Cerebral Reviews, Pricing, and Alternatives (December 2025)

Finding online psychiatric care that actually fits your needs is harder than it looks. Cerebral is one of the most visible online therapy platforms with insurance coverage and a mix of therapy and medication plans. But it also has important limits. The company no longer prescribes controlled substances such as ADHD stimulants or benzodiazepines, and its subscription model means you’re paying before you know whether the match or medication options are right for you. In this guide, we’ll walk through how Cerebral works, what it costs, recent policy and legal developments, and how it compares with alternatives like Legion Health, Talkiatry, Talkspace, and Brightside.

TLDR:

• Cerebral does not prescribe controlled substances such as ADHD stimulants or benzodiazepines, which limits medication options

• Many alternatives accept insurance, with typical copays around $25–$35 per visit, but their controlled-substance policies differ

• Talkiatry offers 60-minute initial psychiatrist appointments in 44 states and can prescribe stimulants where legally appropriate

• Legion Health serves Texas with insurance-covered care, free QbCheck ADHD testing, and responsible stimulant prescribing when clinically appropriate

What Is Cerebral and How Does it Work?

Cerebral connects you with mental health care through a subscription model. You start by completing an online assessment about your symptoms, medical history, and what you're looking to achieve in treatment. The service then matches you with a provider and suggests a subscription tier.

You can choose therapy sessions, medication management, or both. Medication prescribers include board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants. Therapy sessions are conducted by licensed therapists. All appointments take place via video or phone through the app or website.

Cerebral accepts many major insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare. If you’re out of network, you pay the subscription fees out of pocket. Cerebral currently offers services nationwide in the U.S.

One major restriction: Cerebral does not prescribe controlled substances, including ADHD stimulants (such as Adderall or Vyvanse) or benzodiazepines for anxiety or insomnia. If your treatment requires these medications, this service won't work for you.

Prescriptions can be sent to your local pharmacy or delivered through Cerebral's own pharmacy service.

Why Consider Cerebral Alternatives?

The controlled substance restriction blocks access to common first-line treatments. If you have ADHD and your provider determines that stimulant medication is clinically appropriate, Cerebral can't prescribe it. The same limitation applies to benzodiazepines for severe anxiety. You're restricted to non-controlled medications only.

If you don’t use insurance, Cerebral’s current pricing (as of 2025) is roughly $60 per month for a medication-management plan when paid quarterly, $295 per month for therapy, and $365 per month for a combined medication-and-therapy plan. These subscription fees cover visits and care management; prescription costs at the pharmacy are additional.

Provider experience levels vary at intake. Your initial match might be an associate therapist working under supervision versus a fully licensed clinician. Moving to a more experienced provider requires contacting customer support, adding friction when you need care.

Cerebral doesn't offer objective diagnostic tools. If you need standardized testing to confirm an ADHD diagnosis or want measurable progress tracking through validated assessments, the service doesn't provide these. Clinical decisions rely solely on interview-based evaluations.

These limitations matter most if you need faster access, the full range of psychiatric medications, or diagnostic confirmation through testing.

Best Cerebral Alternatives in October 2025

Legion Health (Best Overall Alternative)

We deliver Texas-based telepsychiatry through board-certified psychiatric providers treating anxiety, depression, and ADHD. We accept all major commercial insurance in Texas, with most patients paying under $30 per visit. Our approach includes free FDA-cleared QbCheck ADHD testing, responsible stimulant prescribing when clinically appropriate, and appointments available within days.

Talkiatry

Talkiatry connects you with board-certified psychiatrists for 60-minute initial appointments. They prescribe controlled substances where legal, work with 60+ insurance partners across 45 states, and treat ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Only available to insured patients.

Talkspace

Talkspace combines therapy and psychiatry with unlimited messaging between sessions. They treat ages 13+ for therapy and 18+ for psychiatry, accepting major insurance plans. Monthly costs run $276 to $436 before insurance. Does not prescribe controlled substances.

Brightside Health

Brightside specializes in anxiety and depression with AI-driven medication matching. Pricing starts at $45 monthly for maintenance care through insurance or cash-pay. Does not treat ADHD.

Mindpath Health

Mindpath provides hybrid in-person and virtual care through full-time psychiatrists across select states. They coordinate with primary care and treat complex conditions, though wait times run longer.

Feature Comparison: Cerebral vs Top Alternatives

The key differences become clear when comparing services across the factors that matter most for psychiatric care.

The controlled substance policy is the most critical differentiator. If your treatment requires stimulants for ADHD or other controlled medications, Cerebral won't be an option.

Cerebral Pricing: What You Actually Pay

Cerebral’s medication-management plan currently costs $180 every three months (about $60 per month). Therapy-only plans are $295 per month, and combined medication-plus-therapy plans are about $365 per month, before insurance.

If you have in-network insurance, most patients pay around $30 monthly. Cerebral accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and United Healthcare. The services are HSA and FSA eligible.

Prescriptions are billed separately through your pharmacy. The subscription covers clinical appointments and care coordination only, so you'll pay your standard medication copays or cash prices on top of the subscription.

Therapy sessions without insurance cost $175 for the first appointment, with follow-ups ranging from $135 to $175 each.

Cerebral Reviews: What Users Are Actually Saying

Reviews for Cerebral split between satisfied users who value convenience and frustrated ones citing inconsistent care. Positive feedback points out easy scheduling, quick prescription processing, and affordable copays for insured members.

Provider turnover is the most frequent complaint. Users report being reassigned to different clinicians multiple times, requiring them to repeat their history and restart treatment rapport. This disrupts care continuity during medication adjustments.

Customer service issues appear across review sites. Billing disputes, difficult cancellation, and slow support responses create friction. The subscription requires payment before your first appointment, which frustrated users uncertain about provider fit.

Privacy concerns escalated after federal regulators alleged Cerebral shared sensitive user data with advertising platforms; in 2024, the company agreed to pay about $7 million to resolve an FTC investigation.

Can Cerebral Prescribe ADHD Medication?

Cerebral does not prescribe controlled substances for ADHD, including stimulants such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, or Concerta. The company stopped offering these medications in 2022 and now limits ADHD treatment to non-stimulant options. In 2024, Cerebral also agreed to pay roughly $3.8 million and entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice related to past prescribing and billing practices, but that settlement came after the policy change.

Non-stimulant ADHD medications are available through Cerebral, including Strattera (atomoxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), Qelbree (viloxazine), and Intuniv (guanfacine). These options work for some patients but typically take longer to show effects than stimulants.

For adults with ADHD who need stimulant medication, you'll need to consider other providers. Talkiatry operates in 45 states and can prescribe controlled substances with clinical safeguards. Legion Health serves patients in Texas with objective QbCheck testing and responsible stimulant prescribing when clinically appropriate.

Why Legion Health is the Best Cerebral Alternative

We built Legion Health to provide the care that Cerebral's restrictions prevent. For Texas residents seeking psychiatric treatment, we offer stimulant prescriptions when clinically appropriate, backed by rigorous protocols that include free FDA-cleared QbCheck testing. This objective assessment adds measurable data to your evaluation.

Our board-certified psychiatric providers can consider the full range of evidence-based medications, including stimulants, when clinically appropriate and safe under state and federal guidelines.

We accept all major commercial insurance in Texas, with most patients paying under $30 per visit. Appointments are available within days. No subscription fees before meeting your provider.

Final Thoughts on Cerebral and Its Competitors

Reading Cerebral reviews reveals a common pattern: people value the convenience but hit walls when they need controlled medications. For Texas patients, Legion Health removes those barriers while keeping costs low through insurance partnerships. We prescribe stimulants when clinically appropriate, backed by objective testing. Find a provider who can treat your condition completely, not partially.

FAQ

How much does Cerebral cost with insurance?

Most patients with in-network insurance pay around $30 monthly for Cerebral's services. They accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and United Healthcare, though prescription costs are billed separately through your pharmacy.

Can I get ADHD stimulant medication through Cerebral?

No, Cerebral stopped prescribing controlled substances in 2022, including stimulant medications like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin. They only offer non-stimulant ADHD medications such as Strattera, Wellbutrin, and Qelbree.

What's the main difference between Cerebral and Legion Health?

Cerebral operates on a subscription model across all 50 states but doesn't prescribe controlled substances, while Legion Health serves Texas patients through insurance, prescribes stimulants when clinically appropriate with strict protocols, and includes free FDA-cleared QbCheck ADHD testing.

How quickly can I get an appointment with a Cerebral alternative?

Legion Health offers appointments within days (sometimes next-day) for Texas residents, while Talkiatry provides 60-minute initial appointments across 45 states. Wait times vary by provider and location, but most telepsychiatry services schedule faster than traditional in-person psychiatry.

Do I need to pay upfront before meeting my provider with Cerebral?

Yes, Cerebral requires subscription payment before your first appointment. Without insurance from their five accepted carriers, you'll pay $60 monthly for medication management or $295 monthly for therapy before knowing if the clinical match works for you.