Disclosure: This comparison is published by August (meetaugust.ai), which runs its own flat-fee online urgent care service and competes with both companies. To keep this fair, the head-to-head below is strictly Teladoc versus Doctor on Demand; August is noted only at the end as one cash-pay alternative. No company paid for placement. Verify prices on each provider's site before booking.
Teladoc and Doctor on Demand are two of the original telehealth giants, and people choosing between them usually want the same thing: reliable virtual care at a fair price. The short version is that Teladoc wins on scale and insurance breadth, while Doctor on Demand, now part of Included Health, competes on care experience and integrated navigation. Here is how they compare.
The quick answer
Teladoc is the better default for most people, with more than 200 insurance plans, sub-10-minute waits, and the widest specialty range. Doctor on Demand, merged into Included Health since 2021, is a strong alternative if you want a more consistent care experience or access through an Included Health employer benefit.
Cost and features compared
| Factor | Teladoc | Doctor on Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent care (cash) | ~$89 | ~$99 |
| Psychiatry (cash) | Available | ~$284 initial |
| Therapy (cash) | Available | ~$129 |
| Insurance | 200+ plans | Many plans, Included Health |
| Wait time | Often under 10 min | Varies |
| Best at | Scale, insurance breadth | Care experience, navigation |
Prices reflect 2026 public info and change often. Verify before booking.
Where Teladoc wins
Teladoc is the largest US telehealth company, serving tens of millions of members, and it offers the widest insurance acceptance and specialty range, urgent care, primary care, mental health, dermatology, and chronic-condition programs, across all 50 states with fast waits. If you want the safest, broadest, most widely covered option, Teladoc is it. The weak spot is cash pricing at about $89 and no dedicated doctor for continuity. See our Teladoc review.
Where Doctor on Demand wins
Doctor on Demand, now part of Included Health, offers full-service video care, urgent care, primary care, therapy, and psychiatry, and is often praised for clinician quality and a smoother visit experience. Cash visits start around $99, with therapy near $129 and initial psychiatry around $284. Its real edge is integration: if your employer offers Included Health, you get coordinated navigation that Teladoc does not match. See our Doctor on Demand review.
Which should you choose?
Choose Teladoc if you want the widest insurance acceptance, the broadest specialties, or the fastest general access. Choose Doctor on Demand if you value a consistent care experience, want strong therapy and psychiatry by video, or have access through Included Health. For most insured users, Teladoc's breadth wins; for care experience and integrated navigation, Doctor on Demand is the better fit. Check which one your insurance or employer covers first.
If you are uninsured and just need a simple urgent visit, both cash prices are on the higher side. August offers a flat $39 urgent care visit with a free AI symptom check and no insurance, a third option for everyday issues, though it does not match either platform's full range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Teladoc or Doctor on Demand better in 2026?
Is Teladoc or Doctor on Demand better in 2026?
It depends on your needs. Teladoc is better for the widest insurance acceptance, the broadest specialties, and fast access. Doctor on Demand, now part of Included Health, is better for care experience, strong therapy and psychiatry, and integrated navigation through an employer benefit. For most insured users wanting breadth, Teladoc wins.
Which is cheaper, Teladoc or Doctor on Demand?
Which is cheaper, Teladoc or Doctor on Demand?
Without insurance, Teladoc is slightly cheaper for urgent care at about $89 versus Doctor on Demand's roughly $99. With insurance, both can be a low copay or $0, so the cheaper option is whichever your plan covers better. Therapy and psychiatry cost more on both, so confirm coverage first.
Did Doctor on Demand merge with another company?
Did Doctor on Demand merge with another company?
Yes. Doctor on Demand merged with Grand Rounds in 2021 to form what is now Included Health. It still operates as a direct-to-consumer telehealth service, but members with an Included Health employer benefit get added care navigation and coordination on top of the standard virtual visits.
Which has better mental health care?
Which has better mental health care?
Both offer therapy and psychiatry by video. Doctor on Demand is often noted for strong behavioral health with board-certified providers, while Teladoc also offers mental health within a broader platform. If mental health is your main need, compare provider availability and your insurance coverage on each, since costs and access vary by plan and state.
Do both take insurance?
Do both take insurance?
Yes. Teladoc accepts more than 200 commercial plans and has the widest acceptance, while Doctor on Demand works with many insurers and through Included Health employer benefits. Coverage and copays vary by plan and state, so confirm which is in network for you before booking, since a covered visit usually beats the cash price.
