EMR Systems List: Complete Guide to Electronic Medical Records (2026)
The most comprehensive EMR systems list for 2026. Compare 20+ electronic medical record systems organized by type, pricing, specialty, and practice size.
Quick Take: Epic dominates hospitals (36% share). athenahealth leads ambulatory RCM. DrChrono and Kareo are best for small practices. Add PatientNotes AI ($50/mo) to any EMR for automated documentation.
20+ EMR Systems
Independently researched
The EMR Market in 2026
There are over 500 certified EMR/EHR systems in the United States, but the top 10 account for roughly 80% of the market. Whether you call them EMR (Electronic Medical Records) or EHR (Electronic Health Records), choosing the right system is one of the most important technology decisions a healthcare organization can make.
This EMR systems list covers every major category: hospital/inpatient systems (Epic, Cerner, MEDITECH), ambulatory/outpatient systems (athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, DrChrono), free and open-source options (Practice Fusion, OpenEMR), and specialty-specific solutions for dental, mental health, veterinary, and more.
EMR vs EHR: What's the Difference?
EMR (Electronic Medical Record) is the digital chart within one practice. EHR (Electronic Health Record) adds interoperability—sharing data across organizations. In 2026, most systems are technically EHRs, but "EMR" remains the more commonly searched term.
Hospital & Enterprise EMR Systems
The "Big Three" hospital EMR vendors serve over 75% of US hospitals.
Epic Systems
Verona, WI • Inpatient + Ambulatory • On-premise & hosted cloud
Market Share
~36% of US hospitals
Pricing
$1,000-2,500/provider/mo
Best For
Large health systems, academic medical centers, IDNs
Notable Clients
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic
Key Modules:
Strengths
- Most comprehensive feature set
- Dominant interoperability network
- MyChart patient engagement leader
- Best clinical decision support
- Best-in-class analytics
Limitations
- Very expensive ($1M-500M+ implementation)
- Long timeline (12-24 months)
- Requires dedicated IT team
- Vendor lock-in risk
Oracle Health (Cerner)
Kansas City, MO • Inpatient + Ambulatory • Cloud (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure)
Market Share
~25% of US hospitals
Pricing
$800-2,000/provider/mo
Best For
Federal/VA hospitals, large health systems wanting cloud-native
Notable Clients
US VA, US DoD, Advent Health, CommonSpirit Health
Key Modules:
Strengths
- Oracle cloud infrastructure
- Strong federal/government presence
- Open platform approach
- AI/ML investments
- Global presence
Limitations
- Transition uncertainty post-acquisition
- Implementation complexity
- Interface can feel dated
- Customer support in transition
MEDITECH
Canton, MA • Inpatient + Ambulatory • Cloud (MaaS) & on-premise
Market Share
~16% of US hospitals
Pricing
$500-1,500/provider/mo
Best For
Community hospitals, rural facilities, critical access hospitals
Notable Clients
Community hospitals nationwide, Canadian hospitals, UK NHS
Key Modules:
Strengths
- More affordable than Epic/Cerner
- Good for community hospitals
- Expanse modernized
- Strong international presence
Limitations
- Less customizable than Epic
- Smaller ecosystem
- Limited ambulatory depth
- Fewer specialty templates
Ambulatory & Outpatient EMR Systems
Cloud-based EMR systems designed for physician offices, clinics, and outpatient practices.
athenahealth
Cloud-based • ~6% ambulatory
Growing practices wanting comprehensive RCM
Specialties: Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Orthopedics
Strengths
- Best-in-class revenue cycle
- Strong interoperability
- Cloud-native with regular updates
Limitations
- Higher price point
- Long-term contracts
- Steeper learning curve
eClinicalWorks
Cloud or On-premise • ~5% ambulatory
Multi-specialty groups wanting all-in-one platform
Specialties: Multi-specialty, Primary Care, Urgent Care, Cardiology
Strengths
- Comprehensive all-in-one
- Strong telehealth (healow)
- Good specialty templates
Limitations
- Complex interface
- Long contracts
- Support inconsistent
NextGen Healthcare
Cloud or On-premise • ~4% ambulatory
Specialty practices needing deep customization
Specialties: Behavioral Health, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Dermatology
Strengths
- Deep specialty content
- Strong behavioral health
- Comprehensive RCM
Limitations
- Dated interface
- Expensive implementation
- Support can be slow
DrChrono
Cloud-based (iPad-native) • ~2% ambulatory
Mobile-first practices, tech-savvy physicians
Specialties: Primary Care, Urgent Care, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery
Strengths
- Best iPad experience
- Modern interface
- Flexible monthly contracts
Limitations
- Desktop less polished
- Less robust for large practices
Kareo / Tebra
Cloud-based • ~4% ambulatory
Independent practices wanting integrated marketing
Specialties: Primary Care, Mental Health, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy
Strengths
- All-in-one with marketing
- Easy onboarding
- Affordable
Limitations
- Less customizable
- Reporting limitations
- Mobile needs work
Elation Health
Cloud-based • ~1.5% ambulatory
Primary care and DPC/concierge practices
Specialties: Primary Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, DPC
Strengths
- Designed for primary care
- Excellent patient timeline
- Great UX
Limitations
- Limited specialty support
- Higher price
- Fewer integrations
AdvancedMD
Cloud-based • ~3% ambulatory
Practices wanting reliable cloud with strong PM
Specialties: Primary Care, Mental Health, Dermatology, Pain Management
Strengths
- Excellent uptime
- Strong practice management
- Good reporting
Limitations
- Higher starting price
- Learning curve
- Add-on costs
Works with Every EMR System on This List
PatientNotes AI scribe integrates with any EMR. Ambient listening captures your patient conversations and generates structured clinical notes you paste right into your EMR.
- Ambient listening—no dictation needed
- SOAP, H&P, progress notes in seconds
- Works with any EMR via clipboard or integration
- Just $50/month—cheapest AI scribe
Smart Strategy: Affordable EMR + AI Scribe
Better docs than premium EMRs costing 2-3x more
Free & Open Source EMR Systems
Budget-friendly options for startups, free clinics, and tech-savvy practices.
Practice Fusion
Free (ad-supported)Free core EHR
Budget-conscious small practices and startups
Key Features:
Limitations:
Ads in interface, limited customization, basic support, fewer integrations
OpenEMR
Open Source (self-hosted)Free (hosting $50-300/mo)
Tech-savvy practices, free clinics, international
Key Features:
Limitations:
Requires technical expertise, self-maintained, no official support, dated interface
LibreHealth
Open Source (self-hosted)Free
Developers wanting fully customizable EHR
Key Features:
Limitations:
Requires development resources, small community, limited documentation
Specialty-Specific EMR Systems
Purpose-built EMR systems designed for specific healthcare specialties with deeper workflows and templates.
Jane App
$54-119 CAD/practitioner/mo
PT, chiropractic, massage, psychology
Beautiful interface, excellent online booking, integrated payments
TherapyNotes
$49-59/clinician/mo
Psychologists, counselors, social workers
Purpose-built for therapy, integrated telehealth, claim submission
SimplePractice
$29-99/clinician/mo
Solo therapists and small group practices
Easy onboarding, client portal, insurance billing, telehealth
Dentrix / Eaglesoft
$300-500/mo per office
Dental practices of all sizes
Comprehensive dental charting, imaging integration, insurance mgmt
Cornerstone / AVImark
$200-400/mo per practice
Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals
Species-specific templates, lab integration, inventory management
ModMed
$500-800/provider/mo
Procedural specialties wanting deep focus
AI-powered specialty workflows, procedure docs, image management
ChiroTouch
$159-299/provider/mo
Chiropractic practices
SOAP note automation, outcome assessments, compliance tools
Netsmart
Custom enterprise pricing
Large behavioral health organizations, CHCs
Comprehensive behavioral health, substance use, child welfare
EMR Recommendations by Practice Size
Quick recommendations based on your practice size and budget.
Solo Practice (1 provider)
Budget: $50-300/mo
Tip: Start affordable. Add PatientNotes AI ($50/mo) for documentation automation with any EMR.
Small Group (2-5 providers)
Budget: $200-500/provider/mo
Tip: Look for good scheduling, shared workflows, and internal messaging.
Medium Group (6-25 providers)
Budget: $300-700/provider/mo
Tip: Prioritize revenue cycle management, population health, and reporting.
Large Group / Health System (25+)
Budget: $500-2,500/provider/mo
Tip: Enterprise implementations require 12-24 months. Factor in total cost including IT staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular EMR systems in 2026?
The most popular EMR systems in 2026 are Epic (36% hospital market share), Oracle Health/Cerner (25%), MEDITECH (16%), athenahealth (6% ambulatory), eClinicalWorks (5%), and NextGen Healthcare (4%). For small practices, DrChrono, Kareo/Tebra, Practice Fusion, and Elation Health are popular choices.
What is the difference between EMR and EHR?
EMR (Electronic Medical Record) is the digital version of a patient chart within a single practice. EHR (Electronic Health Record) is broader—it includes the EMR plus the ability to share patient data across different healthcare organizations. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. Most modern systems are technically EHRs since they support interoperability.
How many EMR systems are there?
There are over 500 certified EHR/EMR products in the US as of 2026, listed on the ONC Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL). However, the top 10 systems account for approximately 80% of the market.
How much do EMR systems cost?
EMR costs vary widely: Free options (Practice Fusion, OpenEMR) exist but have limitations. Cloud-based systems for small practices range from $100-500/provider/month. Enterprise systems like Epic can cost $1,000-2,500/provider/month with implementation costs of $100K-$1M+.
What EMR system do most hospitals use?
Epic dominates the hospital EMR market with approximately 36% market share and is used by most of the top 100 US hospitals. Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) holds about 25%. MEDITECH serves about 16%, particularly community hospitals.
Can I use an AI scribe with any EMR system?
Yes, AI medical scribes like PatientNotes work with any EMR system. They capture patient conversations via ambient listening and generate structured clinical notes that you paste into your EMR. PatientNotes starts at $50/month and works with Epic, Cerner, athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, and all other major systems.
Supercharge Any EMR with AI Documentation
PatientNotes works alongside your EMR to automatically generate clinical notes from patient conversations. Save 2+ hours daily—starting at just $50/month.
No credit card required • Works with any EMR • HIPAA compliant