AI Scribe Pricing in Australia: What It Costs in 2026

In Australia, an AI scribe costs anywhere from nothing to roughly $85 to $160 per clinician per month, based on published pricing checked in October 2026. Free plans usually cap sessions or features. Paid plans differ on billing period, GST, whether the scribe is an add-on to your practice software, and how many sessions are included.

That spread is wide, and the headline number rarely tells you what you will actually pay. This guide explains how AI scribe pricing works, what the published plans look like, and the questions worth asking before you commit, with a focus on psychologists, counsellors and other mental-health clinicians.

How are AI scribes priced in Australia?

Most AI scribes use one of four pricing models:

• Free tier with limits. You can use the scribe at no cost, but with a cap on sessions, "actions" or advanced features. Free tiers are useful for testing whether the notes suit your style.
• Flat monthly subscription per clinician. You pay a fixed amount per user, often with a discount for paying annually. Usage is usually unlimited or subject to a fair use policy.
• Add-on to practice management software. The scribe is bought on top of an existing practice management subscription, so you pay two line items: the platform and the AI.
• Bundled into the practice platform. The scribe is one feature of a broader system that also covers notes, scheduling, billing and records, and the price covers the whole package.

A fifth model, enterprise or custom pricing, applies to larger organisations and is negotiated directly with the vendor.

What do AI scribes actually cost? Published prices in October 2026

The figures below are taken from each vendor's public pricing page on 9 October 2026. Prices change often, so always confirm on the vendor's site before deciding.

• Heidi Health lists a free plan at $0 with unlimited AI documentation (a fair use policy applies). Its Clinician plan is listed at $85 per user per month and its Practice plan at $130 per user per month, both billed annually and excluding applicable sales taxes (Heidi pricing).
• Lyrebird Health lists a free plan with 50 transcribe and dictate actions per month, a $0 option included with a Bp Premier subscription, and a Pro plan at $160 per month billed annually (Lyrebird pricing). Lyrebird's plans are pitched mainly at GPs and specialists.
• Splose, a practice management platform, sells splose AI as an add-on at $27 per user per month, on top of the platform fee of $27 per practitioner per month. Splose states its prices are in AUD and exclude GST (Splose pricing).
• Zanda (formerly Power Diary) includes four AI Scribe appointments per month with every plan, and offers an optional AI Pro add-on per user for unlimited scribing (Zanda pricing).
• PractaLuma has a free Basic plan with 10 sessions per month, including multi-speaker AI transcription and AI clinical notes. Pro is $99 AUD per month with unlimited sessions, report writing and calendar integration, and comes with a 14-day free trial with no credit card required (PractaLuma pricing).

These products are not identical. Some are standalone scribes that sit beside your existing system, while others are part of a full practice platform. Comparing them on price alone misses that difference.

What does an AI scribe cost per session?

Cost per session is the most useful way to compare plans, because it reflects how you actually work.

As a worked example, a clinician who sees 25 clients a week runs roughly 108 sessions a month (25 sessions × 4.33 weeks). On a plan costing $85 a month, that is about $0.79 per session. On a $99 plan, it is about $0.92 per session. On a $160 plan, it is about $1.48.

The maths changes quickly for part-time clinicians. If you see 8 clients a week (about 35 sessions a month), a free tier capped at 10 sessions will not cover you, and a flat subscription costs proportionally more per session. Some vendors offer part-time or registrar discounts, so ask.

Remember to add the cost of your practice management software if the scribe is a separate product or an add-on.

What hidden costs should you check before signing up?

The listed monthly figure is a starting point. Before you commit, check:

1. GST. Some vendors quote prices excluding GST or sales tax. Confirm whether the figure includes it.
2. Annual versus monthly billing. Several listed prices assume annual payment upfront. Monthly billing can cost noticeably more.
3. Session or action caps. A "free" plan with 10 sessions or 50 actions a month can run out mid-week.
4. Two subscriptions instead of one. A standalone scribe plus separate practice software means two bills, two logins and copying notes between systems.
5. Letters, reports and templates. Some plans cap documents and letters separately from session notes, or reserve custom templates for higher tiers.
6. Review time. Every AI draft needs checking. If a tool's drafts need heavy editing for therapy sessions, the time saved shrinks.
7. Equipment. A decent microphone helps transcription accuracy, particularly for telehealth and couples or family sessions.

Are free AI scribes safe to use for therapy notes?

A free plan is not automatically less secure than a paid one, but it is worth asking the same questions regardless of price. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner says organisations should conduct due diligence before adopting a commercially available AI product, and notes that sensitive information, such as a recording of a therapy session, generally requires consent to be handled (OAIC guidance).

For mental-health practices, the practical checks are:

• Where are recordings, transcripts and notes stored, and is that in Australia?
• Is your clients' data used to train AI models?
• How long are audio and transcripts kept, and can you delete them?
• Can you show clients a plain-English explanation of how the tool works?

If you use a scribe during telehealth, our guide to using the Zoom AI note taker in therapy sessions covers platform-specific privacy settings.

Do you need client consent to use an AI scribe?

Yes. The Therapeutic Goods Administration states that healthcare professionals must tell patients when they plan to use a digital scribe and give them enough information to provide informed consent, and that patients can withdraw consent and ask for another way to record the consultation (TGA digital scribes).

Ahpra's guidance on AI in healthcare lists accountability, understanding the tool, transparency and informed consent among the obligations practitioners need to meet (Ahpra AI in healthcare). Building AI scribe use into your intake paperwork is the simplest way to make consent routine; see our informed consent form guide for counselling in Australia and our summary of Ahpra's AI guidance for health practitioners.

Is an AI scribe a medical device in Australia?

It depends on what the tool does. According to the TGA, digital scribes that only transcribe and translate clinical conversations into written records, without analysis or interpretation, are not medical devices. A scribe that generates a diagnosis, differential diagnosis or treatment recommendation not explicitly stated by the practitioner is considered a medical device and must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods before supply (TGA digital scribes).

This matters for pricing comparisons. A cheaper tool that adds diagnostic or treatment suggestions to your notes raises a regulatory question you should ask the vendor about before you rely on it.

Standalone scribe or practice management software with AI built in?

A standalone scribe can be a good fit if you are happy with your current practice software and only need note drafting. A platform with the scribe built in suits practices that want notes, scheduling, billing, assessments and client records in one place, without copying drafts between systems.

PractaLuma is AI-native practice management software for Australian mental-health practices. Its AI Scribe drafts the session note with the full transcript alongside it, and every draft is reviewed and approved by the clinician before it is finalised. For a wider view of the market, see our comparison of AI tools for therapy notes, our practical guide to AI medical scribes and our overview of psychology practice management software in Australia.

How do you choose the right AI scribe for your budget?

Start with three numbers: how many sessions you run a month, what you already pay for practice software, and how long you spend writing notes now. Then:

1. Trial two or three tools on real sessions, with client consent, using the free tier or trial period.
2. Time how long each draft takes to review and correct.
3. Work out cost per session, including GST and any add-on fees.
4. Check data storage, retention and training policies against your privacy obligations.
5. Confirm the tool supports the note formats you use, such as SOAP, DAP or BIRP.

The cheapest plan is the one whose drafts you can approve quickly and safely, not necessarily the one with the lowest monthly fee.

FAQ

How much does an AI scribe cost per month in Australia?

Based on published pricing in October 2026, paid individual plans range from about $85 to $160 per clinician per month, often billed annually. Add-on scribes can cost less but sit on top of a practice software subscription. Most vendors also offer a free tier or trial.

Is there a free AI scribe in Australia?

Yes. Several vendors, including Heidi, Lyrebird and PractaLuma, offer free plans. Limits vary, from session or action caps to restricted features, so check whether the free plan covers your weekly caseload.

Can I claim an AI scribe through Medicare?

No. There is no Medicare item for AI scribe software. It is a business cost for the practice, like other software. Speak with your accountant about how it is treated for tax and GST.

Do AI scribes work for telehealth sessions?

Most do, but audio quality matters. Check whether the tool can capture both voices during a video call and whether your telehealth platform has its own AI features that need separate consent and settings.

This article is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. Prices were checked on vendors' public pricing pages on 9 October 2026 and may have changed.