Let us be clear upfront: Practo is a good platform. It has done more to digitise Indian healthcare than almost any other company. If you are on Practo, you should stay on Practo.
But if Practo is the only place you exist online, you have a problem.
The "rented land" problem
Think of Practo like a mall. You have a shop inside the mall (your profile). The mall brings foot traffic (patients searching on Practo). But here is the catch:
- You do not own the shop. Practo does.
- Right next to your shop, there are 5 other doctors in your specialty.
- The mall decides who gets the best spot (top of search results).
- If you stop paying rent (subscription fees), your visibility drops.
- The mall can change the rules anytime.
Your own website is like owning your own property. You control everything: the design, the content, the booking experience, and most importantly, the patient sees only you.
The competitor visibility problem
Go to your Practo profile right now. Scroll down. What do you see? A section called "Similar Doctors" or "Doctors near [your area]" showing 5 to 10 of your direct competitors. Every patient who visits your profile is shown alternatives right there on the same page.
Imagine a patient is referred to you by a friend. They Google you, find your Practo profile, start reading about you, and then see "Dr. [Competitor] . 4.9 stars. Available today." Some of them click. Some of them book. You lose a referred patient to a platform that was supposed to help you.
On your own website, there are no competitors. There is only you.
The algorithm dependency
Your visibility on Practo depends on Practo's algorithm. This algorithm considers:
- Whether you are a paying subscriber
- Your review count and rating
- Your response rate and booking rate
- How recently your profile was updated
Practo changes this algorithm periodically. Doctors who were ranking well suddenly drop. Doctors who pay for premium placements jump ahead. You have no control over these changes.
With your own website and a well optimised Google Business Profile, your visibility depends on factors you can control directly.
The data ownership issue
When patients book through Practo, who owns that patient data? Practo does. You can see basic information, but you do not have a direct relationship with the patient outside the platform. You cannot email them. You cannot add them to your own follow up system easily.
When patients book through your own website, you have their name, number, and email. You can send them reminders, follow up after visits, wish them on their birthday, share health tips. You build a relationship that does not depend on a third party.
The cost equation
Let us talk about money. Practo's subscription for doctors ranges from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 per month depending on your city and plan. On top of that, Practo often charges per lead for certain features.
A good clinic website with online booking costs ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per month. It generates leads that you own permanently. Over 2 to 3 years, the cost of Practo subscriptions adds up to significantly more than owning your own digital presence.
This is not about choosing one or the other. The smart move is to have both: keep your Practo profile (it is a source of patients), but build your own website as your primary online home.
What your own website gives you that Practo cannot
- Brand control: Your logo, your colours, your story. Not a templated profile page.
- No competitors on your page: Patients see only you.
- Custom content: Blog posts, patient education, FAQs. Content that builds trust and improves your Google ranking.
- Direct booking: Patients book with you directly. No middleman fees.
- Google SEO benefits: Your own website ranks in Google search results. Practo's page for you might too, but you are competing with other doctors on Practo for that space.
- Patient data ownership: You own the relationship.
- Credibility signal: In 2026, patients expect a doctor to have a website. Not having one is a red flag, especially for younger patients.
The transition plan
You do not need to quit Practo overnight. Here is a practical approach:
- Month 1: Get your own website live with booking. Optimise your Google Business Profile. Link your GBP to your website.
- Month 2 to 3: Start sharing your website link (not your Practo link) on WhatsApp, business cards, and social media.
- Month 3 to 6: Track how many patients come through your website vs Practo. As your website traffic grows, evaluate whether the Practo subscription is still worth it.
- Month 6 and beyond: You may keep Practo as a secondary channel or reduce your plan. Either way, you now have a digital presence you own and control.
Curious what your own website could look like? Try a free Pluxo preview. In 30 seconds, you will see a professional, booking enabled website designed for your practice. No agencies, no coding, no lengthy setup.