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Circle Medical vs Talkspace: Which Is Better?

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

Our Verdict

Talkspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (75.4/100 vs 60.2/100), leading on trust & safety, value, experience, reputation. Circle Medical has the lower entry price (from $0/mo vs $175/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

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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75
Talkspace
Very Good

Talkspace is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: TALK) telehealth platform offering online therapy and psychiatry, notable among prescribers for declining to prescribe controlled substances.

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Score Breakdown

DimensionCircle MedicalTalkspace
Overall Score60.2/10075.4/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%62/10080/100 ✓
Value25%55/10070/100 ✓
Experience20%55/10078/100 ✓
Product Range15%72/10072/100
Reputation10%60/10075/100 ✓

At a Glance

Founded20152012
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Publicly tradedNoYes (TALK)
Treatment categories21
Treatments listed22
Starting price$0/mo$175/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.

CategoryCircle MedicalTalkspace
Mental HealthFree–$120
ADHD Diagnosis & Medication Management
$175
Psychiatry Follow-Up (Medication Management)

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 →

Talkspace

+Does not prescribe controlled substances, eliminating DEA telemedicine-flexibility exposure that affects most psychiatry peers
+In-network with major insurers including Cigna, Aetna, and Optum, with copays as low as $0
+Strong Trustpilot sentiment (4.4/5, 2,388 reviews) concentrated on therapist and prescriber quality
−Self-pay pricing ($299 initial, $175/follow-up) is high relative to cash-pay peers for patients without insurance
−Recurring Trustpilot complaints about billing and cancellation-fee enforcement (one reviewer cited a $125 charge for cancelling 54 minutes before an appointment)
−Non-controlled formulary means patients needing stimulants or benzodiazepines must seek care elsewhere
Read the full Talkspace review →

Circle Medical vs Talkspace — FAQ

Is Circle Medical better than Talkspace?

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Talkspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (75.4/100 vs 60.2/100), leading on trust & safety, value, experience, reputation. Circle Medical has the lower entry price (from $0/mo vs $175/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

Is Circle Medical or Talkspace cheaper?

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Circle Medical has the lower starting price (from $0/mo vs $175/mo for Talkspace). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do Circle Medical and Talkspace both offer?

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Both platforms treat Mental Health. Circle Medical covers 2 treatment categories total and Talkspace covers 1.

Still deciding?

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