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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

MDLIVE vs healow

MDLIVE 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner MDLIVE
healow 4.7★ · Free to download 55

MDLIVE is better for direct telehealth appointments, while healow is more suited for managing existing doctor relationships.

Full reviews: MDLIVE · healow

MDLIVE excels in providing quick and efficient virtual doctor visits, particularly for urgent, non-emergency needs, though it faces significant criticism for billing and app glitches. Healow, while useful for patient portal functions like messaging and prescription refills, is frequently criticized for its complex interface and technical issues.

Head to head

Features and Services edge: MDLIVER3R5R11R16
MDLIVE MDLIVE offers direct access to medical providers for virtual visits, including therapy, and is praised for its convenience in getting prescriptions and medical advice quickly R5R16. Users appreciate the ability to get care from home for non-emergency situations . However, some users report that doctors are sometimes unhelpful and unwilling to prescribe necessary medication R3R11. There are also requests for pediatric providers for children .
healow Healow functions as a patient portal, allowing users to manage appointments, request prescription refills, and communicate with their providers . Users find it helpful for accessing medical history and communicating about minor issues . However, the app is criticized for lacking features like attaching documents in messages , not having a clear notes option , and issues with sending messages to providers R84R85R112. Some users also report difficulties in finding lab results and managing medication lists .
Ease of Use and App Performance edge: MDLIVER1R4R5R13
MDLIVE MDLIVE receives mixed reviews regarding ease of use. Many users find the video calls easy and efficient R5. However, a significant number report constant glitches, difficulty signing in, and general buggy behavior R1R4R13. Some find the initial setup tedious and report issues with notifications R4 or switching profiles for dependents .
healow Healow is frequently described as difficult, complicated, and not user-friendly R72R76. Users struggle with navigation, finding specific functions, and setting up accounts R70R76. The app is prone to glitches, force closing, and kicking users out . Some users, including a tech professional, find it frustrating R76.
Reliability and Service Quality edge: MDLIVER1R8R10R12
MDLIVE MDLIVE's medical providers are generally praised as wonderful, kind, professional, and helpful R8R10R12. However, there are serious complaints about long wait times, despite advertised quick connections , and appointments being canceled without notification . Some users report being charged for missed appointments due to account deactivation or login issues R1.
healow Healow's reliability is hampered by frequent login errors and an inability to access health records . Users report issues with communication, stating that messages to providers don't work R84R85, and it's difficult to get a hold of a person for support or prescription refills R91. Some users also note that the app stores payment information against their wishes without an option to remove it and has non-secure connections .
Price and Value tieR1R7R9R15
MDLIVE MDLIVE is free to download and often covered by insurance with a $0 copay, making it a valuable option for many R16. However, there are numerous severe complaints about billing issues, including being charged for services not delivered, double billing, and insurance not being processed correctly R1R7R9R15. Users report significant hassle and difficulty getting refunds R7R15.
healow Healow is free to download and is typically used in conjunction with existing healthcare providers, so direct costs are not a primary concern in reviews. However, some users express frustration over the app storing payment information without consent or an option to remove it, raising security concerns .
Customer Support tieR1R7R15R27
MDLIVE MDLIVE's customer support is a major point of contention. Users report poor backend support, difficulty merging accounts, and being charged for missed appointments due to account issues R1. There are complaints about support lying about correcting billing issues R7, long waits for supervisors to call back R15, and unresolved technical glitches despite multiple calls and emails over months . Some users find the call center staff rude and unhelpful , and express frustration with being directed to call when an email option is provided R27.
healow Healow users report significant challenges in contacting support or their doctor's office. It's difficult to get a hold of a person R91, and phone wait times can be long . The in-app help is described as a bot , and there's no easy way to provide feedback to developers . Some users mention that their doctor's office is no help with app issues .
Pick MDLIVE if

Pick MDLIVE if you need quick, convenient virtual consultations for non-emergency medical or psychological help, especially if your insurance covers it R16. It's suitable for those who prioritize direct access to providers and efficient video calls R5.

Pick healow if

Pick healow if your existing healthcare provider uses it as their patient portal and you need to manage appointments, access medical history, or request prescription refills within that specific system . It's best for users who are willing to navigate a less intuitive interface for integrated care with their doctor.

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for both show significant frustration with app functionality and support. MDLIVE's positive reviews often focus on the quality of the medical providers, while negative reviews highlight severe billing and technical issues. Healow's positive reviews praise its convenience for specific tasks, but its negative reviews consistently point to poor usability and glitches.

Frequently asked

Is MDLIVE good for prescriptions?
MDLIVE can be good for getting prescriptions quickly for common ailments, with many users reporting their medications were called in and ready within an hour R16. However, some users have reported issues where doctors were unwilling to prescribe necessary medication despite worsening symptoms R3R11R31.
Does healow allow messaging with doctors?
Healow is intended to allow messaging with providers, but many users report that this feature does not work reliably, making it difficult to send messages or get responses R84R85R91R112.
Are there billing problems with MDLIVE?
Yes, MDLIVE has significant billing problems, with users reporting being charged for services not delivered, double billing, issues with insurance processing, and difficulty getting refunds R1R7R9R15.
Is healow easy to use for seniors or people with disabilities?
Healow is frequently described as not easy to use for the average patient, with specific complaints about font design, color, and size making it hard to read for seniors R70, and general difficulty for people with disabilities R72R76.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] MDLIVE 3/5 · US Good when they help: Love using the app but my most recent 2 “visits” provided no help. I was in unbearable pain from a sinus infection but the 2 MDs wouldn’t do anything except recommend what I already said I was doing. Finally saw a dr in person who gave antibiotics and felt better the next day.
  2. [R5] MDLIVE 5/5 · US Very efficient video call: So easy to do!
  3. [R11] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Incompetent Medical Advice: Beware! They will sure take your money and tell you to keep doing what you’re doing instead of giving a prescription, despite worsening symptoms.
  4. [R16] MDLIVE 5/5 · US Great experience: I had a bad sunburn and didn’t feel like going to Urgent Care and with a $0 copay this was the best option. My pain medications were called in and ready in an hour so I could start to feeling better right away. The doctor was friendly and gave me good tips on what to do and didn’t make me feel bad for not wearing enough sunscreen!
  5. [R1] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Great doctors poor back end support: Don’t do it. Find another way. If you change insurance they will deactivate your account and still charge you for missed appointments. When you ask to merge your old account to your new account it will treat you as a new patient. You will pay missed appointment fees for appointments in your deleted account. The app constantly glitches. Signing-in is an adventur
  6. [R4] MDLIVE 2/5 · US Troubles on iPhone: I cannot turn on notifications. When I go into notifications, it is not listed there when I try to turn them on from the app there it kicks me over to settings for the app in iPhone, but the settings do not include notifications. The app is not even listed under notifications in the iPhone. I had difficulty signing up and had to do it online and had challenges with different b
  7. [R13] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Loading screen: I feel like the best feature on this app is the loading screen. They spent a lot of time on it and so am I
  8. [R8] MDLIVE 5/5 · US SO GREAT TO HAVE: The medical providers are wonderful. This app is so great to have!!
  9. [R10] MDLIVE 5/5 · US Good service: Excellent
  10. [R12] MDLIVE 5/5 · US Easy consult: Excellent care
  11. [R7] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Billing Nightmare: Be careful with giving them your credit card information. They will bill you for services they don’t deliver or that should be paid for by insurance. I’ve had to call support multiple times and they say they will correct it, but they seem to be lying and probably just wait people out until they give up. I only got my money back after reporting the issue to the Better Business
  12. [R9] MDLIVE 1/5 · US 1 Star: Negligent Patient Abandonment and Broken Infrastructure: UPDATE: The formal complaints with the State Medical Board and the California Attorney General have been officially filed. I will not be emailing a generic inbox to "tell you more" about a medical emergency because you already have the system logs. Your compliance department can explain the ghost-billing and platform failures directl
  13. [R15] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Will not bill your insurance: I used this app and was immediately charged. I entered my insurance information when I created the account and before the appointment. I called my insurance company to see why they didn’t pay it and they said MDLive never sent it to be processed…they charged me $89. I called and was told a supervisor would call to investigate within 24 hours, and I’m still waiting 3 d
  14. [R27] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Sucks: Don’t use!!! They give bad advice and you always have to call twice of course an additional charge! Customer complaints e-mail wants you to call. If you want someone to call why provide an email?
  15. [R31] MDLIVE 1/5 · US Fraud company: I had a very frustrating and disappointing experience with MDLIVE. I used the app specifically to get a prescription for a medication that I have already been taking regularly. I followed all the steps in the system, selected that I needed a prescription, entered the exact medication, and provided my usage history. Based on this process and the options clearly stating “prescription,
  16. [R84] healow 3/5 · US Healow app: Sending messsged to My provider doesn’t work !!
  17. [R85] healow 1/5 · US Nonfunctional app: I’ve used several other medical apps but this one simply doesn’t work. Communication is one way. Can’t respond to messages. Information is impossible to find. Better off just calling the doctors office for why your needs are. I’ve given up and will be deleting the app entirely. The web based portal is even worse. Not sure why anyone would use this in their practice.
  18. [R91] healow 1/5 · US Communication: You can never get ahold of a person , trying to get prescriptions refilled is a chore the website doesn’t send them forward so you call and nothing
  19. [R112] healow 1/5 · US not user friendly: I find it difficult to send messages to my doctor & I find it duplicstes entries from my doctor, making it confusing
  20. [R70] healow 1/5 · US Poor design: App runs on iPhone. Seniors use iPads. Font design color and size hard to read not very useful
  21. [R72] healow 3/5 · US Review: Not easy to use for people with disabilities
  22. [R76] healow 1/5 · US Review: This app is WAY too complicated for the average patient to use! I am a tech professional and I am totally frustrated!

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store