Best Mentalyc Alternative for 2026

Why Therapists Look for Mentalyc Alternatives

Mentalyc has become a popular AI scribe for mental health professionals. It records therapy sessions, transcribes them, and generates clinical notes. For some therapists, this workflow works perfectly.

However, many clinicians are searching for alternatives because of two fundamental limitations:

1. Recording Requirement

Mentalyc requires you to record your sessions to generate notes. While this can be convenient, many therapists have concerns:

• Client discomfort - Some clients are uncomfortable with session recording, even with consent. This can affect the therapeutic relationship and client openness.
• Telehealth limitations - Recording virtual sessions adds complexity to your workflow and may require additional consent processes.
• Privacy considerations - Even with HIPAA compliance, some therapists prefer to minimize the amount of recorded PHI.
• Settings where recording isn't practical - Home visits, group therapy in shared spaces, or sessions with minors where parent consent is complex.

2. Mental Health Only

Mentalyc is designed specifically for mental health professionals. This focus is great for therapists, but it means:

• If you work across disciplines (e.g., a counselor who also does case management or occupational therapy), you need multiple tools.
• The note formats and terminology are optimized for psychotherapy, not other healthcare settings.
• Practices with mixed disciplines (PT, OT, SLP, nursing, mental health) can't standardize on one solution.

How SOAP Note Buddy Works Differently

SOAP Note Buddy takes a fundamentally different approach to AI-powered clinical documentation.

No Recording Required

Instead of recording and transcribing your sessions, SOAP Note Buddy works directly with your EHR. Here's the workflow:

1. You add basic patient information (eval summary, key goals, treatment focus)
2. After your session, you jot a quick note about what you did (or use voice input)
3. Click one button - SOAP Note Buddy fills every field in your EHR documentation automatically

No audio files. No transcription. No waiting. Your notes are generated in seconds based on your brief input and patient context.

Works for All Healthcare Disciplines

SOAP Note Buddy isn't limited to mental health. It works for:

• Physical Therapy (PT, PTA)
• Occupational Therapy (OT, COTA)
• Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
• Mental Health / Counseling
• Nursing
• Social Work
• Any discipline that uses clinical documentation

The AI adapts to whatever fields are in your EHR, generating appropriate content for your specialty.

Works With Any Web-Based EHR

As a Chrome extension, SOAP Note Buddy works with any EHR that runs in a web browser. No integrations to set up, no IT department approval needed. Just install and start documenting.

Mentalyc vs SOAP Note Buddy: Feature Comparison

Mentalyc Pros and Cons

SOAP Note Buddy Pros and Cons

Who Should Choose Mentalyc vs SOAP Note Buddy?

Choose Mentalyc If:

• You're comfortable recording all your therapy sessions
• Your clients are generally okay with session recording
• You work exclusively in mental health / psychotherapy
• You want verbatim or near-verbatim session documentation
• You prefer transcription-based note generation

Choose SOAP Note Buddy If:

• You prefer not to record your sessions
• You work in physical therapy, occupational therapy, SLP, nursing, or multiple disciplines
• You want the fastest possible documentation workflow
• You need something that works with any web-based EHR without IT setup
• You want simple, predictable pricing
• Some of your clients are uncomfortable with recording