We used Oden to analyze public data on Doximity, Sermo, Figure 1, and Medscape so you don’t have to wade through app stores, Trustpilot, G2, and Reddit threads yourself. If you’re a busy clinician, the real question isn’t “which platform is biggest?” but “which one actually fits how I practice and learn?” In this guide, we’ll compare ratings, cost, features, and real-world pros and cons based only on verifiable sources and recent user feedback. By the end, you should know exactly which platform deserves your time and attention.

Which medical network platform has the best rating?

Based on app-review aggregators and Trustpilot (Aug–Nov 2025):

Takeaways

• Doximity and Figure 1 score the highest on user satisfaction, with large enough review counts to make the ratings reasonably robust statistically. (justuseapp.com)
• Sermo’s Trustpilot score is strong, but the data is skewed toward people motivated to comment on customer service and survey payments, not necessarily day‑to‑day clinical use. (trustpilot.com)
• Medscape lags on user ratings, largely due to persistent complaints about intrusive ads and stability issues across app stores and review aggregators. (justuseapp.com)
• Sample sizes differ massively (hundreds vs. tens of thousands of reviews), so a 0.1–0.2 difference in rating between platforms with small samples is not statistically meaningful, whereas Doximity’s 4.8 with >180k reviews is. (justuseapp.com)
• None of these ratings directly measure clinical accuracy; they mainly reflect usability, reliability, and perceived value.

How much do medical network platforms really cost?

From a clinician’s perspective, all four platforms are effectively free to join and use for core functionality; revenue comes from subscriptions, advertising, and/or industry partnerships on the back end.

What this means in practice

• Clinicians are rarely the paying customer on these networks; advertisers, health systems, and pharma usually are. Your “cost” tends to be time, data, and exposure to sponsored content. (techcrunch.com)
• Doximity is the only one here with a clearly priced individual subscription (Dialer Pro at $288/year), which matters if you rely heavily on telehealth and need unlimited minutes or group calling outside an enterprise deal. (support.doximity.com)
• Sermo uniquely flips the model by paying you for survey participation, though real earnings vary widely and some users complain about frequent disqualifications. (sermo.com)
• Figure 1 and Medscape stay free by leaning on sponsorships and advertising, which can affect how prominently certain content or topics appear. (techcrunch.com)

Pricing for all of these platforms can change and often varies by region, usage, and contract terms. Always double-check current prices with each vendor's calculator or sales team.

What are the key features of each platform?

Doximity

Core positioning: “Medicine Made Mobile” — a professional medical network plus telehealth, fax, AI tools, and news, built around verified U.S. clinicians. (doximity.com)

Key Features:

• Telehealth calling (Dialer Video & Dialer): Call and video‑visit patients from your smartphone while showing your office number or another chosen caller ID, with no patient app required. Source: Doximity homepage, Dialer FAQ. (doximity.com)
• Dialer Pro & enterprise telemedicine: Unlimited call length, group calls, patient transfers, and enterprise features like SSO and EMR integration for $288/year per clinician or via institutional contracts. Source: Dialer Pro FAQ, Dialer Pro purchase page. (support.doximity.com)
• HIPAA‑compliant AI scribe and writing assistant (“Doximity GPT”): Generates clinical letters, notes, and paperwork; widely discussed by clinicians as a strong free scribe option inside the app. Source: Doximity homepage, Doximity app description, Reddit – Doximity scribe now free. (doximity.com)
• Secure messaging, e‑fax, and directory: HIPAA‑secure messaging, free mobile fax numbers, and a large clinician directory (Doximity claims 80% of U.S. physicians and 50% of NPs/PAs as verified members). Source: Doximity homepage, Doximity mobile page, Doximity – Wikipedia. (doximity.com)
• Recruiting and talent solutions: Doximity Talent Finder connects employers to clinicians, rated on G2 as effective but costly and niche. Source: G2 – Doximity. (g2.com)

Best For:

• U.S. clinicians who need simple, compliant patient calling and video visits from their phones. (support.doximity.com)
• Teams that want telehealth + messaging + fax + AI in a single app instead of stitching together multiple tools. (doximity.com)
• Hospitals/practices looking for enterprise telehealth and communication infrastructure centered on clinician adoption. (doximity.com)

Sermo

Core positioning: A global, triple‑verified HCP social network where clinicians discuss cases, rate drugs, and earn money from surveys. (support.sermo.com)

Key Features:

• Large verified HCP community: Over 1–1.5 million healthcare professionals across 150 countries, with triple verification for physicians and other HCPs. Source: Sermo homepage, About Sermo. (sermo.com)
• Paid medical surveys and market research: Members can earn from short surveys (often $5–$50) and higher‑pay qualitative work; Sermo claims highly active physicians may earn $10k+ annually. Source: Sermo earning FAQ. (sermo.com)
• Physician drug ratings database: Over 1.2 million physician drug ratings, promoted as the world’s largest such database to inform prescribing decisions. Source: Sermo homepage. (sermo.com)
• Case discussions and peer insights: Sermo highlights 2,000,000+ peer insights shared each year and positions itself as a place to crowdsource tough cases. Source: Sermo homepage. (sermo.com)
• Role‑specific communities: Separate spaces for physicians, APPs, pharmacists, nurses, and other HCPs, all gated by credential verification. Source: About Sermo. (support.sermo.com)

Best For:

• Clinicians who want to supplement income via surveys while staying loosely engaged with a professional community. (sermo.com)
• Physicians interested in peer opinions on drugs and real‑world practice patterns. (sermo.com)
• HCPs outside the U.S. seeking a global, multi‑specialty discussion space. (support.sermo.com)

Figure 1

Core positioning: Case‑based, image‑driven medical education and collaboration — “the pulse of medicine today” — with a focus on real patient cases and CME. (figure1.com)

Key Features:

• Huge case library and global community: Over 100,000 clinical cases and more than 3 million registered members in 190 countries, including physicians, trainees, NPs, and PAs. Source: Figure 1 sign‑up page, Figure 1 – About, Figure 1 – Wikipedia. (figure1.com)
• Case‑based CME for U.S. physicians: Partnership with MedChi lets U.S. physicians earn 0.25 CME per case reviewed (with three reflection questions), with no cap on cases. Source: Figure 1 & MedChi CME announcement. (figure1.com)
• Real‑time collaboration and second opinions: Many documented stories where clinicians in resource‑limited settings post challenging cases and get actionable input from global peers. Source: Figure 1 homepage, CBS News – Figure 1. (figure1.com)
• Groups for institutions and associations: Private or public “Groups” where hospitals, medical schools, and associations host their own communities with shared resources and discussions. Source: Figure 1 Groups. (figure1.com)
• Awards and recognition: Named Best and Most Innovative HCP Medical Education App by Global Health & Pharma and winner of a Webby People’s Voice Award in Experimental & Innovation. Source: Figure 1 awards announcement. (figure1.com)

Best For:

• Clinicians and trainees who learn best from images and real‑world cases, not long narrative reviews. (figure1.com)
• U.S. physicians looking to stack CME credits in a case‑based, bite‑sized way. (figure1.com)
• Institutions wanting a branded, interactive case community for members or students. (figure1.com)

Medscape

Core positioning: A broad, free clinical information hub — news, reference, and CME — with massive global reach and deep drug/disease content. (en.wikipedia.org)

Key Features:

• Extensive clinical reference content: Coverage across 30+ specialties and 400+ rare diseases, including eMedicine reference articles and patient education. Source: Medscape media kit, eMedicine reference centers, eMedicine – Wikipedia. (medscape.com)
• Large drug & interaction database: 9,250 brand/generic monographs and 150,000 documented drug interactions available through Medscape Drug Reference. Source: Medscape media kit. (medscape.com)
• Free CME/CE content: Broad catalog of CME and MedscapeLIVE conferences; clinicians on Reddit report being able to earn double‑digit CME hours quickly through Medscape modules. Source: Medscape CME events, Reddit – free CME discussion, Medscape app reviews. (events.medscapelive.org)
• Huge HCP audience and ad network: Claims reach to over 6 million physicians worldwide and 94% of U.S. physicians monthly via websites and apps. Source: Medscape media kit. (medscape.com)
• Integrated news, opinion, and conference coverage: Daily medical news, expert columns, podcasts, and extensive conference reporting. Source: Medscape media kit, Medscape – Wikipedia. (medscape.com)

Best For:

• Clinicians who need a single free starting point for news, drug lookups, and CME, and can tolerate heavy advertising. (justuseapp.com)
• International users looking for English‑language reference material across many specialties. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Practices wanting to drive patient acquisition via Medscape/WebMD directories and Featured Profiles. (help.medscape.com)

What are the strengths and weaknesses of each platform?

Doximity

Strengths:

• Very high satisfaction and adoption: 4.8/5 rating from 187k+ iOS reviews and similar aggregate scores from JustUseApp; Doximity reports verified membership of ~80% of U.S. physicians and 50% of NPs/PAs. Source: Doximity app – App Store, Doximity mobile page, Doximity – Wikipedia, JustUseApp – Doximity. (apps.apple.com)
• Workflow-friendly telehealth and calling: Many clinicians on Reddit describe Dialer as their default way to spoof office caller ID and call patients without exposing personal numbers. Source: Reddit – alternative phone service thread, Dialer FAQ. (reddit.com)
• Compelling AI scribe at no extra cost: Numerous Reddit users report that the free Doximity scribe dramatically reduces documentation time, comparing it favorably to paid scribes and Dragon. Source: Reddit – Doximity scribe now free. (reddit.com)
• Solid independent validation: Doximity Dialer has earned top rankings (Best in KLAS Telehealth Video Platform) based on customer interviews, which signals reliability and support at the enterprise level. Source: Doximity – Wikipedia. (en.wikipedia.org)

Weaknesses:

• Cost for full telehealth features: Dialer Pro at $288/year can feel steep for part‑time telehealth or staff who used it for free during the pandemic, especially if their employer won’t reimburse. Source: Dialer Pro FAQ, Dialer Pro purchase page, Reddit – clinic staff limitations, Reddit – phone service alternatives. (support.doximity.com)
• Uneven free access by role: Free Dialer access is restricted to certain clinician types; medical assistants and some other staff report being asked to pay personally if they want to keep using it. Source: Dialer FAQ, Reddit – clinic staff limitations. (support.doximity.com)
• Occasional reliability issues: Some users on Reddit complain about failed faxes, dropped calls, or app bugs, though others report stable performance. Source: Reddit – Doximity problems?, Reddit – alternative phone service thread. (reddit.com)
• Privacy and data‑use concerns around AI: Clinicians express skepticism about how Doximity handles scribe audio and note data, reinforcing the need to review local compliance policies. Source: Reddit – Doximity scribe thread. (reddit.com)

Sermo

Strengths:

• High average satisfaction from many users: Trustpilot shows a 4.6/5 rating across 961 reviews, with many comments praising interesting surveys, fast payments, and responsive support. Source: Trustpilot – Sermo. (trustpilot.com)
• Meaningful earnings for some physicians: Multiple Trustpilot reviewers and Reddit users report earning hundreds to thousands of dollars annually through Sermo surveys. Source: Trustpilot – Sermo, Reddit – Has anyone done Sermo?. (trustpilot.com)
• Rich drug ratings and peer feedback: Members highlight value in seeing other clinicians’ drug experiences and case discussions, which can influence real‑world prescribing. Source: Sermo homepage, About Sermo. (sermo.com)
• Triple‑verification builds trust: Sermo emphasizes ID and credential checks, which reviewers often cite as reassuring for the quality of discourse and surveys. Source: About Sermo. (support.sermo.com)

Weaknesses:

• Screening fatigue and perceived “time waste”: Some Trustpilot and Reddit users complain about spending significant time on screeners only to be disqualified without pay, calling it exploitative. Source: Trustpilot – Sermo, Reddit – Has anyone used Sermo?. (trustpilot.com)
• Mixed perceptions of legitimacy: While many praise Sermo, others on Reddit label it “a scam” or “garbage liar” due to payment disputes or screening practices, showing highly polarized experiences. Source: Reddit – Has anyone used Sermo?. (reddit.com)
• Survey-centric value: The strongest benefits revolve around paid research; if you don’t qualify often for surveys, the community and educational value alone may feel thin compared to Figure 1 or Medscape. Source: Sermo earning FAQ, Trustpilot – Sermo. (sermo.com)

Figure 1

Strengths:

• Highly rated learning experience: JustUseApp assigns 4.7/5 based on 1,350 reviews, and third‑party app reviews describe Figure 1 as an excellent resource for seeing how others manage visual cases. Source: JustUseApp – Figure 1, GPonline app review. (justuseapp.com)
• Strong community stories: Case narratives from the official site and media coverage show real examples of the platform helping clinicians in low‑resource settings reach correct diagnoses. Source: Figure 1 homepage, CBS News – Figure 1. (figure1.com)
• Free CME integrated with daily browsing: The MedChi partnership allows U.S. physicians to earn CME just by reviewing cases and answering brief questions, which users describe as both practical and educational. Source: Figure 1 & MedChi CME announcement. (figure1.com)
• Serious privacy tooling: Credential checks, in‑app consent forms, auto‑face blurring, and image‑editing tools for de‑identification are documented in independent coverage and Figure 1’s own materials. Source: in-Training – Figure 1 privacy analysis, MDG Solutions – Figure 1 app. (in-training.org)

Weaknesses:

• Ongoing privacy and context concerns: Commentators have warned that even de‑identified images can risk patient privacy and that some images lack clinical context, making them feel more like “shock” content than teaching material. Source: Healthcare Digital critique, in-Training – Figure 1 privacy analysis. (healthcare-digital.com)
• Variable case quality: Some user reviews complain about questionable antibiotic use or contributions from less‑trained providers that don’t always reflect evidence‑based practice. Source: JustUseApp – Figure 1 review excerpts. (justuseapp.com)
• Historically shifting access: Android reviews show frustration from non‑HCP or allied health users who were locked out as Figure 1 tightened credential requirements, which may limit interprofessional learning. Source: Figure 1 Android app page. (figure1-android.andro.io)

Medscape

Strengths:

• Unmatched reach and breadth: Medscape reports reach to >6 million physicians globally and 94% of U.S. physicians monthly, with coverage of 30+ specialties and 400+ rare diseases. Source: Medscape media kit. (medscape.com)
• Deep drug and reference tools for free: The large drug monograph and interaction database, plus eMedicine articles, remain useful quick references at the point of care for many clinicians. Source: Medscape media kit, eMedicine reference centers. (medscape.com)
• High‑volume free CME: Reddit and app reviews describe Medscape as a go‑to for free CME, allowing clinicians to accumulate hours quickly when needed. Source: Reddit – free CME discussion, Medscape app reviews. (reddit.com)

Weaknesses:

• Heavy, intrusive advertising: A consistent theme across app reviews is that full‑screen and in‑line ads significantly disrupt reading and tool use; users explicitly say they would pay for an ad‑free version. Source: Medscape app reviews, Appsrankings – Medscape. (justuseapp.com)
• Stability and performance complaints: Many recent reviews mention frequent crashes, lag, and buggy navigation, especially on mobile, which helps explain the moderate 3.6/5–3.85/5 ratings. Source: Medscape app reviews, AndroidRank – Medscape. (justuseapp.com)
• Perceived commercial and content bias: Critics, including physicians and BMJ commentators, have raised concerns about pharma influence and, more recently, a controversial tobacco‑funded CME partnership that Medscape later reversed. Source: Medscape – Wikipedia. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Some clinicians now avoid it: Reddit threads and reviews from long‑time users say the site has become “beyond unusable” due to crashes and ad load, pushing them toward alternatives like UpToDate or MDCalc for critical reference. Source: Reddit – nursing CEUs, Medscape app reviews. (reddit.com)

How do these platforms position themselves?

Doximity markets itself as “Medicine Made Mobile” and “The Professional Medical Network for Physicians,” emphasizing that 80% of U.S. doctors are verified members and that it’s the #1 technology clinicians have adopted after the iPhone. Source: Doximity homepage, Doximity mobile page. (doximity.com) Its messaging leans heavily on saving clinicians time with telehealth, AI, fax, and news, while monetizing primarily through pharma advertising and recruiter/employer solutions. Source: Doximity G2 profile. (g2.com)

Sermo calls itself “the only dedicated social network for doctors in the world,” highlighting more than 1 million triple‑verified physicians and 1.5 million HCPs across 150 countries. Source: Sermo homepage, About Sermo. (sermo.com) Marketing focuses on peer discussion, drug ratings, and especially earning money via surveys, while on the client side Sermo sells itself as a fast, frictionless way for brands to reach HCPs. Source: Sermo earning page, Sermo healthcare trends report. (sermo.com)

Figure 1 positions as “the pulse of medicine today” and “the world’s leading platform for medical case‑based knowledge sharing and collaboration,” aimed at clinicians who want real‑time exposure to interesting and rare cases. Source: Figure 1 homepage, Figure 1 sign‑up page. (figure1.com) Its messaging emphasizes education, CME, and collaboration over social networking per se, and it touts awards for innovation and medical education to reinforce that brand. Source: Figure 1 awards announcement. (figure1.com)

Medscape brands itself as “the leading source of clinical news, videos, peer perspectives, and point‑of‑care tools for healthcare providers worldwide,” with a strong dual pitch: free content for clinicians and unmatched audience reach for advertisers. Source: Medscape media kit, Medscape – Wikipedia. (medscape.com) Its target audience spans physicians, NPs/PAs, nurses, and pharmacists globally; advertisers are told they can reach 94% of U.S. physicians in a given month. Source: Medscape media kit. (medscape.com)

Which platform should you choose?

Choose Doximity if:

1. Telehealth and phone workflow are central to your day. You regularly call or video‑visit patients from your personal smartphone and want office‑number caller ID, easy voicemail drops, and group calls embedded in one app. (support.doximity.com)
2. You’re a U.S.-based clinician who likes integrated tools. Having AI scribe, secure fax, messaging, and news in a single app matters more than deep community discussion. (doximity.com)
3. Your organization can fund enterprise or Pro licenses. At $288/year per user, Dialer Pro’s full value shows when a clinic or health system covers it for heavy telehealth users. (support.doximity.com)
4. You prioritize reliability and market validation. You care that a telehealth platform is top‑ranked in KLAS and widely adopted by peers before standardizing on it. (en.wikipedia.org)
5. You’re comfortable with a U.S.-centric network. Most of your colleagues and patients are U.S.-based, so Doximity’s domestic focus is a feature, not a bug. (doximity.com)

Choose Sermo if:

1. You want to monetize your expertise during downtime. You’re willing to fill out screeners and surveys in exchange for supplemental income, and you understand that earnings will be variable. (sermo.com)
2. Drug ratings and peer sentiment matter to your prescribing. You like the idea of browsing or contributing to a large physician drug‑rating database when you’re weighing options. (sermo.com)
3. You enjoy global, semi‑anonymous discussion. You’re comfortable posting under your verified identity or pseudonym in an HCP‑only community about cases, practice issues, and industry topics. (sermo.com)
4. You’re prepared for mixed experiences. You’re okay with occasional frustration from disqualifications and screening, given that many users report positive net value while others are sharply critical. (trustpilot.com)

Choose Figure 1 if:

1. You learn visually and love case‑based teaching. You prefer real images and short discussions over long monographs and want constant exposure to rare and interesting presentations. (figure1.com)
2. You’re chasing CME in an organic way. You want to earn CME by browsing cases you’d likely read anyway, especially if you’re a U.S. physician who can take advantage of the MedChi program. (figure1.com)
3. You value a global, cross‑disciplinary lens. You appreciate input from clinicians practicing in different systems and resource settings and are comfortable synthesizing that into your own judgment. (figure1.com)
4. You’re willing to handle occasional noise and privacy nuance. You’ll critically appraise case comments, especially around therapeutics, and ensure your own use of images aligns with local privacy rules. (justuseapp.com)

Choose Medscape if:

1. You need a broad, free reference plus CME. You want a “Swiss Army knife” starting point for quick drug lookups, guideline refreshers, and no‑cost CME, accepting that it isn’t as polished as paid tools. (medscape.com)
2. You rely on conference coverage and news. You like near‑daily updates, expert commentary, and summaries from major medical meetings without digging through primary literature constantly. (medscape.com)
3. You’re comfortable filtering for bias and ads. You’re aware of past controversies and current ad load, and you’re prepared to cross‑check key clinical claims with guidelines or other sources. (en.wikipedia.org)
4. You want patient‑facing visibility. You’re considering WebMD Care directory listings or Featured Profiles as part of your practice marketing mix and are already paying attention to online reviews. (help.medscape.com)

Sources & links

Company Websites

• Doximity – Clinician’s Network & Directory
• Sermo – Social Network Platform for Physicians
• Figure 1 – Medical Collaboration on Real Patient Cases
• Medscape – Home

Pricing Pages

• Doximity Dialer Pro plans & pricing
• Doximity Dialer Pro FAQ
• Sermo – Earn additional income from your insights
• WebMD Care / Medscape – practice listing overview

Documentation & Product Detail

• Doximity Dialer Frequently Asked Questions
• Doximity Dialer Pro subscription details
• About Sermo – What is Sermo?
• Figure 1 – Future of medical knowledge sharing
• Figure 1 Groups – Communicate and collaborate with groups
• Installing the Medscape app on a smartphone
• Medscape media kit – Advertise with us

G2 / Review & Rating Aggregators

• G2 – Doximity products
• JustUseApp – Doximity reviews
• Trustpilot – Sermo reviews
• JustUseApp – Figure 1 reviews
• JustUseApp – Medscape reviews
• AndroidRank – Medscape app statistics

Reddit Discussions

• Reddit – Doximity AI scribe now free
• Reddit – Doximity problems?
• Reddit – Clinic staff limitations (Doximity access)
• Reddit – What alternative phone service do you use for work?
• Reddit – Has anyone used Sermo?
• Reddit – Has anyone done Sermo? (UK doctors)
• Reddit – Medscape free CME discussion
• Reddit – Nursing CEUs and Medscape usability

Additional Resources

• Doximity – iOS App Store listing
• Sermo – Physician Network iOS App
• Figure 1 – Medical Cases iOS App
• Figure 1 & MedChi – CME for reviewing cases
• Figure 1 – Awards for Best & Most Innovative HCP Medical Education App
• Figure 1 – Wikipedia entry
• Medscape – Wikipedia entry
• Doximity – Wikipedia entry