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Healthcare & Medical · head to head

Headspace vs MDLive

Headspace logo

Headspace

Healthcare & Medical

Meditation and mindfulness made simple

From
$12.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MDLive logo

MDLive

Healthcare & Medical

On-demand telehealth and virtual doctor visits

From
$59/visit
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Headspace paid subscription required for unlimited access; free tier is limited; MDLive visit prices vary widely by service and insurance, from $0 up to $89 for urgent care, $179 for an initial therapy appointment and $299 for an initial psychiatry appointment
  • They diverge on capability: Headspace covers Guided meditations, MDLive covers Video Consultations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Headspace and MDLive actually diverge.

Attributes where Headspace and MDLive differ
AttributeHeadspaceMDLive
Starting price$12.99/month$59/visit
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision ProWeb, Mobile
Founded20102002

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare & Medical).

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 Headspace

  • Guided meditations
  • Sleep stories
  • Focus playlists
  • Breathing exercises
  • SOS sessions
  • Apple Health
  • Google Fit
  • Apple Watch

Only in MDLive

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Headspace

  • Workout trackingnot MDLive
  • Nutrition managementnot MDLive
  • Health monitoringnot MDLive
  • Fitness coachingnot MDLive
  • Wellness improvementnot MDLive

MDLive

  • Insured patients wanting upfront-priced telehealth visits across urgent care, primary care, mental health and dermatologynot Headspace

Where each one falls short

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

Headspace

  • Paid subscription required for unlimited access; free tier is limited
  • Mobile-first design means web experience is less feature-complete than mobile apps
  • Limited integration with other health and fitness apps compared to some competitors
  • Coaching services available only at higher tiers or additional cost

MDLive

  • Visit prices vary widely by service and insurance, from $0 up to $89 for urgent care, $179 for an initial therapy appointment and $299 for an initial psychiatry appointment
  • Follow-up mental health visits are billed at a flat rate before insurance: $140 for therapy and $159 for psychiatry
  • Not all insurance plans cover all MDLIVE services, so out-of-pocket cost depends on the specific plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Headspace

$12.99/month
  • Monthly$12.99/month
    • Unlimited meditation access
    • Sleep content
    • Focus music
  • Annual$69.99/year
    • Same as monthly
    • 14-day free trial
  • Student$9.99/year
    • Full access with student verification

MDLive

$59/visit
  • Primary Care Visit$59/visit
    • Board-certified doctors
    • 24/7 availability
    • Prescriptions

Which should you pick?

Choose Headspace if

  • You need guided meditations.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro.
  • You also want sleep stories.
Headspace review

Choose MDLive if

  • You need video consultations.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want mental health services.
MDLive review

Questions people ask

Is Headspace or MDLive better?
Neither clearly leads. Headspace starts at $12.99/month and MDLive at $59/visit, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Headspace or MDLive?
Headspace starts at $12.99/month and MDLive at $59/visit.
Does Headspace or MDLive run on more platforms?
Headspace runs on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro. MDLive runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Headspace best used for?
Headspace is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what MDLive is typically brought in for.
What can Headspace do that MDLive cannot?
Headspace covers Guided meditations, Sleep stories, Focus playlists, Breathing exercises. MDLive covers Video Consultations, Mental Health Services, Psychiatry, Prescription Services. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Headspace: How much does Headspace cost?

Headspace offers a monthly plan at $12.99/month or annual plan at $69.99/year (approximately $5.83/month). Students can subscribe for $9.99/year. A 14-day free trial is available. HSA and FSA eligible options support pre-tax payments.

Source
Headspace: What content does Headspace include?

Headspace includes 1,000+ expert-led exercises covering meditation, stress relief, sleep resources including sleepcasts and soundscapes, anxiety management tools, and optional mental health coaching services with trained mindfulness experts.

Source
Headspace: On which platforms can I use Headspace?

Headspace is available on iOS, Android, web browsers, Mac, Apple Watch Series 6+, and Apple Vision Pro. Smart home integration with Google Assistant and Alexa allows hands-free access on compatible devices.

Source
Headspace: Does Headspace offer therapy or coaching?

Headspace includes meditation and mindfulness training led by trained experts. Mental health coaching is available as an add-on service. For therapy, users seeking clinical counseling should explore Headspace's mental health services or other dedicated therapy platforms.

Source
Headspace: Is Headspace research-backed?

Yes. Headspace describes itself as the most research-backed meditation app on the market with 500+ hours of guided content, peer-reviewed studies demonstrating efficacy, and Ebb AI personalization that adapts sessions to user mood.

Source
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