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BetterHelp vs Cerebral: Which Is Better?

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

Our Verdict

Cerebral scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (55/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on value. BetterHelp comes out ahead on experience, reputation.

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.

Visit BetterHelp
55

Mental health telehealth platform offering therapy and medication management, rebuilding trust after a DOJ investigation.

Visit Cerebral

Score Breakdown

DimensionBetterHelpCerebral
Overall Score54.5/10055/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%45/10045/100
Value25%58/10070/100 ✓
Experience20%70/100 ✓65/100
Product Range15%50/10050/100
Reputation10%50/100 ✓35/100

At a Glance

Founded20132020
HeadquartersMountain View, CAAustin, TX
Publicly tradedYes (TDOC)No
Treatment categories11
Treatments listed13
Starting price$280/mo$60/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.

CategoryBetterHelpCerebral
Mental Health$280–$400
Online Therapy (messaging, chat, phone, video)
$60
Medication Only

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 →

Cerebral

+Flat $60/mo medication plan with prescription costs included through their own pharmacy
+Remediated the conduct behind the 2024 judgment, including reinstating a simple cancellation mechanism
+Flexible scheduling for therapy sessions
−Publishes out-of-network caps if an insurance claim is denied: up to $290 for a medication intake and $250 for a therapy intake
−Consented to a federal court judgment in June 2024 over patient-data use in advertising and cancellation practices, paying about $7M including more than $5M refunded to consumers
−Limited to mental health only
Read the full Cerebral review →

BetterHelp vs Cerebral — FAQ

Is BetterHelp better than Cerebral?

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Cerebral scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (55/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on value. BetterHelp comes out ahead on experience, reputation.

Is BetterHelp or Cerebral cheaper?

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Cerebral has the lower starting price (from $60/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 Cerebral both offer?

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

Still deciding?

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