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Brightside Health vs Sunnyside: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of Brightside Health and Sunnyside 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 65.3/100), leading on trust & safety, product range. Sunnyside comes out ahead on value, experience. Sunnyside has the lower entry price (from $8.25/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

Sunnyside

Good

Sunnyside is a drink-less / alcohol-moderation app from Cutback Coach, Inc. with an optional 'Sunnyside Med' telehealth add-on that prescribes compounded naltrexone through OpenLoop Health.

Visit Sunnyside

Score Breakdown

Dimension	Brightside Health	Sunnyside
Overall Score	67.3/100 ✓	65.3/100
Trust & Safety30%	68/100 ✓	60/100
Value25%	65/100	70/100 ✓
Experience20%	68/100	70/100 ✓
Product Range15%	70/100 ✓	62/100
Reputation10%	65/100	65/100

At a Glance

Founded	2017	2020
Headquarters	Oakland, CA	—
Publicly traded	No	No
Treatment categories	1	1
Treatments listed	3	2
Starting price	$95/mo	$8.25/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	Sunnyside
Mental Health	$95 Psychiatry Plan	$8.25–$24.83 Sunnyside App (Basic / Cutback Coach)

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 →

Sunnyside

+Low-cost entry point: habit app with human text coaching at $99/year, 15-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee

+Combines medication (naltrexone) with daily tracking and coaching rather than prescription alone

+Discloses its clinical provider (OpenLoop Health) in its terms; refunds for the current cycle if medication has not yet been ordered

−Sunnyside Med prescription pricing is not published on the site; one reviewer reports a $50 charge plus $297

−Naltrexone is dispensed as a compounded formulation rather than the FDA-approved generic tablet

−Complaints of accounts being reactivated after cancellation and unclear billing

Read the full Sunnyside review →

Brightside Health vs Sunnyside — FAQ

Is Brightside Health better than Sunnyside?

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Is Brightside Health or Sunnyside cheaper?

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Sunnyside has the lower starting price (from $8.25/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 Sunnyside both offer?

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

Still deciding?

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