Doctor on Demand and Teladoc are two of the major US insurance-billing telehealth platforms, with broadly similar pricing and overlapping specialty offerings. Doctor on Demand merged with Grand Rounds in 2021 to form Included Health, shifting the company’s positioning toward enterprise virtual care while continuing the consumer-facing Doctor on Demand brand. Teladoc remains the largest standalone telehealth company. The two platforms have meaningful differences in clinical depth — Doctor on Demand has historically been stronger in behavioral health, while Teladoc has the larger overall network and broader insurance acceptance. This doctor on demand vs teladoc comparison breaks down 2026 pricing, clinical quality, behavioral health depth, and which platform fits which use cases.
Doctor on Demand vs Teladoc pricing in 2026
In-network insurance pricing (most patients):
- Doctor on Demand: typically $0-50 per general medical visit, $0-90 therapy, $0-200 psychiatry depending on plan
- Teladoc: typically $0-50 per general medical visit, $0-90 therapy, $0-200 psychiatry depending on plan
Cash-pay rates:
- Doctor on Demand: $79 medical (15 min), $129 extended medical (30 min), $129 therapy, $299 initial psychiatry, $129 follow-up
- Teladoc: $89 general medical, $99 therapy, $229 initial psychiatry, $109 follow-up, $85 dermatology
Both are uncompetitive against Sesame Care for cash-pay patients. The 30-minute extended medical visit option at Doctor on Demand is unusual — most platforms cap at 10-15 minutes. For chronic disease management or complex acute issues, the longer visit is genuinely useful. See our individual Doctor on Demand review and Teladoc review.
Behavioral health — Doctor on Demand has the edge
Behavioral health is Doctor on Demand’s clearest strength. Independent reviews consistently rate Doctor on Demand higher on therapist engagement, visit length, and clinician quality for mental health than Teladoc. Therapy sessions at Doctor on Demand are typically 45-50 minutes, longer than most competitors and noticeably more substantial than rushed shorter sessions.
The therapist matching process at Doctor on Demand is also more thoughtful, with longer intakes covering specialty area, modality preference (CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT), gender, and identity factors. The platform’s clinical model around behavioral health has earned it stronger reviews than Teladoc consistently across multiple years.
Teladoc’s behavioral health network is larger overall and more accessible, with faster initial scheduling. For patients who prioritize speed of access, Teladoc may be faster; for patients who prioritize visit quality and clinician engagement, Doctor on Demand is generally better. Both follow current DEA telemedicine rules for psychiatric prescribing.
General medical — Teladoc’s larger network advantage
For general medical urgent care — cold/flu, UTI, sinus infection, prescription refills — Teladoc’s larger clinician network produces shorter wait times during peak demand. Both platforms typically connect patients within 10-30 minutes during business hours; during peak periods, Teladoc’s scale advantage matters more.
The clinical quality is broadly comparable between the two for general medical visits. Both prescribe non-controlled medications appropriately, can send prescriptions to any pharmacy, and follow standard urgent care protocols. The 30-minute extended visit option at Doctor on Demand is genuinely useful for complex acute issues; Teladoc’s standard 10-15 minute visits are tighter.
Specialty access — Teladoc broader, Doctor on Demand thinner
Teladoc offers more specialty access than Doctor on Demand. Dermatology, nutrition, and the inherited Livongo chronic disease programs are part of Teladoc’s offering. Doctor on Demand’s specialty mix is narrower, focused on behavioral health and general medicine.
For patients who need dermatology asynchronous review, Teladoc has the offering at $85 cash-pay or $0-50 in-network. Doctor on Demand’s dermatology offering is more limited. For comprehensive specialty access, Teladoc’s broader menu is the better choice.
Insurance acceptance and employer plans
Both platforms accept most major commercial insurance. Teladoc has broader employer-plan integration as a $0 copay benefit — many large employers include Teladoc but not Doctor on Demand in their telehealth benefits. Doctor on Demand is included in some Included Health-affiliated employer plans following the merger.
The right answer depends on your specific insurance plan and employer benefits. Verify coverage with your insurer before choosing. For employer-sponsored plans, check which platform is included as a $0 copay benefit.
App quality and user experience
Both platforms have functional mobile apps and web interfaces. Doctor on Demand’s app is slightly more polished for mental health workflows — the mood tracking, session journaling, and therapist communication features are more developed than Teladoc’s. Teladoc’s app is more polished for general medical urgent care, with cleaner on-demand connection flows.
For patients who’ll primarily use the platform for mental health, Doctor on Demand’s app is preferable. For general medical and broader use cases, Teladoc’s app is more comprehensive.
Specific use cases — when each platform wins
Choose Doctor on Demand if: Mental health is your primary use case and you prioritize visit quality. You want longer therapy sessions (45-50 min) and longer general medical visits (30 min option). Your insurance or employer plan covers Doctor on Demand specifically.
Choose Teladoc if: You want the broadest insurance acceptance and employer-plan availability. You prioritize speed of urgent care access during peak demand. You need specialty access including dermatology and nutrition. You’ll use the platform for diverse needs across general medicine, behavioral health, and specialties.
Use both if: You want Doctor on Demand for mental health and Teladoc for general medical urgent care. Some patients combine the two for the best of both clinical strengths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doctor on Demand still operating after the Included Health merger?
Yes. Doctor on Demand continues to operate as the consumer-facing brand of Included Health. Visits are accepted directly through the Doctor on Demand app and website.
Which has better mental health care?
Doctor on Demand. Independent reviews consistently rate Doctor on Demand higher on therapist engagement, visit length, and clinician quality for mental health. The platform’s behavioral health depth is the strongest among the major insurance-billing telehealth platforms.
Which has more insurance acceptance?
Teladoc has broader insurance acceptance and is more frequently included as a $0 copay benefit in employer-sponsored plans. Doctor on Demand’s insurance footprint is narrower.
Are Doctor on Demand visits longer than Teladoc?
Yes for general medical (30-minute extended option at Doctor on Demand vs typical 15-minute visits at Teladoc) and yes for therapy (45-50 minutes at Doctor on Demand vs sometimes shorter at Teladoc).
Does Teladoc cover dermatology?
Yes. Teladoc dermatology offers asynchronous photo review by board-certified dermatologists at $85 cash-pay. Doctor on Demand’s dermatology offering is more limited.
The bottom line on Doctor on Demand vs Teladoc
Doctor on Demand and Teladoc serve overlapping markets with different strengths. Doctor on Demand wins on behavioral health depth and visit quality; Teladoc wins on network size, insurance acceptance, and specialty breadth. For mental health-focused use, Doctor on Demand is better; for general medical and broad use cases, Teladoc is better. Both are uncompetitive on cash-pay pricing against Sesame Care. For insured patients, the right choice depends on which platform their plan covers best — verify before choosing. Many patients with both available can combine them for the best of each platform’s strengths.