Sober Living Software Comparison: Top Solutions for Recovery Housing [2026]

Sober Living Software Comparison: Top Solutions for Recovery Housing [2026]

Choosing the right management software is one of the most important operational decisions you’ll make for your recovery residence. The difference between a good fit and a poor choice affects everything from daily efficiency to billing accuracy to compliance documentation.

This comparison guide provides an honest evaluation of the leading sober living software platforms available in 2026. We’ll cover features, pricing, strengths, and limitations to help you make an informed decision for your specific situation.

A note on transparency: We publish Sober Living App, so we have an obvious interest in this comparison. We’ve worked to present competitor information fairly and accurately. We encourage you to verify claims with each vendor and take advantage of free trials before making any decision.

Why Specialized Software Matters for Recovery Housing

Before diving into specific platforms, it’s worth understanding why generic property management or CRM software typically fails for recovery residences.

Recovery-Specific Operational Needs

Recovery housing has unique requirements that generic platforms don’t address:

Compliance Documentation - Drug testing schedules and results, NARR standards tracking, incident reporting, and state-specific regulatory requirements need purpose-built features, not workarounds.

Complex Billing Scenarios - Family members often pay on behalf of residents, insurance may cover portions, and payment plans are common. Generic invoicing systems can’t handle these scenarios elegantly.

Staff Workflow Differences - House managers, peer support specialists, and recovery coaches need different tools than property managers or sales teams. Software designed for landlords or generic businesses creates friction.

Privacy Regulations - HIPAA compliance and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements for substance abuse treatment records require specialized security controls and audit capabilities.

The Cost of Wrong Choices

Operators who try to save money with generic tools or spreadsheets typically experience:

• 10-20 hours per week on manual administrative tasks
• Billing errors and delayed collections
• Compliance documentation gaps discovered during audits
• Staff frustration and turnover from inefficient workflows
• Lost revenue from occupancy management problems

Purpose-built sober living software addresses these issues directly, typically delivering positive ROI within 3-6 months.

How We Evaluated Software

We assessed each platform across several dimensions:

Feature Completeness - Does the platform cover core recovery housing needs including resident management, billing, drug testing, and compliance?

Ease of Use - Can staff learn the system quickly? Is the interface modern and intuitive?

Pricing Transparency - Is pricing clearly published, or must you negotiate custom quotes?

Customer Support - What support channels are available? How responsive is the vendor?

Market Presence - How many facilities use the platform? What do users report about their experience?

Best-Fit Scenarios - Which types of operations does each platform serve best?

The Leading Sober Living Software Platforms

Three platforms dominate the sober living software market: Sober Living App (from Behave Health), OneStep Software, and SobrietyHub. Each has distinct strengths and ideal use cases.

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Sober Living App (Behave Health)

Overview

Sober Living App is part of the broader Behave Health platform, which combines EHR (Electronic Health Records), CRM, and RCM (Revenue Cycle Management) capabilities. This makes it unique among sober living software options as it can scale from standalone recovery residences to integrated treatment operations.

The platform has been developed over 10+ years of working with behavioral health organizations and is used by hundreds of facilities nationwide.

Key Features

Resident Management

• Complete lifecycle management from admission to alumni tracking
• Digital intake with customizable application forms
• E-signature capabilities for agreements and consent forms
• Bed assignment and property management across multiple locations

Billing and Financial Operations

• Automated billing from intake to discharge
• Payment plan creation and management
• Credit/debit card processing automation
• Invoice generation and ledger tracking
• Family portal for transparent payment access

Compliance and Operations

• Drug testing scheduling and result tracking
• Communication logs for documentation
• Task management and staff scheduling
• Maintenance tracking and property operations
• HIPAA-compliant with role-based permissions

Clinical Integration

• EHR capabilities for treatment documentation
• Medication management tracking
• Vital signs and health records
• Outcome tracking for program evaluation
• Alumni engagement tools

Pricing

Behave Health uses tiered pricing starting around $10/month with multiple plans based on features and scale. The platform offers a free trial for evaluation.

Contact the vendor for specific pricing based on your operation size and needs.

Best For

Sober Living App is best suited for:

• Operators who also run IOP, PHP, or treatment center programs
• Organizations wanting EHR integration with housing management
• Multi-facility operations needing comprehensive platform capabilities
• Those requiring insurance billing and clinical documentation

Strengths

• Comprehensive platform combining housing, clinical, and billing
• Scalability from small operations to enterprise organizations
• Strong integration capabilities with accounting and other systems
• Mobile app functionality for staff on-site
• Outcome tracking for program evaluation and reporting

Areas to Consider

• May be more complex than standalone sober living homes need
• Learning curve for advanced features requires training investment
• Best value realized when using clinical/EHR features in addition to housing

Our Honest Assessment

As the publishers of this software, we believe Sober Living App offers the most comprehensive feature set in the market. However, we also recognize it may be more platform than some operators need. If you run a standalone sober living home without clinical programming, simpler alternatives might serve you better.

If you operate treatment programs alongside housing, or plan to grow into clinical services, the integrated platform provides significant value.

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OneStep Software

Overview

OneStep Software is a HIPAA-compliant platform built specifically for sober living homes, drug courts, and recovery programs. The company focuses on streamlining workflows and reducing administrative burden for recovery operations.

The platform serves hundreds of sober living facilities and has particular strength in GPS tracking and drug court program support.

Key Features

Core Functionality

• Resident intake and profile management
• Progress tracking and documentation
• Scheduling and calendar management
• Billing and rent collection
• Communications and messaging tools

Specialized Capabilities

• GPS tracking for location monitoring (a standout feature)
• Drug testing scheduling and result documentation
• Meeting attendance tracking
• Medication tracking
• Mobile app for residents and staff

Engagement Tools

• Client-alumni engagement features
• Referral tracking capabilities
• Website branding options
• Automated notifications and reminders

Pricing

OneStep uses custom pricing rather than published rates. You’ll need to contact them for a quote based on your specific operation.

User reviews mention the software cost can be “a bit high,” though value assessments vary by operator.

Best For

OneStep is best suited for:

• Operations where GPS tracking is essential (drug courts, intensive monitoring programs)
• Drug court programs and court-mandated housing
• Facilities emphasizing client accountability and progress monitoring
• Organizations wanting strong outcome measurement capabilities

Strengths

• GPS tracking capabilities set it apart from competitors
• Drug court focus makes it ideal for court-mandated programs
• Mobile app provides value to both staff and residents
• Outcome tracking for program evaluation
• Established market presence with hundreds of users

Areas to Consider

• Custom pricing requires contacting sales for quotes (less transparent)
• Cost may be higher than some competitors based on user feedback
• Drug court focus means some features may be less relevant for standard sober living

Verification Notes

The features above are based on publicly available information from OneStep’s website, third-party review sites, and user feedback. We recommend:

• Requesting a demo to see features in action
• Asking for references from similar operations
• Understanding full pricing before committing
• Taking advantage of any trial period offered

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SobrietyHub

Overview

SobrietyHub is purpose-built sober living software created by former recovery house managers who experienced the operational challenges firsthand. The platform positions itself as the “operating system” for sober living businesses.

The company emphasizes modern design, ease of use, and transparent pricing—differentiators in a market where some competitors require negotiations or custom quotes.

Key Features

Resident Operations

• Resident profiles and information management
• House manager web app for daily operations
• Drug test (UA/BA) tracking and documentation
• Chore assignment and accountability tracking
• Mood reports and wellness check-ins
• Emergency contact and legal information storage

Financial Management

• Rent tracking with outstanding balance visibility
• Payment monitoring and collection tools
• Financial reporting capabilities

Team Coordination

• House manager portal access
• Multi-house management from single dashboard
• Streamlined workflows for daily operations

Pricing

SobrietyHub offers transparent, flat-rate pricing:

• Starts at $65-75/month regardless of how many houses you operate
• No quote requests, negotiations, or hidden add-ons
• Simple, predictable monthly cost

This pricing model is notably different from per-bed or custom-quote approaches used by competitors.

Best For

SobrietyHub is best suited for:

• Standalone sober living homes without clinical programming
• Operators who value transparent, predictable pricing
• Those wanting modern, easy-to-use software without complexity
• Multi-house operations seeking affordable scalability
• New operators looking for accessible entry-level pricing

Strengths

• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or negotiations
• Built by operators who understand real-world sober living challenges
• Modern, intuitive interface with streamlined workflows
• Affordable flat-rate pricing especially for multi-property operations
• Fast-growing user base with positive reviews

Areas to Consider

• Newer platform compared to some established competitors
• May lack some advanced features found in comprehensive platforms
• No EHR integration for clinical programs (by design—they focus on housing)
• Contact vendor to verify specific features meet your requirements

Verification Notes

SobrietyHub publishes comparison content about competitors on their blog. While their analysis is thoughtful, recognize they have the same interest we do in highlighting their strengths. Verify their feature claims directly through demos and trials.

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Feature Comparison Matrix

This matrix compares core features across the three leading platforms. Features marked with a checkmark are confirmed; question marks indicate features that may exist but should be verified directly with vendors.

Feature	Sober Living App	OneStep	SobrietyHub
Resident Management
Resident profiles	✓	✓	✓
Digital intake	✓	✓	✓
Bed management	✓	✓	✓
Multi-property support	✓	✓	✓
Alumni tracking	✓	✓	?
Billing & Payments
Automated billing	✓	✓	✓
Rent tracking	✓	✓	✓
Payment plans	✓	?	?
Family portal	✓	?	?
Insurance billing	✓	?	—
Compliance
Drug test tracking	✓	✓	✓
Breathalyzer tracking	✓	✓	✓
Incident reporting	✓	✓	?
Compliance reporting	✓	✓	✓
Operations
Mobile app (staff)	✓	✓	✓
Mobile app (residents)	✓	✓	?
GPS tracking	—	✓	—
Chore management	✓	✓	✓
Task management	✓	✓	?
Clinical
EHR integration	✓	—	—
Medication tracking	✓	✓	?
Outcome tracking	✓	✓	✓
Technical
HIPAA compliant	✓	✓	✓
Integrations/API	✓	?	?

Legend: ✓ = Confirmed | ? = Verify with vendor | — = Not a primary feature

Important: Always verify features directly with vendors through demos and trials. Capabilities evolve, and your specific requirements matter more than generic feature lists.

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Pricing Comparison

Platform	Pricing Model	Starting Price	Transparency
Sober Living App	Tiered/per-bed	~$10/month starting	Contact for details
OneStep	Custom quotes	Contact vendor	Requires negotiation
SobrietyHub	Flat monthly rate	$65-75/month	Fully transparent

Pricing Considerations

SobrietyHub’s transparent pricing makes budgeting straightforward—you know exactly what you’ll pay regardless of growth.

OneStep’s custom pricing means you’ll need to contact sales for quotes, which may result in better deals for some operators but less predictability.

Sober Living App’s tiered model scales with your operation and includes clinical features that add value if you use them.

When comparing costs, consider:

• Total cost of ownership (not just subscription fees)
• Implementation and training costs
• Value of time saved through automation
• Cost of missing features requiring workarounds

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Other Options to Consider

Beyond the “big three,” some operators consider alternative approaches:

Generic Property Management Software

Platforms like AppFolio or Buildium can handle basic rent collection and property management but lack:

• Drug testing documentation
• Compliance tracking for recovery housing
• HIPAA-compliant record keeping
• Recovery-specific workflows

Verdict: Only suitable if you have very basic needs and strong spreadsheet processes for everything else.

Spreadsheets and Manual Processes

Some smaller operators manage with Google Sheets or Excel, which:

• Costs nothing for software
• Provides complete flexibility
• Requires significant manual time
• Creates compliance documentation risks
• Becomes unmanageable as you grow

Verdict: Acceptable for very small operations just starting out, but plan to upgrade within 6-12 months.

Treatment Center EHRs

Platforms like Kipu, Sunwave, or other behavioral health EHRs can include housing modules but:

• Are typically designed for clinical treatment first
• May be overly complex for housing-only operations
• Often come with higher price points
• Work best when housing is secondary to clinical services

Verdict: Consider if treatment is your primary service and housing is supplementary.

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How to Choose the Right Solution

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. What’s your operation type?

   • Standalone sober living → SobrietyHub or OneStep
   • Treatment + housing → Sober Living App
   • Drug court focus → OneStep

2. What features are non-negotiable?

   • GPS tracking required → OneStep
   • EHR integration needed → Sober Living App
   • Simple, modern interface priority → SobrietyHub

3. What’s your budget sensitivity?

   • Fixed budget, need transparency → SobrietyHub
   • Flexible budget, want comprehensive features → Sober Living App
   • Willing to negotiate for specific needs → OneStep

4. How many properties do you operate?

   • SobrietyHub’s flat rate benefits multi-property operators
   • Per-bed pricing may favor smaller single-property operations

Demo Checklist

When evaluating any platform, request demos and ask:

• Can you walk through a typical resident intake process?
• How does billing automation work for my specific scenarios?
• Show me how drug test documentation and reporting works
• What does the mobile experience look like for staff?
• How long does implementation typically take?
• What training and support is included?
• Can I speak with current customers similar to my operation?
• What happens to my data if I cancel?

Contract Considerations

• Trial periods: Take advantage of free trials (most offer 14-30 days)
• Contract length: Understand monthly vs. annual commitments
• Cancellation terms: Know what happens if you need to switch
• Data portability: Ensure you can export your data if leaving
• Price increases: Ask about typical annual price adjustment policies

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Making the Switch

If you’re currently using another platform (or spreadsheets), switching involves:

Data Migration

• Export resident and financial data from current system
• Clean and standardize data before import
• Work with new vendor’s implementation team
• Test migrated data thoroughly
• Maintain parallel systems briefly during transition

Staff Training

• Schedule comprehensive training sessions
• Identify power users for internal support
• Create quick-reference guides for common tasks
• Plan ongoing training for advanced features

Timeline Expectations

• Simple migrations: 4-6 weeks
• Complex multi-facility transitions: 8-12 weeks
• Factor in staff training and process adjustment time

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Our Recommendation

There’s no single “best” software—only the best fit for your specific situation.

Choose Sober Living App if:

• You operate treatment programs alongside housing
• You need EHR integration and clinical documentation
• You want a comprehensive platform that scales
• Insurance billing and clinical features add value

Choose OneStep if:

• GPS tracking is essential for your operation
• You work with drug courts or court-mandated residents
• Outcome measurement is a top priority
• You prefer established platforms with longer track records

Choose SobrietyHub if:

• You run standalone sober living without clinical programs
• Transparent, predictable pricing matters to you
• You want modern, easy-to-use software
• You’re cost-conscious but want purpose-built features

Whichever platform you choose, the key is moving from manual processes to purpose-built software. Any of these three platforms will significantly improve your operations compared to spreadsheets or generic tools.

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Take the Next Step

The best way to evaluate any software is to use it:

• Try Sober Living App free for 30 days - See how comprehensive automation transforms operations
• Research other options - Search for alternative platforms and request demos to compare features and pricing directly

Don’t let analysis paralysis keep you on spreadsheets. Take advantage of free trials, involve your team in evaluation, and make a decision that moves your operation forward.

Questions about which platform fits your specific needs? Contact us for a consultation—we’re happy to discuss honestly whether Sober Living App is right for you or if another option better serves your situation.

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This comparison guide reflects publicly available information as of February 2026. Features and pricing may change. Always verify current capabilities directly with vendors before making purchasing decisions.