Cheapest AI Therapy Note Tools (2026): The Real Low-Cost Options
By Ilan Sender, Founder & Editor · Last updated Aug 8, 2026
ClinicAI is independently researched and edited. We are not clinicians, and nothing here is medical advice — we compare practice software so you can decide. How we evaluate tools.
This is an independent editorial comparison based on vendor documentation, pricing, and security pages — not on reviews collected on this site. We have not tested note accuracy; trial any shortlist on your own visit types before paying. See our methodology.
| Feature | Yung Sidekick | AutoNotes | Upheal | Supanote | Mentalyc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99–$99.99/mo | $29–$69/mo | Free + up to $69/mo | $29.99–$89.99/mo | $19.99–$119.99/mo |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 7 days | 30 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet | No reviews yet | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| HIPAA | Self-reported | Self-reported | Independently audited | Self-reported | Independently audited |
| Top EHRs | None documented | None documented | None documented | None documented | SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, Jane |
| Best For | Price-sensitive solo therapists who want session insights and analytics, not just notes | High-volume note writers on a budget — flat plans with unlimited notes on every tier | Therapists with lighter caseloads (pay-per-session pricing) or anyone open to replacing their EHR entirely | Multilingual practices and therapists who see couples and want that supported at the entry price | Therapists on SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, Jane, or TheraNest who want notes pushed into their EHR instead of copy-paste |
| Accuracy | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Setup Ease | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Our Recommendation
Cheapest depends on volume. For very few notes or zero commitment, Upheal's free plan. For high note volume, AutoNotes at $29/month Economy — unlimited notes, price doesn't scale with usage (live recording gated to a higher tier). For a variable caseload wanting audited compliance, Upheal at $1/session capped at $69/month is the cheapest SOC 2 Type II option (Mentalyc, also SOC 2 Type II, starts at $19.99/month). For multilingual, Supanote at $29.99/month. Take the quiz to match your volume.
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Take the 30-second quizThe Cheapest Option Depends on How Many Notes You Write
"Cheapest" isn't one answer for AI therapy notes — it depends on your volume. A $0 plan is cheapest until you write enough notes that an unlimited plan wins; a per-session price is cheapest for a light caseload and expensive for a full one. Here are the real low-cost options, ranked by the scenario where each is genuinely cheapest, using pricing as verified June–July 2026.
The Low-Cost Field, by Scenario
Cheapest at zero commitment: Upheal (free plan). Upheal's free plan covers basic note types (SOAP, DAP, Intake) indefinitely, and paid use is $1/session capped at $69/month — for a light or just-starting caseload, this is the lowest real spend, with a SOC 2 Type II attestation behind it. AutoNotes discontinued its free tier — its zero-commitment option is now a 7-day trial (no credit card), with paid entry at $29/month Economy (HIPAA self-reported). Yung Sidekick likewise has no free plan — its entry price is $39.99/month (30-day trial only).
Cheapest for high note volume: AutoNotes ($29/month Economy). AutoNotes offers unlimited notes on every plan, from $29/month (Economy; verified 2026-08-07) — a flat price that doesn't get more expensive as you write more. (Mentalyc's $19.99 entry is nominally cheaper, but its tiers are note-volume-capped.) The catch: live in-session recording requires a higher tier, so the cheapest plan is type/dictate/upload. HIPAA self-reported; BAA every customer.
Cheapest for a variable caseload: Upheal ($1/session, capped at $69/month, free plan). Upheal charges $1/session capped at $69/month, plus a free plan for basic note types (SOAP, DAP, Intake). A light week costs almost nothing; you never pay more than $69 in a heavy month. And it's one of two low-cost SOC 2 Type II–attested options here (alongside Mentalyc) — so "cheap" doesn't have to mean "self-reported."
Cheapest paid monthly with multilingual: Supanote ($29.99/month). If you need 100+ language support, Supanote's entry tier is the cheapest place to get it. HIPAA self-reported.
For reference — the cheapest with real EHR push: Mentalyc (from $19.99/month). Mentalyc starts at $19.99/month. It's not the cheapest overall, but it's the cheapest way to get notes pushed into your EHR with a SOC 2 Type II posture.
The Honest Recommendation
- Light caseload or testing the waters: Upheal's free plan (AutoNotes now offers only a 7-day trial).
- High note volume: AutoNotes at $29/month — unlimited, and the price doesn't scale with usage.
- Variable caseload + you want audited compliance: Upheal's $1/session (capped at $69/month) is the cheapest SOC 2 Type II option.
- Multilingual on a budget: Supanote at $29.99/month.
The genuinely-free entry point (Upheal's free plan) carries a SOC 2 Type II attestation — read the next article on free tools for the fine print. Among the low-cost paid tools, two are SOC 2 Type II attested (Upheal and Mentalyc); the cheaper self-reported tools (AutoNotes, Supanote, Yung Sidekick) trade audited posture for a lower price.
Want the cheapest option for your actual note volume and compliance bar? Take the 30-second matcher quiz.