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Brightside Health vs Circle Medical: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of Brightside Health 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

Brightside Health scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (67.3/100 vs 60.2/100), leading on trust & safety, value, experience, reputation. Circle Medical comes out ahead on product range. Circle Medical has the lower entry price (from $0/mo vs $95/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

Brightside Health

Good

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.

Visit Brightside Health

Circle Medical

Fair

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.

Visit Circle Medical

Score Breakdown

Dimension	Brightside Health	Circle Medical
Overall Score	67.3/100 ✓	60.2/100
Trust & Safety30%	68/100 ✓	62/100
Value25%	65/100 ✓	55/100
Experience20%	68/100 ✓	55/100
Product Range15%	70/100	72/100 ✓
Reputation10%	65/100 ✓	60/100

At a Glance

Founded	2017	2015
Headquarters	Oakland, CA	San Francisco, CA
Publicly traded	No	No
Treatment categories	1	2
Treatments listed	3	2
Starting price	$95/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.

Category	Brightside Health	Circle Medical
Mental Health	$95 Psychiatry Plan	Free–$120 ADHD Diagnosis & Medication Management

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 →

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

−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 →

Brightside Health vs Circle Medical — FAQ

Is Brightside Health better than Circle Medical?

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Is Brightside Health or Circle Medical cheaper?

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Circle Medical has the lower starting price (from $0/mo vs $95/mo for Brightside Health). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do Brightside Health and Circle Medical both offer?

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

Still deciding?

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