Verified
Free, with paid options
WebMD Care
WebMD's doctor directory: a free basic profile, and a paid Featured Profile that pins a practice to the top of local results and also shows on Vitals.
Listing and review sites
Yelp
Yelp lists practices next to every other local business. The business page is free once verified, and Yelp publishes what its paid products start at: ads from a monthly minimum, and an Upgrade Package that adds visuals and keeps competitor ads off the page.
Verified
The facts, with sources
| Fact | What its own pages say | Read on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it charges | Free, with paid options | Yelp local business pricing page | |
| Published price | $150 a month and up, for Yelp Ads The business page is free. The Upgrade Package is $180 a month and both together start at $270 a month; each can be cancelled anytime. | Yelp local business pricing page | |
| Paid tiers | Yelp Ads, Upgrade Package, or both | Yelp local business pricing page | |
| How a profile is claimed | Verify the free listing from the business site | Yelp local business pricing page | |
| Audience it reports | 2.4 million people visit Yelp on an average day, as it states | Yelp local business pricing page |
What it costs.
Yelp charges $150 a month and up, for Yelp Ads. The business page is free. The Upgrade Package is $180 a month and both together start at $270 a month; each can be cancelled anytime.
Worked example: one practice listed for a year costs at least $1,800, at $150 a month.
Who it fits.
Every practice should verify its free Yelp page, which costs nothing and lets the practice answer reviews and messages. Paid ads suit practices in specialties where patients compare local options, such as dental, dermatology or urgent care.
Alternatives.
Three other listing and review sites in this directory, chosen by the specialties they serve and the way they charge.
Verified
Free, with paid options
Vitals
A doctor review site in WebMD's directory network: a practice lists for free, and paid placement comes through WebMD's Featured Profile.
Verified
Free, with paid options
Castle Connolly
A Top Doctors directory where inclusion comes from peer nomination and cannot be bought; selected doctors can then buy an Enhanced Profile.
Questions about Yelp.
Who runs Yelp, and how long has it been around?
Yelp's own pages, read on October 25, 2026, do not name an owner or a founding year. What they do publish is in the facts table above. Every fact on this page links to the page it was read on.
What does Yelp cost?
Yelp charges $150 a month and up, for Yelp Ads. The business page is free. The Upgrade Package is $180 a month and both together start at $270 a month; each can be cancelled anytime.
Worked example: one practice listed for a year costs at least $1,800, at $150 a month.
What are the alternatives to Yelp?
In this directory, the closest matches by specialty and way of charging are WebMD Care (free, with paid options), Vitals (free, with paid options) and Castle Connolly (free, with paid options). The full table sets all 14 side by side.