Felix vs Maple: Comparing Top Canadian Online Clinics for Convenience, Pricing, and Services

May, 22 2025

Picking an online clinic in Canada can feel like finding your favorite takeaway spot—everyone’s got an opinion, and the choices are endless. Yet, for many Canadians, moving from brick-and-mortar doctor’s offices to apps like Felix and Maple genuinely changed the game. No more long waits for routine prescriptions. No more awkward check-in desks or endless hold music. But as virtual healthcare becomes the norm, the question nags: which is actually the best fit for you? If you’ve ever hesitated between clicking ‘book now’ on Felix or Maple, you’re not alone. Price tags matter, so do options for prescriptions, and then there’s the experience—because no one wants a robotic doctor’s visit, even online. Let’s see how they stack up side by side.

Breaking Down Pricing: What Will You Really Pay?

Money talk first—because whether you’re ordering a pizza or booking a virtual visit, cost matters. Felix touts itself as subscription-based; you don’t pay for each doctor’s appointment, but you do pay a $40 consultation fee (this can jump to $65 depending on the service you need, like mental health or birth control). After your initial consult, repeat prescriptions can be handled for about $20, and medication costs extra—this price depends on what you’re prescribed, of course. If you’re the type who hates paying for things you don’t use, Felix’s pay-as-you-go system is a perk. They don’t bother with monthly subscriptions unless you sign up for ongoing medication delivery, which can save time and sometimes money—but only if you need repeat prescriptions.

Maple, on the other hand, has a more à la carte system. Every one-time consultation starts at $69 on weekdays, with the price hiking slightly after hours or on holidays (it can get as high as $99). Some services—like getting a sick note—fall in the lower range. Maple does offer unlimited memberships if you want that Netflix-style approach: from $30 a month for individuals up to $50 a month for families, which makes sense if you plan to use the service more than once every other month. Prescriptions themselves aren’t marked up by Maple, but pharmacy prices still vary, and you’ll have to sort out your payment with the pharmacy directly. If you’re price-sensitive and using virtual care infrequently, the ‘pay per visit’ model may work. If you’re planning regular check-ins (say, for chronic conditions or ongoing therapy), the monthly pass suddenly feels like a bargain.

One big tip—always check if your workplace benefits or insurance will reimburse online clinic visits. Some Canadian insurers now cover these digital consults, but rules differ wildly. And don’t be shy about asking each clinic for promo codes; Maple and Felix both run regular discount events, especially around national health awareness months. It’s worth signing up for their newsletters if you want to catch deals before booking.

Prescription Scope: Who Covers What?

Not every online clinic in Canada is set up the same way. What you can get prescribed—and how easily—may depend on what you need. Felix is best known for handling straightforward, ongoing medications. Think birth control, hair loss treatments, acne meds, ED (erectile dysfunction) pills, and some mental health meds like SSRIs or ADHD prescriptions. For these, Felix plugs you into a quick consultation form and usually connects you with a licensed Canadian doctor within 24 hours. The company brags about discretion: your meds get delivered to your door in plain packaging. There’s no chance of bumping into your neighbor in the pharmacy queue, which, let’s face it, matters to a lot of people.

Maple casts a wider net. Their army of doctors, nurse practitioners, and specialists can handle more conditions—including acute issues like infections, allergies, or even mental health crises that require talking with a clinical psychologist. Not everything is instant online—some medications, like narcotics, ADHD meds, or specialty psychiatric scripts, can’t be renewed virtually, no matter how much you beg. Federal and provincial law tie everyone’s hands here. That said, Maple’s doctors can often help you initiate basic treatment, provide advice, and steer you toward in-person care if needed. One interesting trick: Maple can connect you to specialists like dermatologists or pediatricians, sometimes within 72 hours. If your family hates waiting eight months for a referral, this is huge.

Is it ever worth mixing and matching? Some users do exactly this: they start with Felix for low-hassle routine meds, then ping Maple for random health flares or specialty consults. It sounds sneaky, but it just means you’re playing the system to your benefit. If you want an even closer comparison, this article the Felix vs Maple breakdown includes a chart with which medications and services are covered on each platform.

User Experience: Apps, Wait Times, and That Human Touch

Would you stick with a healthcare service that’s clunky or slow? For most, the answer is no. Felix wins points for being super straightforward—you sign up, fill out an intake form, select the medication, and wait for a doctor to review. There aren’t many live video calls unless the doctor feels it’s needed. Most interactions are done via secure messaging, which feels casual but still medically thorough. The digital dashboard keeps your history tidy; you can check refills or ask questions whenever. Felix takes privacy seriously: no chatty pharmacists, no paper receipts. Some users say it almost feels too quick and impersonal, though—for someone who wants a hand-holding experience, it might feel a little cold.

Maple serves up the whole menu—video, phone, or instant messaging consults, all through a polished app or browser portal. Most evenings and weekends, you’ll get matched with a doctor in under five minutes; in the day’s busiest hours, it might stretch to half an hour or so. Canadians juggling kids, work-from-home Zoom calls, and doctor visits really appreciate these quick connections. Users with complex histories or lots of questions often report that Maple’s doctors are happy to take time and answer everything. There’s even a feature where you can request a French-speaking doctor if that’s more comfortable for you, a big plus for many in Quebec. On the downside, the volume of patients during viral outbreaks or allergy season can slow things a bit—if you’re really pressed for time, book early or late for the fastest replies. Unlike Felix, Maple can set up video appointments: vital for anyone with skin issues or kids who can’t describe their symptoms in a form.

Both platforms offer aftercare messaging for follow-up questions. Maple’s support team is particularly known for quick replies—sometimes within an hour—which makes a difference if you’re worried about next steps or medication side effects. With Felix, support is a bit more email-driven but still reliable. Just don’t expect real-time chat at midnight. Tip for night owls: Maple’s medical team covers late-night hours, making it easier if you’re feeling crummy after regular clinics have closed.

Data Privacy, Safety, and Security

Not all online clinics treat your data the same way. Both Felix and Maple promise PHIPA-compliant security (that’s Ontario’s tough patient privacy law), SSL encryption on every login, and transparent policies about who can access your info. Neither sells your data to marketers—the days of surprise supplement spam from your old GP should be over for good. Felix shines for never involving third-party pharmacies unless you specifically request it; all orders go through tightly-vetted partners, so there’s virtually zero risk of prescription errors or fake meds.

Maple, juggling thousands of users at once, has a two-factor login for added account security. Prescriptions get sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice or delivered if you want (though delivery isn’t instant; for urgent antibiotics, pick a pharmacy nearby). Maple makes a point of deleting consult data after a set window unless you download it, while Felix stores your records for easy future reference. If you’re anxious about who sees your details, know that you can request a full record download or deletion from either service under Canadian health privacy laws—handy if you’re moving provinces or just like to erase your digital footprint.

Both clinics are accredited by provincial telemedicine authorities, with regular audits and random spot checks on clinical work. That said, biggest privacy tip: never log in on public Wi-Fi or save passwords on shared devices. A little paranoia keeps your data safe, especially when it comes to anything as personal as your medical history.

Little-Known Perks, Hacks, and Things to Watch For

Everyone loves a shortcut, and there are a few for both Felix and Maple. Felix sometimes includes bonus ‘trial packs’ with new prescriptions so you can test a medication before committing. Ask for these if you’re new to the treatment—they won’t always offer unless prompted. Felix also will work quietly in the background to renew scripts—meaning, if you signed up for hair loss medication in January, you’ll get a reminder and can approve a new order in just a click or two, bypassing forms and phone calls.

Maple, because it handles so many different problems, will let you ‘stack’ visits. If you need a sick note, a prescription, and parenting advice all in one go, book a session and spell it out up front. Doctors here tend to be generalists who know a bit about everything—perfect for new parents, students, or anyone juggling multiple small but urgent worries. If you’re under 18 or caring for elderly relatives, Maple lets you add family accounts, merging health records to avoid repeats and confusion. For rural or small-town users, Maple’s French and multi-language services are rarely matched in the Canadian online space.

A word of warning: prescription refills have to be reviewed every time, even if you’ve had the same medication for years. That’s not because the clinic thinks you’re hiding something; it’s federal law, part of Canadian harm-reduction tactics to stop overprescribing. Both Felix and Maple are pretty quick about this but factor it into your timelines when you’re running low.

For savvy savers—keep your receipts! Both platforms issue official invoices that most private insurance firms accept. For expats or international students, scan your notes for travel insurance claims—virtual doctor notes are more widely recognized now than even two years ago. If you haven’t checked your work or school benefits in the past year, see if you’ve got virtual healthcare perks waiting. An increasing number of Canadian businesses now offer this as a wellness benefit, saving you each time you skip the pharmacy queue or office visit.

Last tiny hack: if you need a specific doctor (say, you're already working with someone for mental health), both platforms let you request the same clinician for next visits. Continuity of care—where your doc knows your quirks—can make all the difference in your comfort and results. Just message support to arrange it, since it’s not always obvious on the booking screen.

Choosing between Felix and Maple isn’t just a tech thing—it’s about how you want to run your own healthcare. Virtual medicine in Canada finally feels tailored to you, not just a patch for emergencies. Pay attention to what you value—speed, privacy, specialty access, or just a stress-free refill—and you’ll land on the clinic that makes sense for you. With telemedicine in Canada advancing quickly, the power's shifting more into patients’ hands. Try one (or both) and see what fits your health habits best.