Best Online Medical Certificate Clinics in Australia 2026
Posted 2nd Dec 25
Updated about 1 month ago
Getting sick is inconvenient enough. Dragging yourself to a GP clinic to prove it shouldn't be.
Online medical certificate services have grown rapidly since the pandemic. They're fast. They're affordable. And for many Australians, they're the difference between resting at home and spending hours in a waiting room.
These services vary widely in quality. Some prioritise genuine patient care. Others seem more interested in processing volume. The difference matters for your health and for whether your employer will actually accept the certificate.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Price | Speed | Doctor Interaction | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doccy | $12.90 | Under 30 mins | AI pre-consult + doctor | Best overall |
| Qoctor | $14.99 | Scheduling required | Video call | Mixed execution |
| Sicky | $19.95 | Quick | Pharmacist only | Limited acceptance |
| Hub Health | $24.95 | Fast | Reports of none | Concerns |
| Updoc | $39.95 | Variable | Reports of none | Concerns |
How Do Online Medical Certificates Work?
You describe your symptoms to a telehealth platform, a medical professional assesses you, and they issue a certificate if you're unfit to work.
The quality of that assessment varies dramatically between platforms.
Some connect you with actual doctors who take time to understand your condition. Others have been criticised for issuing certificates with minimal or no clinical interaction. The latter approach is faster but riskier for patients who might miss something serious.
The RACGP has raised concerns about "instant" certificate services that skip genuine clinical assessment. Professor Mark Morgan, chair of the RACGP quality care committee, warns that patients aren't experts at their own condition. A first-time strong headache could be a brain bleed. What feels like indigestion might be your heart.
Sources: RACGP NewsGP, ABC News
What Is the Cheapest Online Medical Certificate in Australia?
Doccy offers the lowest starting price at $12.90 for a 1-day certificate. Prices vary by duration but remain the most competitive in the market.
| Platform | Starting Price | Unlimited Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Doccy | $12.90 | $18.90/month |
| Qoctor | $14.99 | N/A |
| Sicky | $19.95 | N/A |
| Hub Health | $24.95 | N/A |
| Updoc | $39.95 | $19.95/month |
Price alone shouldn't determine your choice. The cheapest certificate is worthless if your employer questions its legitimacy or if you miss a condition that needed proper assessment.
What Is the Fastest Online Medical Certificate Service?
Doccy completes the average consultation in under 30 minutes, making it the fastest service that includes genuine doctor interaction.
Speed varies significantly across platforms:
- Doccy: Under 30 minutes average, with AI pre-consult ensuring doctors have context immediately
- Sicky: Quick processing, but pharmacist-only (limited acceptance)
- Hub Health: Fast, but reports suggest certificates issued without clinical interaction
- Updoc: Variable wait times, with reports of long delays
- Qoctor: Requires scheduling a video call, so speed depends on doctor availability
The platforms with the fastest turnaround times often achieve speed by reducing or eliminating clinical interaction. This creates problems with both safety and employer acceptance.
Are Online Medical Certificates Safe?
Online certificates are safe when issued by AHPRA-registered doctors after genuine clinical assessment. Platforms that skip this step create safety and legitimacy risks.
The safest approach involves actual conversation with a doctor who can identify red flags. Some platforms achieve this through video calls. Others, like Doccy, use AI pre-consults to gather clinical information before connecting you with a doctor who already has context.
Why Safety Matters
Self-diagnosis followed by a rubber-stamp certificate doesn't serve anyone well. What seems like a simple cold might be something more serious. A genuine clinical assessment protects you and gives employers confidence in the certificate's legitimacy.
Platforms that issue certificates without any doctor interaction raise two concerns:
- Missed diagnoses. Something that seems minor might not be.
- Employer pushback. HR departments increasingly know which services rubber-stamp and which don't.
Do Employers Accept Online Medical Certificates?
Yes. Most Australian employers accept medical certificates from AHPRA-registered doctors, whether the consultation was in-person or via telehealth.
The exception is pharmacist-issued certificates. Some employers require certificates from registered doctors specifically. If you're considering a pharmacist-only service like Sicky, check your workplace policy first.
Certificates from platforms with questionable clinical processes may also face scrutiny. According to HR Gurus, employers are becoming more aware of online services that issue certificates without genuine assessment. A certificate from a platform known for rubber-stamping might prompt questions.
Source: HR Gurus
Which Online Medical Certificate Service Is Best?
Doccy offers the best combination of price ($12.90), speed (under 30 minutes), and safety (AI pre-consult plus doctor review).
Here's how each platform performs across key criteria:
Doccy
Doccy takes a different approach to online medical certificates. Before you speak to a doctor, you go through a pre-consult conversation with an AI agent. This is a targeted clinical interview that asks the right questions based on your responses.
When you connect with a doctor, they already have context. They know what you've described, what red flags might exist, and what questions still need answering. The doctor can focus on clinical decision-making rather than spending time gathering basic information.
Patients can chat through the pre-consult for as long as they need. Got something complex to explain? Take your time. The system ensures all relevant information gets captured. This protects the patient and the doctor.
The result is genuine clinical oversight delivered quickly. Five-star Google reviews back this up. The $18.90 monthly unlimited plan works well for anyone who needs certificates regularly.
Website: doccy.com.au/medical-certificate
Updoc
Updoc's subscription model looks attractive on paper. Pay $19.95 per month, get unlimited certificates. Simple.
The clinical experience raises concerns. According to HR Gurus, some patients report long waits with no doctor ever calling. Certificates were issued without any discussion with a medical practitioner.
The flat $39.95 pricing (versus Doccy's $12.90 starting point) also means you're paying more for a potentially inferior experience.
Website: updoc.com.au
Qoctor
Qoctor takes safety seriously by requiring video consultations. You can't fill out a form and get a certificate. You need to actually speak with a doctor face-to-face (digitally, at least).
This is the right idea. The problem is execution.
Video calls require both parties to be available simultaneously. If doctors are busy, you wait. If you're in a meeting, you can't take the call. The scheduling friction defeats much of the convenience telehealth is supposed to offer.
Patient Experience
One Trustpilot review describes a doctor who was late for an hour-long window, had non-functional video, rushed through the consultation in minutes, and prescribed a treatment that made the patient's condition worse:
He actually said that he couldn't say what was wrong with me. He prescribed me a 3 day antibiotic to be taken once per day... I developed a sinus infection and I was lucky to get into my main GP who prescribed me prednisolone - a medication I mentioned to 'Dr' that has helped me in the past.
The patient ended up needing to see their regular GP anyway, effectively paying twice for one illness.
Source: Trustpilot
Video consultations are only as good as the doctors conducting them. When doctors are overworked or rushing, the safety benefit disappears.
Website: qoctor.com.au
Sicky
Sicky uses pharmacist-issued certificates rather than doctor-issued ones.
This is cheaper for the platform and potentially faster for patients. But it comes with a significant limitation: not all workplaces accept pharmacist certificates. If your employer requires a medical certificate from a registered doctor, Sicky won't work.
The platform also requires downloading a dedicated app. For a service you might use once or twice a year, this adds friction. Web-based alternatives let you complete the process without cluttering your phone.
If your workplace accepts pharmacist certificates and you don't mind the app, Sicky is a budget option. Check with your employer first.
Website: sicky.com.au
Hub Health
Hub Health offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround. Like Updoc, reports suggest certificates are sometimes issued without any interaction or discussion with a medical professional.
Fast certificates with minimal oversight might seem convenient. It creates problems.
Medical certificates exist because employers need assurance that an absence is legitimate. When certificates are issued without assessment, that assurance disappears. Smart employers know which services rubber-stamp and which don't. A Hub Health certificate might face more scrutiny than one from a platform with genuine clinical processes.
Skipping the clinical interaction also means missing conditions that need actual treatment. A quick certificate doesn't help if you're getting sicker because nobody actually assessed you.
Website: hub.health
What Should I Look for in an Online Medical Certificate Service?
Look for genuine doctor interaction, transparent pricing, fast turnaround, and certificates that employers will accept without question.
The whole point of a medical certificate is that a qualified professional has determined you're unfit to work. Platforms that skip this step defeat the purpose.
Convenience matters when you're sick. Fast should mean efficient processes, not skipped steps. The best platforms use technology to gather information quickly.
Starting prices can be misleading if additional fees appear during checkout. Look for services that clearly state what you'll pay upfront.
A medical certificate is worthless if your employer won't accept it. Doctor-issued certificates from AHPRA-registered practitioners are the most widely accepted.
Our Recommendation
For most Australians, Doccy offers the best combination of price, speed, and safety.
The AI pre-consult ensures doctors have context before the conversation starts. The pricing is the most competitive in the market. And the clinical process is thorough enough that patients and employers can trust the result.
Get started: doccy.com.au/medical-certificate
Whatever service you choose, remember that the goal is making sure you're actually okay. A good telehealth service gets you a certificate and confirms there's nothing more serious going on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online medical certificates legal in Australia?
Yes. Medical certificates issued by AHPRA-registered doctors via telehealth are legally valid. The key requirement is that a qualified medical practitioner assesses the patient before issuing the certificate.
Will my employer accept an online medical certificate?
Most employers accept medical certificates from registered doctors, regardless of whether the consultation was in-person or online. However, some employers may not accept pharmacist-issued certificates. Check your workplace policy if unsure.
How quickly can I get an online medical certificate?
This varies by platform. Doccy completes consultations in under 30 minutes on average. Others require scheduled video calls that depend on doctor availability. Platforms that issue certificates without clinical interaction may be faster, but raise quality and legitimacy concerns.
What is the difference between doctor and pharmacist certificates?
Doctor-issued certificates come from AHPRA-registered medical practitioners and are universally accepted. Pharmacist certificates are issued by pharmacists and may not be accepted by all employers, particularly those with strict documentation requirements.
Can I get a backdated medical certificate online?
Legitimate telehealth services can issue certificates for recent illness, but ethical doctors will not backdate certificates for extended periods. If you were sick earlier in the week and are only seeking a certificate now, be honest about the timeline during your consultation.
