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40 million adults in the US suffer from anxiety disorders, now considered the most common mental health issue plaguing the nation. Many of those with anxiety also experience symptoms of depression, which has unfortunately grown increasingly more common as Americans’ sense of social isolation has increased due to the global pandemic.
Luckily, medical treatment has proved to be helpful for millions. Two commonly used and highly effective approaches include talk therapy (i.e. counseling) and medication (usually antidepressants). You may have already had success with anxiety medication but need a more reliable way to fill your prescription. Or perhaps you’ve just started to notice anxiety or depression symptoms and want to know where to turn for help.
Either way, telehealth offers a convenient way to get quality mental health treatment, ASAP. It’s become mainstream during the pandemic, but is likely here to stay, given how much more accessible it is than traditional in-person care.
Brightside Health and Cerebral are two of the top online mental health care platforms that offer virtual diagnosis and treatment for anxiety and depression, among many other conditions.
In this article we’ll do a head-to-head comparison of Brightside Health vs Cerebral, including details about how they work, the types of mental health disorders they’re best designed to treat, the quality of care you should expect, the types of medications they prescribe, pricing, and their online therapy & ongoing support options. Hopefully, we’ll help you decide which of these services makes the most sense for you.
Cutting to the chase:
Short on time? We’ll reveal our top pick, which ultimately depends on your budget and needs.
Brightside Health vs Cerebral – Which is better?
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive virtual care from the industry-leading psychiatrists, Brightside Health is our #1 pick for anxiety and depression care.
For anyone on a tighter budget and/or who’s experiencing less severe symptoms, we recommend Cerebral as the most affordable mental health care provider online.
After in-depth research, we think Brightside Health is the best choice for online mental health treatment. It offers a comprehensive solution by uniquely pairing science and empathy to elevate your experience. We realize not everyone can afford Brightside Health, and Cerebral’s more affordable options through their coaching plan can still help you address your mental health concerns.
That said, coaches are not licensed professionals, so you are not getting the same level of professional care. With Brightside Health, you only receive treatment from individuals who are licensed therapists and psychiatric providers. They also take insurance to make their care more affordable.
An overview of tele-psychiatry
Telehealth startups started to gain popularity before COVID, but being the only option whilst trapped at home definitely helped them blossom. Today, consumers have broadly embraced virtual care as a more convenient and often more affordable way to get professional medical attention for a wide range of conditions.
This includes mental health, which is complex and historically has posed a lot of challenges for clinicians to diagnose and treat effectively. For instance, many struggle to find the right therapist within driving distance, but online mental health care makes the process easier and has helped millions overcome barriers to accessing quality treatment on demand.
Before companies like Brightside Health and Cerebral, patients would typically talk to their primary care physician, who may prescribe mental health medication and/or more likely refer you to a psychiatrist. You may choose therapy as a standalone treatment or in addition to medication. Therapy would require visits to a separate specialist, such as a psychologist or other qualified counselor, which may require joining a wait list given such high demand in most major markets and/or low supply of local therapists.
Virtual mental health care providers make the process much more convenient. Not only do you save time and energy by staying at home and meeting digitally, but you can get diagnosed and treated through one platform and get medications delivered to your door, rather than going in-person to see multiple specialists before stopping at your local pharmacy for each refill. That right there saves you about 3 separate trips you’d have to take in a normal setting. The process is usually as easy as meeting with a professional online, receiving a consultation, and getting your treatment as needed. Naturally, this is much more timely than in-person treatment as well, which is critical for anyone suffering through a mental health crisis right now.
Some mental health platforms solely offer medication, while others focus exclusively on therapy. What’s great about both Brightside Health and Cerebral is that they give you plenty of treatment options within each site, both offering therapy, prescription medication, or a combination of the two. Both platforms also make it easy to access ongoing care as well as helpful educational resources to provide individualized care beyond the first appointment.
For most people, mental health treatment through these virtual platforms has proven just as effective as in-person treatment. Through reputable sites like Brightside Health and Cerebral, treatment comes from qualified medical professionals who prescribe legitimate, clinically-proven medications. For many, it’s possible virtual care may be even more effective than in-person treatment.
For example, for anyone that moves or travels a lot, the convenience of online visits and to-your-door medication could create the circumstances for them to continue with treatment on an ongoing basis in a more convenient way.
That said, virtual care isn’t a fit for everyone. If you are feeling in imminent danger to yourself or others or are having trouble staying connected to reality, it is advised to see a doctor in person.
Brightside Health vs Cerebral – A side-by-side comparison
The following chart shows you the biggest similarities and differences between these telemedicine platforms, comparing Cerebral and Brightside Health head-to-head:
Cerebral vs Brightside Health | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $95/month for medication with a psychiatric provider $349/month for therapy + medication $299/month for therapy | $85/month for medication + care counseling $195/month for medication + therapy $145/month for therapy |
| Insurance accepted? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Membership required? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free shipping for prescriptions? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to licensed professionals? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited messaging with psychiatrist/therapist/counselor | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self care lessons? | ✅ | ❌ |
| Conditions treated in addition to anxiety & depression? | ADHD Alcohol dependence Bipolar II Chronic obesity Insomnia OCD Opioid Use Disorder Panic disorder Phobia Postpartum Depression Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) PTSD Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Social anxiety disorder | Insomnia Menopausal depression Postpartum depression Trauma & PTSD In certain states: ADHD Alcohol dependence Bipolar disorder Chronic obesity Opioid Use Disorder Pediatric Care (coming soon) Schizophrenia (coming soon) |
| States available | Medication and therapy available in all US states | Medication in all US states; Therapy plans available in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin |
| Website |
Brightside Health review
Brightside Health’s proclaimed commitment is to provide the kind of mental health care that it would strive to provide for its own family members. We’ll overview the platform here, but for a more in-depth analysis, be sure to check out our full review of Brightside Health as well.
Overall, Brightside Health customers demonstrate an impressive satisfaction rate, with 86% of users feeling better after 12 weeks, thanks to their strategy of precision medication, evidence-based therapy, and professional support at every step. While this is a self-reported metric, Brightside Health feels comfortable publishing it across their site and marketing materials, we have to believe it’s a metric they watch closely and strive to improve.
What conditions does Brightside Health treat?
The complete list of disorders that Brightside Health helps to treat includes:
- Generalized anxiety disorders
- Major Depressive disorders
- Panic disorder
- Phobia
- Social anxiety disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Postpartum depression
- Insomnia
- Bipolar II disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
How does Brightside Health work?
To start a mental health care journey on Brightside Health, you’ll first complete an online assessment with 25 questions.
You will be asked to score criteria related to depression and anxiety diagnoses in this screening measure. Your assessment will help you to decide whether you want therapy, medication, or a mix of the two and reflects where you fall on the spectrum for the severity of your symptoms for both depression and anxiety.
They are not diagnosing based on this assessment but based on your responses, you will be matched with a psychiatric provider, a therapist, or both, and you’ll receive information about their professional expertise and background.
Then, you’ll be able to book your first live video appointment based on your matched provider’s individual schedules and session availability. In most cases, you’ll have a video consultation within 48 hours to discuss how you’re feeling and the next steps. A Brightside Health provider will next recommend a treatment plan, and if medication is prescribed, you’ll get it delivered to your door, typically within a week.
Following that initial consultation, you will continue to adhere to the treatment plan that you and your provider decided on. You’ll have access to unlimited messaging with your psychiatric provider and/or therapist and have the ability to meet with them via video calls as your treatment progresses to check in and discuss your performance. The chat option is really handy when you don’t want or need a full session, but have a quick question or just need some words of wisdom.
What treatments does Brightside Health offer?
Brightside Health offers comprehensive care. Depending on your membership plan and care plan, this may include:
1. Medication-only plan
If you opt for a medication-assisted plan, you will meet with your psychiatric specialist via video for a consultation, and the provider will select an appropriate prescription for you. If you are recommended medication, it will be delivered to your door within a week of your session with monthly refills to follow.
From your Brightside Health account, you can track how you’re feeling using online check-ins – your responses can be utilized to assist your psychiatric practitioner in tracking your progress, and you have access to unlimited messaging with your provider. Note that this is not a crisis messaging platform, though, and if you’re having a medical or mental health emergency, you should dial 911.
2. Therapy-Only Plan
Brightside Health also provides evidence-based therapy based on the Unified Protocol, a modern enhancement of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Licensed therapists that have several years of experience and are licensed to operate in your state. Based on your geographic area, you are matched with a therapist and will start your once-a-week 30-minute video session.
Aside from appointments with your therapist and unlimited messaging, you can access skill-building video lessons with practice and reflection exercises – released by your therapist as you advance. You can also view self-care lessons based on CBT principles, such as learning the benefits of practicing gratitude, relying on social support, engaging in mindful breathing, and exercising mental flexibility.
Similar to the medication program, you can track your emotional trajectory with Brightside Health’s symptom tracker, which provides feedback to you and your therapist on how you are feeling and your progress. It can compare your anxiety and depression symptoms weekly, creating a graph over time. This tracking mechanism has been proven to be very helpful in minimizing and understanding symptoms.
If you want to improve your mental health entirely through therapy and would like to plan regular therapy sessions using mobile applications, we recommend that you look into the best virtual therapy apps.
3. Medication + Therapy Plan
Brightside Health also provides a therapy and medicine package that includes unlimited messaging with your therapist and psychiatric provider, weekly live video therapy sessions, unlimited live video psychiatric consults, and medication prescription and delivery services. Brightside Health promotes it as their most successful treatment, giving you up to a 60% better chance of recovery than a single treatment alone.
What can Brightside Health prescribe?
The following are just a few drugs that Brightside Health providers can prescribe. The website explicitly mentions that, for member safety reasons, Brightside Health does not treat or prescribe controlled medication or benzodiazepines.
How much does Brightside Health cost?
Brightside Health’s pricing varies by the online mental health services that you choose. Costs vary depending on whether your treatment includes just medication, just therapy, or both. Here is a detailed pricing breakdown:
| Cerebral Plan | Pricing | What’s included |
| Medication + Care Counseling | $30 for first month $85/month after that |
Evaluation, diagnosis, and prescription by a medical prescriber Ongoing video/phone sessions with a care counselor Regular progress checks Medication delivery |
| Therapy | $99 for first month $259/month after that |
Weekly video/phone sessions with a therapist Regular progress checks Unlimited messaging with a therapist |
| Medication + Therapy | $139 for first month $325/month after that |
Evaluation, diagnosis, and prescription by a medical prescriber Weekly video/phone sessions with a therapist Regular progress checks Medication delivery 24/7 chat with a therapist |
Does Brightside Health accept insurance?
Brightside Health has worked with over 30 million insurance covered lives. They accept a selection of insurance through partnerships with national and regional health plans to cover all or some of your mental health services. Brightside Health currently has contracts with:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- BCBS
- Magellan
- Humana
- Wellmark
- MHN in various states
When using insurance to pay, you’re only responsible then for copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or prescription costs associated with your plan. Insurance can pay for clinical features of your Brightside Health membership (including video consultations, unlimited messaging, treatment monitoring, and medication management). Brightside Health does not charge a monthly fee for paying with insurance, while Cerebral does ($30).
You do not have to have insurance, however to use Brightside Health’s mental health care treatments. They have made their care affordable without insurance, payable with HSA or FSA if available, and credit card if not.
Brightside Health reviews: What do patients say?
So, is Brightside Health legit?
In short, yes, Brightside Health is a legit place to seek treatment for any depression or anxiety treatment. In fact, in our opinion, it’s the most legitimate online mental health provider in the country. That said, Brightside Health is definitely on the pricier side, so if money is the number one factor in making your choice, read on to check out our review of Cerebral.
Cerebral mental health review
Cerebral is a subscription-based provider of mental health services. Just like Brightside Health, Cerebral treats depression, anxiety, and insomnia, but also serves folks with bipolar disorder and ADHD. (Side note: Cerebral has recently STOPPED prescribing stimulants for ADHD as of May 9th, but still offers non-stimulant treatments).
Cerebral offers online therapy and prescription drug management from physicians, counselors, and professional therapists for an affordable rate – at least much more affordably than traditional in-person psychiatry. Plus patients can communicate with the service’s care team via unlimited online messaging.
What does Cerebral treat?
The complete list of mental health disorders that Cerebral helps to treat includes:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Postpartum depression
- Menopausal depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- ADHD
- Bipolar Disorder
Additionally, the platform has expanded to serve patients with conditions like chronic obesity, alcohol dependence, and opioid use disorder (in certain states only). It’s also proven helpful for those struggling with anger management, low self-esteem, relationship problems, and divorce.
Again, Cerebral is not currently prescribing Schedule 2 stimulants for ADHD after being subpoenaed by the federal government. We will keep this article updated as the story unfolds.
FYI, we’ve previously compared Cerebral to other top online ADHD medication providers as well as more natural ADHD alternatives like nootropics. If you’re eager to learn more, our top recommendation is Thesis, which we’ve also reviewed in full:
How does Cerebral work?
Cerebral’s online registration takes only a few minutes and can be done from your phone or computer. To determine which plan is right for you, you will be asked to complete a quick emotional assessment.
You begin creating an account by providing your name, address, phone number, and a picture of your face, along with an appropriate government-issued ID.
Following the completion of the emotional assessment, you will be presented with a choice of three subscription levels to choose from, which we review below.
Depending on the subscription package selected, you’ll be presented with a list of prescribers or therapists that you can choose based on their bios. All Cerebral providers are board-certified psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Your first appointment will be scheduled within seven days of signing up for services. During this visit, the provider will confirm a suitable treatment plan and determine whether or not medication is required.
If your prescriber recommends medication, they will order it and have it delivered to your home address or local pharmacy on a monthly basis.
Lastly (again, depending on the plan you and your doctor select) a care counselor will contact you monthly, or you will meet with your therapist on a weekly basis. Follow-up appointments with your prescriber, therapist, or care counselor are available.
Cerebral treatment options for anxiety and depression
1. Medication + care management
This plan includes time with a provider, who will create a treatment plan with you and prescribe medication as appropriate. To treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia, Cerebral providers may prescribe selective serotonin reuptake medications or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
Providers will support your mental health journey and are available for follow-up appointments to track progress, answer questions, and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
While these visits aren’t as long as therapy sessions, there’s still time for you and your provider to connect and for them to get a sense of what might help you along your journey, which can include things like specific breathing or grounding exercises or a meditation approach.
Cerebral’s Medication + Care Management plan can also prescribe drugs to treat ADHD, PTSD, and bipolar illness in some areas, but currently only non-stimulants.
2. Cerebral’s therapy plan
Cerebral therapists are dedicated professionals who are certified to operate in your state and have many years of expertise. Cerebral therapists use evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat clients.
Sessions with therapists usually last 45 minutes. You’ll meet with your therapist once a week, but you’ll also have access to them via a secure messaging network accessible through your Cerebral account.
3. Cerebral medication + counseling plan
This plan, like Brightside Health, includes everything in the Medication + Care Counseling plan, with access to a growing number of professional therapists to be your main point of contact, instead of a Care Counselor. Similarly, you’ll meet with your therapist of choice on a weekly basis through video chat.
Combined psychotherapy and medication treatment has been demonstrated in studies to be the superior treatment for significant depression, anxiety, and other disorders. We recommend this approach if you believe that more regular counseling sessions combined with prescription medication would be beneficial to you.
How much does Cerebral cost?
You can choose from different plans, which may include just medication, just therapy or both. Pricing varies by the plan. Here are plan options:
| Cerebral Plan | Pricing | What’s included |
| Medication + Care Counseling | $30 for first month $85/month after that |
Evaluation, diagnosis, and prescription by a medical prescriber Ongoing video/phone sessions with a care counselor Regular progress checks Medication delivery |
| Therapy | $99 for first month $259/month after that |
Weekly video/phone sessions with a therapist Regular progress checks Unlimited messaging with a therapist |
| Medication + Therapy | $139 for first month $325/month after that |
Evaluation, diagnosis, and prescription by a medical prescriber Weekly video/phone sessions with a therapist Regular progress checks Medication delivery 24/7 chat with a therapist |
Does Cerebral accept insurance?
Cerebral accepts a variety of insurance policies, and if you’re in-network, your subscription plan, no matter which one you choose, is only $29 per month. However, depending on your coverage, you may be required to pay a copay in addition to the medication’s cost. Brightside Health does not charge this additional $30 monthly fee.
Cerebral reviews: What do patients say?
In general, Cerebral’s online reviews are more mixed than Brightside Health’s. Some users complain about the inability to schedule an appointment when needed, and the company’s overall rating on Trustpilot was 3.8/5 from over 3200 reviewers. Not the best we’ve seen, but very solid, especially when considering they treat such a wide range of mental health conditions.
So, is Cerebral legit?
Cerebral is a convenient and affordable way to access many mental health treatments online. They offer multiple different plans at a significantly lower cost than most of their competitors, including Brightside Health, which is extremely helpful to support patients’ unique needs. Although the company has come under scrutiny recently, we appreciate that every company has growing pains and support Cerebral’s mission to democratize access to quality mental healthcare.
The Verdict: Which is better, Cerebral or Brightside Health?
Cerebral or Brightside is ideal for [guys/women/shoppers] who want to…
There is no doubt that Brightside Health and Cerebral are among the two top tele-psychiatry services available on the market today. Treatment from telepsychiatry providers is convenient and effective for the majority of people, and these two in particular both offer a large range of legitimate treatment options, including prescriptions meds delivered to your home at no extra cost. Furthermore, they offer evidence-based therapy and ongoing one-on-one care.
After thoroughly investigating both platforms, Brightside Health is our top choice because of the comprehensive services it offers. Brightside Health also offers both its medication and therapy services in all 50 states. This service puts its full focus on treating anxiety and depression, with a range of specific focuses and services. In addition to medication and therapy options, you can take part in a self-care program and receive ongoing guidance from your prescriber.
Brightside Health’s biggest distinguishing feature is its utilization of modern digital technologies. Their PrecisionRx system analyzes over 100 data points and decades of clinical trial data to identify the most appropriate FDA-approved drug for your individual needs. Brightside Health also sets you up for success through its platform’s progress tracking, which allows you and your provider to follow your unique symptoms over time and modify treatment along the way. Seeing this development provides a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
That said, Brightside Health’s services aren’t affordable to all. Luckily Cerebral is a solid choice for those wanting to address anxiety or depression on a budget. It doesn’t provide therapy in all states, but this service is available in many, and they have the ability to prescribe medication everywhere in the US. In addition, Cerebral offers treatment beyond anxiety and depression, so it’s a good choice if you’re seeking treatment for something else like ADHD, insomnia, weight loss, or alcohol dependence.
We’d love to hear about your experience with either service (Cerebral or Brightside Health) in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does Brightside Health cost?
| Brightside Health Plan | Pricing | What’s included |
| Precision Psychiatry Medication | $45 for first month $95/month after that | Unlimited messaging with your psychiatric provider Unlimited video consultations with your psychiatric provider Medication manatement Free shipping of medications to your doorstep or local pharmacy pickup Regular online check-ins for progress tracking |
| Evidence-Adherent Therapy | $249 for first month $299/month after that | Unlimited messaging with your therapist Weekly 30-minute video sessions with your therapist Skill-building video lessons with practice & reflection exercises, released as you advance Regular online check-ins for progress tracking |
| Comprehensive Medication + Therapy | $249 for first month $349/month after that + Pharmacy copay or $15 per medication | Unlimited messaging with your psychiatric provider & therapist Unlimited psychiatric consults Free shipping of medications to your doorstep or local pharmacy pickup Weekly 30-minute video sessions with your therapist Skill-building video lessons with practice & reflection exercises, released as you advance Regular online check-ins for progress tracking |
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Methodology
We conduct extensive research to evaluate the pricing, effectiveness, accessibility, overall quality, and user experience of every telehealth service we review. This also includes examining and comparing each provider to comparable telemedicine alternatives. We also evaluate usability, treatments, prescription delivery time, and more to determine the best value for those seeking fast and reliable telehealth services.
| Review Process | Key Metrics | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up online | – ease to complete intake form – affordability – upfront commitment or subscription required? – money back guarantee or refund policy? | 0.5 |
| Vitual consult with provider / determine eligibility | – ease to get appointment to determine eligibility – need to leave house for labs or other in-person care? | 1 |
| Shipping + unboxing | – shipping cost – time from order to treatment delivery – discreet packaging to maintain privacy | 0.5 |
| Test + journal for 1-3 months | – ease of application – transition into habitual use – taste / smell / feel / pain | 1.5 |
| Results after 3 months of use | – efficacy / results – lack of side effects – ease of refill / reordering – quality of ongoing clinical support – responsive customer support – willingness to recommend to a friend | 1.5 |
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