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Healthcare · head to head

MDLive vs Zocdoc

MDLive logo

MDLive

Healthcare

On-demand telehealth and virtual doctor visits

From
Free
Rated
-
Zocdoc logo

Zocdoc

Healthcare

Find and book doctors instantly online

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MDLive wide price ranges ($0-89, $0-179, $0-299) indicate insurance-dependent costs with minimal baseline transparency; Zocdoc doctors can cancel appointments with little notice
  • They diverge on capability: MDLive covers Video Consultations, Zocdoc covers Doctor Search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MDLive and Zocdoc actually diverge.

Attributes where MDLive and Zocdoc differ
AttributeMDLiveZocdoc
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20022007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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

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

MDLive

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

Zocdoc

  • Patient Carenot MDLive
  • Medical Recordsnot MDLive
  • Practice Managementnot MDLive
  • Telehealthnot 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

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

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

Zocdoc

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

Which should you pick?

Choose MDLive if

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

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 MDLive or Zocdoc better?
Neither clearly leads. MDLive starts at Free and Zocdoc at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MDLive or Zocdoc?
MDLive starts at Free and Zocdoc at Free.
Does MDLive or Zocdoc run on more platforms?
MDLive runs on Web, Mobile. Zocdoc runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use MDLive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Zocdoc is typically brought in for.
What can MDLive do that Zocdoc cannot?
MDLive covers Video Consultations, Mental Health Services, Psychiatry, Prescription Services. Zocdoc covers Doctor Search, Online Booking, Reviews, Insurance Verification. Both handle HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Web support, Mobile support.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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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