Zocdoc is a directory system for medical and mental health professionals that offers the ability to list your practice and availability and allows clients to book with you directly. Exact costs depend on the location and specialty of your practice. Let’s take a deep dive and learn if Zocdoc is a good fit for your therapy practice.
Rating of Zocdoc’s Therapist Directory
Over my years working as a clinician and as a reviewer, I have spent countless hours with a number of products and services for therapists. Zocdoc performed the best in the Potential Client Reach, Client Communication Features, and Search Features categories because of its immense volume of users, excellent client communication integrations, and detailed search features. Its lowest scores were in the Relative Cost and Additional Features Offered categories due to a lack of additional features and relatively expensive pricing.
Pros & Cons of Zocdoc
Zocdoc provides practitioners with benefits including automated appointment reminders, easy online client booking, verified client reviews, and an impressive intake documentation system. However, clients can easily cancel appointments, leading to costly last-minute cancellations, there is heavy competition in large cities, and the pricing model won’t work for everyone.
Zocdoc Review – Key Takeaways
- Zocdoc allows medical and mental health practitioners a place to market their services, a way for clients to easily book sessions online, and a streamlined way of managing intake documentation.
- Client appointments can be automatically synced with your practice management system (PMS) calendar or many other external calendar systems.
- The unique pricing model, wherein you are only billed when a new client books with you, will work well for some practices, but not others.
- Due to popularity, it may be difficult to stand out amidst heavy competition in densely populated areas.
What Is Zocdoc?
Zocdoc is a directory system for many different medical specialties. Zocdoc allows practices to create a listing on their widely-known directory that will allow potential clients to find them through Zocdoc’s proprietary matching system. The intake process is made simpler with Zocdoc by ensuring clients can complete all of their intake paperwork in one place prior to their appointment.
Costs depend on your specialization and location, but you will only pay when a new patient books a session with you.
What is Zocdoc Used For?
Zocdoc is used by consumers and clients to find doctors in-person and online that take their insurance and to make the process of booking appointments easier. Zocdoc is used by doctors to help market their practices and help clients book with them easily.
How Does Zocdoc Work?
Zocdoc works by allowing doctors of almost every specialty to list themselves or their practice for in-person or remote appointments. Doctors are not charged for the service until they receive a new booking for a client. Meanwhile, clients are not charged at all and are able to have a more refined and simpler experience where all of the doctors they need can be found in one place.
Why Create a Zocdoc Profile?
A Zocdoc profile and directory listing can help your practice gain more clients, and its detailed filtering system means only clients that are a great match will be reaching out to or booking with you. In addition, Zocdoc can help your practice manage scheduling and booking, plus help you manage your intake process, saving valuable time.
Here are a few reasons to consider creating a Zocdoc profile:
Get Attention From Potential Clients
Zocdoc allows you to market your practice to a much larger audience than through physical advertisements, word of mouth, and social media alone. Being one of the largest directories out there, Zocdoc could expose your practice to a large number of new clients.
The Zocdoc directory houses more than just mental health practices. Medical practices of every kind are represented, and there’s a good chance that patients already using Zocdoc for their physical health needs may begin using it for mental health needs if they arise.
Easy Online Booking
One of the great aspects of a system like Zocdoc is the ability for clients to book directly through the Zocdoc dashboard, with the system automatically scheduling the appointment on your calendar. Zocdoc is able to integrate into a large number of calendar systems, including Google Calendar and SimplePractice.
Zocdoc allows clients to manage appointments via their dashboard, including rescheduling and cancellations. Last-minute cancellations can be rather costly, as Zocdoc will still charge you for the client lead if a client cancels anytime outside of the 24 hours after making their appointment; however, any fees are only applied to new clients, so all of your interactions with existing clients are free. The built-in appointment reminder system should help to cut back on the number of no-shows, as the system allows you to customize reminder text messages to be sent to clients automatically.
If you have multiple practitioners, it is possible to set up unique calendars for each of them within Zocdoc. During my review, I was impressed with the flexibility of the Zocdoc calendar system. It allows for a number of different setups and customizations, so you can specialize it to your practice’s workflow.
Complete Intake Paperwork Virtually
Zocdoc includes the ability to request intake paperwork from your clients via the Zocdoc dashboard. This is an impressive feature that is often covered by PMS systems, but if you don’t already have it covered, the feature could add some value to the service. Zocdoc includes a number of pre-generated intake forms, but you can also import and use any of the ones you already have.
The intake process is built into the automated reminder system, so when clients are reminded about their appointments, they will be prompted to complete the intake forms you have selected.
How Much Does Zocdoc Cost?
A search engine optimized profile on Zocdoc is provided for no cost; however, when a new client schedules an appointment with you directly through Zocdoc you will be charged a fee, which varies depending on location and specialty – our example of a psychotherapist in California incurs a fee of $70 per new client booking.
Your practice will not be charged if a client books through your website, or if an existing client books an appointment through Zocdoc. Included with your profile for free is the ability to import all appointments to your scheduling system, automated requests for client intake information, and an online booking button widget to add to your website.
If a client is a no-show, reschedules, or cancels after 24 hours of making the appointment via Zocdoc, you will still incur the fee for gaining the client lead. It is possible to set spending caps so you can limit the number of new clients you might receive in any given month.
Is a Zocdoc Profile Worth It?
Whether or not a Zocdoc profile is worth the cost will depend entirely on your practice. Variables at play include the number of clients being brought into the practice, the hourly rate you charge, your location, and many other factors. However, Zocdoc is unique in that there are no charges until you book a new client appointment.
So, it may be worth your time to set up a profile and test the waters for a while, knowing that you will only be charged when a client books. Zocdoc includes some detailed data tracking features that will allow you to see whether or not the service is profitable for you.
Zocdoc Therapist Directory – Our Final Verdict
During my time using and reviewing Zocdoc, I was impressed with the service. I felt that it was easy for both practitioners and clients to use, and would likely provide a great deal of value to a practice, particularly if you are having a difficult time attracting clients.
Practices in densely populated areas may find competition stiff, but the detailed filtering settings and the ability to solicit client reviews can help you stand out. The additional features, including calendar management and intake documentation, really help the process flow smoothly.
You should consider signing up for Zocdoc if you:
- Are looking to increase your client caseload
- Don’t want to pay a set monthly price for a directory listing
- Would like an automated appointment and intake system with appointment reminders
You should consider looking for an alternative to Zocdoc if you:
- Prefer a set monthly pricing model
- Don’t need any additional features and are looking for a simple directory
Who Is Zocdoc Right For?
Zocdoc is a great directory to list your practice on, especially if you are looking for a few additional features, would like to be featured on a very well-known directory, and would prefer to pay as you go rather than pay a set monthly fee.
Practices Looking for Additional Features with Their Directory
Zocdoc offers more features than a simpler directory like Psychology Today. The added features of automated appointment reminders, calendar syncing, and intake documentation are complementary to the service without being overwhelming.
Practices That Want to be Listed on a Well-Known Directory
Zocdoc is a very well-known medical provider directory, for mental health as well as physical health. The size and popularity of the system is important for ensuring your practice is seen by a large audience.
Those Who Want to Pay as They Go
Zocdoc’s unique pricing structure prevents you from paying a set monthly fee regardless of performance. While your costs may be unpredictable, to an extent, this system ensures you are only paying for what you are using.
Who May Want an Alternative to Zocdoc?
Zocdoc has some great features, but it may not be for everyone. If you prefer a set monthly cost or feel you will have a difficult time contending with heavy competition in large cities, you may want to consider other options.
Practices that Prefer a Set Monthly Cost
Zocdoc’s pricing system may not work for your practice. If you prefer the predictability of a set monthly cost, then something like Psychology Today may be better for you.
Read our review of Psychology Today for more information.
Practices Looking to Join a Directory Specifically for Therapists
Zocdoc hosts medical providers from every specialty. If you’re looking for a directory that is more specific to therapists, you might be better suited with an option like TherapyDen or GoodTherapy.
Practices Looking for an All-in-One Practice Management System
While it offers a handful of added features, Zocdoc does not work as an all-in-one marketing and PMS solution. If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop you might be better served by SimplePractice. It is a PMS that also offers a listing on their Monarch provider directory and much more.
Read more in our review of SimplePractice.
Zocdoc Vs. Psychology Today
Zocdoc and Psychology Today offer similar services, however, Psychology Today is designed exclusively for therapists and other mental health professionals. Zocdoc requires licensure or credential verification, whereas Psychology Today allows certain unlicensed practitioners.
In terms of cost, Psychology Today is much more straightforward, charging a set monthly cost of $29.95. This also includes access to a built-in telehealth platform. Meanwhile, Zocdoc offers appointment reminders and intake management – a more comprehensive system – but pricing can get complicated and is based on location and specialty; however, you will not be charged unless you actually book new clients.
Zocdoc Vs. GoodTherapy
Zocdoc and GoodTherapy are somewhat similar, although GoodTherapy is far more tailored to therapists. GoodTherapy offers plans that include continuing education (CE) options, as well as a client portal and billing solutions.
GoodTherapy costs range from $30.95 – $49.95 monthly, depending on features. This cost is difficult to compare with Zocdoc, as Zocdoc’s pricing varies depending on your practice.
How to Get Started with Zocdoc
Zocdoc is exceptionally easy to use. Customer support is very hands-on and will be with you throughout the process to ensure your profile is exactly how you’d like it, and all the additional features are working as they should.
The steps for getting started with Zocdoc are:
- Sign up for Zocdoc. Simply enter some details about your practice to get things started. (~5 minutes).
- Complete the Onboarding Phone Call. An onboarding phone call is mandatory. A customer support rep will walk you through the details of Zocdoc, answer any questions you might have, and help you get set up. This is also where Zocdoc will verify your credentials. (~30 minutes, plus waiting time).
- Complete Your Profile. Fill out the rest of your profile, add calendar availability, and get set up with insurance. (~30+ minutes).
- Publish Your Profile. Publish your profile and wait for clients to start booking.
History of Zocdoc
Zocdoc was founded in 2007 by Cyrus Massoumi. It is founded on the principle of giving power to patients to find the healthcare they need and helping doctors avoid the struggles of digital marketing.1 Zocdoc is headquartered in New York City and is relatively large with over 1,000 employees listed on LinkedIn.2
FAQs for Zocdoc
Is Zocdoc Free?
Zocdoc is free to get set up with, but you will be charged a fee for every new client that books with you – this fee varies depending on specialty and location. Existing clients booking another appointment will not incur a charge, and the exact cost depends on your location and specialty.
Do You Have to be Licensed to Use the Zocdoc?
Yes. Zocdoc verifies the licensure and credentials of all of its providers.
Does Zocdoc Offer a Free Trial?
In a way, yes – you are able to try out Zocdoc’s services, but you will be billed if you begin to book new clients.
Is Zocdoc Legit?
Yes. Zocdoc is well-known and recognized as a legitimate directory of medical providers. It has been in service since 2007 and has thousands of reviews listed on sites like SiteJabber and TrustPilot. Zocdoc has been featured in major publications such as CNBC, Business Insider, and NPR.
Is Zocdoc Reliable?
Zocdoc is very reliable. It has been in service since 2007 and has been garnering positive reviews since then. In reviews found on multiple consumer review websites, practitioners say it helps them gain more clients, and patients love the simplicity of booking appointments and managing their medical care.
