13SICK

As of September 2026, if you’re in Australia, I’d pick based on what you need: your regular GP via HotDoc/Healthengine for ongoing care; InstantScripts, Qoctor, Hola or Doctors on Demand for fast one-off private telehealth; 13SICK for eligible after-hours bulk-billed care; and healthdirect for free triage/advice.

Best telehealth services Australians actually use

My quick picks

• Best overall: Your regular GP via HotDoc/Healthengine
• Best for fast repeats/certificates: InstantScripts or Qoctor
• Best after-hours bulk-billed option: 13SICK, if eligible
• Best 24/7 private GP consult: Doctors on Demand or Hola Health
• Best if you’re trying to avoid out-of-pocket cost: Your own bulk-billing GP, 13SICK after-hours, or Abby Health if eligible
• Best free first step when unsure: healthdirect

Safety rule of thumb in Australia

For scripts, certificates and referrals, prefer services that involve a real-time phone or video consultation where clinically needed. The Medical Board of Australia has warned that questionnaire-only prescribing or certificate-issuing without a real-time doctor-patient consultation is not good practice. (medicalboard.gov.au)

And for chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, severe allergic reaction, collapse, serious mental health crisis, or anything life-threatening: call 000 rather than using telehealth.

Based on current usage and reviews, here's a breakdown of the most popular telehealth services Australians are actually using in 2026, organized by what you need:

General GP / Prescriptions / Medical Certificates

InstantScripts – One of the most established and widely used options. It's an app from Australia's largest online medical clinic that provides 24/7 access to an extensive team of doctors for eScripts, medical certificates, health advice, and referrals.

Hola Health – A strong all-rounder, especially for after-hours care. Hola Health offers comprehensive 24/7 telehealth services within 15 minutes at affordable prices - and some bulk billing.

Prime Medic – Has short wait times, reasonable pricing and a comprehensive, premium telehealth service, as well as some bulk billing doctors.

Our Sage – A solid, mid-range telehealth service provider with 15-minute wait times.

Updoc – Positions itself as a comprehensive, subscription-based option. Updoc offers comprehensive telehealth services, including via a monthly subscription.

13SICK – Notable because it's Australia's Largest Medicare Funded Accredited After Hours Doctor Service. Good if you want a bulk-billed option after hours.

NextClinic – Frequently cited as a top pick, letting people talk with doctors registered in Australia through a platform that's safe and easy to use.

Mental Health

PSYCH2U – A leading telehealth platform connecting patients with experienced psychologists and psychiatrists across Australia.

Wellvue – Specialises in psychiatry rather than just GP care. Wellvue specializes in telehealth psychiatry, offering tailored treatment plans for depression, anxiety, and other conditions, with the platform emphasizing privacy through secure video consultations and GP collaboration for holistic care.

Fertility & Sexual Health

Kin Fertility – One of the highest-rated niche services, offering comprehensive telehealth fertility consults and services.

Stigma Health – Popular for privacy-focused care, as it specialises in discreet sexual telehealth services.

Hyphen Health Group – Described as Australia's largest digital-first healthcare provider, specializing in sexual health and wellbeing.

Weight Loss / Chronic Condition Management

Eucalyptus – A big name in this space (owns brands like Juniper and Pilot). It's a direct to consumer virtual health provider with a mission to deliver high quality high touch virtual care to its patients.

Free Government Option

healthdirect Video Call – If you just need a straightforward, secure, no-cost option (often used by GPs and allied health for Medicare-rebated consults), this is a comprehensive, secure and reliable video consulting service which follows the Australian Government cyber security guidelines and safeguards privacy, funded by the Commonwealth government.

Quick Recommendation

• Need a script/medical certificate fast, cheap? → InstantScripts, Hola Health, or NextClinic
• Want bulk billing / after hours? → 13SICK or Hola Health
• **Mental health support

If you want the best telehealth services in Australia, the most widely used and recognizable options from the results are Doctors On Demand, Qoctor, Medmate, Instant Consult, and 13SICK for after-hours care.

For a practical shortlist, these are the strongest picks:

A few useful points:

• Telehealth in Australia generally means a consultation by phone or video when a physical exam is not needed.
• If you want bulk-billed or low-cost options, comparison sites like MediCompare highlight providers such as Hola Health and Abby Health, but those listings are comparison-based rather than primary providers.
• For mental health telehealth, comparison listings point to My Mirror, Someone.Health, Talked, and Dokotela as common choices for telepsychology/psychiatry.

If you want the most straightforward recommendation:

• Best overall mainstream choice: Doctors On Demand
• Best for quick app-based GP booking: Instant Consult
• Best for after-hours needs: 13SICK
• Best for a broad online doctor platform: Medmate
• Best for a trusted dedicated online doctor brand: Qoctor

If you want, I can also rank the top Australian telehealth services by price, bulk billing, after-hours availability, or mental health support.