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Healthcare · head to head

MDLive vs Ro

MDLive logo

MDLive

Healthcare

On-demand telehealth and virtual doctor visits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ro logo

Ro

Healthcare

Telehealth platform for prescription services

From
$39/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MDLive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MDLive wide price ranges ($0-89, $0-179, $0-299) indicate insurance-dependent costs with minimal baseline transparency; Ro uS-only service - Ro's own help center states it cannot serve individuals residing outside the United States, including US territories
  • They diverge on capability: MDLive covers Mental Health Services, Ro covers Medication Delivery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MDLive and Ro actually diverge.

Attributes where MDLive and Ro differ
AttributeMDLiveRo
Starting priceFree$39/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20022017

Identical on both: 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 MDLive

  • Mental Health Services
  • Psychiatry
  • Urgent Care
  • EHR Systems

Only in Ro

  • Medication Delivery
  • Digital Health Records
  • Ongoing Care
  • Pharmacies

Both cover

  • Video Consultations
  • Prescription Services
  • Insurance
  • HIPAA
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

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

MDLive

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

Ro

  • GLP-1 weight-loss program (Ro Body) with prescription medication and coachingnot MDLive
  • Erectile dysfunction treatment and medication deliverynot MDLive
  • Hair loss treatmentnot MDLive
  • Skincare prescriptionsnot MDLive
  • Fertility-related consultations and productsnot MDLive

Where each one falls short

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

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

Ro

  • US-only service - Ro's own help center states it cannot serve individuals residing outside the United States, including US territories
  • Care is limited to Ro-affiliated, US-licensed providers - users cannot choose an outside doctor
  • Treatment and medication availability varies by US state
  • Focused on a narrow set of conditions (weight loss, ED, hair loss, skincare, fertility) rather than general primary care

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Ro

$39/month
  • Membership$39/month
    • Unlimited doctor visits
    • Prescription fulfillment

Which should you pick?

Choose MDLive if

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

Choose Ro if

  • You need medication delivery.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want digital health records.
Ro review

Questions people ask

Is MDLive or Ro better?
Neither clearly leads. MDLive starts at Free and Ro at $39/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MDLive or Ro?
MDLive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MDLive and $39/month for Ro.
Does MDLive or Ro run on more platforms?
MDLive runs on Web, Mobile. Ro runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use MDLive for free?
Yes. MDLive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ro starts at $39/month.
What is MDLive best used for?
MDLive is most often used for telemedicine urgent care visits, mental health counseling and psychiatry, dermatology consultations, primary care wellness screenings. Of those, telemedicine urgent care visits and mental health counseling and psychiatry are not what Ro is typically brought in for.
What can MDLive do that Ro cannot?
MDLive covers Mental Health Services, Psychiatry, Urgent Care, EHR Systems. Ro covers Medication Delivery, Digital Health Records, Ongoing Care, Pharmacies. Both handle Video Consultations, Prescription Services, Insurance, HIPAA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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