16 Best Free EMR Platforms for 2025 [My Reviews]

OptiMantra is an electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management platform built for integrative and wellness practitioners. It combines patient management, billing, and telehealth in one system, offering flexibility for diverse practice types.

Why I Picked OptiMantra: I picked OptiMantra for its powerful customizable charting tools. You can design templates that reflect your practice’s unique workflows, which makes documentation faster and more accurate. I also found its telehealth and electronic prescription features useful if you’re looking to expand your patient reach and streamline day-to-day tasks.

What do you get for free?

OptiMantra offers a 15-day trial that includes access to most features, but continued use requires a paid plan per month for the first practitioner.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable charting, telehealth consultations, electronic prescriptions, and patient portals. The platform also handles billing, invoicing, and inventory tracking, supported by integrations with labs and services such as Surescripts, Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, and Fullscript.

DrChrono is a medical practice management tool that allows medical professionals to manage patient records, appointments, and billing all within a single platform. It is renowned for its exceptional interoperability between billing services and patient portals, thus making it optimal for healthcare providers looking for a holistic solution.

Why I Picked DrChrono: In my selection process, I found DrChrono to be unique due to its successful fusion of EHR functionalities with both billing and patient portal services. Most tools focus on one or the other, but the integration and ease of use offered by DrChrono set it apart. As such, I am convinced that DrChrono is an optimal tool for practices that seek a seamless integration of these services.

What do you get for free?

DrChrono offers a free version of its software, but with very limited functionalities. For more advanced features, including the integrated billing and patient portal services, users will have to subscribe to a paid plan.

Standout features & integrations:

DrChrono shines with its appointment reminder system, electronic prescribing, and the ability to customize medical forms. It integrates with numerous billing services, thus allowing practices to handle billing efficiently and securely within the same platform. In addition, the patient portal integration permits secure communication between healthcare providers and patients.

Medesk is a cloud-based EMR system that streamlines practice management with a special focus on appointment scheduling and tracking. Built to make medical appointments less of a hassle for both patients and practitioners, Medesk stands out for its efficiency-enhancing capabilities.

Why I Picked Medesk: Medesk piqued my interest with its impressive focus on making appointment scheduling and tracking as simple as possible. I appreciate its determination to ensure that medical practitioners spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on patient care. That’s why I've selected it as the "Best for efficient appointment scheduling and tracking."

What do you get for free?

Medesk offers a free trial of its software that includes key features such as appointment scheduling, patient management, and essential reporting capabilities. It's a great way to get a feel for the software, but be aware that the full range of features requires a subscription.

Standout features & integrations:

Medesk shines with its robust appointment scheduling system and a patient portal that streamlines communication. In addition to standard EMR functionalities, it also offers a range of integrations with accounting software, telemedicine services, and clinical decision support systems, to name a few.

FreeMED is an open-source Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system designed to help healthcare practices manage medical records comprehensively. It offers a range of features, focusing on maintaining complete and well-structured patient data, thus justifying its forte in comprehensive medical record management.

Why I Picked FreeMED: In my search for top-notch EMR tools, FreeMED stood out due to its robustness and commitment to keeping patient records thorough and organized. Its open-source nature is another key factor that influenced my decision, as it offers unparalleled flexibility. I believe FreeMED is best for comprehensive medical record management because it allows for meticulous maintenance and easy access to crucial patient information, which is paramount for any healthcare practice.

What do you get for free?

With FreeMED, you get a robust suite of features absolutely free. This includes patient scheduling, billing, electronic medical records, and more. It should be noted that, being open-source, it requires some technical knowledge for setup and maintenance, which may present a limitation for some.

Standout features & integrations:

FreeMED offers a plethora of key features including a user-friendly patient portal, comprehensive medical records, and efficient scheduling tools. Its billing feature is also impressive, streamlining the invoicing process. As for integrations, it’s open-source nature means it can potentially be integrated with a multitude of other systems, provided you have the technical expertise to do so.

ChARM EHR is a comprehensive cloud-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) solution designed to enhance patient care by integrating effective practice management. Its goal is to create an environment where healthcare professionals can provide holistic care, making it best for its integrative approach to patient management.

Why I Picked ChARM EHR: ChARM EHR was an easy pick because it's more than just an EMR platform; it's a tool that fosters a wholesome approach to patient care. I was impressed by how it brings together practice management and electronic health records, facilitating a smooth healthcare journey for both providers and patients. Therefore, I believe ChARM EHR is "Best for holistic patient care with integrated practice management."

What do you get for free?

ChARM EHR offers a limited free version of their software. This includes basic EMR functions such as appointment scheduling, patient demographics, and medical charting. It's a good starting point, but for more advanced features, an upgrade is required.

Standout features & integrations:

ChARM EHR provides a wide range of features such as detailed patient charts, customizable templates, and telehealth functionality. Its integrated practice management tools enhance workflow and ensure smoother operations. ChARM EHR integrates with various systems including labs, pharmacies, billing systems, and more, making it a comprehensive platform for any healthcare practice.

TherapyNotes is a comprehensive practice management solution purpose-built for therapists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. Its feature set goes beyond basic EHR functionalities and includes scheduling, notes, billing, and a client portal, hence making it especially suited for therapy practices.

Why I Picked TherapyNotes: I chose TherapyNotes because of its tailored approach to the needs of therapy practices. Unlike other generic practice management tools, TherapyNotes provides features that align perfectly with the workflows of therapists. In my analysis, this focused functionality makes it stand out and qualifies it as best for therapy practices looking for a management tool that truly understands their workflow.

What do you get for free?

TherapyNotes offers a free trial which allows users to test the platform before making a commitment. The trial includes access to most of the platform's features but may limit certain functionalities or the number of entries that can be made.

Standout features & integrations:

One of TherapyNotes' standout features is its notes functionality, which offers therapy-specific templates and forms. Additionally, their integrated client portal, which facilitates secure client-therapist communication, is also noteworthy. In terms of integrations, TherapyNotes supports electronic insurance claim submission and credit card processing.

Open EMR is a robust solution that delivers medical practice management, EMR, and billing in a single platform. Its open-source nature provides healthcare providers with a versatile tool that can be fully customized to suit their needs, making it particularly useful for those requiring comprehensive open-source EMR functionality.

Why I Picked Open EMR: The reason for my choice to include Open EMR on this list comes down to its open-source nature. This aspect makes it highly flexible and capable of meeting diverse healthcare requirements. This software stands out due to its comprehensive offering that combines EMR, medical practice management, and billing, all in one system. I believe it is best for healthcare providers seeking a robust, customizable solution, as they can adapt this tool to fit their specific workflows and needs.

What do you get for free?

Open EMR offers its entire platform for free, which includes EMR, medical practice management, and billing features. Being open-source, it allows healthcare providers to customize the software to meet their needs. However, the onus of hosting and maintaining the software is on the user, which could involve costs related to server hosting, maintenance, and potential customization.

Standout features & integrations:

Open EMR provides a comprehensive set of features such as patient scheduling, e-prescribing, medical billing, and patient demographics. It also supports multilingual use and offers an inbuilt patient portal. Its integration with LabCorp and Quest facilitates laboratory operations.

CarePaths EHR is an electronic health record system primarily designed to serve behavioral health practices. It not only offers comprehensive EHR capabilities but also features integrated teletherapy functionalities, creating a complete solution for mental health professionals.

Why I Picked CarePaths EHR: I picked CarePaths EHR for its ability to comprehensively cater to the unique needs of behavioral health practices. Its standout feature is the integrated teletherapy function, which distinguishes it from other EHR systems. Given the increasing importance of remote therapy sessions, especially in the field of mental health, CarePaths EHR is, in my opinion, best for behavioral health practices seeking a solution with seamless teletherapy integration.

What do you get for free?

CarePaths EHR doesn't have a free tier, but they do offer a free trial. This trial period provides an opportunity to explore the tool's key features, including integrated teletherapy, though there might be limitations on usage or access to some advanced features.

Standout features & integrations:

CarePaths EHR is particularly noted for its robust EHR capabilities and its integrated teletherapy module. This integration allows mental health professionals to conduct therapy sessions remotely without needing a separate platform. CarePaths EHR also has useful integrations with medical billing software and other data management systems, which can further optimize practice management.

EHRZip is a comprehensive EHR tool offering secure, cloud-based patient data management capabilities. By providing a centralized platform for storing, accessing, and managing patient data, EHRZip can significantly streamline operations for healthcare providers.

Why I Picked EHRZip: I chose EHRZip for this list because of its impressive cloud-based patient data management features. This tool stands out in terms of its security measures and cloud-based approach, making it ideal for organizations focused on secure data management. EHRZip, in my opinion, is best for practices that prioritize secure, cloud-based patient data management.

What do you get for free?

EHRZip does not provide a free plan. However, they do offer a limited-time free trial, which allows users to experience the tool's capabilities, including secure patient data management, scheduling, and more, albeit with some restrictions.

Standout features & integrations:

EHRZip’s primary features are centered around its cloud-based patient data management system, which provides secure storage, easy access, and smooth data manipulation. This platform integrates well with various medical billing software, telehealth platforms, and laboratory systems, enhancing its overall functionality.

OpenMRS is an open-source Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platform built to bring customization to the forefront. It provides the tools necessary for healthcare practices to adapt the system to their unique requirements, making it best for flexible customization across various settings.

Why I Picked OpenMRS: I chose OpenMRS for its unique emphasis on adaptability. During my selection process, it was clear that OpenMRS's ability to mold itself to various healthcare scenarios set it apart. This tool shines in offering custom solutions for different healthcare settings, whether it's a private clinic or a large hospital, thereby justifying its position as "best for flexible customization in various healthcare settings."

What do you get for free?

OpenMRS, being open-source, is free to use. It offers a robust set of features, including patient records, appointment scheduling, and data analysis. Note that, similar to other open-source platforms, some technical know-how may be required for installation and management.

Standout features & integrations:

OpenMRS boasts a customizable EMR system, a module-based architecture, and a robust data analysis tool. Its system can be tailored to fit specific workflows, making it a valuable asset for any healthcare setup. In terms of integrations, its open-source nature enables it to be potentially integrated with various other platforms, given the required technical expertise.