Brightside review

Brightside centers on anxiety, depression and related conditions, and pairs therapy with psychiatry when medication helps. It says it is in-network with all major insurance carriers plus Medicare and Medicaid, which matters for older adults and lower-income buyers, and that 67% of patients paid $25 or less out of pocket while 37% paid nothing. A free assessment, CareMatch, suggests a path, then you choose a provider by gender, specialty and other filters. Care runs fully online through 1:1 video sessions, messaging with your provider between sessions, interactive lessons and progress tracking. Same day, evening and weekend appointments are available. Brightside also runs a teen program for ages 13 to 17, a suicide prevention program and intensive outpatient care. The homepage does not publish a cash price, so self-pay buyers need to check during sign-up.

Who it is for

Adults with anxiety or depression who may want medication alongside therapy and use Medicare or Medicaid.

Price

Most patients pay $25 or less with insurance; cash price at sign-up. See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Psychiatry, therapy or both, 100% online
• In-network with major carriers plus Medicare and Medicaid
• CareMatch assessment to suggest a treatment path
• Anytime messaging with your provider between sessions
• Interactive lessons and progress tracking

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Covers Medicare and Medicaid, which many services do not
• Strength: Same day, evening and weekend appointments
• Strength: Choose a provider by gender, specialty and more
• Weakness: Cash price is not published on the homepage
• Weakness: Focus is anxiety and depression rather than couples work
• Weakness: Teen care limited to ages 13 to 17

Key facts

• Insurance: Major carriers, Medicare and Medicaid
• Out-of-pocket: 67% paid $25 or less, per Brightside
• Sessions completed: 3,000,000+
• Programs: Therapy, psychiatry, teen care, IOP

Where it ranks

Brightside is No. 5 in our Best Online Therapy Services verdict.