What's the difference between NewDoc and InstantScripts?
NewDoc bulk-bills every consultation it offers at $0 for eligible Medicare cardholders, with the eScript and any same-visit referral or certificate included. NewDoc's operating hours are generally 8 am to 11 pm most days, with availability varying day to day. InstantScripts is private-pay only with per-product fees: prescription $19, single-day certificate $19, blood test referral $24, specialist referral $24, telehealth consult from $49, treatment plan from $49.
Both services use AHPRA-registered doctors. NewDoc states it uses FRACGP-qualified Australian-trained general practitioners only. InstantScripts describes its practitioners as AHPRA-registered doctors but does not publicly itemise its training mix.
NewDoc vs InstantScripts at a glance
NewDoc and InstantScripts are both major Australian online doctor services. InstantScripts was one of the earliest entrants in the Australian per-product telehealth space and publishes a clear per-product price list (per their public help-centre page): online prescriptions $19, single-day medical certificates $19, multi-day certificates $49, blood test referrals $24, specialist referrals $24, telehealth consultations from $49, treatment plans from $49.
NewDoc operates a different model: a Medicare-billed bulk-billed consultation that includes the eScript and any same-visit document at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible cardholders.
The table below compares the two on the dimensions that drive what you actually pay and what you get. Comparison data verified as at 9 May 2026.
| Dimension | NewDoc | InstantScripts |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Bulk-billed Medicare consult | Per-product fee |
| Lowest listed price | $0 (Medicare) | $19 (prescription or 1-day medical certificate) |
| Bulk-billed? | Yes | No |
| Doctor type | FRACGP-qualified GPs only | AHPRA-registered doctors |
| Same-day availability | Yes | Yes |
| Mental Health Treatment Plan | Yes (bulk-billed) | Treatment plans from $49 |
| Referrals | Yes (included in consult) | Specialist referral $24 (separate fee) |
Comparison data verified as at 9 May 2026. Values reflect each provider's lowest publicly listed pricing or stated feature on their own website. Prices and features change — check InstantScripts directly for current information before booking. "Bulk-billed" = no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare cardholders.
When NewDoc fits
NewDoc's bulk-billed model is structurally cheaper for any Medicare-eligible patient. Multi-document and multi-visit scenarios compound the advantage.
Choose NewDoc if any of the following apply:
- You are eligible for Medicare and want $0 out-of-pocket for the consultation and any documents issued.
- You want a FRACGP-qualified Australian-trained general practitioner specifically.
- You need ongoing chronic-condition care and want every review consultation, pathology order, and script repeat bulk-billed.
- You need a Mental Health Treatment Plan included in the bulk-billed consultation.
- You want a single visit to cover multiple needs without per-product fees stacking up.
When InstantScripts might fit
InstantScripts is one of the most established names in per-product Australian telehealth and may suit some specific situations:
- You are not Medicare-eligible and want a transparent published per-product price list to compare against.
- You have a single, narrow need (one script, no other documents) and prefer paying a single $19 product fee rather than engaging a Medicare-billed consultation.
- You prefer the brand familiarity of one of the longest-running Australian per-script services.
Worked example: a year of chronic-condition care
Consider a Medicare-eligible patient with type 2 diabetes who sees the GP four times a year for review, with two scripts per visit (eight scripts a year). Comparing on the publicly listed prices as at 9 May 2026:
- NewDoc: $0 for the year — every review consultation is bulk-billed, scripts and pathology referrals are included.
- InstantScripts: 8 scripts × $19 = $152 in product fees, plus 4 telehealth consultations × $49 = $196 in consult fees, totalling about $348 for the year on the publicly listed per-product prices.
For acute one-off needs the gap is smaller — a single script visit is $0 with NewDoc vs $19 on InstantScripts' published price list — but for ongoing care the per-product model accumulates.
Verify both before booking
Pricing and features change. Every claim above was verified against each provider's public website as at 9 May 2026. Before you book, confirm current pricing on NewDoc's pricing page and on InstantScripts' site. For a wider comparison across all major Australian online doctor services, see our hub comparison.
Last reviewed 10 May 2026. Editorial policy