NextGen Healthcare 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 #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 / The 11 Best EHR Software for Medical Practices (2026) | #1 / The 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.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.