Ever tried booking a doctor’s appointment the old-school way—calling the clinic, waiting on hold, and getting told the next available slot is in three weeks? It’s frustrating. That’s exactly why platforms like Zocdoc have changed the game, making healthcare more accessible with just a few taps.
If you’re a planning to build your own Zocdoc-like app you might be wondering:
How much does it cost to build an app like Zocdoc?
The cost to develop a doctor appointment app like Zocdoc ranges from $40,000 to $150,000+, depending on features, compliance needs, and development approach. A basic version with scheduling and doctor listings falls on the lower end, while an advanced version with telemedicine, AI-driven recommendations, and EHR integrations can push costs beyond $150K.
Why Demand for Zocdoc-like Apps is Growing
The US telehealth market was valued at $101 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at CAGR of 24% by 2030. Patient expectations are shifting—73% of consumers now prefer booking healthcare appointments online, and nearly 40% of millennials and Gen Z expect on-demand virtual care (Source: Accenture).
With telemedicine booming and insurance providers increasingly covering virtual visits, healthcare startups and providers have a massive opportunity to digitize patient experiences.
Platforms like Zocdoc, Heal, and Teladoc are already setting the standard, but there’s plenty of room for innovation.
If you’re serious about launching a patient-friendly, revenue-generating, and HIPAA-compliant healthcare app like Zocdoc, keep reading!
Factors That Influence the Cost
App Complexity and Features
Not all doctor appointment apps are built the same. A basic app with essential scheduling features will cost far less than a feature-rich platform with AI recommendations, telemedicine, and EHR integrations.
Here’s a general breakdown of cost based on complexity:
Basic App ($40,000 – $50,000)
- User registration & profiles
- Search & filtering for doctors
- Appointment booking & calendar sync
- Push notifications & reminders
Mid-Tier App ($60,000 – $100,000)
- Secure messaging between doctors & patients
- Payment integration for online consultations
- Reviews & ratings
- HIPAA-compliant data storage
Advanced App ($100,000 – $150,000+)
- Telemedicine with high-quality video calls
- AI-driven doctor recommendations
- Integration with insurance providers & EHR systems
- Multi-language support
If you want to compete with Zocdoc, telehealth features are a must. A study by McKinsey found that telehealth usage is now 38 times higher than before the pandemic. Patients expect the option to book both in-person and virtual appointments.
Platform Choice: iOS, Android, or Both?
One major cost factor is whether you’re building for iOS, Android, or both.
- iOS-only app: Faster development, but limits market reach.
- Android-only app: Reaches more users but requires more testing due to device variety.
- Cross-platform app (React Native or Flutter): Saves 30-40% on costs by using a single codebase for both platforms.
If you’re targeting urban professionals with private insurance, iOS might be the priority. If you’re focusing on a broader patient base, including Medicaid users, Android is essential.
Cost impact:
- Native iOS or Android: $50,000 – $100,000 per platform
- Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter): $40,000 – $80,000
UI/UX Design and User Experience
A poorly designed healthcare app is a dealbreaker. If users struggle to navigate it, they’ll return to calling clinics the old-fashioned way.
- Great UI/UX design ensures:
- Quick doctor searches with smart filters
- Easy appointment booking in a few taps
- Seamless in-app communication & payment processing
A solid UI/UX process takes 4-6 weeks and costs between $5,000 and $20,000.
Development Team Location and Hourly Rates
Where your development team is based directly impacts cost.
- US/Canada: $100–$200 per hour
- Western Europe: $60–$120 per hour
- Eastern Europe: $30–$70 per hour
- India/Southeast Asia: $20–$50 per hour
A US-based agency might charge $150,000+, while an offshore team could deliver the same for $50,000–$80,000.
Key Features and Their Cost Estimates
Doctor & Patient Profiles
Patients need profiles to track their medical history, insurance, and past visits. Doctors need dashboards to manage their availability, earnings, and reviews.
Cost: $5,000 – $10,000
Appointment Scheduling System
This feature allows real-time booking, rescheduling, and cancellations. It should sync with doctor calendars and send reminders.
Cost: $10,000 – $15,000
Telemedicine (Video Consultations)
Secure video calls are essential for virtual healthcare visits. This requires HIPAA-compliant video APIs like Twilio or Agora.
Cost: $15,000 – $25,000
Payment Integration
Patients should be able to pay for consultations upfront via Stripe, PayPal, or insurance claims.
Cost: $5,000 – $10,000
HIPAA Compliance & Security
HIPAA compliance isn’t optional—it’s the law. Encryption, secure authentication, and access control add $10,000 – $30,000 to development costs.
Development Timeline and Cost Breakdown
| Phase | Time Required | Estimated Cost | Key Activities |
| Planning & Research | 2-4 weeks | $5,000–$10,000 | Market research, competitor analysis, requirement gathering, compliance assessment (HIPAA, FDA, etc.). |
| UI/UX Design | 4-6 weeks | $5,000–$20,000 | Wireframing, prototyping, user flow design, interactive mockups, usability testing. |
| Development | 12-20 weeks | $40,000–$100,000 | Backend & frontend coding, database setup, API integrations (EHR, payments, telemedicine), HIPAA security implementation. |
| Testing & QA | 3-5 weeks | $8,000–$15,000 | Functional testing, performance testing, security testing, user acceptance testing (UAT). |
| Launch & Deployment | 1-2 weeks | $3,000–$5,000 | Functional testing, performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT). |
The total development time ranges from 5 to 9 months, depending on feature complexity and compliance requirements.
Ways to Optimize Development Costs
Start with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Building an MVP helps reduce initial costs by 30-50% by focusing only on core features like doctor search, appointment booking, and notifications. This allows you to test the market, collect user feedback, and refine the product before investing in advanced features like AI-driven recommendations and telemedicine. Scaling features gradually ensures better resource allocation and ROI.
Use Cross-Platform Development Instead of Native
Developing separate iOS and Android apps can double costs, as each requires unique code. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter let you build a single app that works on both platforms, saving 30-40% on development expenses. This approach also speeds up time-to-market and ensures easier maintenance since updates apply across both systems simultaneously.
Outsource Development Smartly
Hiring US-based developers costs $100–$200 per hour, while experienced teams in Eastern Europe or South Asia charge $30–$70 per hour. Outsourcing can cut costs by 50%+ without sacrificing quality if you choose a HIPAA-compliant app development team. Using project management tools (Jira, Trello) and clear documentation ensures smooth collaboration, even across different time zones.
Leverage Third-Party APIs Instead of Building from Scratch
Developing custom solutions for telemedicine, payments, and EHR integration can add $50,000+ to your budget. Instead, using Twilio for video calls, Stripe for payments, and Epic for EHR integration lowers costs to $8,000 – $20,000. APIs save development time, reduce compliance risks, and provide scalable, secure functionality without reinventing the wheel.
Conclusion
Building an app like Zocdoc isn’t just about the budget—it’s about balancing cost, features, and compliance. A basic scheduling app might cost $40,000–$50,000, while a fully-featured, HIPAA-compliant platform can go beyond $150,000.
For healthcare startups and providers, the key to success is prioritizing must-have features, ensuring compliance, and choosing the right development team.
FAQs
How long does it take to build an app like Zocdoc?
Developing a basic doctor appointment app takes around 5-6 months, while an advanced, HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform can take 9-12 months. The timeline depends on the feature set, development team, and compliance requirements. If you start with an MVP, you can launch in 3-4 months and expand over time.
What are the biggest cost drivers in healthcare app development?
The biggest cost factors are feature complexity, compliance requirements, and platform choice. Features like real-time video calls, AI-driven doctor recommendations, and EHR integration significantly increase costs. HIPAA compliance adds security layers, and choosing native development (iOS & Android separately) over cross-platform can also raise expenses. Smart cost optimization strategies help reduce development costs by 30-50%.
Can I build an MVP version of a Zocdoc-like app for under $50,000?
Yes, but it requires careful planning and feature prioritization. A basic MVP with doctor search, appointment booking, user profiles, and notifications can be developed for $40,000 – $50,000. To stay within budget, use cross-platform development, third-party APIs for video calls and payments, and offshore development teams. Advanced features like AI and telemedicine can be added later.
Should I hire an in-house team or outsource app development?
Hiring an in-house team ensures full control, but costs significantly more—up to $150,000+ for a Zocdoc-like app. Outsourcing to an experienced healthcare-focused agency can cut costs by 50% or more while maintaining high quality. Offshore teams in Eastern Europe or South Asia provide skilled developers at lower hourly rates while following HIPAA compliance guidelines.
How to build your app with Engineerbabu?
Engineerbabu connects you with top-tier, pre-vetted development teams that specialize in healthcare apps. Unlike traditional outsourcing, it ensures HIPAA-compliant, high-quality development at a fraction of the cost. You get access to trusted developers, project managers, and designers without spending months vetting teams. If you’re serious about building a Zocdoc-like app efficiently, Engineerbabu is the fastest and most cost-effective way to get started.
