Amazon One Medical

Below is a practical U.S.-focused shortlist as of August 2026. Prices/coverage change, so treat listed prices as “check at checkout,” not guarantees.

Best telehealth services people actually use

My “if you just want the answer” recommendations

• If you have insurance/employer benefits: start with Teladoc, MDLIVE, Amwell, or Doctor On Demand—whichever your plan covers at the lowest copay. A $0–$20 covered visit usually beats a “better” cash-pay app.
• If you’re uninsured or have a high deductible: compare Sesame, Amazon One Medical Pay-per-visit, and GoodRx Care first.
• If you want an ongoing virtual primary-care relationship: try PlushCare, Amazon One Medical, or Teladoc’s primary-care offering.
• If it’s mental health: MDLIVE, Doctor On Demand, Teladoc/BetterHelp ecosystem, Talkspace, and BetterHelp are the names most people recognize—but insurance acceptance and provider fit matter more than brand.
• If it’s hair loss, ED, acne, skin, or weight-loss meds: Hims & Hers and Ro are the big consumer brands, but compare total monthly cost and prescribing policies.

Important safety note

Telehealth is best for non-emergency issues: colds/flu, sinus symptoms, UTIs, pink eye, rashes, allergies, simple refills, mild mental health needs, and follow-ups. Don’t use telehealth for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, seizures, suicidal/homicidal thoughts, major bleeding, serious injuries, or possible fractures—call 911 or go to the ER. Amwell and MDLIVE both explicitly warn against using telehealth for emergencies. (patients.amwell.com)

Best Telehealth Services: Top Picks by Category

Telehealth has become a mainstream part of healthcare — a 2024 report from the American Hospital Association found over 70% of U.S. healthcare providers now offer some form of virtual care. Since no single platform does everything best, here's a breakdown of the top brands people actually use, organized by need:

General Primary Care / Overall Best

• Teladoc Health — a popular choice for general services, and also a leader for general primary care.
• Sesame Care — often cited as the best overall pick for affordability and ease of use.
• Amazon One Medical — Amazon's acquisition of One Medical created one of the most integrated primary-care telehealth experiences.
• Doctor on Demand — offers a wide range of professionals who are on-staff team members rather than hourly contractors, plus chat-based coaching for issues like healthy habits, sleep problems, and work stress. Without insurance, a 15-minute doctor visit costs $99.
• Amwell — a top contender if you need something that integrates tightly with health systems.

Men's Health

• Ro and Hims — the leading platforms for men's health. Ro in particular covers a wide range of treatments including sexual health prescriptions for ED and STIs, hair loss solutions, customized skincare, and GLP-1 weight loss medications. It originally launched as the men's health platform Roman but has grown into a comprehensive telehealth network for both men and women.

Women's Health

• Hers and Maven Clinic — lead the way for women's health.

Mental Health & Therapy

• BetterHelp — the largest online therapy platform, though it does not prescribe medications — best for people who need talk therapy, CBT, or counseling rather than psychiatric medication management.
• Cerebral — rebuilt its reputation after early controversies and now offers solid psychiatric telehealth with medication management from licensed prescribers.
• Talkiatry — a top pick specifically for psychiatric care.
• A budget-friendly CBT option exists too: one of the most affordable structured CBT platforms offers worksheets, journals, yoga, and live sessions from $40/week, and is best for anxiety, depression, and stress (though it doesn't accept insurance, its out-of-pocket cost is lower than most competitors).

Weight Loss / GLP-1 Programs

• Ro and Found — the top choices for weight-loss programs.

Specialist Access

• Teladoc and MDLive — lead for specialist access. MDLive specifically provides a device-agnostic, virtual care platform that can improve early diagnosis of critical care needs and ensure faster, more seamless referrals to high-performing providers.

Budget-Friendly / Small Practice Tools

• Doxy.me — often recommended for smaller practices thanks to its free, easy-to-use setup.

How to Choose

The right platform really depends on your specific situation: choosing the best telehealth service comes down to matching your specific needs with a provider's style—whether that means live video appointments or fast, text-based medical reviews. If cost transparency matters to you, opting for a transparent, cash-pay platform lets you completely bypass insurance red tape and unexpected fee changes.

When looking for the best telehealth services, the "top" brand usually depends on whether you have health insurance, what country you are in, and whether you need a quick prescription, ongoing primary care, or mental health support.

The top telehealth brands that people actually use are categorized below by their strengths, regions, and specialized areas:

Best Overall Telehealth Services (U.S. & Global)

These are the industry-leading giants with massive user bases, highly-rated apps, and robust medical networks.

1. Teladoc Health (Best for Insurance Coverage)

• Why people use it: Teladoc is one of the oldest and largest telehealth providers in the world. It integrates seamlessly with thousands of employer-sponsored health plans and insurance providers, meaning many patients pay very low copays (or even $0).
• Services offered: 24/7 urgent care, primary care, mental health therapy, dermatology, and chronic condition management (such as diabetes).
• Best for: Individuals whose employers or health insurance plans partner with Teladoc.

2. Sesame Care (Best for Self-Pay/No Insurance)

• Why people use it: Sesame operates like an open marketplace for healthcare. Instead of charging a flat fee, doctors list their own prices for virtual visits, and patients can browse, compare rates, and choose their specific doctor.
• Services offered: General GP visits, dental consultations, prescription refills, and specialty care.
• Best for: Uninsured or underinsured individuals looking for the absolute cheapest out-of-pocket virtual doctor visit (often starting as low as $25–$40).

3. PlushCare (Best for Primary Care & Chronic Management)

• Why people use it: PlushCare works like a virtual family medicine clinic. They only hire doctors from the top 50 U.S. medical institutions, ensuring exceptionally high-quality care. Unlike quick urgent-care apps, you can build a relationship with a primary care doctor here.
• Services offered: Primary care, mental health therapy, urgent care, and ongoing management for chronic conditions like hypertension or thyroid issues.
• Best for: Anyone wanting consistent, high-quality primary care and ongoing prescription management.

4. MDLIVE (Best for Treatment Variety)

• Why people use it: MDLIVE has outstanding customer satisfaction ratings and covers a massive array of medical needs. Their platform is incredibly user-friendly and clearly lists all pricing upfront.
• Services offered: Urgent care, dermatology, therapy, and psychiatry.
• Best for: Fast, one-off urgent care needs (like UTIs, sinus infections, or skin rashes).

5. Amazon One Medical (Best Hybrid Care Model)

• Why people use it: For Amazon Prime members, One Medical offers a highly discounted annual membership. This membership gets you free, unlimited 24/7 on-demand video chats with providers, and you can also book same-day or next-day in-person visits at their physical offices.
• Services offered: 24/7 on-demand virtual care, primary care, mental health, and physical clinics.
• Best for: Amazon Prime members who want the best of both virtual and physical healthcare.

Best Telehealth Services (Australia)

If you are accessing care from Australia, the Medicare landscape and local prescription laws require specialized domestic platforms.

1. InstantScripts (Best for Prescriptions & Daily Care)

• Why people use it: This is Australia’s largest and most popular online medical clinic. It is highly optimized for getting quick everyday prescriptions, specialist referrals, and medical certificates without having to leave your couch.
• Services offered: Script renewals, medical certificates, general GP video consults, pathology requests, and weight-loss consults.
• Best for: Fast, reliable, everyday GP needs.

2. Hola Health (Best for 24/7 & Rapid Access)

• Why people use it: Hola Health operates 24/7 and prides itself on speed. You can typically get a virtual consult with an Australian-registered GP within 15 minutes of booking.
• Services offered: On-demand GP consults, digital prescriptions, and medical certificates.
• Best for: Late-night, after-hours, or emergency GP consultations.

3. Updoc (Best for General GP Services)

• Why people use it: Updoc has gained a massive following for its highly intuitive, seamless app and clear, upfront pricing.
• Services offered: Partner doctor consults, medical certificates, referral letters, and chronic care pathways.
• Best for: Patients looking for streamlined administration (like sick notes) and general consultations.

Best Specialized Mental Health Services

If you specifically need talk therapy or psychiatric management, specialized platforms generally offer a better experience than general medical apps.

• BetterHelp (Best for Therapy/Counseling): The most popular therapy app in the world. It matches you with a licensed therapist based on your needs. You pay a weekly subscription fee that includes one live video/audio session per week and unlimited text messaging with your therapist.
• Talkspace (Best Mental Health for Insurance): Similar to BetterHelp, but with one major advantage—it accepts many major commercial health insurance plans, making therapy significantly more affordable if you have coverage.

How to Choose the Right Service for You

1. Check your insurance first: Log into your health insurance portal to see if they partner with Teladoc, MDLIVE, or Doctor on Demand. You might be able to see a doctor for $0.
2. If paying out-of-pocket: Use Sesame Care (U.S.) or InstantScripts/Updoc (Australia) to get upfront, competitive pricing.
3. If you need specialized care: For skin issues, go with MDLIVE Dermatology. For mental health, use BetterHelp or Talkspace.