Head-to-head · Healthcare Provider Directories
Healthgrades vs Medicare Care Compare
Healthgrades leads on 0 checks, Medicare Care Compare on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreHealthgrades · 9.3/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresMedicare Care Compare · 3 of 5
Healthgrades scores higher on our rubric for healthcare provider directories: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.
Healthgrades is the better fit for consumer doctor discovery and comparison. Medicare Care Compare is the better fit for free Medicare provider comparison.
- Healthgrades fits best
Consumer doctor discovery and comparison
- Medicare Care Compare fits best
Free Medicare provider comparison
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Side by side
| Feature | Healthgrades 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | Medicare Care Compare 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #1 in Healthcare Provider Directories | #8 in Healthcare Provider Directories |
| Best for | Consumer doctor discovery and comparison | Free Medicare provider comparison |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Features Healthgrades 0/5 · Medicare Care Compare 3/5 | ||
| Specialty filters | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Insurance filters | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Profile claiming | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Organization profiles | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| API access | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Listing limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Healthgrades is a free, U.S.-focused healthcare directory for consumers choosing doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals. Search covers specialty, condition, procedure, location, insurance, distance, availability, ratings,… Read the review → |
Medicare Care Compare is a public Medicare.gov tool for finding and comparing healthcare providers and facilities. It is intended for people, caregivers, and organizations evaluating Medicare providers by location and provider type. The… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Healthgrades — where it wins
- Detailed provider search by specialty, condition, location, insurance, and more
- Profiles include credentials, affiliations, reviews, and public-record checks
- Free comparison, care-team tools, profile claiming, and scheduling where available
Where it doesn't
- Focused on U.S. healthcare providers and hospitals
- Available on the web rather than across multiple platforms
- Appointment scheduling depends on provider availability
Medicare Care Compare — where it wins
- Compares multiple Medicare provider types in one tool
- Includes quality, safety, patient-experience, and performance data
- Offers downloadable datasets and Provider Data Catalog API access
Where it doesn't
- Focuses on Medicare rather than general provider discovery
- The API applies to Provider Data Catalog datasets
- Publicly reported measures vary by provider type
- Healthgrades9.3/10 · Free plan
A free web directory for comparing doctors, checking credentials, and finding appointments.
Visit HealthgradesFull verdict → - Medicare Care Compare8.6/10 · Free plan
A free Medicare directory with provider comparisons, quality measures, datasets, and API access.
Visit Care CompareFull verdict →
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All healthcare provider directories comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update