2026 Buyer's Guide
The Ultimate Guide to AI Scribe Pricing
Stop guessing. We've analyzed the hidden costs, contracts, and ROI of the top 6 AI medical scribes so you don't have to.
| Platform | Price | Contract | Audio Retention | Offline Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OrbDoc Best Value | $199/mo | Monthly | 7 Years | Yes |
| Freed | $149/mo | Monthly | None | No |
| DeepScribe | $300-500/mo | 1 Year | None | No |
| Abridge | $300-500/mo | 1-2 Years | 90 Days | No |
| Suki | $350-500/mo | 1 Year | None | No |
| Nuance DAX | $600-800/mo | 1-3 Years | None | No |
*Pricing based on publicly available data and user reports as of Jan 2026. Enterprise plans may vary.
The "Hidden Costs" of Cheap AI
When evaluating AI scribe costs, the monthly subscription is just the tip of the iceberg. Many "affordable" solutions lack critical features that end up costing you more in the long run.
- Audit Risk No Audio Retention: If a patient sues you 3 years from now, a transcript won't stand up in court. You need the original audio evidence. Most scribes delete it after 30 days. OrbDoc keeps it for 7 years.
- Connectivity Internet Dependency: If your Wi-Fi drops, most AI scribes stop working. You lose the note and have to type it manually. OrbDoc works 100% offline.
- Lock-in Annual Contracts: Many vendors lock you into 1-3 year contracts before you've even fully onboarded. We believe in month-to-month freedom.
Is $199/month worth it?
The ROI Calculation
Let's do the math for a typical provider:
- Time Saved: 1.5 hours/day
- Value of Time: $150/hour (conservative)
- Daily Savings: $225
- Monthly Savings (20 days): $4,500
Net ROI: $4,301 per month
Even at $199/mo, the software pays for itself in less than one day of use.
Ready to stop overpaying?
Get the only AI scribe with 7-year audit defense, offline mode, and transparent pricing.