Many doctors ask: “I’m already on Practo, do I need to work on Google?” The honest answer: they do different jobs, and Google is where most patients start.
How they differ
- Google Business Profile is free, shows on Google Search and Maps, and patients call or get directions directly. No commission, no middleman.
- Practo is a booking platform; useful for online booking and some patient discovery within the app.
Where patients start
Patients search “doctor near me” on Google far more than they open a specific app. In one month, our doctors’ profiles appeared in 91,500+ Google searches, and our doctors received 7,805 calls from Google in that month alone.
The smart approach: both, connected
- Make Google your main front door.
- Add your Practo (or other) booking link to your Google profile. 93% of profiles we audited had no booking link at all.
- Keep the same name, address and phone on both. This also helps AI recommendations.
- Collect reviews on Google, where new patients read them first.
Real Google numbers
- Dr Vyankatesh Pharande (eye specialist, Pune): 319 calls from Google in a single month (Aug 26). 3,036 calls from Google in the last 12 months.
- Dr Saikat Saha (neurologist, Asansol): 19 → 227 direction requests a month in 15 months. 4,153 calls from Google in the last 12 months, rated 4.5★ by 135 patients.
- Dr Bajrang Singh (paediatrician, Azamgarh): 0 → 170 calls from Google a month in 16 months. 1,285 calls from Google in the last 12 months, rated 4.8★ by 66 patients.
See how many calls doctors get from Google, and the full SEO guide.
A quick consistency checklist
- Clinic name exactly the same on Google, Practo, Justdial and your website
- Same phone number (ideally a mobile with WhatsApp)
- Same address format and pin code
- Same timings, including holidays
- Your Practo or booking link added to Google
What about Justdial and other directories?
They help mainly as consistency signals and occasional discovery. Keep them accurate, but put your main effort into Google, where patients start.
Want to know where your clinic stands?
Get a free Google profile check from Click2Cure. We review your profile on 12 points, show you exactly what is holding you back, and share what is realistic for a doctor like you in your city.
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Written and reviewed by Dr Parita Pandya, ENT surgeon and founder of Click2Cure, a growth partner built exclusively for doctors. Numbers in this article come from Google’s own performance data for profiles actively managed by Click2Cure (April 2025 – August 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Is Practo or Google better for doctors?
They serve different purposes. Google is usually where patients first discover a clinic; Practo helps with booking. Using both, connected, works best.
Can I add my Practo link to Google?
Yes. Add it as your appointment/booking link on your Google Business Profile.
Does Google charge commission for patient calls?
No. Google Business Profile is free, and patients call or visit you directly.