SimplePractice vs. FFT Premier for Christian Counselors

A Christian counselor comparing SimplePractice with Find Faith Therapy Premier should begin with the work that needs a home: public discovery, intake, appointments, counselor-written notes, and client communication. The lowest advertised plan is useful only if it supports that work.

Find Faith Therapy Premier has a lower standard annual subscription than twelve monthly payments on any of SimplePractice's three standard solo plans. It also includes a directory built specifically for Christian counselors. SimplePractice brings integrated telehealth and insurance workflows that FFT does not provide. Those differences matter more than a claim that either product wins every category.

Published by Find Faith Therapy, one of the products compared. Prepared with AI assistance. Public sources checked October 6, 2026. Prices and offers can change; this comparison does not establish equivalent features or total operating costs.

Compare the subscription before building the package

All amounts are USD. FFT Premier is $428.46 per year paid upfront, or $39.99 per month. Twelve monthly payments total $479.88.

The NCCA member offer provides 25% off annual subscriptions, with a displayed Premier annual price of $321.34. A current-year NCCA membership card must be accepted before discounted checkout and at each annual renewal; otherwise the regular annual price applies. The offer excludes monthly plans, organization plans and session payment fees, and cannot be combined with other offers. If a current-year card is accepted after a regular-price annual renewal, FFT automatically refunds 25% of the unused portion of that annual term. For the current offer terms, open the pricing page and choose See NCCA member pricing.

SimplePractice's standard monthly prices are $49 for Starter, $79 for Essential, and $99 for Plus. Twelve months total $588, $948, or $1,188 before other fees. Its displayed three-month discount for eligible new subscribers is introductory pricing, not the continuing rate. SimplePractice pricing.

There is also a mandatory $20 annual AMA fee per paid clinician for CPT code access, including clinicians who do not bill insurance. For 2026, SimplePractice says this fee will appear on the November invoice and be charged on the regular November invoicing date. At standard rates, twelve subscription payments plus that fee total $608 for Starter, $968 for Essential, or $1,208 for Plus, before taxes, transactions and optional services. SimplePractice AMA fee FAQ.

For an eligible NCCA member, FFT's $321.34 annual payment is $626.66 below twelve $79 Essential subscription payments ($948). Including SimplePractice's separate mandatory $20 annual AMA fee makes that fixed-cost difference $646.66. FFT requires annual payment upfront in this comparison; Essential is paid monthly. Neither difference represents total savings after payment processing, add-ons or transition costs.

The annual FFT payment is a larger upfront commitment than one monthly bill. Budget for the actual payment date rather than treating its $35.71 effective monthly figure as monthly billing.

Why Essential is often the useful comparison

SimplePractice Starter includes online appointment requests, telehealth, a professional website and Therapy Finder. However, Starter does not include secure messaging or calendar sync. Intake forms can be customized on all plans; broader progress-note and other-document customization requires Essential or Plus. If custom counselor-written notes and secure messaging are requirements, Essential is the closer solo package. It is not identical to Premier. Confirm your specialty and listing eligibility in the Therapy Finder setup guide. SimplePractice plan comparison.

Do not pay for Plus merely because it is the highest tier. Write down the specific additional capability you need, such as a team or appointment-request widget, and check its plan placement. Equally, do not assume Starter supplies a feature because it appears somewhere on the company's website.

What FFT's Christian focus adds

Find Faith Therapy is Christian-founded and Christian-led, with the company being built specifically for independent Christian counselors. That is the company's own description of its mission and leadership, rather than a judgment about another founder's faith.

Premier brings Growth directory tools and selected practice software into one subscription. A counselor can describe their Christian counseling approach, self-attested qualifications, ministry or certification basis, service format and availability in a public profile, then use the practice workspace for their own administration. The potential advantage is a consistent home for discovery and practice work without adding a separate FFT Growth subscription.

Faith preferences and consent also belong in the administrative conversation. A form can help document what a counselee has agreed to discuss; it cannot grant the platform spiritual authority or establish that a counselor is qualified for a particular concern. Counselors remain responsible for their services, forms and records. FFT does not independently verify or approve listing claims. Explore FFT plans and setup.

Where SimplePractice may fit better

If integrated video and electronic insurance claims are essential, evaluate those requirements directly. FFT meetings take place in external Google Meet, and FFT does not process insurance claims or supply in-app telehealth. Moving away from an established insurance workflow to save on a subscription can create additional work elsewhere.

Payments also need their own line in the budget. SimplePractice lists integrated card processing at 3.15% plus $0.30 per successful transaction. FFT's selected practice-payment structure is a 1% platform fee, capped at $10 per counselor per UTC calendar month, plus separate Stripe processing fees. For current FFT payment-fee details, open its pricing page and choose Explore counselor plans and tools. Check the available account setup and processor terms before comparing the amount retained from a payment. A lower subscription is not automatically a lower total. SimplePractice pricing FAQ.

Build a requirement-to-plan map

Use a fictional test counselee and record the following before committing:

1. Public discovery: Where will a person see your faith approach, scope and availability? Record the listing or website included, and any separate subscription.
2. Intake: Create one practice-policy form and one optional faith-preference question. Check how consent is recorded and corrected.
3. Appointments: Request a time, decline it, reschedule it and check the external calendar. Record which package enables each step.
4. Manual notes: Write a short fictional administrative note using your preferred headings. Confirm whether customization requires an upgrade.
5. Messages: Send a fictional portal message and check the recipient's access. Record any feature that is unavailable on the proposed plan.
6. Money and exit: Price one typical payment, then ask how authorized records can be exported if you leave.

Beside each requirement write demonstrated, requires setup, or unanswered, followed by its price. Confirm FFT practice-feature availability and activation before using private counselee records or collecting real payments. A pricing page alone does not establish that readiness.

Choose FFT Premier when its Christian counselor focus, included directory and demonstrated practice workflow match your requirements at an acceptable total cost. Choose a broader package when its additional clinical or billing capabilities are necessary. The Christian counselor setup guide can help turn that choice into a concrete setup checklist.