Epic Systems vs athenahealth
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026). Last verified June 15, 2026.
The short answer
athenahealth ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #2) for Physicians and practice managers choosing an electronic health records system. Best for network intelligence and cloud-based revenue cycle management in ambulatory settings.
At a glance
| Epic Systems | athenahealth | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026) | #1 / The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.1 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Large integrated health systems | Networked, cloud-based practices |
| Pricing | $$$$$ (Implementation costs in millions) | $$$$ ($500 to $900/mo/provider) |
| HQ | Verona, WI, USA | Watertown, MA, USA |
| Founded | 1979 | 1997 |
Epic Systems
The gold standard for large hospitals needing a single, unified patient record.
www.epic.comSee full entry in The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026)
athenahealth
Best for network intelligence and cloud-based revenue cycle management in ambulatory settings.
www.athenahealth.comSee full entry in The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.