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BetterHelp vs Circle Medical: Which Is Better?

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

Our Verdict

Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. BetterHelp comes out ahead on value, 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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60

Circle Medical is a UCSF Health-affiliated video primary care practice with a large ADHD, anxiety, and depression practice, offering same-day visits and medication management including stimulants where permitted.

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Score Breakdown

DimensionBetterHelpCircle Medical
Overall Score54.5/10060.2/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%45/10062/100 ✓
Value25%58/100 ✓55/100
Experience20%70/100 ✓55/100
Product Range15%50/10072/100 ✓
Reputation10%50/10060/100 ✓

At a Glance

Founded20132015
HeadquartersMountain View, CASan Francisco, CA
Publicly tradedYes (TDOC)No
Treatment categories12
Treatments listed12
Starting price$280/mo$0/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.

CategoryBetterHelpCircle Medical
Mental Health$280–$400
Online Therapy (messaging, chat, phone, video)
Free–$120
ADHD Diagnosis & Medication Management

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 →

Circle Medical

+UCSF Health affiliation lends institutional credibility to its primary care and mental health practice
+Same-day video visits with flat $120 self-pay pricing when insurance isn't used
+Handles complex ongoing care (ADHD stimulant management, hormone therapy, weight care) that many async competitors avoid
−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
−Trustpilot rating (3.6 stars) is weak for the category, with roughly 30% one-star reviews concentrated on billing: incorrect insurance charges, no-show fees, and refund difficulty
−Support access is largely limited to chat/bot channels, which reviewers say makes billing disputes slow to resolve
Read the full Circle Medical review →

BetterHelp vs Circle Medical — FAQ

Is BetterHelp better than Circle Medical?

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Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 54.5/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. BetterHelp comes out ahead on value, experience.

Is BetterHelp or Circle Medical cheaper?

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Circle Medical has the lower starting price (from $0/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 Circle Medical both offer?

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Both platforms treat Mental Health. BetterHelp covers 1 treatment category total and Circle Medical covers 2.

Still deciding?

BetterHelp alternativesCircle Medical alternativesTake the Match Quiz