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Software · head to head

Epic Systems vs Zocdoc

Epic Systems logo

Epic Systems

Software

Leading electronic health records system for healthcare organizations

From
On request
Rated
-
Zocdoc logo

Zocdoc

Software

Find and book doctors instantly online

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Zocdoc has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Epic Systems no free version or trial; enterprise pricing only with custom negotiation required; Zocdoc doctors can cancel appointments with little notice
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Systems covers Electronic Health Records, Zocdoc covers Doctor Search.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic Systems and Zocdoc actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic Systems and Zocdoc differ
AttributeEpic SystemsZocdoc
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19792007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Epic Systems

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Revenue Cycle Management
  • Patient Portal
  • Clinical Decision Support
  • Population Health
  • Lab Systems
  • Imaging Systems
  • Pharmacy Systems

Only in Zocdoc

  • Doctor Search
  • Online Booking
  • Reviews
  • Insurance Verification
  • Reminders
  • Telehealth
  • Practice Management Systems
  • EHRs

Both cover

  • HIPAA
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Epic Systems

  • Patient Care
  • Medical Records
  • Practice Management
  • Telehealth

Zocdoc

  • Patient Care
  • Medical Records
  • Practice Management
  • Telehealth

Both are used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Epic Systems

  • No free version or trial; enterprise pricing only with custom negotiation required
  • Lengthy implementation timeline: 12-24 months for single hospitals, 3-5 years for multi-system rollouts
  • Customization and workflow adaptation requires extensive consulting services
  • Very high licensing costs ranging from 100,000 to 30 million USD depending on organization size

Zocdoc

  • Doctors can cancel appointments with little notice
  • No direct messaging between patients and providers outside of appointment booking
  • Providers incur booking fees even if patients no-show or cancel after 24 hours

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Systems

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Epic Systems review.

Zocdoc

Free
  • PatientFree
    • Find doctors
    • Book appointments
    • Read reviews

Which should you pick?

Choose Epic Systems if

  • You need electronic health records.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want revenue cycle management.

Choose Zocdoc if

  • You need doctor search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online booking.

Questions people ask

Is Epic Systems or Zocdoc better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Systems starts at On request and Zocdoc at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Systems or Zocdoc?
Zocdoc has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Epic Systems and Free for Zocdoc.
Does Epic Systems or Zocdoc run on more platforms?
Epic Systems runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Zocdoc runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Zocdoc for free?
Yes. Zocdoc has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Epic Systems starts at On request.
What is Epic Systems best used for?
Epic Systems is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth.
What can Epic Systems do that Zocdoc cannot?
Epic Systems covers Electronic Health Records, Revenue Cycle Management, Patient Portal, Clinical Decision Support. Zocdoc covers Doctor Search, Online Booking, Reviews, Insurance Verification. Both handle HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Web support, Mobile support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Epic Systems: What is Epic's market position?

Epic holds 36 percent of the U.S. EHR market and manages over 280 million patient records across 1,200+ healthcare organizations. Among hospitals with over 300 beds, Epic has 52 percent market share, and 71 percent market share in major academic medical centers as of 2026.

Source
Zocdoc: Is Zocdoc free for patients?

Yes, searching for and booking appointments on Zocdoc is completely free for patients. There are no search fees, booking fees, or cancellation fees. Patients only pay their insurance copay or self-pay rate for the actual care.

Source
Epic Systems: Is there a free trial or demo available?

Epic does not offer a free version or trial. The software is enterprise-only with custom pricing negotiated directly with organizations. Typical implementation timelines for single hospitals range from 12 to 24 months, and multi-hospital systems can take 3 to 5 years for phased rollouts.

Source
Zocdoc: Does Zocdoc verify that doctors accept my insurance?

Zocdoc supports over 1,000 insurance plans and filters results to show only providers who accept your specific plan. However, Zocdoc cannot guarantee in-network status, as plans with similar names can differ by employer group or region. Final verification is always confirmed by your insurer and the provider's office.

Source
Epic Systems: How does Epic integrate with third-party systems?

Epic provides multiple integration pathways: FHIR R4 APIs, HL7 v2 messaging, CCDA document exchange, and proprietary APIs through Epic Showroom (formerly App Orchard). Over 1,000 certified apps are available in the marketplace, enabling real-time data synchronization and interoperability.

Source
Zocdoc: What specialties and types of providers does Zocdoc cover?

Zocdoc features a network of over 250,000 providers across 200+ specialties, including primary care physicians, dentists, OB-GYNs, dermatologists, psychiatrists, eye doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and therapists.

Source
Epic Systems: What is included in Epic's unified platform?

Epic provides a truly unified system spanning inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, surgical, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, billing, and population health on a single database. It includes appointment scheduling, medical billing, clinical decision support, patient portal (MyChart), telehealth capabilities, and analytics.

Source
Zocdoc: How much do providers pay to use Zocdoc?

Zocdoc charges healthcare providers a one-time booking fee per new patient, with pricing varying by specialty and local market. The exact fee is quoted individually to practices.

Source

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