The Doctor Directory vs Healthgrades: How Do They Differ?

How do The Doctor Directory and Healthgrades compare?

Healthgrades column: Healthgrades About page, read 2026-10-08. The Doctor Directory column: computed from the directory's NPI Registry data on 2026-10-08.

What data does The Doctor Directory show?

Every profile is built from the doctor's public record in the NPPES NPI Registry, the national provider database run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Of the 72,892 profiles, 57,091 MD, 7,385 DO, 4,782 with another credential and 3,634 with no credential on file. The largest specialties are Internal Medicine (9,182), Orthopedic Surgery (8,615) and Family Medicine (8,411), and 78.7% of profiles have a Florida practice location. Doctors are listed alphabetically; nothing on the site is ranked, and The Doctor Directory does not verify licenses itself.

When is Healthgrades the better fit?

Choose Healthgrades if patient reviews are important to your decision, if you also want to research hospitals, or if you want to book an appointment or a telehealth visit online in one step. Those are features Healthgrades describes on its own pages, and The Doctor Directory does not offer them.

When is The Doctor Directory the better fit?

Choose The Doctor Directory if you want to see a doctor's registry details (credential, specialty taxonomy, NPI number and practice city) without star scores or sponsored ordering, and to send a free consultation request to the practice. It is most complete for Florida, where 57,345 of its profiles are located.

How can I check any doctor myself?

Whichever site you use, confirm three things: the license, through the state medical board's license lookup (in Florida, the Department of Health license verification); the NPI record, through the NPPES NPI Registry; and board certification, through ABMS Certification Matters. If you have Medicare, Medicare Care Compare lists doctors and clinicians enrolled in Medicare.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between The Doctor Directory and Healthgrades?

The Doctor Directory shows only NPI Registry facts for each doctor: name, credential, NPI number, specialty taxonomy and practice city, with no star scores or reviews. Healthgrades, by its own description, pairs doctor search with patient reviews (it cites more than 10 million), hospital quality research, online scheduling and telehealth booking. Pick Healthgrades if patient reviews are important to your decision, if you also want to research hospitals, or if you want to book an appointment or a telehealth visit online in one step; pick The Doctor Directory if you want plain registry details and a simple consultation request.

Does The Doctor Directory show patient reviews or star scores?

No. The Doctor Directory does not display star scores, review counts or rankings, because it has no verified source for them. Every profile is built from the doctor's public NPPES NPI Registry record. To check a doctor, use the state medical board license lookup, the NPI Registry and the ABMS Certification Matters search, all linked from each profile.

How many doctors does The Doctor Directory list?

The Doctor Directory lists 72,892 doctor profiles across 33 specialties in 50 states, counted from the NPI Registry fields stored in the directory. Coverage is uneven: 78.7% of the profiles have a Florida practice location, so the directory is deepest for Florida. The largest specialties are Internal Medicine (9,182), Orthopedic Surgery (8,615) and Family Medicine (8,411).

Do The Doctor Directory or Healthgrades charge patients?

The Doctor Directory is free for patients: searching, viewing profiles and sending a consultation request cost nothing. Healthgrades says on its About page that patients can create a free account to manage their family's providers. Neither site provides medical care, so call 911 or go to an emergency room for urgent symptoms.