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BetterHelp vs Brightside Health: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of BetterHelp and Brightside Health based on our independent scoring across trust, value, experience, product range, and reputation — plus real pricing for the treatments they both offer.

Our Verdict

Brightside Health scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (67.3/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on trust & safety, value, product range, reputation. BetterHelp comes out ahead on experience.

55
BetterHelp
Below Average

BetterHelp is Teladoc Health's online talk-therapy platform, matching users with licensed therapists for messaging, chat, phone and video sessions; it does not prescribe medication and operates under a 2023 FTC order over sharing health data with advertisers.

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67

Brightside Health is a venture-backed online psychiatry and therapy platform using an AI-assisted prescribing tool, with limited, insurance-gated access to stimulant medications.

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Score Breakdown

DimensionBetterHelpBrightside Health
Overall Score54.5/10067.3/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%45/10068/100 ✓
Value25%58/10065/100 ✓
Experience20%70/100 ✓68/100
Product Range15%50/10070/100 ✓
Reputation10%50/10065/100 ✓

At a Glance

Founded20132017
HeadquartersMountain View, CAOakland, CA
Publicly tradedYes (TDOC)No
Treatment categories11
Treatments listed13
Starting price$280/mo$95/mo

Pricing Where They Compete

Prices shown are based on our most recent research and may not reflect current pricing. Telehealth providers update their pricing frequently. Always verify pricing directly with the provider before purchasing.

CategoryBetterHelpBrightside Health
Mental Health$280–$400
Online Therapy (messaging, chat, phone, video)
$95
Psychiatry Plan

BetterHelp

+Large licensed-therapist network with messaging, live chat, phone and video in one membership
+Therapist switching is self-serve and frequently praised in reviews
+Weekly price range ($70–$100) published on the FAQ; insurance accepted in a growing number of states (average $23 copay)
−2023 FTC order: shared users' mental-health data with Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising despite privacy promises; paid $7.8M in consumer refunds
−No medication management: therapists cannot prescribe or formally diagnose
−Cash price of about $280–$400 per month is high relative to per-session pay-as-you-go therapy
Read the full BetterHelp review →

Brightside Health

+More conservative controlled-substance policy than most psychiatry peers — no benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, or gabapentin, and stimulants only for insured members in select states
+Accepts insurance in addition to self-pay, unlike several cash-only competitors
+Solid Trustpilot sentiment (4.0/5, 1,527 reviews) on clinical staff friendliness and attentiveness
−Prescribes Schedule II-V controlled substances via telehealth, which depends on DEA telemedicine flexibilities currently extended only through 2026-12-31 — a future rule change could disrupt care continuity
−Patients report unexpected costs and unclear insurance coverage after appointments
−Provider-matching can require multiple attempts before finding a suitable clinician
Read the full Brightside Health review →

BetterHelp vs Brightside Health — FAQ

Is BetterHelp better than Brightside Health?

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Brightside Health scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (67.3/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on trust & safety, value, product range, reputation. BetterHelp comes out ahead on experience.

Is BetterHelp or Brightside Health cheaper?

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Brightside Health has the lower starting price (from $95/mo vs $280/mo for BetterHelp). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do BetterHelp and Brightside Health both offer?

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Both platforms treat Mental Health. BetterHelp covers 1 treatment category total and Brightside Health covers 1.

Still deciding?

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