Most HotDoc vs Healthengine comparisons start with price. For a dental practice, though, the better place to start is your software.
That’s because these platforms do different jobs, and they don’t all connect to dental systems. Two are patient marketplaces. One is a booking tool that sits on your own website. If you pick the wrong type, you may pay for bookings you can’t manage or can’t track.
This guide explains what each one does, what the vendors publish about dental use, and the questions to ask before you sign.
HotDoc vs Healthengine vs AutoMed: What Each Platform Does
HotDoc and Healthengine are patient-facing directories with apps. Patients search by suburb or specialty, see your availability, and book. Both offer dental products, and both connect to your practice software, so the booking lands in your calendar.
This matters for your marketing. A marketplace booking comes from a directory, not from your website, Google Ads, or Business Profile. So it adds to your other marketing instead of replacing it, and it needs its own line in your reports.
AutoMed, however, works differently. AutoMed says its online appointments run on the clinic’s own site and app. It says patients don’t register with a third party, and it doesn’t promote other practices.
Related: Website Updates That Improve Conversions: The Dental Clinic Maintenance Checklist
HotDoc vs Healthengine: Two Marketplaces, Two Pricing Models
Here is how HotDoc vs Healthengine looks for dentists, based on what each publishes.
HotDoc for Dentists: Fees and Integrations
HotDoc’s dental page lists $65 per new patient and says you don’t pay if the patient doesn’t attend. Its listed dental integrations are Core Practice, Praktika, Dental4Windows, and Dental4Web. HotDoc also says it doesn’t bid on your practice’s search terms on Google and won’t sell patient data.
Healthengine for Dentists: Plans and Integrations
Healthengine’s dental page describes Patient Connect plans called Plus, Premium, and Advanced. They are charged per practice per month, with usage fees on top, and the prices aren’t published. Its integration list is also wider, and it includes EXACT, OASIS, Dentally, CareStack, and Zavy. It also lists online deposits, upfront payments, and a Reserve with Google booking feature. A Healthengine dentist listing sits alongside your own marketing, so ask how it shows up when patients search your clinic’s name.
Worth knowing: these details come from each vendor’s own pages as of 23 October 2026, and fees change. Ask for current terms in writing.
Where AutoMed Fits for Dentists
AutoMed’s site, though, lists integrations with Best Practice Premier, PracSoft, Medical Director, and Helix. Those are general practice systems. For example, the same pages describe telehealth and repeat scripts, which suit GP clinics.
So, for a dental practice, treat AutoMed as a GP tool until it confirms in writing that it connects to your dental software.
In fact, many dental systems already include their own dental appointment booking software. Core Practice lists online bookings, EXACT offers Online Booking, and Dental4Windows offers eAppointments with an option for deposits. So check what your own dental practice management software can already do before you pay for anything extra.
The Online Booking Platform Checklist for Dentists
Use these six questions in any HotDoc vs Healthengine comparison, and for any other online booking platform.
- Does it connect to our software? Ask for your exact system and version to be named in writing.
- What counts as a new patient? Ask who decides it, and whether bookings from your own website are charged.
- What will a quiet month cost? Ask about monthly plans, usage fees, and payment fees.
- Who controls the profile? The text you write on a marketplace profile is your advertising, so it must follow AHPRA rules.
- Can we see where bookings come from? Ask for reports, and add a tracked link to your own booking page.
- What happens if we leave? Ask how your data and booking history are handled.
Run this list for every platform on your shortlist, then put the answers side by side. A platform that looks cheaper per booking can cost more once usage fees, payment fees, and admin time are added.
On the fourth point, AHPRA says offers must state clear terms and conditions. It also says advertising can’t use testimonials about clinical care. Likewise, where a platform controls the review function, AHPRA says the platform owner is responsible for it.
HotDoc vs Healthengine vs AutoMed Side by Side
This table sums up the main differences at a glance.
| HotDoc | Healthengine | AutoMed | |
| Type | Patient marketplace | Patient marketplace | Booking tool for your own site |
| Dental software listed | Core Practice, Praktika, Dental4Windows, Dental4Web | Nine dental systems, including EXACT and OASIS | GP systems only |
| How you pay | $65 per new patient who attends | Monthly plan plus usage fees | See AutoMed’s pricing page |
Which Booking Setup Suits Which Practice?
In short, the answer depends on where your patients come from today.
- Your software is listed by only one platform. Start there, because a poor sync creates double bookings and wasted staff time.
- Most patients come from referrals and Google. Start with the booking tool in your software and a clear booking path on your website. Our guide to 12 website fixes that turn traffic into bookings is a good place to begin.
- You want more new-patient discovery. A marketplace profile can add it, so compare the cost per attending new patient with your cost from ads.
Ready to Compare HotDoc and Healthengine for Your Clinic?
The right online booking platform depends on your software, your patient mix, and how you track bookings. The HotDoc vs Healthengine choice matters less than a clear plan. A marketplace can add new patients. However, your own website still needs a clear booking path for everyone who finds you by name or by ad.
Let’s help your clinic make that path easy. Dental Rank specialises in dental marketing across Australia. Our dental website design work includes booking links, calls to action, and tracking, so you can see where bookings come from.
Book a free consultation if you’d like to talk through your booking setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
HotDoc vs Healthengine: Do I Have to Choose One?
Not necessarily. Neither dental page we checked states an exclusivity rule. Still, check your contract because two platforms can mean two feeds into one calendar. That raises the risk of double bookings. Confirm how each one syncs with your software, and who fixes a double booking.
Is AutoMed Suitable for a Dental Practice?
It may be, but its published integrations are all GP systems. Ask AutoMed whether it connects to your dental software, and get the answer in writing. Because your software may already have online booking, compare that option first.
How Much Does HotDoc Cost for a Dental Practice?
HotDoc’s dental page lists $65 per new patient who attends. Confirm what counts as a new patient, and whether your own website bookings are charged. A HotDoc dentist profile may suit a practice that wants patient discovery, but the fee is only one part of the cost.
Do I Still Need Online Booking on My Own Website?
Yes. Patients who search your name, click an ad, or follow a referral land on your site. If they can’t book there, some will go elsewhere. A clear booking option on your own page also lets you track every booking source, so you can see what each channel delivers.
How Do I Work Out the Real Cost Per Patient?
Add up the platform fees for a month, then divide by the new patients who attended. Compare that figure with your cost per booked appointment from Google Ads and SEO. Use the same month and the same definition of a new patient for both.
