How Much Does It Cost to Make a Telemedicine App Like Teladoc

Along with nearly every industry and niche, the COVID pandemic digitalized the whole world, including the telemedicine sector. More and more people are moving to a more accessible and fast approach to get health assistance. Likewise, businesses are investing more in establishing strong applications to provide secure and timely services to people in every corner. One of the most popular telemedicine apps is Teladoc. It has over 1 million downloads, 50 million virtual visits, and around 900 thousand have been able to access professional care. This is where a reliable and professional healthcare app development company comes in. However, the big question that most startups, entrepreneurs, and business owners ask is how much does it cost to make a telemedicine app?

Well, we are here to discuss just that and much more regarding telemedicine applications. We will break down the total application development cost, things that impact those pricing, some notable applications like Teladoc, and how you can build one, if you want.

Overall Cost Estimate of Telemedicine App Development

Application Complexity	Approximate Cost	Time period Required
Basic	$40,000 to $60,000	2 – 3 months
Average	$60,000 to $90,000	3 – 6 months
Advanced	$90,000 to $300,000	9+ months

Region Wise Application Development Hourly Rates (With Top Countries in App Development)

Region	Average Cost
America
USA	$49 per hour
Canada	$40 per hour
Europe
UK	$32.5 per hour
Asia
UAE	$30 per hour
India	$5 per hour
Philippines	$3.5 per hour
Africa
South Africa	$11.5 per hour

(The rates are sourced from Indeed Worldwide and are accurate to the time of writing this blog)

Please note: The rates we mentioned above are average and can be higher or lower based on the experience and skills of the developer.

Now that you have a brief idea about the overall pricing of the development cost of a telemedicine and healthcare application like Teladoc, let’s break down different aspects.

●     Development Cost

For the development of a basic application, you can expect the cost to be around $15,000 to $150,000. The different factors that fluctuate the price range are as follows:

• The size of the development team.
• The number of features, integrations, and functionalities. (a simple application with basic features like appointment booking, text chat, and profile setup will be much cheaper than an advanced feature with complex features, including automated appointments and robust security)
• The platforms you aim to target (iOS, Android, Web) are also an important cost estimation point. For example, developing an Android app is cheaper than developing an app for iOS. Also, if you plan to target multiple or all platforms, it will cost even more.
• Lastly, the overall design and user flow plus experience are also important factors. An advanced and modern user experience will cost you more.

●     Time Required

Telemedicine or any other application development with mid-level features will take around 4 – 8 months, and it may take more than 9 or 10 months, based on the complexity of the app. The more time the development team or an app development company works, the more it will cost you. However, you can reduce the time it takes by working with a reputable Telemedicineapp development company.

●     Promotion Cost

One of the biggest cost-contributing factors is the promotion and marketing of the application. No matter which type of application you have, here is how much it will cost to launch a marketing campaign with it.

Research –  Strong market research, competitors’ analysis, and audience surveys are important to devise a successful marketing strategy. It may cost you around $5000 – $15,000.

Testing – Initial beta testing is essential to test the reaction of the audience and the quality of your app. It may cost you around $5000 or less.

ASO – Optimization is necessary for ranking, visibility, credibility, and the overall growth of your application. It may cost you around $25 – $1500 per month.

Marketing Team Fee – You cannot do everything yourself. So, it is only right to hire a professional and reputable team for ideal results. It may cost up to $25,000 per app.

PR Outreach – Outreach is a great way to promote your application to the right audience. It may cost you around $100 – $300 per hour (it mostly depends on the person doing outreach).

Influencer Marketing – Influencer marketing is another great form of outreach. It may cost you around $10 – $18,000 (it also mostly depends on the influencer).

Please note that these prices are only estimates, and the real cost of your application will depend on the size of your application, your business, and the audience you wish to target.

●     Maintenance Cost

If you’re a business owner seeking for how much does it cost to make an app, it largely depends on app maintenance cost. An app requires constant maintenance and timely updates to function properly. In the case of a telemedicine app like Teladoc, more frequent updates may be necessary because of the doctor’s changing schedule, appointment fee, new updates, and fee changes.

A general way is to consider 15 – 20% of your initial development cost as maintenance costs. You can also check telemedicine app development costs to check prices according to your needs and scope.

Factors Affecting Overall Telemedicine App Development Cost

Now that you know how much it will cost you on average, it is time to learn about the thing that impacts that price. The total cost of building an app like Teladoc is based on several factors, which are as follows.

●     Platforms

Cost will vary based on the platforms you choose to develop the application for. On the outside, an Android app is cheaper to develop than an iOS app, while launching an iOS app costs more than an Android app. Also, if you plan to build the app for multiple or all of the platforms, it will cost much more.

●     Features

The telemedicine app development cost is also impacted by the amount, complexity, and variety of features you wish to add. It can range from simple appointment booking and text chat to video consultations.

●     UI and UX

The next impactful factor is the user interface and the user experience that you aim to build for your users. Although the overall UI and UX must be friendly with good flow, it is up to you to add additional features like floating cards, dynamic switching between menus, and more.

●     Third-Party Integrations

In addition to features and functionalities, you can choose to add multiple third-party integrations for payments, report sharing, and more. Of course, this will cost you money.

●     Security Standards

The cost will increase if you wish to make your app more secure and compliant with health regulations. We would recommend you choose the best security standards to keep the patients’ and doctors’ data, records, and profiles secure.

●     Technology

The technology you wish to integrate into your application will also affect the overall pricing. For example, using AI symptom analyses or wearable device integration will have more up-front and maintenance charges.

●     Development Team

On-demand doctor app development from a local app development team will cost you less than reaching out to a team on the other corner of the world.

●     Testing and Assurance

Rigorous, deep, and pressure testing an application with several methods on multiple devices will surely cost more. However, it will help ensure the app is functioning, secure, and complete.

●     Maintenance and Support

The real cost of an app starts after you have launched it in the market. The continuous support, maintenance, and updates are necessary to make sure it performs well. Moreover, you must address bugs, make it compatible with the latest OS versions, release updates with new features, and improve the existing ones.

Factors Affecting The Cost	Estimated Range
Platforms	$2000 – $4000 for one platform
Features	$1000 – $6000 (maybe   based on the required features and functionalities)
UI and UX	$2000 – $4000
Third-Party Integrations	$2000 – $5000
Security Standards	$1000 – $6000
Technology	$1000 – $7000 (can be more)
Development Team	Depends on their location and your requirements
Testing and Assurance	$1000 – $4000
Maintenance and Support	15 – 20% of the total app development cost per year.

How to Build An App Like Teladoc ?

Developing a Telemedicinemobile app like the Teladoc app is not as easy as cutting a cake, but neither a rocket science. It will require extensive research, in-depth knowledge, and sophisticated methodology to build a secure, valuable, and purpose-driven telemedicine application. First, you should know about the technology stack that you will need to develop a sound application.

Technology Stack

The right choice of technology stack according to your skills and expertise will make the development process smoother and faster. However, you must keep the pricing in mind as well.

Programming Languages (Android)

Programming Languages (iOS)

Backend Development

Video Conferencing

Chat

Database

APIs and Frameworks

Search and Filters

Mailing

Geolocation

Notifications

Now that you know what you’ll be needing, here is how you can create a telemedicine app like Teladoc.

Also Read: Android App Development Cost in 2024

Steps to Build An App Like Teladoc

●     Define Your Goals

Carefully research the market, find out the audience’s needs and demands, and define the goals of your application. Also, figure out the target audience according to geolocations and demographics. You must define the services the app will offer, for example, psychology, physical treatment, dermatology, pediatric, or general. Finally, highlight unique and notable features like an automatic symptom checker to set yourself apart from competitors like the Teladoc app.

●     Follow Healthcare Guidelines

If you are building a telemedicine app, you must adhere to telemedicine and medicine regulations, especially laws like HIPAA (if you are in the US). It regulates patient privacy and data safety. If you are unsure about the laws, rules, and regulations, consider seeking help from a legal authority or a professional person. They will assist you in finding your way through laws and mitigate risks.

●     Create a Team

Build a robust team of everyone you will need. Particularly, you will need a mobile app developer, designer, project manager, and content writer. Ensure they are skilled in their work and have experience with the telemedicine and medicine sector. If you do not have an in-house team, you can consider outsourcing your work to a reliable and professional mobile app development service provider.

●     Design Your App

When it comes to designing the app, make sure the overall interface and flow are user-friendly and engaging, which encourages people to explore. Also, it will have to keep the scheduling, communication, and information assistance simple and concise for both patients and healthcare service providers. Lastly, add payment gateways, and electronic health records (EHR) systems to maintain usability and efficiency. You can also start from this phase, get an estimated cost to design an app, and do the rest with your team.

●     Build Tight Security

You must give high importance to robust data security standards, such as encryption protocols and end-to-end encrypted chats. It will keep patient’s data and information secure and confidential, safe from unauthorized eyes. Also, you need to implement the same secure policies on video conferencing to maintain patient confidentiality.

●     Integrate Technologies

Now that your initial user interface and user experience are complete, you must start integrating the features you need in your application. The following are some of the must-have features of a telemedicine mobile app.

Features	Descriptions
Registration and Sign up	The primary feature to help users make a profile. Users can create a new profile, use an existing one, or sign up via third-party accounts like Gmail or Apple.
Profile Management	Next, the user will set up or update their profile, including personal details, health conditions, and treatment regimen. On the doctor’s panel, it will contain their specialty, experience, contact details, and duty hospitals.
Search and Filters	Patients can use search to find doctors according to their medical condition, location, availability, or consultation or treatment fee.
Video Consultations and Conferencing	Video consultation and conferencing are essential features of a telemedicine mobile app. The video should be high-quality and clear.
Text Messaging and Voice Chats	For general inquiries and consultations, patients prefer using text or voice chats from within the mobile app. You can also add the feature to allow them to upload photos, videos, or documents.
Calendar	A calendar is an optional but beneficial feature that helps keep track of appointments or notify the patient when it’s close.
Payments	Another key feature is the ease of making payments. You can create your own payment gateway (it will cost more), or use the existing and popular payments means, PayPal or Stripe.
Notifications	Notifications are also essential as they help notify patients and doctors about upcoming appointments, incoming messages, voice or video conferences, etc.

Please note that the more features you would like to add on top of these must-haves, the more telemedicine app development costs.

●     Test, Analyze, and Optimize

The moment has arrived. You must conduct thorough and detailed testing across the complete features and functionalities of the app, including sign-up, security, compliance, and experience. If there is any issue, address it promptly and test again.

Finally, deploy your application on the intended platforms, Android and iOS. However, that is not all. You must also carefully analyze and monitor your app’s functioning to ensure its smooth operation and user satisfaction.

With time, you can launch updates to your app. With these updates, you can enhance the existing features, add new ones, or adjust the timing, hospital availability, fees, and other important doctor’s information.

Top 5 Apps Like Teladoc

Telemedicine mobile app development services let you get fast, secure, and quality access to healthcare virtually from anywhere. The best application is the one that has a user-friendly design and functionality. So, if you are looking to build an app like the Teladoc Health app, here are some inspirations for you to look at.

01.  Teladoc

Ratings: 4.8 on the App Store (based on 530K+ ratings).

License: Free to download.

Available on: Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

Teladoc Health is one of the best virtual healthcare assistance and support apps, active since 2002. It offers a host of features, experienced doctors, excellent service, and seamless care for everyone. If you or anyone in your family needs fast and easy health care, Teladoc brings 24/7 care right to your phone.

Key Features:

• 24/7 Care and on-demand appointments with certified physicians for a range of conditions, including colds, flu, pink eye, sore throat, rashes, and infections.
• Primary care from certified physicians and nurses for routine checkups, preventive care, personalized plans, lab orders, health status checks, and managing chronic conditions.
• Conditional management is based on your health coverage to manage conditions like diabetes, get connected devices like blood glucose monitors, and access expert health coaching.
• Mental health management from licensed therapists and psychiatrists for anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and relationship issues.
• Nutrition care from registered dietitians for weight management, high blood pressure, digestive issues, allergies, and diabetes.
• Dermatology care from expert dermatologists to diagnose and treat common skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, eczema, infections, and rosacea.

02. K Health

Ratings: 4.6 on the App Store (based on 34K+ ratings).

License: Free to download.

Available on: Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

K Health provides 24/7 access to high-quality healthcare services right from the comfort of your phone. It utilizes advanced AI technology to provide personalized assistance and care. You can chat with a provider to get the right care based on your symptoms and problems. A single virtual visit costs $73, unlimited visits costs $49/mo., and a whole year of unlimited visits costs $449. You can make virtual appointments, get assistance, and receive prescription medications at your doorstep without even stepping foot inside a clinic or hospital.

Key Features:

• High-quality urgent care for cold and flu, indigestion and abdominal pain, dental pain, headaches, migraines, rashes, and UTIs.
• Expert chronic care for weight management, anxiety, depression, high cholesterol, acid reflux, high blood pressure, and diabetes (type 2).
• Symptoms checker for fast and effective risk management.
• 24/7 access to quality care without insurance.
• Notifications for medication management, lab orders, and specialist referral.

03. Doctor on Demand

Ratings: 4.9 on the App Store (based on 34K+ ratings).

License: Free to download.

Available on: Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

Talk with a doctor, general physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist face-to-face through video and receive quality care at home with Doctor on Demand. The app brings professional, licensed, certified, and US-based healthcare professionals with the reach of everyone. Similar to an in-person visit, the doctor will note your history, take your symptoms, carry out tests, and recommend appropriate treatment. Moreover, you can access expert assistance with or without insurance. The service is available in all 50 states and the District of Colombia.

Key Features:

• 24/7 access to professional healthcare services from top doctors and specialists.
• Urgent care for colds, flu, UTIs, Sinus infections, cough, fever, and more.
• Online Therapy sessions for anxiety, depression, loss, grief, stress, PTSD, and more.
• Online Psychiatry service for mood disorders, medication management, primary diagnosis, psychiatry evaluation, and more.
• Everyday and general care for sexual health, hair loss, asthma, skin care, rashes, and more.

04. MD Live

 

Ratings: 4.7 on the App Store (based on 86K+ ratings).

License: Free to download.

Available on: Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

Get a certified virtual doctor session with MD Live and get quality care from the comfort of your home. No matter where you are, what time it is, and what your healthcare issue is, MD Live provides certified and state-licensed doctors with an average of 15+ years of experience. MD is recognized by the American Telemedicine Association and has two National Committee for Quality Assurance certifications. Whether you need a short prescription refill or a complete health check with tests and reports, connect with an expert doctor with MD Live.

Key Features:

• Reasons to choose MD Live are ease of access, quality care, availability of doctors at any time, short-term prescription refills, and accessibility on weekends and holidays.
• Treatment for more than 80 non-emergency medical conditions, including allergies, back pain, bronchitis, diarrhea, flu, infections, respiratory issues, pink eye, nausea, common cold, cough, UTIs (females 18+), sore throat, and more.
• Treatment for behavioral health issues, including addictions, anxiety, bipolar disorder, loss, grief, men’s complications, relationship issues, stress management, trauma, PTSD, and more.
• Help patients connect with FDA-cleared medical devices and securely share data with the MD Live care team. It is completely confidential, but our professionals will review it in follow-up sessions.

05. BetterHelp

Ratings: 4.8 on the App Store (based on 134K+ ratings).

License: Free to download.

Available on: Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

BetterHelp Therapy is a convenient and easy way to get help from a licensed therapist. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you do not have to suffer alone and in silence. BetterHelp is here for you with 35,000 expert and licensed therapists with a minimum of 3 years and 1000 hours of experience. All you have to do is fill out a form, and we will match you with a therapist. You can write, ask questions, talk about yourself, talk about things in general, or ask for guidance. The therapy cost from BetterHelp ranges from $60 to $90, billed every four weeks (price may vary based on location, therapist’s availability, and your needs).

Key Features:

• BetterHelp membership includes unlimited text, audio messages, and video chat, along with weekly live sessions.
• You just have to fill out the form, and the app will match you to the right therapist based on your needs, demands, and location.
• Help is available for everyone, including individuals, couples, and teens, at affordable prices.
• Get help and get happy to join over 4,600,000 members of BetterHelp. It is a fast-growing network providing effective and convenient therapy for everyone.

Final Takeaway

Do you want to develop a telemedicine app like Teladoc? It is a noble cause, and with the right motivation and help, you can achieve remarkable results. However, if you were also confused by the same question that many ask, which is about the total telemedicine app development cost. Well, in general, it can cost you anywhere from around $40,000 to over $300,000, based on your preferences and requirements.

We have provided the complete breakdown of the total cost, and we are sure you will have an idea about how much will an app like Teladoc cost.

So, calculate your budget and get in touch with a reliable telemedicine app development company. It will make the process much simpler, faster, and easier for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average price of telemedicine application development?

On average, developing a telemedicine app like Teladoc can cost you approximately $40,000 for an MVP app and over $300,000 for a feature-rich app. The overall cost is divided into multiple sections as research cost, development cost, time required, promotion cost, and before and after development support and maintenance cost.

What are the key features of an MVP telemedicine application development?

A minimum viable product or MVP application is like a bare-bone structure that only includes the most essential features. For a telemedicine application, the key features are as follows:

• User Profile: It shows the user data, appointments, and past visits.
• Patient Panel: It shows the list of available doctors and health conditions the patient can choose from.
• In-App Communication: It can be text chats, audio calls, or video meetings using either internal or external software.
• Geolocation: It helps users find doctors according to their location or region.
• EHR/EMR (electronic health/medical record): It helps doctors assess the condition of the patient and make a more accurate diagnosis.
• Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): It helps patients get instant help from a medical professional in case of an emergency or severe condition.
• Prescription Tracking: It helps patients find pharmacies to collect their prescription medications.
• Payment Methods: It allows financial transactions with multiple options, including card, coupon, employee coverage, or insurance plan.

What are the factors that affect the app development cost?

As we mentioned above, an average telemedicine app development may cost you around $40K to north of $300K. The factors that affect these costs are as follows:

• The Platforms that you wish to target and develop your app for. These can be iOS, Android, or both.
• The Features you wish to include in your app. These can range from basic features like checking doctors’ availability and appointment scheduling to advanced monitoring and video consultations. Also, some features like dynamic menus, floating cards, etc, only enhance the interface and have no impact on functionality. However, they do impact the overall cost.
• The External Integrations for payments, video calls, or monitoring. You can include as many or as less as you want.
• The Security must be industry-standard, and you must never compromise on it.
• The Technology that you wish to integrate, including AI, ML, and Remote Access.
• The Development team you choose for your app development. It can be an in-house team, freelancers, or a professional app development company.
• The Testing & Maintenance support you opt for your application. It will help address bugs, updates, and functioning standards of the application.

Are there any regulation standards for a healthcare application deployment?

Of course, telehealth or telemedicine applications include sensitive data about patients, doctors, and medical facilities and must be accurate at all costs. Additionally, you must ensure your application complies with the following region-wise legal requirements:

• Europe: General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which governs privacy and data protection.
• USA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which validates healthcare information.
• Canada: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which oversees personal data collection, usage, and sharing.
• UK: Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), which governs data protection regulations.
• Other than this, a telehealth app must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard or PCI DSS regulations, which govern payment gateway features and security, and sensitive data protection.
• Lastly, the app must comply with the publication guidelines of the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (or both).

Is investing in a telehealth application worth it in 2024?

Absolutely! The healthcare industry is growing rapidly especially with the advancements in technology. In 2022, the telehealth market share was just over $84 billion, and research predicts it will cross $784 billion by 2032. The popularity of telehealth applications is increasing significantly, and it does not look like it will stop anytime soon. So, now is the best time to invest in a telehealth app development, more than ever.