Klarify vs Mentalyc (2026): An Honest Comparison

Written by the Klarify team · Updated August 18, 2026 · Pricing verified August 18, 2026

We build Klarify, a competing AI note tool — read this as an informed competitor’s teardown, not a neutral review. The short answer: Mentalyc suits US practices that want progress tracking and alliance analytics; Klarify suits Canadian therapists who want notes stored in Canada, a French interface, and a free plan. Both write strong AI progress notes.

Methodology: this comparison is desk research of both companies’ public documentation and pricing pages, verified on August 18, 2026. We have not run a hands-on trial of Mentalyc, and we do not claim to have. Every Mentalyc claim below comes from mentalyc.com or mentalyc.com/pricing; every Klarify claim comes from klarify.ca or the product itself. Prices change — re-check before you buy.

If you are weighing more than two tools, start with our roundup of the best AI therapy note tools, or see Klarify vs Upheal for the other head-to-head.

Klarify vs Mentalyc at a Glance

The one-table version: Mentalyc is deeper on clinical analytics and US compliance attestation; Klarify is the Canadian option, with in-country note storage, a full French interface, a permanent free tier, and an assistant that goes beyond notes into session prep, letters, and mindmaps. Pricing units differ — Klarify counts sessions per month, Mentalyc counts notes.

Pricing and claims verified on both companies’ public pages, August 18, 2026.

What Is Mentalyc?

Mentalyc is an AI documentation platform for therapists — tagline “Be fully present. Leave with everything done.” It generates progress, intake, and supervision notes from four capture modes: live recording (in person or telehealth), audio upload, dictation, or a typed summary. Its distinguishing layer is analytics: automatic symptom and goal tracking without questionnaires, and Alliance Genie™ therapeutic-alliance scores.

Credit where it is due — Mentalyc has real strengths a comparison page should not bury:

• The broadest clinical document list in this matchup. Beyond SOAP/DAP-style progress notes, it generates intake notes, supervision notes, mental status exams, biopsychosocial assessments, narrative notes, and verbatim transcripts, with discharge notes listed as coming soon.

• Analytics no one else in this comparison offers. Symptom and goal progress tracked across sessions without administering questionnaires, plus alliance scoring. If you want your documentation tool to double as an outcomes lens, this is Mentalyc’s lane.

• Dictation as a first-class capture mode. Klarify does not offer dictation; Mentalyc does.

• Compliance attestation. SOC 2 Type 2, a BAA, and named claims for HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, PIPA, PHIA, and Australia’s APP. It also states that session audio is processed and immediately deleted and that your data is never used to train AI models.

• Wide client-type coverage — individual, couples, families, group, child, and supervisee.

The trade-offs: no permanent free plan, USD-only pricing, self-declared US data residency, and no mention of French anywhere on its homepage or pricing page.

Best for: US-based practices that want documentation plus measurable progress and alliance analytics, with formal compliance attestation.

What Is Klarify?

Klarify is a Canadian AI assistant for therapists — “built and secured in Canada,” with PHIPA, PIPEDA, and HIPAA compliance stated up front. It records sessions in the browser (up to 3 hours each), accepts uploaded audio files up to 5 GB, or takes a pasted transcript up to 300,000 characters, then drafts your note in your chosen format and detail level (brief, detailed, or very detailed).

What you get beyond the note itself:

• 21 built-in formats plus custom templates. SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIE, and CBT are there, and so are modality-specific formats most tools skip: IFS, ACT, EFT, SFT, Gottman, EMDR, plus couple, family, and group notes and an insurance-friendly format. Custom templates can be generated from an existing note, a partial template, or a plain description.

• Klara, the built-in assistant. Session prep (“what should I focus on with this client?”), drafting and editing notes in any format, client emails, referral letters, return-to-work reports, and treatment plans by modality.

• Session context, mindmaps, and reflection questions. After each session, Klarify surfaces themes and patterns, builds an interactive mindmap, and drafts reflection questions you can share with the client.

• Insurance support — an insurance-friendly note format and insurance claim filing.

• Retention controls. Auto-delete audio only, transcript plus audio, or the whole session — immediately, or after 1, 7, 14, 30, or 180 days. Session audio is purged from storage within 14 days regardless.

• French, properly. The full interface ships in English and French, and Français (Canada) is a supported session and note language (multi-language sessions are plan-gated; Spanish and Italian are also supported).

One verified therapist quote, for flavour rather than proof: “Klarify has been an absolute game changer for my clinical practice! Without a doubt the session recording and note taking have saved me countless hours.” — Samantha Short, Counsellor, MA, MSEd, RCC (klarify.ca)

Best for: Canadian therapists — especially bilingual or francophone clinicians — who want notes stored in Canada, a free tier to start on, and an assistant that handles the paperwork around the note, not just the note.

How Do Klarify and Mentalyc Prices Compare?

Klarify starts free and undercuts Mentalyc’s month-to-month prices at the entry and mid tiers, but the units differ: Klarify meters sessions per month, Mentalyc meters notes and transcripts per month. For a typical solo caseload where one session produces one note, the tiers line up roughly as shown below — Klarify’s $16 plan covers 70 sessions where Mentalyc’s $19.99 plan covers 40 notes.

Klarify (prices displayed in USD, monthly; CAD billing supported):

Some Klarify features — uploading existing audio, custom templates, and multi-language sessions — are plan-gated; check the live pricing page for which plan includes which.

Mentalyc (USD only):

Three observations, all from the tables above:

• The free tier is the structural difference. Mentalyc’s 14-day trial (full Pro access, 15 notes, no credit card) is generous as trials go, but it ends. Klarify’s Seed plan is $0 indefinitely at 10 sessions a month — enough for a small caseload or a slow migration.

• Per-unit cost favours Klarify. At the entry tiers, Klarify works out to roughly $0.23 per session ($16 ÷ 70) against Mentalyc’s roughly $0.50 per note ($19.99 ÷ 40). The gap narrows at the mid tiers ($32 for 130 sessions vs $39.99 for 100 notes) but does not close.

• Mentalyc rewards annual commitment; Klarify’s displayed prices are monthly. If you are certain about a tool, Mentalyc’s annual billing takes 14–25% off, depending on the tier. Mentalyc also offers a pre-licensed therapist discount by application.

Pricing verified August 18, 2026. Both vendors change prices and promos — confirm on their live pricing pages before purchasing.

Which Note Formats Does Each Tool Support?

Klarify ships 21 built-in formats plus custom templates; Mentalyc covers the classic acronym formats plus assessment-style documents. The honest summary: Mentalyc is stronger on assessment and supervision documents (MSE, biopsychosocial, supervision notes), while Klarify is stronger on modality-specific therapy formats (IFS, ACT, EFT, SFT, Gottman) and relational session types (couple, family, group).

If your documentation load is heavy on intakes, assessments, and supervision, Mentalyc’s list maps to it directly. If your notes need to reflect how you actually practise — an EFT session documented as EFT, not squeezed into SOAP — Klarify’s modality formats and custom templates are the better fit.

Which Tool Is Better for Canadian Therapists?

Klarify, and not by a small margin — but be precise about why. Both tools claim PHIPA and PIPEDA compliance, so the compliance checkboxes tie. The differences are residency, language, and market focus: Mentalyc states US-based data residency on its own homepage, prices in USD only, and does not mention French; Klarify stores transcripts and generated notes in Canada, ships a full French interface, and supports CAD billing.

Worth unpacking, because compliance claims and residency are not the same thing:

• Residency. Mentalyc says, verbatim, “US-based data residency.” That is not automatically disqualifying, but it changes your consent conversation and your college’s risk calculus. Klarify stores session transcripts and generated notes in AWS’s Canadian region (ca-central-1, Montréal). One honest caveat that applies to Klarify too: the AI inference step runs outside Canada — the Canadian difference is where your transcripts and finished notes live.

• Your college still sets the record-keeping standard. CRPO, OPQ, OCSWSSW, and BCACC each publish their own expectations for records and third-party tools — check yours rather than assuming any vendor’s compliance page settles it.

• French. For OPQ or OTSTCFQ members, or any clinician practising in French: Klarify’s interface is fully bilingual and Français (Canada) is a supported session and note language. Mentalyc’s homepage and pricing page are silent on French.

• Currency. Mentalyc bills in USD only, so your subscription cost floats with the exchange rate. Klarify displays USD prices but supports CAD billing.

How Do Privacy and Security Compare?

Both vendors say the right things about your data; they attest differently. Mentalyc leads on third-party attestation (SOC 2 Type 2, BAA) and deletes session audio immediately. Klarify leads on residency and configurable retention. Both state plainly that your data is never used to train AI models.

Two honest notes. First, Mentalyc’s immediate audio deletion is the stricter default — Klarify’s default is 14 days, and you have to set auto-delete to “immediately” yourself if that is your standard. Second, Klarify does not publish a SOC 2 report or BAA terms; if your practice or group requires either document, Mentalyc has it today. For a broader look at how note tools handle recordings and PHI, see our guide to HIPAA-compliant dictation apps for therapists.

The Verdict

Choose Mentalyc if…

• You practise in the US, bill US insurers, and want the BAA and SOC 2 Type 2 report to show for it.

• You want documentation that doubles as outcomes data — symptom and goal tracking without questionnaires, plus alliance scores.

• Your workload is heavy on intakes, MSEs, biopsychosocial assessments, or supervision notes.

• You want dictation as a capture mode.

• You want a vendor that names your EHR — SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and Jane App are all on its integration list.

Choose Klarify if…

• You practise in Canada and want your transcripts and notes stored in Canada, with PHIPA and PIPEDA named up front.

• You work in French — the interface is fully bilingual and Français (Canada) is a supported session language.

• You want a real free plan ($0, 10 sessions a month) rather than a time-boxed trial.

• Your notes should match your modality — IFS, ACT, EFT, SFT, Gottman, EMDR — or your own custom template.

• You want the assistant to handle the paperwork around the note too: session prep, referral letters, treatment plans, mindmaps, reflection questions, insurance claim filing.

• You want retention on your terms — auto-delete audio, transcripts, or entire sessions on the schedule you choose.

Klarify drafts your progress notes while you stay with the client — start on the free plan. Ten sessions a month, free for as long as you need it, and your notes stay in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mentalyc available in Canada?

Yes. Mentalyc works for Canadian therapists and claims PHIPA, PIPEDA, PIPA, and PHIA compliance. Two things to weigh: its pricing is in USD only, and its homepage states US-based data residency, so your session data lives on American infrastructure. Whether that is acceptable depends on your college’s record-keeping standard and your own consent language.

Does Mentalyc have a free plan?

No. Mentalyc offers a 14-day trial with full Pro access and 15 notes, no credit card required, but there is no permanent free tier. Klarify’s Seed plan is free indefinitely and includes 10 sessions per month.

Can Klarify write therapy notes in French?

Yes. Klarify’s interface ships fully in English and French, and Français (Canada) is a supported session and note language alongside English, Spanish, and Italian. Multi-language sessions are a plan-gated feature, so check which plan includes it. Mentalyc’s homepage and pricing page do not mention French.

Does Mentalyc store data in Canada?

No. Mentalyc’s own homepage states “US-based data residency.” Klarify stores session transcripts and generated notes in AWS’s Canadian region (ca-central-1, Montréal) and describes itself as built and secured in Canada.

Is Klarify SOC 2 certified?

Klarify does not publish a SOC 2 report; it states PHIPA, PIPEDA, and HIPAA compliance. Mentalyc publishes a SOC 2 Type 2 claim and offers a BAA, which is a genuine point in its favour for practices that require third-party attestation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mentalyc available in Canada?

Yes. Mentalyc works for Canadian therapists and claims PHIPA, PIPEDA, PIPA, and PHIA compliance. Two things to weigh: its pricing is in USD only, and its homepage states US-based data residency, so your session data lives on American infrastructure. Whether that is acceptable depends on your college’s record-keeping standard and your own consent language.

Does Mentalyc have a free plan?

No. Mentalyc offers a 14-day trial with full Pro access and 15 notes, no credit card required, but there is no permanent free tier. Klarify’s Seed plan is free indefinitely and includes 10 sessions per month.

Can Klarify write therapy notes in French?

Yes. Klarify’s interface ships fully in English and French, and Français (Canada) is a supported session and note language alongside English, Spanish, and Italian. Multi-language sessions are a plan-gated feature, so check which plan includes it. Mentalyc’s homepage and pricing page do not mention French.

Does Mentalyc store data in Canada?

No. Mentalyc’s own homepage states ‘US-based data residency.’ Klarify stores session transcripts and generated notes in AWS’s Canadian region (ca-central-1, Montréal) and describes itself as built and secured in Canada.

Is Klarify SOC 2 certified?

Klarify does not publish a SOC 2 report; it states PHIPA, PIPEDA, and HIPAA compliance. Mentalyc publishes a SOC 2 Type 2 claim and offers a BAA, which is a genuine point in its favour for practices that require third-party attestation.

Klarify writes your progress notes while you stay with the client — start on the free plan