Soap Notes vs Paperbell
Soap Notes vs Paperbell: pricing & features compared
Paperbell is a simple, coaching-native tool with contracts and packages built in. Soap Notes covers the same admin and adds structured SOAP session notes, a more generous free plan, and a fit for therapists as well as coaches.
The short version
Choose Paperbell if you're a coach who mainly needs booking, packages, and contracts. Choose Soap Notes if structured session notes matter, you also serve therapy or cash-pay clients, or you want a more generous free plan.
Paperbell and Soap Notes are both all-in-one tools that handle booking, payments, and clients in one place, and both are a big step up from juggling separate apps. The difference is focus. Paperbell is built purely for coaches and leans into contracts, packages, and a polished checkout. Soap Notes adds structured SOAP session notes, works for therapists and cash-pay practices as well as coaches, starts free for up to five clients, and keeps pricing flat as you grow.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Soap Notes | Paperbell |
|---|---|---|
| Free planPaperbell's free plan has full features but caps you at a single client; Soap Notes' free Starter supports up to five. | Up to 5 clients | 1 client |
| Starting paid price | $36/mo (Standard, billed annually) | $47/mo (billed annually) |
| SOAP / structured session notesPaperbell offers simple client notes; Soap Notes provides structured SOAP fields and reusable templates. | Basic notes | |
| Reusable note templates | ||
| Scheduling with reminders | ||
| Secure client portal | ||
| Invoicing & card payments | Via Stripe | |
| Session packages | ||
| Contracts & e-signatures | ||
| Built for therapists & clinical use | Coaches only | |
| Data encryption & role-based access | ||
| Pricing model | Flat plans, incl. free | One flat plan |
Who each one is best for
Soap Notes is best for
- Practitioners who want structured SOAP / session notes
- Therapists and cash-pay practices, not only coaches
- Anyone who wants a free plan beyond a single client
- Practices that want notes, scheduling, and billing in one record
Paperbell is best for
- Coaches who want contracts and e-signatures built in
- Coaches selling packages with a polished checkout
- Those who want pay-what-you-can and flexible payment plans
- Coaches who don't need clinical or structured documentation
Pricing compared
Soap Notes
Flat plans, including a free tier
Starter
Up to 5 active clients
Free
Standard
$36/mo billed annually · unlimited clients
$45/mo
Teams
$65/mo billed annually · team features
$81/mo
Paperbell
Per clinician, per month
Free
Full features, 1 client only
Free
Paid
$47/mo billed annually · unlimited clients
$57/mo
Paperbell pricing shown as of June 2026. Check paperbell.com for current pricing. Soap Notes prices reflect our current plans.
When Soap Notes is the better choice
If the heart of your work is the session itself — documenting what happened in a structured, repeatable way — Paperbell's lightweight notes will feel thin. Soap Notes is built around SOAP-structured documentation, works for therapists and cash-pay practices as well as coaches, and its free plan supports up to five clients rather than one. As you grow, pricing stays flat and predictable.
When Paperbell is the better choice
If you're a coach whose day revolves around selling packages, signing contracts, and a smooth checkout — and structured clinical notes aren't important to you — Paperbell does that elegantly with contracts and e-signatures built in. For a pure coaching business that lives in proposals and bookings, it's a strong, simple fit.
Already using Paperbell?
See how to switch to Soap Notes at your own pace.
Frequently asked questions
Try Soap Notes free
Notes, scheduling, invoicing, and a client portal in one place, free to start, no credit card required.