Short answer

• For Australians wanting reliable, fast prescriptions from an accredited clinician: InstantScripts, Healthengine (marketplace connecting to Medmate/SwiftDoc/Hola etc.), and Medmate/Updoc are among the most-used consumer-facing services. For clinicians/clinics wanting an e‑prescribing workflow, MedPrescribe is a strong option. (InstantScripts.com.au)

How to pick the “best” for you

• Safety & legitimacy: choose services that use real, AHPRA‑registered doctors and issue legally conformant eScripts (electronic prescription tokens). Regulators (Medical Board/AHPRA and Digital Health/Dept of Health) expect real‑time clinical contact for safe prescribing and eScripts are the standard delivery method in Australia. If a service issues scripts after only a questionnaire or via an AI-only flow, that’s a red flag. (ama.com.au)
• What you need prescribed: many platforms will not/should not prescribe controlled (Schedule 8) medicines, some specialist drugs, or certain repeat/complex therapies without an established clinical relationship or specialist oversight. Check each service’s exclusions before booking. (ama.com.au)
• Cost & speed: marketplace/“on-demand” services (Healthengine, Medmate, Hola, InstantScripts listed on comparison sites) advertise very short waits and low fees for simple script or short telehealth consults; prices and wait times vary by service and by whether you need a full consult vs a repeat script. Comparison sites summarise typical price ranges. (Healthengine.com.au)
• Pharmacy fulfilment & eScript support: prefer platforms that send eScripts (SMS/email token) and/or integrate with pharmacy delivery if you want home delivery or fast pickup. Most mainstream services support eScripts; confirm your local pharmacy accepts eScripts or ASL (Active Script List). (healthdirect.gov.au)

Short pros/cons of the commonly used Australian options

• InstantScripts — pros: 24/7, focused on scripts and refills, many participating pharmacies and delivery; cons: may be limited for complex issues. (InstantScripts.com.au)
• Healthengine (marketplace) — pros: large network, compares providers (Medmate, SwiftDoc, Hola etc.), competitive pricing and quick options for simple prescriptions; cons: selection may be influenced by commercial partners. (Healthengine.com.au)
• Medmate / Updoc — pros: large, fast on‑demand consults and delivery options; cons: some services have attracted regulatory scrutiny for narrow, single‑issue business models (check current reputation). (adelaidenow.com.au)
• MedPrescribe — pros: good choice if you run a clinic and want integrated, compliant e‑prescribing (SAS workflows, pharmacy fulfilment, templates); not a consumer marketplace. (MedPrescribe.com.au)

Regulatory & safety notes (important)

• The Medical Board / AHPRA guidance emphasises that telehealth prescribing should normally involve a real‑time consultation and that prescribing on the basis of questionnaires alone is “not appropriate and rarely acceptable.” Choose services that provide live video/phone consults with an AHPRA‑registered practitioner. (ama.com.au)
• The TGA/Australian regulators have investigated some telehealth providers for poor practices (example: nicotine vaping prescriptions routed to single pharmacies). Avoid platforms that lock you into one pharmacy or appear to prioritise sales over clinical assessment. (theguardian.com)

My practical recommendation (if you want a single pick)

• If your need is a straightforward repeat or simple short‑term prescription: try InstantScripts or book via Healthengine’s telehealth marketplace to see price/availability and ensure the consult is with an AHPRA‑registered GP who issues eScripts. If you want continuity of care (chronic meds), use telehealth with your regular GP or a clinic that supports ongoing follow up. (InstantScripts.com.au)

If you want, I can:

• Compare 3–5 specific services side‑by‑side (price, wait, eScript/delivery, restrictions) for your location (I’ll check current fees and pharmacy coverage), or
• Show instructions on how to check whether a platform’s doctors are AHPRA‑registered and whether your pharmacy accepts eScripts.

Which would you prefer?