Comparison

SMD Chat vs Protocol MD

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMD Chat

Features
Read full description

SMD Chat transforms patient-provider communication. Patients get high-quality, real-time guidance and can frequently discuss their health issues with their medical team. This empowers doctors to efficiently monitor evolving patient data—like symptoms and test results—leading to better-managed schedules and consistently higher quality of care. Learn more at https://streammd.app

About

Protocol MD

This app allows patients to securely message their care team, follow prescribed treatment plans, track orders, and receive medication reminders. It facilitates communication and management of healthcare services provided by Protocol MD.

Highlights
  • Message care team
  • View prescribed treatment plans
  • Receive dose-day reminders
  • Track medication orders
  • Secure sign-in with Face ID/fingerprint
  • Manage account details
Read full description

Protocol MD is the app for Protocol MD patients. Message your care team, follow the plan your physician prescribed, keep track of your orders, and get a reminder on the days your plan calls for. In the app you can: • Message your care team, and send a photo straight from your camera when they ask for one, such as your ID. • See your plan: your physician's instructions, exactly as they wrote them. • Get dose-day reminders. A simple nudge on the days your prescribed schedule calls for. Reminders never name your medication. • Track your orders. See when an order ships and arrives, and share a tracking number. • Manage your account. Update your shipping address and billing, or delete your account from Settings. • Sign in securely. Unlock with Face ID or your fingerprint, and open the sign-in links we email you straight in the app. How treatment works Protocol MD is a telehealth service. A licensed physician reviews your health information and decides whether treatment is right for you. A prescription is issued only if your physician decides it's appropriate. Some treatments available through Protocol MD are compounded medications, prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not the same as the brand-name versions. The FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of compounded medications before they are dispensed. Your privacy Notifications never include the name of your medication or any health details. You'll see those only after you open the app. The app has no third-party advertising or analytics tracking. You need a Protocol MD account to use the app. Protocol MD isn't for emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Questions? care@protocolmd.com

Screenshots

SMD Chat3 screens
Protocol MD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Protocol MD at daily against SMD Chat's every 2 months. SMD Chat's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMD Chat ships an update every 2 months, Protocol MD daily. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
SMD Chat versus Protocol MD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMD ChatProtocol MD
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—7 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB3 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperStreamMD LLCProtocol Studios LLC

In-app purchases

None

SMD Chat

No in-app purchases

None

Protocol MD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMD Chat free?
SMD Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Protocol MD free?
Protocol MD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SMD Chat or Protocol MD have ads?
Neither SMD Chat nor Protocol MD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMD Chat or Protocol MD?
SMD Chat ships an update every 2 months, and Protocol MD daily. Most recently, SMD Chat was updated on October 29, 2026 and Protocol MD on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons