NextGen Healthcare vs athenahealth
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of athenahealth vs Epic Systems vs Oracle Health: 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices 2026. Last verified June 15, 2026.
The short answer
athenahealth ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #5) 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
| NextGen Healthcare | athenahealth | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #5 / athenahealth vs Epic Systems vs Oracle Health: 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices 2026 | #1 / athenahealth vs Epic Systems vs Oracle Health: 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices 2026 |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.4 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Specialty practices needing customization | Networked, cloud-based practices |
| Pricing | $$$ ($379 to $649/mo/provider) | $$$$ ($500 to $900/mo/provider) |
| HQ | Atlanta, GA, USA | Watertown, MA, USA |
| Founded | 1974 | 1997 |
NextGen Healthcare
Best for specialty practices that require highly customizable clinical templates.
www.nextgen.comathenahealth
Best for network intelligence and cloud-based revenue cycle management in ambulatory settings.
www.athenahealth.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.