PatientNow vs Karpa: Telehealth Platform Comparison (2026)
PatientNow vs Karpa: compare physician model, pharmacy integration, and program depth for peptide and GLP-1 telehealth clinics.
Last reviewed: September 18, 2026
Quick Summary
TL;DR
PatientNow is a aesthetic medicine emr built for med spas and cosmetic surgery practices. Karpa Health is a turnkey platform for entrepreneurs and clinicians launching GLP-1, peptide, TRT, or HRT programs, with no medical license required. The key difference: with Karpa, you own the patient, you get paid first, and you launch under your own brand. With PatientNow, your physician charts.
About PatientNow
- Founded
- 2003
- Funding
- Not publicly disclosed
- Notable Clients
- Evexias Holdings (TRT/HRT clinics, 70% patient return rate reported); Dr. Stanley Okoro, MD, FACS (7-year customer)
At-a-Glance Comparison
Side-by-side comparison across features, pricing, and business model.
Karpa authored this comparison using publicly available sources reviewed September 18, 2026. “Not publicly specified” means we could not verify that detail from a public source.
| FEATURE | Karpa Health | PatientNow |
|---|---|---|
| PLATFORM DETAILS | ||
| Platform Type | Turnkey program launcher | Aesthetic medicine EMR |
| Best For | Individual practices adding peptide, GLP-1, TRT, or HRT programs, and entrepreneurs launching 50-state telehealth brands | Med spas and cosmetic surgery practices |
| Physician Model | Your own provider, or Karpa's 50-state licensed provider network | Your physician charts |
| Peptide Support | Primary focus with dedicated workflows | No peptide-specific workflows |
| GLP-1 Support | Primary focus with dedicated workflows | Weight loss page but no dedicated program tools |
| Pharmacy Integration | Direct integration with our compounding pharmacy partners | DoseSpot standard e-prescribing |
| Pricing | Platform plans from $297/mo (custom website, patient portal, signup forms); custom EMR quote | Essentials / Pro tiers; no published numbers (quote required) |
| BUSINESS MODEL | ||
| White-Label Branding | — | |
| Pass-Through Pricing | — | |
| Patient Ownership | ||
| You Are Merchant of Record | ||
| Bring Your Own Pharmacy | — | |
| LegitScript Certified | ? | |
PatientNow: What You Should Know
PatientNow has spent over two decades building practice management software for medical aesthetics and med spas. Its core strength is the RxPhoto before/after documentation system and the patient recall marketing engine that drives repeat visits. The Evexias Holdings testimonial (reporting 70% patient return rates after implementing PatientNow's recall feature) demonstrates real marketing value for aesthetics-focused practices.
PatientNow is actively expanding into weight loss and hormone replacement, which signals market demand but also highlights the platform's current gaps. Their weight loss and HRT capabilities are additive features layered onto an aesthetics-first platform, not purpose-built program infrastructure. A practice wanting to launch a GLP-1 or peptide program through PatientNow would still need to source their own pharmacy relationships, build clinical protocols, create intake workflows, and manage the entire program lifecycle manually.
For med spas considering Karpa Health, the decision often comes down to scope. PatientNow excels at managing the aesthetic side of the practice (scheduling, photos, marketing). Karpa Health excels at launching and running the cash-pay specialty programs (peptides, GLP-1, TRT, HRT). Many practices find value in using both.
PatientNow: Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Deep aesthetic medicine specialization with before/after photo management
- Strong patient recall and retention marketing automation
- Expanding into weight loss and hormone replacement verticals
- Long track record with 20+ years serving aesthetic practices
Limitations
- No compounding pharmacy integration (DoseSpot e-prescribing only)
- No peptide-specific clinical protocols or program workflows
- Weight loss and HRT expansion is early-stage with limited tooling
Who PatientNow Is Best For
PatientNow is a strong choice for med spas and cosmetic surgery practices.
PatientNow is an EMR and practice management system built for aesthetic medicine. It includes pre-built HRT workflows and photo documentation features for cosmetic procedures. It handles e-prescribing through DoseSpot but does not include compounding pharmacy fulfillment or tools specifically for launching peptide or GLP-1 programs.
Who Karpa Health Is Best For
Karpa Health is the platform for entrepreneurs, clinicians, and operators who want to launch a real telehealth business, not rent someone else's. Whether you're a licensed clinician adding cash-pay programs or a non-medical founder launching a 50-state brand, Karpa gives you full control.
Operators already running on Karpa have left reviews on G2 and Capterra. Read the Karpa Health reviews, quoted word for word with the reviewer, the date and a link to each source.
- Pass-through pricing on pharmacy and provider fees
- You are merchant of record and get paid first
- Full white-label branding, patients only see your brand
- You fully own the patient relationship
- No medical license required, use Karpa's 50-state provider network
- Bring your own providers or pharmacies
Explore Karpa's Programs
You are deciding between PatientNow and Karpa. The next step is seeing how a Karpa program runs under your own brand.
Switching from PatientNow
PatientNow and Karpa Health serve different practice functions. Med spas typically keep PatientNow for aesthetic practice management while adding Karpa for specialty program launch, pharmacy integration, and clinical workflows.
Initial Consultation
Book a gameplan session to map your current workflows to Karpa's platform.
Platform Setup
Karpa configures intake forms, protocols, pharmacy connections, and your branding.
Go Live
Most practices are live within 1 week with one-click pharmacy fulfillment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from PatientNow to Karpa Health?
Karpa Health can run alongside existing systems or replace specialty-program workflows. Before changing platforms, confirm data portability, clinical responsibilities, pharmacy options, and commercial terms directly with both vendors.
Does Karpa Health support med spas and cosmetic surgery practices?
Karpa Health is purpose-built for entrepreneurs and clinicians launching cash-pay GLP-1, peptide, TRT, and HRT programs. You don't need a medical license to launch. If your primary need is med spas and cosmetic surgery practices, PatientNow may fit. If you want to own the patient, set your own prices with pass-through pharmacy costs, and launch under your own brand, Karpa is the stronger choice.
What pharmacies does Karpa integrate with?
Karpa Health has direct integration with our compounding pharmacy partners for one-click prescribing. You can also bring your own pharmacy relationships.
Do I need a medical license to use Karpa?
No. Karpa supports two tracks: licensed clinicians who prescribe under their own authority, and non-medical entrepreneurs who use Karpa's 50-state licensed provider network. In both cases, you own the patient relationship, control the brand, and act as merchant of record.
How long does it take to launch a program with Karpa?
Launch timing depends on your program scope, clinical path, and onboarding requirements. Karpa provides pre-built intake forms, clinical protocols, pharmacy connections, and patient communication templates; confirm the current timeline for your use case with the Karpa team.
References
Ready to launch?
Launch your white-label GLP-1, peptide, or hormone therapy brand in 1 week. Pass-through pricing, your brand, your patients.