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Head-to-head · Patient Portal Software

healow vs CharmHealth Patient Portal

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score healow #1 in Patient Portal Software 9.2/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit healow
CharmHealth Patient Portal #4 in Patient Portal Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit CharmHealth

healow leads on 0 checks, CharmHealth Patient Portal on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorehealow · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresCharmHealth Patient Portal · 4 of 4

healow scores higher on our rubric for patient portal software: 9.2 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

healow is the better fit for practices wanting a full-featured patient portal. CharmHealth Patient Portal is the better fit for practices wanting a free portal with mobile access.

  • healow fits best

    Practices wanting a full-featured patient portal

  • CharmHealth Patient Portal fits best

    Practices wanting a free portal with mobile access

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature healow 9.2/10 Visit ↗ CharmHealth Patient Portal 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.8
Ranking #1 in Patient Portal Software #4 in Patient Portal Software
Best for Practices wanting a full-featured patient portal Practices wanting a free portal with mobile access
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan · pricing on request —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Email, Live chat, Docs
Compliance HIPAA HIPAA
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features healow 1/4 · CharmHealth Patient Portal 4/4
Secure messaging ✓ ✓
Record access Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Online payments Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Digital forms Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Appointment tools Not checked yet Self-schedule
Mobile access Not checked yet Web-and-app
Our review
Pros
  • Free patient portal and app access for patients
  • Combines scheduling, digital intake, messaging, reminders, and telehealth
  • Web and mobile access with HIPAA compliance
  • Patients can access records, visit summaries, lab results and medications.
  • Supports secure messaging, appointment requests, forms, refills and telehealth.
  • Available on the web and through iOS and Android apps.
Cons
  • Practice-facing products require contacting sales
  • Patient feature availability can vary by practice
  • Support channels listed are limited to documentation
  • The Free Plan is limited to 50 encounters per month and 100 portal patients.
  • Online payments require the practice to enable prepaid billing or a payment gateway.
  • Paid portal access is included in EHR plans with encounter-based or provider pricing.
Our verdict

For practices that want patients to handle more of the care journey online, healow combines a patient portal and mobile app with appointment booking, digital check-in, records access, secure messaging, reminders, telehealth, and bill…

Read the review →

Patients and family members can use CharmHealth Patient Portal, also called Charm Personal Health Record, to access and manage health information online. It suits practices that want patients to handle common portal tasks through a browser…

Read the review →
  1. healowPatient Portal Software 9.2Free plan · pricing on request
  2. CharmHealth Patient PortalPatient Portal Software 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • healow — where it wins

    • Free patient portal and app access for patients
    • Combines scheduling, digital intake, messaging, reminders, and telehealth
    • Web and mobile access with HIPAA compliance

    Where it doesn't

    • Practice-facing products require contacting sales
    • Patient feature availability can vary by practice
    • Support channels listed are limited to documentation

  • CharmHealth Patient Portal — where it wins

    • Patients can access records, visit summaries, lab results and medications.
    • Supports secure messaging, appointment requests, forms, refills and telehealth.
    • Available on the web and through iOS and Android apps.

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free Plan is limited to 50 encounters per month and 100 portal patients.
    • Online payments require the practice to enable prepaid billing or a payment gateway.
    • Paid portal access is included in EHR plans with encounter-based or provider pricing.
  • healow9.2/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

    A broad patient portal spanning records, scheduling, intake, messaging, telehealth, and payments.

    Visit healowFull verdict →
  • CharmHealth Patient Portal8.8/10 · Free plan

    A broad patient portal with web and mobile access, plus a free plan with usage limits.

    Visit CharmHealthFull verdict →

More comparisons

All patient portal software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update