Recommended by AI · 15th of 20 · September 2026
Healthengine
Recommended by 2 of 9 AI models when people ask for telehealth services in Australia. 15th of 20 brands on this board in the September 2026 refresh.
How each AI ranks it
average position · verbatim answers kept
ChatGPTread the answer1st
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
| Rank | Service | Best for | Why I’d recommend it | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your regular GP via HotDoc or Healthengine | Ongoing care, chronic conditions, mental health plans, repeat scripts, results, referrals | This is usually the best-quality option because your GP has your history and can keep continuity of care. HotDoc says it has 14 million patients, 25,000 practitioners and 2.1 million appointments per month; Healthengine says it connects patients with 10k+ practices and 40k practitioners and supports phone/video bookings. (practices.hotdoc.com.au) | Medicare telehealth rebates generally require you to have seen that GP/practice face-to-face in the previous 12 months, with exceptions. (health.gov.au) |
| 2 | InstantScripts | Fast repeat scripts, medical certificates, pathology requests, referrals, basic GP consults | Probably the biggest “I need this today” telehealth brand. Wesfarmers Health says InstantScripts has served 3 million users and delivered 10 million health services since 2018, with 24/7 access to Australian-registered doctors. (wesfarmershealth.com.au) | Great for straightforward issues, not a substitute for a regular GP. Check whether a prescription is PBS-subsidised or private. |
| 3 | 13SICK / National Home Doctor | After-hours GP help, telehealth or home visits, eligible bulk billing | Strong choice when your GP is closed. 13SICK says its platform facilitates bulk billing; for bulk-billed telehealth you generally need to have attended a subscribed GP practice in the last 12 months, or fit an exemption such as urgent after-hours care. (13sick.com.au) | Availability and eligibility vary. For serious symptoms, use 000 or an ED. |
| 4 | Qoctor | Low-cost medical certificates, repeat scripts, simple online GP consults | Good budget/private option with transparent pricing. Qoctor says script consults start from $24.99, full GP consults are $49.99, and prescribing is via video or phone with AHPRA-registered Australian doctors. (qoctor.com.au) | Better for simple, non-urgent issues than complex care. |
| 5 | Doctors on Demand | 24/7 private online GP, families, travellers, after-hours advice | A more “full consult” style service than some certificate/script-first sites. It says it has been used by 940,185 patients, has 24/7 on-demand or booked appointments, and lists standard private consults at $62.95 business hours and $92.95 after hours. (doctorsondemand.com.au) | Usually private-fee only; not the cheapest option. |
| 6 | Hola Health | Quick 24/7 online consults, certificates, scripts, referrals | A widely visible, consumer-friendly option. Hola says it offers 24/7 GP/NP telehealth, 100+ AHPRA-registered practitioners, 2M+ GP consults, consults from $39, and some eligible after-hours bulk-billed services. (hola.health) | Be clear whether you’re getting a doctor, nurse practitioner, certificate-only service, or full consult. |
| 7 | Abby Health | Bulk-billed or low-cost online GP/NP consults for eligible patients | Worth checking if cost is the main issue. Abby says eligible Medicare patients may be bulk billed, private consults start from $27, and its GPs are Fellows of RACGP or ACRRM. (abbyhealth.app) | Bulk billing is subject to Medicare eligibility and service type; confirm before booking. |
| 8 | healthdirect | Free triage, symptom checking, finding the right service | Not a commercial “online doctor” brand, but very useful. healthdirect is government-funded, offers a 24/7 nurse helpline, symptom checker and service finder, and can help direct you to after-hours GPs, virtual care clinics or urgent care options. (healthdirect.gov.au) | It’s advice/triage first; not always a direct substitute for a GP appointment. |
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.
Claudenot ranked
Perplexitynot ranked
DeepSeeknot ranked
Groknot ranked
Copilotnot ranked
Google AInot ranked
Google AI Moderead the answer10th
The Australian telehealth landscape has shifted toward dedicated digital-first platforms. For a general consultation, a quick repeat prescription, or a medical certificate, standard Medicare bulk-billing rarely applies online unless you have seen that specific GP clinic face-to-face in the last 12 months. Most popular on-demand platforms operate on a private, flat-fee structure.
The top telehealth platforms used across Australia are categorized below by their primary clinical focus and service delivery:
24/7 & On-Demand General Practice
Doctors on Demand: Best for: Round-the-clock medical care and corporate or health insurance partner integrations. Key Specs: Video consultations available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Standout Features: Fully integrated with Allianz Care OSHC/OVHC plans for gap-free international student/visitor consults. Private consultation rates scale depending on whether you book after-hours. Instant Consult: Best for: Instant, queue-based general practitioner video calls without needing an appointment. Key Specs: Operating hours from 6:00 AM to midnight AEDT, 365 days a year. Standout Features: Features a live virtual waiting room where you are paired with the first available Australian-registered (AHPRA) doctor, typically within minutes. Standard private fees start at roughly $45. Hola Health: Best for: Urgent late-night medical issues and rapid script fulfillment. Key Specs: Open 24/7 across Australia. Standout Features: Offers dedicated bulk-billed urgent care and script renewals during strict overnight hours (typically 11:00 PM to 6:45 AM). They partner directly with local pharmacies to arrange immediate home medication delivery starting at $5.99.
Quick Scripts & Medical Certificates
Updoc: Best for: Asynchronous medical certificates and routine, low-risk prescription repeats. Key Specs: Fully text-based, asynchronous intake form requiring no live video or phone call. Standout Features: Exceptionally fast turnaround time; users regularly receive legally compliant employer-verified sick notes or digital eScripts straight to their phone via SMS within an hour. Flat rates sit around $30 for single certificates. Qoctor: Best for: Affordable, straightforward text-and-phone assessments. Key Specs: Fast clinical review model for basic items. Standout Features: Long-running Australian provider favored for its low price points on quick medical documents and routine specialist referral letters.
Specialized & Subscription Health Programs
Pilot: Best for: Discrete, holistic end-to-end medical care plans tailored for men. Key Specs: Subscription-based treatment pathways. Standout Features: Treats sensitive clinical issues like hair loss, sexual health, sleep disorders, and metabolic weight management. Consultations are asynchronous; treatments are shipped directly to your door in unbranded packaging. Mosh: Best for: Mental health counseling combined with daily prescription management. Key Specs: Dedicated practitioners covering dermatology, hair loss, and mental well-being. Standout Features: Focuses heavily on continuous clinical support rather than one-off, transactional pharmacy visits.
Government & Free Alternatives
If you are looking for free triage or want to check if your regular practitioner offers telehealth, consider these public options:
Healthdirect Australia: The federally funded 24/7 hotline (1800 022 222) links you with registered nurses for free. Certain states also offer free dedicated Healthdirect Virtual Care Clinics. HotDoc or HealthEngine: Use these booking marketplaces to see if your regular family GP offers telehealth consults. If you have visited them in person within the past 12 months, your phone or video appointment can often be completely bulk-billed under normal Medicare guidelines.
How this is measured
Healthengine’s AI Recommendation Score (15/100) reflects how widely and often the 9 AI models recommend it for telehealth services: share of voice, mention rate and how early the AI models name it. Cited sources are published as receipts, never as a score input. Every monthly refresh asks each AI model the same buyer question once, and the exact run count behind every edition is published in its JSON record. Placement is determined solely by AI recommendation data; it reflects what AI recommends and is not an endorsement by CiteHawk. Read the full methodology →
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