Remember when “seeing the doctor” meant half a day off work, a waiting room full of sneezing strangers, and a stack of outdated magazines? In 2025, telehealth companies have turned that experience on its head. With a decent Wi-Fi connection and a smartphone, you can now talk to a primary care doctor, therapist, dermatologist, or weight-loss specialist from your couchpajama bottoms and all.
But with hundreds of virtual care platforms on the market, it’s getting harder to figure out which telehealth services are safe, affordable, and actually good. This guide walks you through the best telehealth companies of 2025, how they differ, and what real patients typically experience when they switch to virtual care.
Telehealth in 2025: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Telehealth is no longer a pandemic-era backup plan. It’s become a core part of the U.S. health system. Federal data show that around a quarter of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries now use telehealth in a given year, and that share has stayed high even after in-person care returned to normal. At the same time, surveys from professional groups report that the vast majority of U.S. physicians are using telehealth at least weekly, up dramatically from pre-2020 levels.
On the consumer side, digital health research estimates that more than half of Americans have already had at least one telehealth visit, and over 100 million people preferred virtual consultation options in 2024. Analysts expect telehealth and virtual care to make up roughly a quarter of all U.S. medical encounters within the next few years, with the domestic telemedicine market alone projected to grow into the hundreds of billions of dollars by the mid-2030s.
Another big shift in 2025: direct-to-consumer (DTC) virtual clinics. Companies like Hims & Hers, Ro, and other online platforms are blending telehealth visits with e-pharmacy services, home delivery of medications, and subscription models for everything from mental health to cardiometabolic and weight-loss care. At the same time, established players like Teladoc and Amwell continue to power health-system and employer-sponsored virtual care at scale.
How We Chose the Best Telehealth Companies of 2025
Because telehealth isn’t a one-size-fits-all service, the “best” provider depends on what you need. To create this list, we looked at:
- Scope of services: Primary care, urgent care, therapy, psychiatry, dermatology, women’s health, men’s health, weight-management, and more.
- Clinical quality: Use of board-certified clinicians, evidence-based prescribing, and appropriate guardrails for high-risk medications.
- Access and convenience: 24/7 or same-day appointments, nationwide availability, and user-friendly apps or browser platforms.
- Cost transparency: Clear pricing per visit or subscription, with or without insurance, plus availability of discount programs.
- Insurance & employer coverage: Whether visits are covered by major health plans or offered through employer benefits.
- Privacy and security: HIPAA-compliant video, secure messaging, and responsible handling of sensitive health and payment data.
- Special strengths: For example, superior mental health support, chronic disease management, second opinions, or GLP-1 weight-loss programs.
The companies below span big nationwide platforms, curated marketplaces, and DTC brands so you can match your needs and budget to the right type of telehealth service.
The Best Telehealth Companies of 2025
1. Sesame Care – Best Overall Marketplace for Everyday Care
Sesame Care operates like a marketplace for medical visits. Instead of locking you into a monthly membership, it lets you search cash-pay prices for online visits with doctors, therapists, and specialists and book directly. Many visits cost less than a typical urgent-care copay, especially if you’re uninsured or have a high-deductible plan.
- Best for: Budget-conscious users, people without insurance, or anyone who wants to shop around for price and specialty.
- Standout features: Upfront pricing, a wide range of specialties, and occasional bundled visit + lab packages.
- Watch-outs: Not every clinician on the platform will take your insurance; you’ll usually pay out of pocket and submit receipts if you want reimbursement.
2. Teladoc Health – Best for Comprehensive Virtual Primary Care
Teladoc is one of the largest telehealth companies in the world. It powers virtual care for many health plans and employers and offers direct-to-consumer visits for general medical issues, mental health, dermatology, and chronic disease support.
- Best for: People whose insurance already includes Teladoc, or anyone wanting a long-term virtual primary-care relationship.
- Standout features: 24/7 access to urgent-care clinicians, dedicated primary-care programs, mental health services, and broad insurer partnerships.
- Watch-outs: Experience can vary depending on your insurer’s specific Teladoc program; out-of-network pricing may be higher without coverage.
3. Amwell – Best for Second Opinions and Complex Care
Amwell is another heavyweight in the telehealth space, particularly known for partnering with large health systems. It’s frequently recognized for its work in areas like second opinions, specialty consults, and hospital-connected virtual care.
- Best for: People with complex diagnoses who want virtual access to specialists, or those whose health systems use Amwell for follow-up and triage.
- Standout features: Integration with major hospitals, options for behavioral health, and access to subspecialists through partner programs.
- Watch-outs: Direct-to-consumer availability and pricing depend heavily on where you live and who your insurer is.
4. MDLIVE – Best 24/7 Access for Busy Households
MDLIVE offers round-the-clock virtual urgent care plus scheduled appointments for primary care, dermatology, and behavioral health. The platform emphasizes fast access and a large national network of board-certified doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists.
- Best for: Families and shift workers who need reliable 24/7 care for non-emergency issues.
- Standout features: Always-on phone or video visits, a broad mix of medical and mental health services, and integration with some employer and health-plan networks.
- Watch-outs: If your insurance doesn’t include MDLIVE, you’ll want to compare self-pay prices with Sesame or other marketplaces.
5. Doctor on Demand (Included Health) – Best for Employer-Sponsored Telehealth
Doctor on Demand, now part of Included Health, has built its reputation on high-quality video visits and mental health support. Many large employers bundle Doctor on Demand services into their benefits to give workers 24/7 virtual access to urgent-care and primary-care physicians, plus therapists and psychiatrists.
- Best for: Employees whose companies offer virtual-care benefits, or families wanting both medical and mental health in one app.
- Standout features: Reliable video visits, integrated care teams, and strong behavioral-health offerings.
- Watch-outs: Availability and copays can vary depending on your employer or insurer’s contract.
6. PlushCare – Best for Virtual Primary Care and Sexual Health
PlushCare behaves more like an online doctor’s office than a one-off urgent-care app. It pairs patients with U.S. board-certified primary-care physicians and offers ongoing management of conditions like hypertension, high cholesterol, depression, and anxiety, plus sexual health services and preventive care.
- Best for: People looking for a long-term relationship with a virtual PCP who can also handle refills and routine labs.
- Standout features: Strong focus on primary care, mental health, and sexual health; many plans integrate with insurance.
- Watch-outs: Membership fees and per-visit costs can add up if you rarely use the service; always compare with local in-person options.
7. Hims & Hers – Best for Lifestyle, Sexual Health, and Weight-Loss Programs
Hims & Hers started with hair-loss and sexual-health treatments and has evolved into a full-blown telehealth and digital-pharmacy platform. In 2025, it offers virtual care and home delivery across categories like mental health, dermatology, cardiometabolic conditions, and highly popular GLP-1–based weight-loss programs, often under subscription models.
- Best for: Adults seeking discreet, subscription-based care for issues like erectile dysfunction, hair loss, anxiety, or medically supervised weight management.
- Standout features: Streamlined online intake, access to licensed clinicians, bundled medication + follow-up plans, and user-friendly apps.
- Watch-outs: Weight-loss medications carry real risks and must be prescribed and monitored carefully. Always review side effects and make sure the program includes lab monitoring and follow-upnot just prescriptions.
8. Ro – Best for Pharmacy-Integrated Virtual Care
Ro began as a men’s health platform (Roman) and now offers broader telehealth services, including primary care, fertility care, weight-management programs, smoking cessation, and more. Like Hims & Hers, it combines telehealth visits with medication fulfillment and home delivery.
- Best for: People comfortable paying cash for a tightly integrated “visit + medication + follow-up” experience.
- Standout features: In-house pharmacy services, recurring care plans, home lab testing in some programs, and clear, consumer-oriented design.
- Watch-outs: Most Ro services are out-of-network for insurance, so you’ll want to compare total costs with covered options.
9. Online Therapy Platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace & Others) – Best for Mental Health at Scale
While not strictly “telehealth companies” in the medical sense, large virtual therapy platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace have become a major part of the telehealth ecosystem. They connect millions of users with licensed therapists via messaging, audio, and video sessions, often at lower prices than in-person therapy.
- Best for: People who mainly need talk therapy and value flexible, app-based communication with their counselor.
- Standout features: Large therapist networks, asynchronous messaging options, and relative affordability compared with private-pay in-person therapy.
- Watch-outs: Some platforms are still working to improve continuity of care and insurance coverage; psychiatry (medication management) may be limited or separate.
How to Choose the Right Telehealth Provider for You
Before clicking “Book visit,” run through a quick checklist to make sure the telehealth company you’re considering is a good match:
- Your main goal: Are you looking for urgent care, long-term primary care, therapy, weight-loss treatment, dermatology, or something else?
- Insurance vs. cash pay: Check whether the service is in-network for your plan. Some platforms are designed for insurance, others for self-pay.
- Licensing & location: Make sure clinicians are licensed in your state and that the platform is allowed to prescribe what you need in your jurisdiction.
- Data privacy: Look for HIPAA-compliant video and reputable partners for pharmacy and lab services.
- Clinical scope: Telehealth is great for many issues, but not for emergencies or certain complex exams. A good company will clearly outline what it can and cannot treat.
- Follow-up care: The best platforms offer continuityrefills, lab monitoring, and easy follow-up messages or visitsnot just a one-time prescription.
Are Telehealth Companies Safe?
Legitimate telehealth companies follow the same clinical standards as brick-and-mortar clinics. They use licensed clinicians, verify identity, keep secure records, and follow federal and state rules for prescribing medications. Many have been vetted by health systems, insurers, and major employers.
That said, the boom in telehealth and GLP-1 weight-loss medications has also attracted less-scrupulous players. In 2025, large drugmakers and regulators have gone after certain telehealth startups for selling compounded or unapproved versions of popular drugs, or for marketing them in ways that may put patient safety at risk. For you as a patient, that’s a reminder to:
- Be cautious of platforms that promise “guaranteed” prescriptions or dramatic weight-loss results with minimal clinical evaluation.
- Check whether medications are FDA-approved versions dispensed through trusted pharmacies, not experimental compounds without safety data.
- Look for clear information about side effects, monitoring, and when to stop treatment.
If a telehealth site feels more like an online supplement shop than a medical practice, consider that a red flag.
Real-World Telehealth Experiences in 2025
To understand how these telehealth companies feel in everyday life, it helps to look at typical scenarios people are actually facing in 2025.
Jasmine: The Busy Remote Worker
Jasmine is a 32-year-old project manager who works remotely and travels often. She hasn’t had a regular in-person primary-care doctor since moving states. After one too many “We’re booking three months out” phone calls, she creates an account with a large telehealth provider that partners with her employer.
Within a week, she has a virtual primary-care appointment during her lunch break. Her doctor orders labs at a local draw center and follows up via video to explain the results. When Jasmine later catches a sinus infection on a business trip, she uses the same app for a quick urgent-care visit and gets a prescription sent to a nearby pharmacyno frantic Google searches for a walk-in clinic in an unfamiliar city.
Marco: Managing Anxiety and Sleep Issues
Marco, 27, has been meaning to see a therapist for years but finds the idea of sitting in a waiting room intimidating. After seeing a friend talk about online therapy on social media, he signs up for a virtual mental-health platform.
The matching questionnaire helps him find a therapist who specializes in anxiety and LGBTQ+ clients. They meet weekly by video, and in between sessions he sends brief text updates in the app. A few months later, when his therapist suggests a medication evaluation, the platform connects him with a telepsychiatry provider. For Marco, the biggest win isn’t the technology; it’s that telehealth removed enough friction and stigma to make getting help feel doable.
Rosa: Rural Care, Finally Within Reach
Rosa lives in a rural county where the nearest specialist is more than two hours away. Her local clinic partners with a major telehealth company to offer virtual cardiology consults. Instead of taking a full day off work to drive into the city, Rosa goes to her local clinic, where a nurse connects her to a cardiologist via high-resolution video. Her meds are adjusted, and follow-up visits happen virtually unless an in-person test is absolutely necessary.
For Rosa, telehealth doesn’t replace her local doctors; it enhances them by bringing specialist expertise into a community that previously went without.
Liam: The Weight-Loss Maze
Liam, 40, has tried dieting on and off for years. After reading about GLP-1 medications, he looks into telehealth programs offering weight-loss care. He sees glossy ads promising dramatic results and “instant approvals,” but he also comes across news articles about lawsuits against companies that rushed compounded versions of these drugs to market.
Eventually he chooses a telehealth company that:
- Requires a thorough medical history and baseline labs.
- Explains the differences between FDA-approved drugs and compounded products.
- Provides regular follow-up visits and clear criteria for continuing or stopping medication.
Liam still has to do the hard workchanging his diet, moving more, checking in with his clinicianbut telehealth removes the barrier of finding a local obesity-medicine specialist and makes medically supervised weight-management accessible from home.
Practical Tips from Real-World Telehealth Users
Across thousands of patient stories, a few themes keep showing up:
- Prepare like it’s an in-person visit. Have a list of symptoms, medications, and questions ready, and be honest about what you’re actually doing (or not doing) for your health.
- Check your tech early. Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection 5–10 minutes before the appointment to avoid lost time.
- Ask about next steps. Before ending the visit, clarify how refills, test results, and follow-up will workand which symptoms should prompt an ER visit instead.
- Keep a personal record. Use a notes app or journal to track symptoms, medications, and advice from your clinician so each virtual visit builds on the last.
Used thoughtfully, today’s telehealth companies can shrink distance, reduce wait times, and help you stay on top of your healthwith far fewer waiting rooms and far more flexibility.
The Bottom Line
The best telehealth company of 2025 isn’t the flashiest app or the one with the most adsit’s the one that fits your health needs, budget, and comfort level while respecting clinical standards. Platforms like Sesame Care, Teladoc, Amwell, MDLIVE, Doctor on Demand, PlushCare, Hims & Hers, Ro, and large online-therapy services each bring something different to the table.
If you treat telehealth as a long-term part of your carerather than a one-time shortcutyou can combine the convenience of virtual visits with the safety and depth of evidence-based medicine. That’s the sweet spot where telehealth stops being a novelty and becomes what it was always meant to be: a better way to reach the care you deserve.
