Have you ever been in a situation where you had a persistent cough that needed to be consulted by a doctor? Instead of wasting time to get an appointment, you pick up your phone, and a few taps help you get a consultation with a licensed doctor from the comfort of your bed.

This seamless experience has become a new normal due to telemedicine apps, which have completely changed how people access healthcare. In the US, Telemedicine apps have emerged as a lifeline for patients and business-transforming for healthcare businesses.

According to the Survey of Public Opinion Strategies, 54% of Americans have used telemedicine now. The rise in the usage of telemedicine apps has resulted in opportunities and taken several startups to the list of top telemedicine companies. These apps have provided unique features that helped them establish a strong foothold in the industry.

So, Healthcare startups can draw valuable insights after looking at the key features and specialties of the top telemedicine apps in USA. By exploring these innovative approaches, startups can understand the important steps they need to take to build a successful telemedicine app. But before that, let’s take a look at:

Why Telemedicine is a Game-Changer for Healthcare Startups?

During the pandemic, everything was locked down, and we saw a rise in the use of telemedicine apps in USA. As of 2024, there are more than 116 million users of telemedicine services around the world. (Source: Statista) Now, it has become crucial for startups to build a telemedicine app because they can target a vast number of audience.

With the increasing demand for telemedicine, startups are making advanced apps and providing modern consultations. To understand how these apps are game-changing, let’s explore the benefits of telemedicine.

1. Expanding Your Reach Beyond Geographic Boundaries

Traditional healthcare systems face limitations because they are only limited to a particular area. It fails to serve remote and semi-urban regions because of the time consumption to reach that particular area. Telemedicine apps eliminate these limitations and enable healthcare providers to connect with patients living in any area, anytime.

According to Statista, more than 116 million users are using telemedicine for healthcare in 2024 which is expected to cross 120 million bt 2025.

As the number is rising so healthcare startups have the opportunity to provide their services in rural and town areas where healthcare services are not meeting the standards. By doing this, telemedicine software companies can fill the gap between patient and healthcare which ultimately helps them expand their reach beyond geographical boundaries.

2. Saving Valuable Money For Patients and Providers

Opening a physical clinic or hospital requires a lot of money and effort. People need to invest the hard-earned money of their whole life to run the clinic or hospital. However, telemedicine helps save valuable money for both patients and providers. Some of the few top telemedicine app development companies provide budget-friendly services.

Startups don’t need to spend their money on office spaces, utilities, and support staff. Patients also save money because they don’t need to travel to the clinic or hospital. By adopting telemedicine, healthcare startups can provide affordable care to patients at a budget-friendly cost.

3. Enhancing Patient Engagement and Retention

We live in a tech-driven world where consumer experience is king. Telemedicine apps are a perfect example of unparalleled convenience because they provide the ability to consult with healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes.

Healthcare startups need to partner with an experienced telemedicine app development company. This partnership can help them prioritize user-friendly interfaces, fast consultations, and responsive support to provide next-level patient engagement and retention. Remember to repeat customers to increase your revenue streams.

4. Providing Better Compliance and Data Security

With the rise of technology, cyberattackers are also finding new ways to steal crucial information by attacking apps. Startups face challenges in meeting security standards but telemedicine solves this problem as well.

According to the HIPAA journal, more than 500 healthcare institutions reported data breaches in the US. It affected nearly 82.6 million individuals. So, providing data security is a must for telemedicine startups. You need to choose the apps that are equipped with built-in compliance for laws like HIPAA and GDPR. The use of modern methods in securing users’ data fosters trust and credibility for startups in the healthcare domain. It results in expanding the customer base.

5. Enabling Scalability For A Bright Future

We have already discussed that running a traditional healthcare system requires a lot of money and effort. And when you decide to scale it up to meet unique demands, it consumes more money. Telemedicine provides scalability by saving your extra costs which you can invest in transforming your healthcare services.

With the integration of cloud-based systems and advanced APIs, telemedicine platforms allow startups to handle thousands of users flawlessly. However, these integrations can impact telemedicine app development cost so startups need to take this step necessarily. This capability allows startups to grow rapidly and achieve without any big investment.

Top Telemedicine Apps in USA: Lessons for Healthcare Startups

1. Talkspace

Talkspace is a popular telemedicine app in USA that has a strong focus on mental health. This company was founded with a mission to eliminate the stigmas associated with mental illness. They collaborated with Agora for seamless video and audio calls.

Almost 94% of their customers are happy with their services. Founded in 2012, Talkspace became a top telemedicine app for doctors and patients with more than 1 million+ users now. Their app has helped them emerge as one of the most successful telemedicine companies in the USA. Going through a mental healthcare app development guide is crucial to build an app like Talkspace.

Key Features of Talkspace:

• Unlimited Message: The app allows users to connect with their therapist anytime which fosters continuous support and transparent communication.
• Complete Mental Health Care: Talkspace has a variety of services to address all mental health needs.
• Licensed Professionals: It provides mental health care services from licensed professionals skilled in delivering effective, evidence-based care.

What Healthcare Startups Can Learn From This Telemedicine App?

• Provide Affordable Services: Talkspace has affordable subscription plans to make therapies accessible for a lot of users. Startups can adopt flexible and affordable pricing strategies to cater to more groups.
• Leverage Emerging Technology: They use artificial intelligence and machine learning to match patients with doctors based on preferences and needs. Healthcare startups need to adopt emerging technologies to provide personalized and efficient experiences.
• Special Services: It provides several services including individual therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy, etc. Healthcare startups should provide various services to cater to more customers with their telemedicine apps.

2. Healow

eClinicalWorks launched Healow in 2017 and it turned into a list of leading telemedicine mobile apps with a focus on providing convenient experiences. It allows users to connect with a doctor who suits their needs so that they can book instantly. According to reports in 2021, Healow garnered more than 2.4 million virtual visits and made it to the list of top telemedicine companies in the USA.

Features That Set Healow Apart From Other Telemedicine Companies:

• In-waiting Room Messaging: Healow allows doctors to communicate with patients in the Virtual Waiting Room. They give patients an update about delays in the service.
• Healow Meet: It is the signature feature of the application which offers an integrated platform for booking and scheduling audio and video visits.
• Quick Appointment: The app allows users of eClinicalMessenger to schedule instant appointments by simply right-clicking on a patient’s name.

What Healthcare Startups Should Learn From Healow?

• Integration with Electronic Health Records: Healow has seamless integration with EHR systems. This integration allows them to access patient histories, prescriptions, and lab results. Startups can integrate EHR into their app to improve workflows.
• User-Friendly Engagement Tools: Healow focuses on patient engagement to make patients proactive about their health. Startups need to provide value to patients with reminders, follow-ups, and self-care tools.
• Customizable Solutions: Healthcare startups need to focus on creating adaptable and customized solutions that ensure that the app can grow with its client base.

3. Teladoc

Teladoc is amongst the top-rated telemedicine mobile apps in the USA. Recently, they have rebranded into a completely integrated healthcare platform, Solo. They are allowing users to access a full range of services under a single account. Teladoc has experience of more than 20 years with more than 50 million virtual visits. According to some reports, Teladoc pulled in $661 million in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Key Features of Teladoc:

• Chronic Condition Management: Teladoc provides support for patients with chronic diseases. They benefit hypertensive patients from a connected blood pressure monitor.
• Wellness Management: The telemedicine application provides a variety of tools for wellness. These tools include tailored programs with videos, virtual visits, and more.

What Startups Should Learn From Teladoc?

• Focus on Providing Convenience: Customers crave convenience while using telemedicine apps and startups need to focus on that to have a long run in the competitive landscape.
• Establish Strong Partnerships: Strong partnerships are the foundation of a successful business. Teladoc has partnered with several companies to transform their services. Healthcare startups should make informed decisions to unleash growth.
• Provide Personalized Care: Personalization is an important factor in acquiring new customers. Startups should focus on understanding users’ crucial information to provide personalized experience to every user.

4. Maven Clinic

Maven Clinic emphasizes women’s and family health. It provides telemedicine services for all women’s needs, including fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Users can access gynecologists, pediatricians, and lactation consultants to get proper advice about their health. They reached a valuation of $1.7 billion in 2024. Reports indicated that their maternity care program has recorded a 400% client growth rate.

Crucial Features of Maven Clinic:

• 24/7 Access: They have designed a program to provide a variety of services the whole day which connects you to gynecologists, pediatricians, experts, etc
• Family Telemedicine: Along with women’s health, Maven Clinic offers telemedicine services for families. They are making it a one-stop solution for a family to gain their customer base.
• Advanced Services: Maven Clinic emerged as one of the best telemedicine apps in the USA because it uses advanced analytics to track health outcomes and optimize services. Updating its system helps it provide advanced services.

What Startups Should Learn From Teladoc?

• Prioritize Targeted Care: Maven Clinic chose to provide services for women which helped them cover a larger audience. Healthcare startups can focus on providing tailored services for a single niche but the services should be different from others.
• Provide Many Services in One Niche: Focusing on a single niche means that you should provide everything related to that niche to acquire new customers. Healthcare startups can maximize their growth after providing a comprehensive suite of services like Maven Clinic.
• Focus on Preventive Care: Maven Clinic focuses on providing prevention instead of cure which reduces healthcare costs for them. Startups can save their valuable money by providing preventive care which can help them use money on other services.

5. Doctor On Demand

Doctor On Demand is one of the rapidly emerging telemedicine apps that is essential to connect patients to a complete set of healthcare services including physical and mental healthcare. This is an on demand doctor app which is providing urgent care. They saw a huge increase in their growth after the pandemic.

Which Features Make Doctor On Demand Unique?

• Board-Certified Providers: This app provides access to a network of board-certified doctors to reduce the chances of bad care. From a routine check-up to urgent care, these doctors are skilled in everything.
• Prescription Services: The app provides you the facility of prescription and it gets refilled directly through the app.
• Video Consultations: Patients who need urgent and routine care can use the feature of video consultants. This feature connects healthcare providers to patients and provides comfort to both. It makes Doctor On Demand the best online doctor app.

What Startups Should Learn From Doctor On Demand?

• Offer Transparent Pricing: Doctor On Demand has built trust by providing affordability to their users. Healthcare startups need to include transparent pricing to help the user understand the reason behind the payment.
• Use Technology To Improve User Experience: A telemedicine app should be easy to use to ensure that the user won’t leave it soon. Seamless integration of features like secure video calls, patient records, and prescription management are important tools to enhance user experience. Healthcare startups need to use technology to deliver advanced user experience.
• Keep Innovating: Doctor On Demand keeps innovating and adding new features to their application. Healthcare startups need to keep innovating to stay competitive and acquire more customers.

Conclusion: What’s Your Takeaway?

The success of these leading telemedicine apps in USA doesn’t just rely on cutting-edge technology, they have addressed real-world healthcare challenges and given solutions. From seamless interfaces to powerful security, these apps have set a big standard for healthcare startups.

The key takeaway for startups is prioritizing innovation while providing convenience to the patients and winning their trust. By learning lessons from these trailblazers, startups can redefine new-age healthcare with their innovative ideas. RipenApps can help you revolutionize the telemedicine landscape with best-in-class telemedicine app development services. We have a team of experts who have experience in building cutting-edge apps.