Doccy vs Updoc 2026: Pricing, Features, and Which to Choose

Both Doccy and Updoc connect you with AHPRA-registered doctors and produce legally valid medical certificates that employers must accept under the Fair Work Act 2009, section 107. That’s not up for debate. The real difference comes down to what you pay, how long you wait, and when you can actually access the service.

Here’s the snapshot:

Credit where it’s due. Updoc has built a strong brand since 2019, and those 4,762 Trustpilot reviews aren’t nothing. If you want a dedicated app on your phone and you’re already in their ecosystem, it’s a solid platform.

But the price gap is hard to ignore: $49.95 per certificate compared to $12.90. That’s nearly four times the cost for the same legally valid document, signed by the same calibre of AHPRA-registered doctor, under the same Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009.

Pricing Breakdown: Where Your Money Actually Goes

The gap between these two platforms isn’t just noticeable. It’s massive.

At the pay-per-use level, Doccy charges $12.90 for a one-day medical certificate and $28.00 for a two to five day certificate. Updoc charges $49.95 for a single certificate regardless of duration. That’s a 3.8x price difference on every transaction.

Here’s what that looks like over a year:

Doccy’s Pricing Structure

Doccy keeps things simple. Two tiers for pay-per-use:

• 1-day certificate: $12.90 flat
• 2 to 5 day certificate: $28.00 flat

If you need certificates regularly, Doccy also offers a subscription at $18.90 per month for unlimited certificates. Cancel anytime. No lock-in contracts.

At $18.90 per month, that’s $226.80 per year for as many certificates as you need.

Updoc’s Subscription Tiers

Updoc structures its subscriptions differently, with three tiers:

• $24.95/month: Basic plan
• $39.95/month: Mid-tier plan
• $79.95/month: Premium plan

Even Updoc’s cheapest subscription ($24.95/month, or $299.40/year) costs more than Doccy’s unlimited plan ($18.90/month, or $226.80/year).

The Break-Even Point

Normally in a pricing comparison, you’d find a crossover point where the more expensive platform starts making sense. Not here. Doccy’s $18.90 unlimited subscription undercuts every single Updoc tier. At every usage level, Doccy costs less. The break-even point doesn’t exist because Doccy’s ceiling ($226.80/year unlimited) sits below Updoc’s floor ($299.40/year basic).

A Quick Note on Medicare

Neither Doccy nor Updoc medical certificate consultations attract a Medicare rebate. These are private, out-of-pocket services. This is different from standard telehealth GP consultations covered under MBS Item 91800/91801, which can be bulk billed. Every dollar in the table above comes straight from your wallet, which makes the price gap even more significant.

Key Takeaway: Doccy costs $12.90 per certificate versus Updoc’s $49.95, a 3.8x difference. Even on subscriptions, Doccy’s $18.90/month unlimited plan undercuts Updoc’s cheapest tier ($24.95/month). There is no usage level where Updoc offers better value.

Speed and Availability: Who Actually Answers at 3 am?

Only one of these platforms genuinely operates around the clock. Doccy offers true 24/7 real-time doctor access, with an average turnaround of under 30 minutes. Updoc accepts booking requests 24/7, but doctors only respond between 6 am and midnight AEST. Anything submitted outside that window sits in a queue until morning.

How Doccy’s Process Works

You open the website and start a consultation. Within 60 seconds, an AI voice pre-consult gathers your symptoms and basic details. That information goes to one of Doccy’s 450+ AHPRA-registered doctors, who reviews everything, calls you if needed, and issues your certificate as an instant PDF with a QR verification code. The whole thing averages under 30 minutes, at any hour of the day.

How Updoc’s Process Works

Updoc uses an async text questionnaire model. You fill out a form describing your condition, a doctor reviews it when they’re available, and they may follow up via SMS if they need more information. During peak hours within the 6 am to midnight window, this can take 30 to 60 minutes. For standard requests, Updoc’s terms allow up to 24 hours for delivery.

The Shift Worker Scenario

Picture this. You’re a warehouse worker who finishes at 1 am. You’ve been battling a stomach bug all shift. Your next shift starts at 6 am and you need a medical certificate before then. With Doccy, you start a consult at 1:15 am and have a verified PDF in your inbox by 1:45 am. With Updoc, your request joins the overnight queue and a doctor won’t see it until 6 am at the earliest.

If you’ve ever worked nights, weekends, or rotating rosters, that 6 am to midnight limitation is a dealbreaker.

Key Takeaway: Doccy is genuinely 24/7 with real-time doctor access and an average turnaround under 30 minutes. Updoc’s doctors only respond between 6 am and midnight AEST. For anyone who needs a certificate outside business hours, Doccy is the only reliable option.

Legal Validity: Will Your Employer Accept It?

Both Doccy and Updoc certificates are issued by AHPRA-registered medical practitioners. Under Australian law, that makes them legally valid medical evidence.

According to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), section 107, employees taking personal or carer’s leave must provide evidence if requested. The Fair Work Regulations 2009, regulation 3.01, spells out what counts: a medical certificate from a registered health practitioner. No footnote saying “only if the doctor saw you in person.”

Telehealth certificates carry the same legal weight as in-person certificates. A certificate from a GP who consulted you via video call at 2 am is treated identically to one from your local clinic. For a deeper look at your rights, see our guide on whether your employer can refuse a telehealth medical certificate.

Doccy adds an extra trust layer: every certificate includes a QR verification code. Your employer or HR department can scan it to confirm the certificate is genuine. Updoc certificates are equally valid, but don’t currently offer this instant verification system.

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, your employer cannot contact your doctor to verify diagnosis details. They can confirm the certificate is authentic. They cannot ask what’s wrong with you.

Key Takeaway: Both Doccy and Updoc certificates are legally valid under the Fair Work Act 2009. Employers must accept medical certificates from AHPRA-registered practitioners, regardless of consultation method. Doccy’s QR verification code gives an additional layer of proof.

Backdating: Can Either Service Cover Yesterday?

There’s an important distinction: backdating a certificate versus a doctor certifying a period of illness that started before your consultation.

No reputable telehealth service will change the issue date on a medical certificate. That would be falsifying a medical document.

But when you consult with a GP and explain that your symptoms started two or three days ago, the doctor can make a clinical assessment and certify that your illness covered that earlier period. The certificate still shows today’s date as the issue date, but the certified period of illness includes those prior days. This is standard medical practice under the Medical Board of Australia’s Good Medical Practice guidelines.

Doccy’s multi-day certificate tier ($28.00) is designed for exactly this situation. Updoc takes a more restrictive approach, limiting coverage to one day prior only.

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, section 107, you’re required to notify your employer as soon as practicable when taking personal leave. The certificate covers the medical side, but don’t forget the notification side.

Key Takeaway: Neither provider will change the issue date on a certificate. But Doccy’s multi-day tier lets the GP certify an illness period that includes prior days (up to three), while Updoc limits this to one day prior only.

Complete Feature Comparison

Three differentiators jump off that table: price ($12.90 vs $49.95), true 24/7 access, and live doctor consultation versus async questionnaire.

Key Takeaway: Doccy wins on price, availability, and consultation style. The only scenario where Updoc’s model edges ahead is if you specifically prefer text-only, async consultations over a live doctor call.

Where Updoc Falls Short

Updoc has been around since 2019, claims over 1 million users, and has polished native mobile apps. Credit where it’s due. But a strong brand doesn’t automatically mean the best deal.

The price gap is hard to ignore. Updoc charges $49.95 per certificate. Doccy charges $12.90. That’s 3.8 times more expensive for the same outcome: a valid medical certificate from an AHPRA-registered doctor.

The availability window isn’t what you’d expect. Updoc’s doctors respond between 6 am and midnight AEST. Request something at 2 am? It queues. Doccy operates true 24/7 with doctors on-call.

The subscription can become a billing trap. A significant portion of Updoc’s negative reviews (44% by our count) mention the same problem: forgotten cancellations and unexpected charges.

The asynchronous model can feel impersonal. Some users report feeling like they’re texting into a void, unsure if a doctor has even seen their message. Standard requests can take up to 24 hours.

Key Takeaway: Updoc’s pay-per-use pricing ($49.95) is 3.8 times higher than Doccy ($12.90), its doctors only respond between 6 am and midnight AEST, and its subscription model has drawn repeated complaints about difficult cancellations.

Where Doccy Falls Short

Fairness cuts both ways. Doccy isn’t perfect either.

No native mobile app. Doccy runs as a web app through your phone’s browser. It works smoothly, but if you prefer a dedicated app icon with push notifications, you won’t find one here.

Smaller review footprint. Updoc has 4,762 Trustpilot reviews to Doccy’s smaller but 4.9-star-average collection. If sheer review volume gives you confidence, Updoc has more social proof right now.

Backdating needs a quick explainer. Doccy’s doctors can certify that your illness started on a previous date, but the distinction between the issue date and the certified illness period occasionally confuses employers. You might need to briefly explain it.

Key Takeaway: Doccy’s main shortcomings are cosmetic, not clinical. No native app, a smaller review footprint, and a backdating format that occasionally needs a one-sentence explanation. The core service remains strong.

Who Should Choose Doccy

Occasional users (1 to 10 certificates per year). At $12.90 per single-day certificate with no subscription required, you’ll spend under $130 total per year.

Shift workers and night owls. True 24/7 access with real-time doctor consultations means you can get a certificate at 3 am on a Sunday.

People who want to actually speak to a doctor. Every Doccy consultation includes a live phone call with an AHPRA-registered doctor. Not a chatbot, not a form review.

Budget-conscious Australians. Even Doccy’s subscription tier ($18.90/month) undercuts every Updoc pricing option.

Frequent users with chronic conditions. $18.90 for unlimited certificates per month is a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere. Two Updoc certificates at standard rate would cost $99.90.

Key Takeaway: Doccy suits the vast majority of Australians: occasional users save with the $12.90 flat fee, frequent users save with the $18.90/month unlimited plan, and everyone benefits from true 24/7 access with a live doctor call.

Who Should Choose Updoc

Doccy isn’t the right fit for every single person. There are genuine reasons someone might prefer Updoc.

You prefer a native app experience. Updoc offers dedicated iOS and Android apps with a polished native interface.

You don’t want a phone call. Updoc’s process is largely text-based and asynchronous. If speaking to a doctor on the phone makes you uncomfortable, Updoc’s async model might suit your preference.

You trust review volume. Updoc holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating across 4,762 Trustpilot reviews. That’s a large public dataset.

You’re already subscribed. If switching mid-subscription doesn’t make financial sense, riding out the current billing cycle is reasonable.

Key Takeaway: Updoc is a reasonable choice if you strongly prefer native mobile apps, text-only consultations, or you’re already mid-subscription. For everyone else, Doccy’s pricing, speed, and 24/7 live doctor access make it the stronger option.

How to Switch from Updoc to Doccy

Already on an Updoc subscription? Switching takes about five minutes.

Step 1: Cancel your Updoc subscription. Log into your Updoc account, navigate to account settings, and hit cancel. Screenshot the confirmation page.

Step 2: Set a calendar reminder. Check your bank statement seven to ten days after cancellation to verify no further charges.

Step 3: Visit doccy.com.au next time you need a certificate. No prior account, subscription, or medical history needed. You start fresh.

Step 4: Complete the pre-consult. An AHPRA-registered doctor reviews your details, and your certificate lands in your inbox in under 30 minutes.

What if Updoc keeps charging you? Contact your bank and request a chargeback on the disputed transaction. You can also lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Under Australian Consumer Law, you have the right to dispute any charges you didn’t authorise.

Key Takeaway: Switching from Updoc to Doccy requires zero data migration. Cancel your Updoc subscription, screenshot the confirmation, and visit doccy.com.au next time you need a certificate. No subscription required.

The Bottom Line

For the vast majority of Australians, Doccy wins this comparison.

At $12.90 per certificate versus Updoc’s $49.95, you save $37.05 every visit. Both services are legitimate, both connect you with AHPRA-registered doctors, and both produce certificates your employer has to accept.

But everything else tips in Doccy’s favour: true 24/7 availability, average turnaround under 30 minutes, a flat fee with no subscription required, and a network of 450+ verified doctors.

The only scenarios where Updoc edges ahead? If you strongly prefer a native app experience or genuinely dislike phone consultations.

For a breakdown of what you’ll pay across all Australian telehealth providers, see our complete pricing guide. And if your employer has ever pushed back on a telehealth certificate, read our guide on your legal rights under the Fair Work Act.