The honest 2026 landscape: fully free AI consults exist (Pymander, by plain text), hybrid models pair AI intake with paid human visits (Doctronic at $39, K Health from $49 for the first month), and the famous names (WebMD, Ada) are symptom checkers - useful information, but not doctors.
Full disclosure: Pymander is us, so read this with that in mind - every price here is from the company's own published page, linked in Sources. Pymander: free AI doctor consult by text, 24/7, no account. Doctronic: free AI consult, $39 video visits with doctors. K Health: AI intake plus clinician text visits, $49 for the first month of membership, billed quarterly after. WebMD and Ada: free symptom checkers, no consult. Emergencies skip this list: chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, severe bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm mean call 911, or 988 for a mental health crisis in the US.
What to do
Common questions
What is the difference between an AI doctor and a symptom checker?
Depth and direction. A symptom checker (WebMD, Ada) walks a fixed decision tree and hands you a list of possible conditions to read about. An AI doctor consult (Pymander, Doctronic's AI) takes a free-form history, asks follow-up questions the way a clinician would, and gives guidance on what to do next - including whether you need a human at all.
Can an AI doctor prescribe medication?
No. AI consults do not prescribe - prescribing requires a licensed clinician. The hybrid platforms handle this by pairing AI intake with human visits: Doctronic's $39 video visits and K Health's clinician chats can end in a prescription when the clinician decides one is appropriate. Pymander's free AI consult tells you whether your symptoms warrant that paid step.
Which AI doctor is actually free?
Pymander's consult is free with no account and no card. Doctronic's AI intake is free, with the doctor visit at $39. K Health requires a membership ($49 for the first month, billed three months at a time after) for clinician access. WebMD and Ada are free but are symptom checkers, not consults.
How do I know the advice is any good?
Ask three things of any of them: does it take a real history or just pattern-match keywords, does it tell you clearly when you need a human, and does it say where its guidance comes from. Then use the low-stakes test - try it on something minor you already understand, and see whether the reasoning holds. For anything serious, any of them should hand you to a clinician, and emergencies skip this list: chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, severe bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm mean call 911, or 988 for a mental health crisis in the us.