In the direct primary care (DPC) community, Atlas.md has built a strong reputation. It is simple, affordable, and specifically designed for DPC physicians who want an alternative to complex, insurance-based systems.
It handles membership billing, messaging, and charting with ease, making it ideal for practices that need something light, quick, and functional. Atlas.md also includes eRx, AI note summarization, and wearable integrations such as Fitbit and Omron, offering useful tools for DPC physicians who prefer speed and simplicity.
But as more direct-pay and integrative clinics expand their services, adding IV therapy, hormone therapy, or functional testing, that simplicity can become a limitation. What starts as an efficient setup can feel restrictive when care models get more complex.
That is where Cerbo comes in - built for clinics ready to scale beyond simplicity. Like Atlas.md, it is built for direct-pay care, but with the depth, flexibility, and scalability to grow alongside multi-provider or specialty-focused teams.
Both Atlas.md and Cerbo were founded on the same frustration: traditional EHRs were not built for modern, membership-based medicine. Where they diverge is in their vision for scale.
Atlas.md intentionally keeps its platform lightweight - offering open APIs and core automations but without the broader specialty or inventory workflows that growing clinics need. Cerbo builds on that same foundation but adds infrastructure for practices that want to grow, specialize, and customize.
That makes Cerbo a better long-term fit for clinics that are blending direct primary care with functional, integrative, or specialty offerings. Atlas.md continues to refine its core DPC focus with Atlas AI and smart documentation tools, but Cerbo’s infrastructure supports deeper clinical protocols and multi-specialty growth.
Atlas.md’s charting is clean and efficient, designed for quick DPC visits with customizable templates, but it lacks deep clinical structures for longitudinal functional or specialty tracking. But it is not built for deep functional or specialty documentation. You can record notes, but not always capture the level of clinical detail needed for complex cases. Atlas AI, available as an add-on, offers transcription and summarization but does not provide multi-template customization or detailed protocol tracking. Cerbo offers robust, configurable documentation tools designed for long-term care tracking. Providers can customize Chart Parts, embed lab data, and trend results over time. It is not just for checkups, it is for protocols, progress monitoring, and collaborative patient management.
For direct-pay clinics moving into advanced diagnostics or multi-modality care, that flexibility makes a real difference. Both systems make documentation easy, but Cerbo provides a more comprehensive view of each patient’s health journey over time.
Atlas.md covers e-prescribing and standard lab integrations, it connects to standard diagnostic labs through ELLKAY but does not support specialty labs or supplement protocols directly.
Cerbo has these workflows built in. You can:
That level of integration helps clinicians deliver personalized care without juggling multiple tools.
Atlas.md’s streamlined system keeps core DPC functions efficient, but it lacks the broader functionality needed for practices expanding into specialty medicine or multi-provider environments. Pricing starts at $300 per provider per month, which is affordable for smaller practices but can become limiting as teams scale or expand service lines. That pricing includes unlimited patients and built-in messaging and billing but scales linearly per provider.
Atlas.md’s patient communication is fast and friendly. It offers direct messaging, reminders, and quick access. Atlas.md offers patient-facing messaging and quick-access tools, but lacks a dedicated patient portal for reviewing labs, plans, or supplements.
Cerbo fills that gap with a secure, interactive patient portal.
Patients can log in to view results, follow treatment plans, request refills, and message providers in one place. For growing DPC or hybrid clinics, this creates the continuity and transparency that builds long-term trust. This distinction becomes critical for clinics prioritizing long-term engagement and patient transparency.
Atlas.md’s pricing starts at $300 per provider per month, offering an affordable entry point for small DPC practices. That flat model keeps things simple but becomes costly for larger, multi-provider teams.
Cerbo’s pricing was designed with scalability in mind. Cerbo’s simple per-provider subscription model includes full-time and part-time options, allowing predictable costs as you scale. View Cerbo’s current pricing options here.
For DPC practices focused purely on simplicity, Atlas.md is an excellent start. But for those expanding into broader, more personalized models of care, its limitations can slow growth. Even with Atlas AI and wearable data sync, Atlas.md remains purpose-built for small-scale DPC practices, not for expanding teams or integrative workflows.
Cerbo was built for that next stage, keeping the ease of direct-pay workflows while adding the structure, automation, and depth needed for advanced clinical environments. It is more than a lightweight membership system, it is a scalable foundation for modern healthcare delivery.
Where Atlas.md keeps things simple, Cerbo makes them sustainable, helping practices evolve without outgrowing their software.
See how Cerbo supports modern direct-pay and specialty care. Try the interactive demo or contact our sales team today.
