How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Doctor Appointment App like ZocDoc?

Planning to create an app like ZocDoc?

It's the smartest move in this day and age of digital health when people are craning for easy methods to book doctor appointments and handle healthcare on the go.

But then again, there's this million-dollar question:

“How much will it cost to develop an app like ZocDoc?”

Short version? It depends. But honestly, the overall ZocDoc-like app development cost can be from $10,000 to $50,000 or more.

Some of those factors are the complexity of the feature set and what platforms you are on.

In all, whether you're planning to build a simple scheduler for appointments or a comprehensive healthcare application, knowing these costs beforehand lets you plan better and avoid surprises.

As this blog will show you the important factors affecting the cost to develop a doctor appointment app like ZocDoc and give you clear expectations when bringing your idea to life, let's get started.

What is ZocDoc?

ZocDoc is one of the top doctor-on-demand platforms that simplify finding and booking medical appointments.

Founded in 2007, ZocDoc has grown to become a leader in healthcare technology, empowering users to search and connect with their healthcare providers based on specialty, location, insurance coverage, and even availability.

It allows patients to book instant appointments, whether to see a doctor in person or through telehealth service.

Some of the features that make it a top player:

• Doctor Search & Discovery: Patients can search for doctors based on their specialty, location, and insurance plan.

• Real-time Appointment Booking: Users can instantly book appointments according to their choice and convenience.

• Telemedicine Integration: For some healthcare services, it has virtual consultations without requiring an in-person visit.

• Insurance Verification: Users can verify if a particular healthcare provider accepts insurance, which makes it easy to find covered services without so much friction.

• Patient Reviews: Patients can read what other patients have rated and reviewed about doctors for you.

The application has become a trusted tool for millions of patients, allowing them to be given more flexibility and control over their healthcare choices.

After years, it has expanded its offerings into video consults, verification of an insurance plan, and so much more, thus increasing the value for patients and healthcare providers alike.

Not only this, it has also inspired many great minds to develop a doctor-on-demand app of their own.

Why Develop a Doctor-On-Demand App like ZocDoc?

There are many reasons to build a doctor-on-demand application similar to ZocDoc.

With the growing need for health care at your fingertips, creating an app like ZocDoc seems like a great idea.

For entrepreneurs, it is a very lucrative business opportunity in the rapidly growing healthcare space:

1. Demand for Telehealth& Digital Solutions is Growing

Millions of people tried virtual healthcare services as the COVID-19 pandemic brought a faster transition to telemedicine.

According to the McKinsey report, the use of telehealth increased 38 times in the United States during this one year from 2019 to 2020, & in 2024 the growth is even more than ever. It is here to stay and more patients are going to look for the convenience of virtual healthcare.

Knowing how to create an app like ZocDoc is going to give you access to this massive market with an opportunity to fill a very critical gap for the patient and the provider.

2. Improved Accessibility of Health Care

There are very many issues involved with healthcare regarding access.

Long wait times for appointments and failing to find an available provider are two of the most prevalent problems between doctors and patients.

An application that allows users real-time access to a healthcare provider who best matches their needs can easily solve such problems by improving accessibility for the user and allowing them access without much hassle through just a few taps to schedule an appointment.

Improving patient satisfaction through just a few taps to schedule an appointment may promote long-term loyalty to an application.

3. Revenue Streams via Multi-Channel

A well-evolved doctor-on-demand app will aid in achieving revenue through many channels:

• Commission-Based Model: You can charge healthcare providers for every patient confirmed through the portal.

• Subscription-Based Model: Provide premium subscriptions to patients and providers that may include additional tools like unlimited consultations, reminders for appointments, or verification of insurance plans.

• Advertising: Ads can be placed within the app that target health services or products, hence creating additional revenue streams.

With the demand for such services on the rise, an application like ZocDoc can even be a viable business model.

4. Improved Patient Experience

Access to good healthcare providers may often be impossible to schedule and coordinate, even for patients.

Here, many calls may be made before deciding whether the physician can accommodate an appointment and if he will accept their insurance.

This inefficiency is completely done away with a doctor-on-demand app because of its ability to make appointments instantaneously.

It also empowers the patient to choose providers based on the patient's preference sit specialty, gender, or reviews from other patients.

5. Scalability and Long-Term Growth

The beauty of a product such as ZocDoc is its scalability.

As more users go to the application, it can extend into areas involving additional healthcare specialties and even more locations.

More than this, it can eventually be expanded to include countries in different parts of the world.

With rapidly scalable digital products, doctor-on-demand apps are extremely appealing to entrepreneurs who intend to create sustainable businesses that transcend the ages.

But the question is…….

How Much Does It Cost to Doctor-On-Demand App Like ZocDoc?

Generally speaking, however, the cost to build an app like ZocDoc can range from $10,000 to $50,000 or more.

The cost will highly depend upon the complications of features in your design, as well as the development team that you opt to use, and the region that your developers hail from.

Below is a basic factor of potential cost factors affecting your app cost:

• Features in an App

• Platforms: iOS vs. Android

• Location where the development team is based

• Design and User Interface

• Backend development

• Integration with APIs of Third-Party

• Data Security and also HIPAA Compliance

• Maintenance post-deployment

Now, here is a breakdown of the cost to develop a doctor-on-demand app in a table form to make you understand better:

Well, this is just an estimate.

To find out the true cost to Develop a Doctor Appointment App like ZocDoc, make sure to connect with a top mobile app development company that has worked on similar projects.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop an App like ZocDoc

Several factors determine the cost to make an app like ZocDoc. Understanding these will, therefore allow you to make informed decisions and plan in the development of your app.

So, what’s say, let’s check out them:

1. App Features and Functionality

The more features the doctor-on-demand app includes, the higher its price will be.

Simple functionality, such as user registration, doctor search, and scheduling of appointments, will cost less. Whereas, all more complex functionalities such as telemedicine/video consults, &real-time appointment booking and much more complex, resulting in development time& cost.

Other custom features, such as AI-based doctor recommendations or more advanced filters for search capabilities, add to the cost to create a doctor-on-demand app like ZocDoc.

The more functionality your application requires, the more you will have to develop to ensure that these features are integrated smoothly and securely.

2. Development Platforms (iOS vs. Android)

The choice of platform for which you decide to develop the application has a significant impact on the cost.

Going for Android app development services or iOS app development services simply means you are going to develop two separate applications for two different OS, which increases the cost.

However, you might save money with a framework such as React Native or Flutter since you can build a single codebase for use both on platforms but still need some specific platform tweaks.

You will cut down your cost to develop only one platform. This includes either iOS or Android. However, you may limit your reach.

3. Design and User Experience (UX/UI)

A good design is one of the success factors of any app.

UI/UX directly relates to user engagement and user retention, making quality investment in the right design inevitable. Minimalist interfaces with easy-to-navigate elements are the key.

More animations, complex graphics, and personalized user interfaces will add up the price.

The more complicated it gets, the more time it requires, so the cost to create an app like ZocDoc is bound to increase.

Additionally, your design team has to do very extensive user testing to ensure the interface is intuitive and gives the users a seamless experience, which propels the price even higher.

4. Backend Development

The backend development will take care of all the server-side aspects of an app such as data storage, user authentication, APIs, or the kind of third-party integrations needed.

A health organization or a business will need this part to be secure since it involves working with sensitive patient data, particularly in cases where the industry is projected to be health-related.

About the complexity of your backend, this all depends on the features that you are building for your app which will impact your cost to create an app like ZocDoc.

For example, video conferencing tools in telemedicine take much more effort and usually cost more. You will also want to ensure you are scaling upwards with growing user numbers.

Duly done, an inappropriate backend would cause several performance or security problems, which can be a huge challenge for doctor-on-demand app development , so an investment in robust and scalable infrastructure is worthwhile.

5. Third Party Integrations

Regarding healthcare data, third-party services significantly increase the cost of development.

So, when you consider how much does it cost to create a doctor appointment app like ZocDoc, make sure to include this one.

The inclusion of APIs for insurance verification, real-time doctor availability, payment processing, and even telemedicine adds complexity to your application.

Each integration requires more time to ensure all compatibility and test the services operating correctly.

Third-party services will also usually require subscription fees, which will incur additional costs after the designing of your apps.

Custom integrations typically come with more negotiations and other resources in development, meaning a relatively steep bill for your side.

6. Updates and Maintenance

This includes bug fixing, adding or updating features to enhance their functionalities.

It makes compatibility fixes to operate well with new operating system versions, and most importantly, adds new features based on user feedback.

Ongoing maintenance cost usually falls within the range of 10-20% of the original development cost per year.

Additionally, as your application evolves and you add more functionalities, the cost of maintenance will increase.

You will need to periodically update the application to keep it high-performing, secure, and interactive for the users, not a simple task in a healthcare competitive space.

7. Location of the Development Team

The location of the development team that you hire will have a significant influence on the cost.

In any case, development teams from North America and Western Europe tend to be paid much more (over $100 per hour) than those from Eastern Europe, India, and Southeast Asia with hourly rates that can be many times lower.

However, cheap does not necessarily mean bad quality.

Highly skilled development teams may be seen in regions with lower rates, but surely, they should have healthcare app development experience and be compliant in standardization with regulations such as HIPAA.

How Much Time Does It Take to Develop a Doctor-On-Demand app like ZocDoc?

So, how much time it will take to build an app like ZocDoc?

Actually, an app like ZocDoc is built progressively, requiring enormous detailed planning, development, testing, and deployment.

The length of time it takes to build an app like ZocDoc also depends on several factors, such as features, platform-whether it has to follow iOS or Android, the size of the development team, and more.

The development time of a doctor-on-demand appointment app may take between 3 to 9 months.

The estimated time required in each development phase is given below in the table to make it clearer.

Monetization Strategies for An App Like ZocDoc

So, “How ZocDoc like apps Make Money?”

When developing a doctor-on-demand app like ZocDoc, one of the most critical aspects of the project is determining how the platform will generate revenue.

In the case of healthcare apps like ZocDoc, there are various opportunities to create a profitable model while also providing value to users, healthcare providers, and institutions.

1. Transaction Fee on each booking:

- How it works: Charge healthcare providers a commission for each and every one of the successful appointments booked through this platform. The fee could be a flat rate or a percentage of the service fee.

- Why it works: This strategy ensures the app earns money with every transaction, making it a performance-based model that scales with growth on the platform.

2. Subscription Fees from Healthcare Providers

- How it works: Doctors and clinics pay a fixed monthly or annual subscription fee to be listed on the platform. It may include premium features, such as priority booking, enhanced visibility, analytics tools, and access to certain customers.

- Why it works: Subscriptions help in consistently generating revenue for the app, thus stabilizing cash flow, and sustaining the operation and growth of the app.

3. Freemium Model for Patients

- How it works: Free basic features, such as a search for a doctor, scheduling an appointment, and writing patient reviews. Collect money from patients in exchange for premium services such as Quick appointment scheduling, remote consultations with a doctor, and special access to health care resources.

- Why it works: It appeals to a wide number of users because of the free access while at the same time earning money from those who are willing to pay for extra features.

4. In-App Advertising

- How it works: Relevant ads inside the app, such as health products, medical insurance deals, or wellness services, may serve as a source of passive income, especially from free users.

-Why it works: With millions of users in the app, in-app advertising may be very lucrative without hurting the user experience.

5. Referral fees from partners

-How it works: Partner with health companies, insurance providers, or wellness brands to offer cross-promotions or referrals. Every time someone is referred by the app or a partnership deal is won through the application, the platform will earn a commission.

-Why it works: This strategy preys on partnerships with complementary businesses, hence making money off referrals to those user bases for services outside of the app.

Here is a tip: To do all this, and transform your app into an asset, you should take the help of a company that’s experienced.

How Techanic Infotech Builds a Doctor-On-Demand App like ZocDoc?

Do you want to develop an app like ZocDoc? Well, we are here to help.

Techanic Infotech is the best doctor-on-demand app development company that can develop secure, and scalable health app systems.

That means we specialize in building end-to-end solutions from the concept, and the design to the launch and later on during long-term maintenance.

We could help create a ZocDoc app that would meet your specific business needs. Let’s connect.

Conclusion

Developing an app like ZocDoc can be a lucrative and impactful business opportunity, offering a seamless way for patients to book doctor’s appointments, access telehealth services, and receive care.

While the cost to build an app like ZocDoc can vary based on a range of factors, the investment is well worth it for those looking to enter the growing healthcare tech market.

By understanding the key factors that influence development costs and working with experienced development teams like Techanic Infotech, you can build an app that stands out, meets the needs of modern healthcare consumers, and helps streamline access to quality care.