Clinicians who specialize in behavioral health often wind up choosing between Autonotes—a template‑rich, ultra‑low‑cost documentation tool—and Mentalyc, the therapist‑centric platform that layers analytics and treatment‑planning on top of automated notes. Below is a research‑backed, up‑to‑date comparison to help you decide which (if either) matches your workflow. See also our Mentalyc vs Twofold comparison.
Autonotes Overview
Focus | Progress notes & treatment plans for mental‑health, OT, SLP and nutrition clinicians |
|---|---|
Typical users | Solo or small‑group therapists on tight budgets |
Key features | • Dictation & live‑recording modes • 20 + note templates (SOAP, DAP, narratives) • Auto‑generated treatment plans • Chrome copy‑to‑EHR bar |
Pricing (monthly) | Economy $14/mo (unlimited progress notes), First Class $34/mo (adds recording, note-to-note continuity, custom templates), Enterprise custom |
Compliance stance | HIPAA-aligned security and privacy program; signs a BAA with every customer who uses PHI; PHI is permitted in the app (Autonotes Trust Center, verified May 2026 — old "PHI prohibited, no BAA" posture is OBSOLETE) |
Social proof | 10 public G2 reviews, avg. 4.4/5 |
Trial/Free Tier | 7-day free trial (no credit card) on paid plans; no permanent free tier listed on current pricing page |
Last verified May 2026
Strengths
- Lower sticker price in the category for typed or dictated notes.
- Rich template library out of the box.
- Built‑in treatment‑plan generator and screening tools (PHQ‑9, GAD‑7).
Watch‑outs
- Free tier is limited to 7-day trial — no permanent free tier on the current pricing page (Economy at $14/mo includes unlimited progress notes, replacing the older 125-session Essential cap).
- HIPAA posture clarified in 2026: Autonotes now signs a BAA with every customer who uses PHI in the app, and PHI is explicitly permitted. The older "no BAA / no PHI" framing in third-party reviews is obsolete (Autonotes Trust Center, verified May 2026).
- Only manual copy/paste or Chrome insert—no API‑level EHR push.
Mentalyc Overview
Last verified May 2026
Focus | AI notes plus treatment‑plan and alliance analytics, built solely for mental‑health clinicians |
|---|---|
Typical users | Solo therapists to mid‑size group practices |
Key features | • AI Notes in 20 + formats • Smart TP™ treatment‑plan builder • Alliance Ginie™ session analytics • 100 + custom templates • CPT auto‑coding |
Pricing (monthly) | Mini $19.99/mo (40 notes), Basic $39.99/mo (100), Pro $69.99/mo (160), Super $119.99/mo (330); annual saves ~$5–20/mo per tier; Team $49.99–$59.99/seat unlimited |
Compliance stance | HIPAA & SOC 2 Type II; signed BAAs; audio auto‑deleted ≤3 days |
Social proof | 30 k + therapists; 64 Trustpilot reviews, 4.5/5 avg. |
Trial/ Free Tier | Offers limited free notes (mini plan) for testing |
Strengths
- Therapy‑specific templates, CPT coding, and alliance scores out of the box.
- Transparent HIPAA + SOC 2 posture with downloadable BAAs.
- Lower entry tiers for very small caseloads.
Watch‑outs
- Strict monthly note caps—run out, and you must upgrade.
- No native mobile apps; relies on browser upload or telehealth capture.
Autonotes vs Mentalyc — Key Differences
Aspect | Autonotes | Mentalyc |
|---|---|---|
Note limits | Unlimited progress notes on every paid tier (Economy $14/mo and up); old 125/300-session caps were removed in the 2026 plan refresh | 40–330; team plan fair‑use |
Template depth | SOAP, DAP, narratives | 100 + formats incl. BIRP, EMDR |
Treatment plans | Yes (auto‑generated) | Yes (Smart TP™) |
Analytics | None | Alliance Ginie™ alliance metrics |
EHR workflow | Copy/paste or Chrome insert | Copy/paste or download |
Compliance | HIPAA-aligned program + signed BAA with every PHI customer (Trust Center, May 2026) | HIPAA BAA; SOC 2 II |
Starting price | $14/mo Economy (unlimited progress notes) | $19.99 (40‑note cap) |
Pricing Snapshot
- Autonotes → Economy $14/mo with unlimited progress notes, First Class $34/mo (adds recording, custom templates, note-to-note continuity), Enterprise custom. The 2026 plan refresh removed the old 125/300/unlimited session caps.
- Mentalyc → Mini $19.99 / 40 notes, Basic $39.99 / 100, Pro $69.99 / 160, Super $119.99 / 330; discounts on annual billing.
Reality check: After Autonotes' 2026 plan refresh, Economy at $14/mo includes unlimited progress notes — the old session-cap math no longer applies. Mentalyc Pro's 160-note ceiling is still real and a 10-clients-a-day therapist exhausts it in about three weeks.
Security & Compliance
Autonotes | Mentalyc | |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA BAA | ✅ signs a BAA with every customer who uses PHI (Trust Center, May 2026) | ✅ downloadable BAA |
SOC 2 Type II | Aligned with SOC 2 controls per Trust Center; no explicit attestation published | ✅ |
Audio retention | Audio capture available on First Class+; transcription processing handled by Deepgram subprocessor per Trust Center | Deleted ≤3 days |
Integrations & Workflow
- Autonotes – Works in its own charting UI; copy/paste or use a Chrome bar to insert notes into any web‑based EHR. No API or FHIR push.
- Mentalyc – Upload audio, record telehealth, or dictate; export RTF/PDF or copy/paste into EHRs. API integrations are “on the roadmap.”
User Feedback & Market Traction
Autonotes | Mentalyc | |
|---|---|---|
Public reviews | 10 G2 reviews, 4.4/5 avg. | 64 Trustpilot reviews, 4.5/5 avg. |
Claimed users | Not disclosed | 30 k + therapists |
Why Twofold May Be the Better Choice
Twofold Health merges Autonotes’ therapist‑friendly templates with Mentalyc’s enterprise‑grade compliance:
- Unlimited notes at $49/month (annual)—half the cost of Mentalyc Pro and with no Autonotes‑style session ceilings.
- HIPAA BAA, US‑only hosting, and fine‑grained data‑retention controls.
- Native mobile apps, Zoom plug‑in, and one‑click EHR push included—no paid add‑ons.
Practices that outgrow Mentalyc's monthly note quotas or want a single tool that's HIPAA‑BAA‑covered with no plan‑tier session math often find Twofold a balanced, cost‑effective alternative — and Autonotes' historic "no PHI / no BAA" issue no longer applies (Autonotes now signs BAAs with every PHI customer).
Conclusion
Autonotes wins on price ($14/mo Economy for unlimited progress notes after the 2026 plan refresh) and template variety, and its HIPAA posture is now explicit — Autonotes signs BAAs with every PHI customer per its Trust Center. Mentalyc still delivers richer analytics and a published BAA + SOC 2 Type II posture.