BastionGPT vs Hathr AI vs PhiClaw: HIPAA ChatGPT Alternatives Compared

Doctors who want ChatGPT without the HIPAA risk usually land on BastionGPT or Hathr AI. Both sign a Business Associate Agreement and let you safely ask questions about patient documents. They are good tools. They are also chat windows, which matters once you notice where your staff's hours actually go.

BastionGPT

BastionGPT is a HIPAA-compliant AI assistant for clinicians with a built-in scribe. Plans start at $20 a month, with higher tiers around $45 and $75, and a 7-day free trial. It includes a BAA on every plan, transcription and structured clinical notes, document analysis, and a choice of AI models.

Hathr AI

Hathr AI is a secure chat and document-analysis tool built on Anthropic's Claude and hosted on AWS GovCloud. It is priced around $45 to $47 a month and signs a BAA. Its GovCloud hosting is the standout for organizations doing federal or defense work that needs that environment.

What both have in common

• A signed BAA, so you can paste PHI into the chat.
• Strong for summarizing records, drafting letters, and answering questions.
• A person still has to do the actual work: call the patient, book the visit, send the prescription, file the claim.

What HIPAA actually requires

Under HIPAA, a medical practice can only hand protected health information (PHI) to a vendor that has signed a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). A BAA is the contract where the vendor promises to protect PHI, report breaches, and accept HIPAA obligations. Two details trip practices up: the BAA has to cover the exact product and plan you use, and it does not make you compliant by itself. You still need the right settings, access controls, and staff habits.

Where PhiClaw fits

BastionGPT and Hathr are HIPAA versions of a chatbot. PhiClaw is a HIPAA version of an employee. Instead of drafting a reply for you to send, PhiClaw sends it, answering 83% of patient messages in under 60 seconds. Instead of summarizing a chart, it books the follow-up in your EHR, sends the intake form, scribes the visit, e-prescribes (including controlled substances), files the claim, and chases the denial. It also has its own computer with a browser, so it can log into payer portals and EHRs that have no API.

PhiClaw is priced at $1,500 a month flat (4,320 questions/tasks included, unlimited users and locations, month-to-month), with a BAA on every plan. That is more than a $20 chatbot, and it should be: it replaces staff hours, not just typing.

Which to pick

• Pick BastionGPT if you want a cheap, HIPAA-safe ChatGPT with a scribe for one clinician.
• Pick Hathr AI if you specifically need Claude on AWS GovCloud.
• Pick PhiClaw if the bottleneck is the front desk and back office, not the chat box.

Frequently asked questions

Is BastionGPT HIPAA compliant?

BastionGPT includes a signed BAA on every plan and is built for clinicians handling PHI. As always, use business accounts and follow your practice's policies.

Is Hathr AI HIPAA compliant?

Hathr AI signs a BAA and runs on AWS GovCloud, built on Anthropic's Claude.

How much does BastionGPT cost?

Plans start at $20 a month with higher tiers around $45 and $75, plus a 7-day free trial, as of October 2026.

Is PhiClaw a HIPAA ChatGPT?

You can chat with PhiClaw, but it is built to act: answer patients, book in your EHR, scribe, e-prescribe, bill, and fax under a BAA. A HIPAA chatbot drafts; PhiClaw does.

Can I use BastionGPT and PhiClaw together?

Yes. Some clinicians keep a personal HIPAA chatbot for research and use PhiClaw to run the practice. PhiClaw also includes an unlimited AI scribe for every provider.