Build Telehealth App Like Teladoc: A Step-by-Step Ultimate Guide!

Factors Influencing the Cost of Development of Telehealth Apps like Teladoc

Below we have listed crucial factors impacting the development cost of telehealth apps like Teladoc. Let’s discuss:

1. App Complexity

Opting to build a more complex app will cost you more as compared to basic custom healthcare app development. 

Integrating essential features such as user registration, appointment scheduling, and video conferencing will be less expensive. 

However, integrating advanced functionalities such as AI-driven diagnostics, personalized health plans, and EHR integration increases both development time and cost due to the need for specialized expertise and additional resources.

2. App Platform

The app platform (iOS, Android, or Cross-Platform) you choose will highly influence the telehealth app development cost. If you want to build for a single platform, it will cost you less. On the other hand, creating a cross-platform app or developing separate native apps for multiple platforms increases costs. 

3. Development Team Location

The geographical location of your development team determines the development cost. 

Development rates vary significantly across regions, with teams in North America and Western Europe typically charging higher rates than teams in Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America. Balancing cost with quality and ease of communication is essential when choosing a development team.

Following, we’ve listed the development team's hourly rates based on their region.

4. Development Team Expertise

Selecting a highly experienced development team will result in significantly higher development costs. 

Highly skilled and experienced healthcare app developers can create more resource-efficient and high-quality solutions, even though they can cost more.

Investing in a telehealth app development team with prior experience ensures your app will adhere to industry and legal requirements. It may also result in long-term cost savings due to fewer mistakes and quicker development timelines.

5. Third-Party Integration

Integration of third-party services like payment gateways, EHRs, video conferencing tools, and AI features may increase development costs. Licensing fees for these services can also contribute to ongoing costs.

Therefore, it is crucial to carefully plan, develop, and test for every integration to ensure smooth functioning within the application. One such factor that may add to continuous expenses is licensing fees for outside services. 

6. Compliance & Security

Focusing on compliance and security is essential for telehealth app development. It also impacts the development cost. Telehealth apps must meet rigorous regulatory and security requirements to safeguard patient data and comply with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

Strict access controls, secure authentication processes, and robust data encryption increase the complexity and cost of the development process. 

Features to Incorporate into Telehealth App like Teladoc 

Following, we’ve discussed features you should consider incorporating in patient and doctor’s panels. Let’s discuss:

Features for Patients Panel

Features for Doctors Panel

Step-by-Step Guide to Telehealth App Development like Teladoc 

Below we listed the step-by-step development process of telehealth apps like Teladoc. Let’s learn:

Step 1: Project’s Objective & Goals

Defining your project’s objective and goals will assist in laying out the roadmap for your telehealth application. Determine your target audience, identify essential features & functionalities, and other factors. 

Having clear objectives and goals will navigate you through the development process, ensuring the app meets user needs and requirements. 

Step 2: UX UI Design

Design a user-friendly, intuitive, and accessible interface to draw the audience's attention to your telehealth application. Priortize ease of navigation, accessibility, and visual appeal. 

Create detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize the app's layout and user interactions. This step ensures a seamless user experience and allows for adjustments before moving on to development.

Step 3: Features & Functionalities

Identify and outline essential features and functionality you want to incorporate into your telehealth app. It includes core features such as user registration, video conferencing, appointment scheduling, payment processing, and more.

Also, consider integrating advanced features such as AI-driven diagnostics, electronic health records (EHR), or personalized health plans to enhance the app’s capabilities. 

Step 4: Development

To begin the development process, assemble a group of developers, designers, and other specialists. Choose the technological stack and programming languages that best meet your project's needs.

Ensure your app complies with secure data management practices, HIPAA regulations, and other healthcare needs. Use agile development techniques to facilitate iterative improvements and adaptive planning throughout the development cycle. 

Step 5: Testing & Deployment

Conduct comprehensive testing to identify and address any defects or issues. Usability testing is necessary to ensure the app is easy to use and can satisfy the needs of patients and healthcare providers.  Once testing is complete, ensure the app functions on various devices and submit it to the relevant app stores. Monitor performance and get user feedback to ensure the app remains trustworthy and efficient.

What are the Strategies to Monetize Telehealth Applications?

Following, we’ve discussed top monetization strategies for telehealth applications. Let’s discuss:

1. Fees

Your telehealth app can charge patients one-time fees for each doctor’s session or consultation. The fee amount can depend on the doctor’s qualification & location, type, and duration of the consultation, and so on. 

With this monetization model, you can enhance transparency so that both health professionals and patients understand the cost structure. 

2. Subscription

Paid subscriptions offer a steady stream of income from your app. In the subscription model, patients pay recurring fees, typically monthly or annually. 

Also, subscription fees can vary as per different user categories. For example, if users want to consult top-featured doctors, they must pay a higher subscription fee. 

Note that many telehealth apps like Teladoc generate income through insurance plans, so payments come from employers across the USA. 

3. In-App Purchases

With the in-app purchases monetization strategy, you can enable users to purchase additional features or services. For instance, users can purchase nutritional supplements or medications, doctor on-demand sessions, refill prescriptions, and so on. 

This model allows users to pay for only the most valuable features. And it drives additional revenue without altering the core free services.

4. In-App Advertisement

Monetization through in-app advertisements includes promoting or displaying ads within your telehealth app. These ads can range from video commercials and banner ads to sponsored content. Generally, in-app purchases work on a pay-per-view and pay-per-click basis.

This model allows the app to remain free or at a lower cost to users while generating revenue from advertisers. However, balancing ad placements is crucial to maintain the user experience, especially in a healthcare setting where trust and ease of use are paramount.

5. Freemium

A freemium model that provides basic services enables users to access essential features of telehealth services without incurring any fees. Customers need to subscribe to a paid subscription to access premium features. 

Before opting for a paid membership, users can try out the premium services for free during a trial period. Subscribing enhances their whole telehealth experience and gives them access to enhanced functionalities, premium features, and customization options. 

Advantages of Building Telehealth Apps like Teladoc 

Developing a telehealth app like Teladoc comes with certain benefits. Let’s learn:

1. Increased Access to Healthcare

Telehealth apps expand access to healthcare services, especially for individuals in remote or underserved areas. Patients can consult with healthcare professionals from anywhere, reducing the need for travel and ensuring timely medical advice and treatment.

2. Convenience and Flexibility

Telehealth apps offer unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Patients can schedule appointments at their convenience, including outside traditional office hours, and access medical care from the comfort of their homes. Healthcare providers can also manage their schedules more efficiently.

3. Cost Efficiency

Telehealth apps offer cost-saving benefits for both health providers and patients. Patients save on travel expenses and time off work, while providers reduce overhead costs associated with running a physical clinic. This makes healthcare more affordable and accessible.

4. Improved Patient Engagement

Telehealth apps offer tools that help to improve health management. Essential features such as personalized health tips, appointment reminders, easy access to medical records, and so on encourage patients to take an active role in their healthcare, leading to better outcomes.

5. Streamlined Workflow for Providers

Telehealth apps help streamline administrative tasks for healthcare providers. Automated appointment scheduling, digital health records, and integrated billing systems reduce administrative burdens, allowing providers to focus more on patient care.

6. Enhanced Data and Analytics

Telehealth applications offer valuable insights by collecting and analyzing health data. This data assists in identifying public health trends, improving treatment plans, and enhancing overall healthcare delivery. 

7. Competitive Advantage

Developing a telehealth app offers a competitive advantage in the evolving healthcare landscape. As more patients seek digital health solutions, a robust telehealth platform can attract and retain more patients, positioning providers as leaders in modern healthcare delivery.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Telehealth App like Teladoc?

Developing a telehealth app like Teladoc depends on factors such as UI UX design, tech stack, complexity & specifics, and more.

However, the estimated cost to build a telehealth app like Teladoc ranges from $25,000 to $50,000. Incorporating advanced features and design in your telehealth application will cost you around $80,000 or above. 

Note: Opting for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development approach will help you build a cost-effective telehealth app. Here, you can launch your application with basic features & functionalities with a simple yet interactive design.

Once you’ve launched your telehealth application in the market, you can wait a few months to check users' responses. It will also provide you with detailed insights to improve your telehealth app.

So, after clearing that phase, you can go for a full-fledged telehealth mobile app like Teladoc. For that, you must reach out to investors assisting you in building telehealth applications.

Partner With Apptunix to Build Robust Telehealth App like Teladoc

Partner with Apptunix to build a robust telehealth app like Teladoc. As a leading healthcare app development company, Apptunix will assist you in creating a customized, user-friendly app featuring secure video consultations, real-time updates, and comprehensive patient management. 

With experience creating cross-platform, iOS, and Android apps, Apptunix ensures your telehealth app development is state-of-the-art, dependable, and adheres to industry standards. With the excellent telemedicine solutions from Apptunix, you may improve patient care and streamline healthcare services.