyone | MentalNote |
Frequently asked questions
Can a solo practice buy Abridge?
Abridge's site is built for health systems. The pages we checked on 14 October 2026 showed no price and no self-serve sign-up, only a contact form that asks about your organization. Ask Abridge directly if you are unsure.
How much does Abridge cost?
The Abridge pages we checked on 14 October 2026 did not list a price. Ask Abridge for a quote.
What is a good Abridge alternative for a therapist or psychiatrist in private practice?
MentalNote has a free plan with no credit card and a published Premium price of $99 a month. MentalNote is HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan.
Try it
Start free at app.mentalnote.ai: 5 scribe sessions a month, no credit card, no sales call.
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More comparisons
Abridge is a trademark of its owner. Epic, Haiku and Hyperspace are trademarks of Epic Systems Corporation. This page compares public information as of 14 October 2026 and is not endorsed by Abridge. A clinician must review every AI draft. Spotted something out of date? Email support@mentalnote.ai and we will fix it.