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Healthcare · head to head

Ginger vs MDLive

Ginger logo

Ginger

Healthcare

Digital mental health platform with coaching and therapy

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MDLive logo

MDLive

Healthcare

On-demand telehealth and virtual doctor visits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MDLive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ginger no longer sold as Ginger. It is part of Headspace, and ginger.com redirects to the Headspace organizations site; MDLive wide price ranges ($0-89, $0-179, $0-299) indicate insurance-dependent costs with minimal baseline transparency
  • They diverge on capability: Ginger covers Mental Health Coaching, MDLive covers Video Consultations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ginger and MDLive actually diverge.

Attributes where Ginger and MDLive differ
AttributeGingerMDLive
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
Founded20122002

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Mobile), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare).

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 Ginger

  • Mental Health Coaching
  • Therapy
  • Meditation
  • Crisis Support
  • Wellness Content
  • Health Plans
  • Employers
  • SOC2

Only in MDLive

  • Video Consultations
  • Mental Health Services
  • Prescription Services
  • Urgent Care
  • Insurance
  • EHR Systems

Both cover

  • Psychiatry
  • HIPAA
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

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

Ginger

  • Employer-funded mental health coaching for staffnot MDLive
  • Therapy and psychiatry access through an employee benefitnot MDLive
  • Self-guided meditation and sleep content alongside clinical carenot MDLive
  • Workplace mental health workshopsnot MDLive

MDLive

  • Telemedicine urgent care visitsnot Ginger
  • Mental health counseling and psychiatrynot Ginger
  • Dermatology consultationsnot Ginger
  • Primary care wellness screeningsnot Ginger

Where each one falls short

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

Ginger

  • No longer sold as Ginger. It is part of Headspace, and ginger.com redirects to the Headspace organizations site
  • Bought by employers, health plans and consultants rather than by individuals
  • Pricing is not published

MDLive

  • Wide price ranges ($0-89, $0-179, $0-299) indicate insurance-dependent costs with minimal baseline transparency
  • Cancellation fees up to $50 for mental health appointments apply within 24 hours
  • Pricing varies substantially based on insurance coverage with no guaranteed maximum out-of-pocket

Pricing, plan by plan

Ginger

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ginger review.

MDLive

Free
  • Urgent Care$null/visit
    • $0-89 per visit with insurance
    • Immediate care access
  • Primary CareFree
    • $0 wellness screenings for eligible insurance plans
    • Upfront pricing shown before appointment
  • Mental Health Talk Therapy$null/visit
    • $0-179 initial appointments
    • $140 follow-up sessions before insurance
  • Mental Health Psychiatry$null/visit
    • $0-299 initial appointments
    • $159 follow-up sessions before insurance

Which should you pick?

Choose Ginger if

  • You need mental health coaching.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want therapy.
Ginger review

Choose MDLive if

  • You need video consultations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want mental health services.
MDLive review

Questions people ask

Is Ginger or MDLive better?
Neither clearly leads. Ginger starts at On request and MDLive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ginger or MDLive?
MDLive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Ginger and Free for MDLive.
Does Ginger or MDLive run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use MDLive for free?
Yes. MDLive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ginger starts at On request.
What is Ginger best used for?
Ginger is most often used for employer-funded mental health coaching for staff, therapy and psychiatry access through an employee benefit, self-guided meditation and sleep content alongside clinical care, workplace mental health workshops. Of those, employer-funded mental health coaching for staff and therapy and psychiatry access through an employee benefit are not what MDLive is typically brought in for.
What can Ginger do that MDLive cannot?
Ginger covers Mental Health Coaching, Therapy, Meditation, Crisis Support. MDLive covers Video Consultations, Mental Health Services, Prescription Services, Urgent Care. Both handle Psychiatry, HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ginger: How is Headspace for Organizations priced?

Headspace for Organizations uses a custom pricing model based on company size, employee count, and specific services needed. Detailed pricing is not available on the public website.

Source
MDLive: What is the cost of an urgent care visit through MD Live?

Urgent care visits cost $0-89 per visit depending on insurance coverage. Pricing is shown upfront before confirming appointment. Most major credit and debit cards accepted for uninsured patients.

Source
Ginger: Do you offer a trial for Headspace for Organizations?

To learn about trial availability, you must request a demo through the website or contact Headspace directly at [email protected].

Source
MDLive: What cancellation fees apply if I need to reschedule?

Wellness visits incur $25 cancellation fee if cancelled within 24 hours. Routine care $25 if cancelled within 2 hours. Mental health $50 if cancelled within 24 hours. Medicaid and Medicare members exempt from fees.

Source
Ginger: What services are included in Headspace for Organizations?

Headspace for Organizations includes EAP (Employee Assistance Program), Care services, coaching, therapy, and psychiatry support, though specific features included at each pricing level are not detailed on the website.

Source
MDLive: Are follow-up mental health sessions cheaper than initial appointments?

Talk therapy follow-ups are $140 before insurance (versus $0-179 for initial). Psychiatry follow-ups are $159 before insurance (versus $0-299 for initial). Insurance copays may apply on top of these base rates.

Source
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