[MT] Brightside Health Reviews and Alternatives (December 2025)

You might be reading Brightside Health reviews and realizing it's not the right match for what you need. Maybe you need ADHD care, or you're looking for a service that prescribes medications Brightside doesn't offer. Whatever the reason, there are alternatives that might work better for your specific situation. We've laid out the top options and what makes each one different so you can make an informed choice.

TLDR:

• Brightside doesn't treat ADHD or prescribe stimulants, limiting options for attention disorders

• Legion Health accepts all major Texas commercial insurance with visits under $30 for most patients

• You get free FDA-cleared QbCheck ADHD testing at Legion Health, unavailable at other services

• Talkiatry operates in 43 states and prescribes controlled substances Brightside won't

• Legion Health offers same-day appointments in Texas with board-certified psychiatric providers

What is Brightside Health and How Does It Work?

Brightside Health is a subscription-based online mental health service treating depression and anxiety disorders, along with related conditions like bipolar disorder, OCD, and insomnia. Available in all 50 states, Brightside delivers psychiatry and therapy through virtual appointments.

After completing an online assessment, you select from three subscription tiers: psychiatry-only at $95 monthly, therapy-only at $299 monthly, or combined services at $349 monthly. Therapy sessions run 30 to 45 minutes.

Brightside does not treat ADHD and does not prescribe controlled substances. This excludes benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium and stimulant medications like Adderall or Concerta.

The service accepts major insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, and UnitedHealthcare, plus some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Average copays range from $15 to $30 per session.

Why Consider Brightside Health Alternatives?

Brightside provides quick access to depression and anxiety treatment through insurance, but several boundaries define what falls outside its scope. As more than 122 million Americans live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas as of August 2024, understanding which services can meet your specific needs becomes critical.

The service does not evaluate, diagnose, or treat ADHD. If you need ADHD care or stimulant medications that treat attention and focus symptoms, Brightside cannot help.

Brightside also will not prescribe controlled substances, including benzodiazepines for acute anxiety or panic attacks. If your treatment requires these medications, you'll need care elsewhere.

Session length is capped at 30 minutes. This leaves less time for complex medication discussions, side effect management, or addressing multiple co-occurring conditions. If your care requires longer consultations, shorter appointments may feel rushed.

For anyone needing ADHD treatment, a full range of medication options, or extended sessions, alternatives are worth considering.

Best Brightside Health Alternatives in December 2025

Alternative 1: Legion Health (Best Overall Alternative)

Legion Health is a Texas-based telepsychiatry service providing virtual psychiatric care with medication management for anxiety, depression, and ADHD through board-certified psychiatric providers.

What Legion Health offers:

• Accepts all major commercial insurance in Texas, covering 95% of commercially-insured Texans with most patients paying under $30 per visit

• Provides free, FDA-cleared QbCheck objective ADHD testing, the only major telehealth service offering this at no cost

• Prescribes stimulants when clinically indicated, with rigorous safety protocols and primary care coordination

• Offers same-day or next-day appointments in most cases, with evening slots available

Best for: Texas residents with commercial insurance seeking psychiatric care including ADHD treatment, objective diagnostic testing, and rapid provider access. This is especially important as an estimated 15.5 million U.S. adults now have ADHD as of 2023, nearly double the 2018 estimate of 8.7 million adults.

Bottom line: Legion Health treats ADHD with stimulants when appropriate, provides free objective testing, and delivers faster appointments than Brightside while maintaining strict clinical standards.

Alternative 2: Talkiatry

Talkiatry is a nationwide virtual outpatient psychiatry practice that accepts commercial insurance and employs over 300 psychiatrists across the United States, available in 43 states.

What Talkiatry offers:

• In-network with most major insurance carriers, with copays typically $30 to $65 per visit

• Treats ADHD and prescribes controlled substances including stimulants

• Combines psychiatry with therapy options for coordinated care

• Appointment availability within one to two weeks in most markets

Best for: Patients outside Texas who need ADHD treatment or controlled substances and prefer working with psychiatrists.

Bottom line: Talkiatry serves patients nationwide with psychiatric services including ADHD care and controlled substance prescriptions that Brightside doesn't offer.

Alternative 3: Cerebral

Cerebral operates as a subscription-based mental health service across all 50 states, offering medication management and therapy for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and bipolar disorder.

What Cerebral offers:

• Monthly subscription from $29 to $325 depending on services selected

• Accepts some insurance plans with additional out-of-pocket costs

What they offer:

• Does not prescribe stimulants or most controlled substances after regulatory changes in 2023

• Provides medication delivery through affiliated pharmacy partners in some states

• Offers therapy sessions through licensed counselors with flexible scheduling options

• Initial psychiatric evaluation followed by 15 to 30 minute follow-up appointments

Best for patients nationwide seeking affordable subscription therapy and psychiatry for anxiety or depression without needing controlled substances.

Bottom line: Cerebral covers more states than Legion Health but stopped prescribing stimulants, making it unsuitable for ADHD treatment requiring medication.

Initial appointments lasting 60 minutes for adults and 30-minute follow-ups , longer than most telehealth competitors

• Initial appointments lasting 60 minutes for adults with 30-minute follow-ups

• Prescribes controlled substances including stimulants when medically necessary

• Treats children as young as 5, teens, and adults

• Covers more than 70% of commercial lives through partnerships with 60+ insurance providers

Good for patients with insurance who need controlled substance prescriptions or longer appointment times for psychiatric evaluation.

Key limitation: Does not offer self-pay options, only accepting insurance. Therapy is available only when recommended by a psychiatric provider, not as a standalone service.

Alternative 3: Cerebral

Cerebral is a subscription-based online mental health service offering therapy and psychiatry to individuals 18 years and older throughout the United States. The service operates across all 50 states and accepts major insurance plans such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and United Healthcare.

What they offer:

• Monthly subscriptions range from $29 to $325 based on care type, with select insurance plans accepted

• Does not prescribe stimulants or benzodiazepines due to regulatory scrutiny and policy changes

• Offers therapy with licensed counselors alongside psychiatric medication management

• Delivers medications through affiliated pharmacy partners in select states

• Follow-up psychiatric appointments last 15 to 30 minutes after initial evaluation

Monthly subscription plans ranging from $95 to $365 depending on services selected

Feature Comparison: Brightside Health vs Top Alternatives

This comparison shows how Brightside Health stacks up against top alternatives across key telepsychiatry features.

Why Legion Health is the Best Brightside Health Alternative

Legion Health addresses the limitations that lead patients to seek Brightside alternatives. Our board-certified psychiatric providers treat ADHD with the full range of evidence-based medications, including stimulants when clinically indicated and medically appropriate.

Every patient receives complimentary QbCheck objective ADHD testing, an FDA-cleared assessment unavailable at most telehealth services. This computerized test adds diagnostic clarity and tracks treatment response at no additional cost.

Texas residents with commercial insurance can use their existing coverage. We accept major carriers serving the majority of commercially-insured Texans, with most visits costing under $30 after insurance. Same-day and next-day appointments get you started within 24 hours.

We maintain rigorous clinical standards and coordinate care with your other physicians as the digital mental health market continues to grow.

Final thoughts on Brightside Health and its alternatives

Brightside handles depression and anxiety care effectively, but brightside health reviews often mention limitations around ADHD treatment and medication options.

We built Legion Health to address those gaps with full ADHD care, free objective testing, and insurance coverage for Texas residents.

If Brightside's boundaries don't match your treatment needs, alternatives exist that accept your insurance and provide the medications your diagnosis requires.

FAQ

How quickly can I get my first appointment with a Brightside alternative?

Legion Health offers same-day or next-day appointments in most cases, with evening slots available. Talkiatry typically schedules within one to two weeks, while Cerebral's availability varies by location and provider.

What's the main difference between Brightside and Legion Health for ADHD treatment?

Brightside does not treat ADHD or prescribe stimulant medications, while Legion Health provides full ADHD evaluation, treatment, and prescribing when clinically appropriate. Legion also includes free QbCheck objective testing to support accurate diagnosis.

Can I use my insurance with online psychiatry services?

Most alternatives accept commercial insurance, though coverage varies by service and location. Legion Health accepts all major commercial plans in Texas with most patients paying under $30 per visit, while Brightside accepts major plans nationwide with $15-30 copays.

What is QbCheck and why does it matter for ADHD diagnosis?

QbCheck is an FDA-cleared computerized test that measures attention, impulse control, and activity level during a 15-20 minute assessment. It provides objective data to support clinical evaluation, and Legion Health offers it free to patients as many times as needed to track progress.

Do all telepsychiatry services prescribe controlled substances?

No. Brightside and Cerebral do not prescribe controlled substances including stimulants or benzodiazepines, while Legion Health, Talkiatry, and Mindpath Health prescribe them when medically appropriate with proper safety protocols in place.