What's the difference between NewDoc and Doctors on Demand?
It comes down to price against opening hours. At NewDoc, every consultation is bulk billed at $0 for eligible Medicare cardholders, with your eScript and any same-visit referral or certificate included, and it's open generally 8 am to 11 pm most days. Doctors on Demand is private pay but runs 24/7. Its published prices include a smoking cessation appointment from $19.90, QuickScript repeats from $29.90, and standard consults from $62.95.
Both use AHPRA-registered doctors. NewDoc uses fellowship-qualified, Australian-trained GPs only. Doctors on Demand describes a pool of 200+ AHPRA-registered doctors, each with at least three years' registration.
NewDoc vs Doctors on Demand at a glance
Both are Australian online doctor services, but they make their money differently. Doctors on Demand is open around the clock and charges per visit: a smoking cessation appointment from $19.90, QuickScript repeats from $29.90, and standard consults at $62.95 in business hours or $92.95 after hours.
NewDoc bills Medicare instead of you. If you're an eligible cardholder, the consultation and anything issued in it cost you nothing out of pocket.
Here's how the two compare on what you actually pay and what you get, checked as at 8 August 2026.
NewDoc bulk-bills the consultation under Medicare at $0 for eligible Medicare cardholders, with the eScript and any same-visit referral or certificate included. Doctors on Demand is private-pay and operates 24/7, with QuickScript repeat prescriptions publicly listed from $29.90.
| Dimension | NewDoc | Doctors on Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Bulk-billed Medicare consult | Per-consult fee |
| Lowest listed price | $0 (Medicare) | $19.90 (smoking cessation, business hours) |
| Bulk-billed? | Yes | No |
| Doctor type | Fellowship-qualified specialist GPs only | AHPRA-registered doctors (3+ years registration) |
| Same-day availability | Yes | Yes (24/7) |
| Mental health care plan | Yes (bulk billed) | Mental health care plan offered; out-of-pocket pricing shown on their FAQ pages |
| Referrals | Yes (included in consult) | Specialist, allied-health, pathology, and imaging referrals offered; per-item prices not publicly displayed |
Comparison data verified as at 8 August 2026. Values reflect each provider's lowest publicly listed pricing or stated feature on their own website. Prices and features change. Check Doctors on Demand directly for current information before booking. "Bulk-billed" = no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare cardholders.
When NewDoc fits
If you're Medicare eligible, bulk billing costs you less, and the gap widens the more you need. NewDoc is the better fit if:
- You're Medicare eligible and want $0 out of pocket for the visit and anything issued in it.
- You want a fellowship-qualified, Australian-trained GP on the call, guaranteed.
- You're managing an ongoing condition and want every review, blood test order, and repeat script bulk billed.
- You want a mental health care plan included in the bulk-billed visit.
- You can book within NewDoc's hours, roughly 8 am to midnight, 7 days a week.
When Doctors on Demand might fit
Doctors on Demand is a well-established 24/7 service, and there are real situations where it's the better call:
- You need care overnight or on a public holiday, outside NewDoc's usual hours. Being open around the clock is their clearest advantage.
- You're not Medicare eligible and want one straightforward per-visit price, with a QuickScript repeat option from $29.90.
- You'd rather consult in another language. They advertise coverage across 25+ languages.
Worked example: a year of repeat prescriptions
Say you're Medicare eligible and need eight repeat prescriptions over a year. On the publicly listed prices as at 8 August 2026:
- At NewDoc: $0 for the year. Each consultation is bulk billed and your eScript is included.
- At Doctors on Demand: eight QuickScript repeats at $29.90 each comes to about $239.20 for the year.
For a one-off script at 2 am, though, convenience wins and they have it: NewDoc is not a 24/7 service. Within its hours, your consultation and script are $0 if you're Medicare eligible.
Verify both before booking
Prices and rules change, so don't just take our word for it. Every claim above was checked against each provider's own website as at 8 August 2026. Before you book, confirm current pricing on NewDoc's pricing page and check Doctors on Demand's own site directly. For a wider comparison across all major Australian online doctor services, see our hub comparison.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026. Editorial policy