Murph vs August
August takes you from symptom to prescription in one chat. Murph keeps the conversation going.
Reviewed · 4 official August sources · No affiliate links · How we research
The short answer
Choose Murph
Choose Murph if you want an ongoing assistant in iMessage or Telegram that connects your wearables, logs meals and symptoms, and follows through with reminders, health errands, and personal experiments.
Choose August
Choose August if you want a free 24/7 health AI that assesses symptoms without an account and can hand off to a licensed US physician for a $39 chat-based visit with a prescription sent to your pharmacy.
Can Murph and August work together?
Use August when a symptom needs a quick assessment or a prescription. Bring the care plan to Murph and keep the aftermath there: medication reminders, symptom logging, wearable context, and the note for your regular doctor. No connection between the two is documented.
Murph vs August at a glance
Ten decisions, each traced to the official sources listed below.
- Yes
- Limited
- No
| Capability |  Murph |  August |
|---|---|---|
| Where August goes further (3 rows) | ||
| Chat based doctor visits | No | Yes |
| Prescriptions to your pharmacy | No | Yes |
| Anonymous symptom chat | No | Yes |
| Where they overlap (2 rows) | ||
| Free start without a card | Yes | Yes |
| Lab report uploads | Yes | Yes |
| Where Murph goes further (5 rows) | ||
| Works in iMessage or Telegram | Yes | No |
| Wearable and lab context | Yes | Limited |
| Handles health errands | Yes | Limited |
| Tests what works for you | Yes | No |
| Open source option | Yes | No |
Read the full evidence9 dimensions, in each product's own words
| Dimension | Murph | August |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | MurphTurn scattered health context into an ongoing private relationship, clearer decisions, and practical follow-through.Source 1 | AugustAnswer health questions and assess symptoms for free at any hour, then get people to a licensed clinician and a prescription quickly when they need treatment.Source 3Source 4 |
| Product format | MurphA private ongoing conversation in familiar messaging, with a web account for deeper review and control.Source 1 | AugustA chat: describe symptoms in plain words, get guidance and a plan, then optionally start an asynchronous chat-based doctor visit with no video or microphone required. Available on the web and in iOS and Android apps.Source 3Source 4 |
| Data and inputs | MurphConversation, authorized wearable and lab connections, records, notes, meals, symptoms, workouts, and manual measurements.Source 1 | AugustSymptoms, medications, allergies, labs, vitals, photos, documents, insurance and billing documents, and telehealth intake answers. The privacy policy also lists user-authorized medical records, EHR exports, wearable data, lab reports, and pharmacy information.Source 5 |
| How it interprets | MurphConnects context across domains, explains relevant patterns, and helps test what works for one person over time.Source 1 | AugustA symptom assessment with plain-language guidance sourced, August says, from peer-reviewed literature, and a benchmark claim of a perfect USMLE score. Clinical conclusions come only from the clinician in a paid visit.Source 3Source 4 |
| Follow-through | MurphPlans, reminders, check-ins, practical health errands, personal experiments, and optional group support.Source 1 | AugustConsultations end with a written care plan and, when appropriate, a non-controlled prescription sent to your chosen pharmacy, and August says you can follow up with your doctor. The App Store listing describes goals and reminders in a wellness framing; scheduling, refills, and errands are not described.Source 3Source 4Source 6 |
| Required hardware | MurphNo proprietary device is required. Connected wearables can add useful signals.Source 1 | AugustNo device is required. The privacy policy lists wearable data among sources a user can authorize, but the product pages do not describe any specific device connection.Source 5 |
| Platforms | MurphHosted messaging and web experiences, plus an open-source option that can be inspected and run locally.Source 1 | AugustWeb, iOS, and Android. The App Store listing is rated 18 plus and describes a general wellness companion, which differs from the website's symptom and doctor-visit framing. No messaging-app or self-hosted option is documented.Source 3Source 6 |
| Cost model | MurphFree starter usage is available without a card. Paid plans add more usage when needed.Source 1 | AugustChat with August is free for US residents with no subscription. An online doctor visit is $39 per visit with no membership. Prescriptions are filled and paid at your own pharmacy.Source 3Source 4 |
| Clinical role | MurphEducational health support. Murph is not emergency care and does not diagnose or treat disease.Source 2 | AugustAugust Labs says it is not a telehealth provider, medical practice, or pharmacy. Paid consultations are delivered by independent MD Integrations clinicians who make every clinical decision; the AI does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. Adults 18 and older in the US only; no controlled substances.Source 3Source 4Source 5 |
Material tradeoffs
- August's $39 physician visits, prescriptions sent to your pharmacy, and anonymous no-account chat are things Murph does not offer.
- August's App Store listing describes a general wellness companion while its website describes symptom assessment and doctor visits; expect the two to differ. Its terms say AI features are free only for US residents.
- August documents no specific wearable connection, meal photo logging, or personal experiments, and its follow-through is tied to a visit. Murph has no clinicians and cannot prescribe.
Common questions about Murph and August
Is August free?
The AI chat is free for US residents, with no account required to check symptoms. A chat-based visit with a licensed doctor costs $39 with no membership, and any prescription is paid at your pharmacy. Murph also starts free without a card.
Does August use WhatsApp or connect to wearables?
The official pages reviewed describe web, iOS, and Android apps and do not mention WhatsApp. The privacy policy lists wearable data among sources you can authorize, but no specific device connection is described. Murph connects WHOOP, Oura, Garmin, Fitbit, Dexcom, Apple Health, and Health Connect directly.
How is August different from Murph?
August is a quick path from symptom to plan to prescription, with clinicians available for $39. Murph is a long-running assistant in iMessage or Telegram that reads wearables, meals, labs, and symptoms over time, runs personal experiments, and handles reminders and errands. Murph offers no clinician visits.
Official sources
Reviewed . This is official-source desk research, not hands-on product testing. Pricing and availability can change.
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