Pricing models differ significantly: Amwell uses pay-per-session pricing ($99 or less for therapy), while Brightside operates on monthly subscriptions ($95–$349/month depending on services).
Insurance coverage varies: Brightside accepts Medicare and select Medicaid plans, while Amwell does not — a critical distinction if you rely on government insurance.
Access speed favors Brightside: Brightside often books appointments within two days, while Amwell psychiatry wait times can extend to 14 days (therapy wait times depend on the provider).
Service formats differ: Amwell offers couples, family, and group therapy with phone and video options; Brightside focuses on individual care with unlimited messaging between sessions.
Rula as another option: Rula combines therapy and psychiatry across a large network of 21,000+ providers, accepting most major insurance plans and offering virtual and in-person care with clear upfront costs for many patients.
Choosing an online therapy platform can feel daunting, especially when you're managing stress or anxiety. Amwell and Brightside health both provide virtual mental healthcare across the country, but their models differ when it comes to cost structure, how they connect you with providers, and the range of services available.
In this online therapy comparison guide, we'll break down how these two platforms compare across cost, insurance coverage, clinical outcomes, and specialized services, so you can figure out which one actually fits your situation.
You might also consider Rula as you explore your options. Rula connects you with over 21,000 licensed providers across all 50 states, accepts most major insurance plans, and offers both therapy and psychiatry through virtual and in-person appointments. With insurance, many patients pay around $15 per session, which can make it a strong option for online therapy with insurance.
Amwell vs. Brightside: Differences at a glance
Both Amwell and Brightside are virtual mental healthcare platforms offering online therapy and psychiatry nationwide, but they differ meaningfully in their service models, pricing, and how care is delivered. If you’re trying to find a therapist quickly, these differences can help you narrow down the right fit among today’s online therapy platforms.
Average cost per session:
Amwell: $99 or less per therapy session; $199 for an initial psychiatry visit, and $95 for follow-up psychiatry visits
Brightside: Subscription-based at $299 per month for therapy, $95 per month for psychiatry, and $349 per month for both
Number of providers:
Amwell: 2,200+ providers
Brightside: Exact number not disclosed
Modes of communication:
Amwell: Video and phone appointments, plus secure messaging
Brightside: Video appointments, plus unlimited messaging with therapists and psychiatrists
Services offered:
Amwell: Therapy (individual, couples, family, group) and psychiatry (medication management)
Brightside: Therapy, psychiatry, combined therapy and psychiatry, teen care (ages 13+), and a suicide prevention program
Insurance acceptance:
Amwell: Accepts over 30 major commercial plans but does not accept Medicare or Medicaid
Brightside: Accepts major commercial insurance, Medicare, and select Medicaid plans
States covered:
Amwell: All 50 states and Washington D.C.
Brightside: All 50 states and Washington D.C.
Number of specialties offered:
Amwell: Treats anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and more
Brightside: Focuses heavily on anxiety, depression, ADHD, and severe mental health needs including suicidal ideation
Inclusivity and patient focus:
Amwell: LGBTQ+ affirming care with Fenway Institute-trained providers and teen services starting at age 10
Brightside: Teen services starting at age 13, translation services, and a dedicated suicide prevention program
Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:
Amwell: Virtual-only (video and phone)
Brightside: Virtual-only (video)
Amwell at a glance
Amwell is a leading telehealth platform founded in 2006 that connects patients with licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists across all 50 states. It offers flexible access to care via scheduled video or phone appointments using a pay-per-session model without subscription commitments.
Without insurance, therapy costs $99 or less per session, and psychiatry runs $199 for the first visit and $95 for follow-up appointments. Children ages 10 and older can access therapy with parental consent, while psychiatry services are limited to adults 18 and up. Before scheduling, you can browse provider profiles that detail their education, clinical experience, and therapeutic approach. Psychiatry appointments generally become available within a two-week window, and scheduling options include daytime, evening, and weekend slots.
Brightside at a glance
Founded in 2017, Brightside is a virtual mental health platform specializing in precision treatment for anxiety and depression. Its subscription model bundles therapy, psychiatry, or both into a single monthly plan. Brightside emphasizes measurement-based care using regular clinical assessments to personalize your treatment.
Monthly plans cost between $95 and $349, with appointments frequently available within two days. Each subscription provides four 30-minute video sessions monthly (with an initial 55-minute session) plus unlimited messaging access. Members can coordinate their treatment and explore self-care tools using the platform's full-featured mobile app.
Rula at a glance
Rula is a mental health platform founded in 2019 that helps people find licensed therapists covered by insurance and schedule online therapy (and other types of care) through its platform. Rula connects patients with a nationwide network of 21,000+ providers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with telehealth appointments delivered via live video (Zoom).
Rula also offers in-person therapy appointments with eligible providers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with visits taking place at provider-operated offices. Care is scheduled and appointment-based: you can browse a curated list of in-network providers, review profiles and availability, and book online. Rula verifies your insurance and confirms your estimated out-of-pocket cost before your first session.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Clinical outcomes and how they compare
Clinical outcomes show whether a platform's approach helps people improve, rather than just feeling supported in the moment. When choosing between online therapy services, evidence-based care and measurable results are key differentiators.
Amwell clinical outcomes
Patient satisfaction is a notable strength for Amwell, with 97% of clients reporting they were very or extremely satisfied with their therapist. The platform maintains an average provider rating of 4.9 out of 5 for therapy sessions, which may matter to readers scanning amwell reviews.
Brightside clinical outcomes
Brightside reports that 86% of patients experience clinically significant improvement within 12 weeks, and 71% achieve remission. This is particularly notable given that 75% of their patients enter care with severe or moderately severe depression.
Rula clinical outcomes
Data shows that 93% of people felt better about their symptoms after receiving care through Rula. When looking at anxiety and depression scores, 74% of Rula patients showed significant improvement. Rula's clinical outcomes are greater than 10% better than similar competitors, on average.
Cost and insurance coverage
Amwell uses a pay-per-session model that supports insurance billing or self-pay, while Brightside offers a monthly subscription with options to bill insurance or pay out of pocket. Using insurance can reduce out-of-pocket costs compared to self-pay, depending on your plan.
Insurance plans accepted
Amwell insurance networks:
Academic Health Plans
AlohaCare
Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield state plans (including Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, and Massachusetts)
Capital Blue Cross and Capital Health Plan
MVP Healthcare
United Healthcare
UPMC Health Plan
_Note: Amwell does not accept __Medicare__ or Medicaid._
Brightside insurance networks:
Multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield state plans
UnitedHealthcare (nationwide)
Original Medicare Part B and multiple Medicare Advantage plans
Select Medicaid plans
If you’re looking for a third option that’s built around using insurance, Rula is in-network with many major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente (by referral), Optum, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare (including Medicare Advantage, with coverage available for select states and insurers). Rula also notes that Managed Medicaid coverage may be available for select states and insurers, and it provides a personalized cost estimate before your first appointment.
Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)
With Amwell, copays vary by plan. Patients with in-network coverage pay their standard mental health copay for each visit, similar to other online therapy platforms that bill per session. Both therapy and psychiatry are billed per visit.
With Brightside, copays are applied to the monthly subscription rather than a single-visit charge. Members typically pay their insurance copay instead of the full self-pay subscription rate. Pharmacy copays for medications are separate, and patients should verify their exact copay during sign-up.
HSA/FSA eligibility
Both platforms accept HSA and FSA cards. Amwell processes credit, HSA, or FSA cards for individual session payments. Brightside accepts HSA and FSA cards for copays, monthly bills, and prescriptions, which is helpful for anyone leveraging pre-tax savings to manage their care and mental health benefits.
Self-pay pricing
Amwell self-pay rates:
Therapy sessions: $99 or less per appointment
Psychiatry initial visit: $199
Psychiatry follow-up visits: $95
Brightside self-pay rates:
Psychiatry only: $95 per month (includes medication management and unlimited messaging)
Therapy only: $299 per month (includes four 30-minute video sessions, one 55-minute initial session, and unlimited messaging)
Combined psychiatry and therapy: $349 per month
Additional therapy sessions: $59 per 55-minute session
Mental health services offered
The breadth of services and treatment approaches helps determine whether a platform can address your specific needs. Both Amwell and Brightside deliver evidence-based care, though their service delivery models differ significantly. For anyone searching for online psychiatry alongside therapy, those differences may be especially important.
Treatment approaches offered by Amwell
Therapy approaches grounded in research:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Motivational interviewing
Conditions and clinical areas addressed:
Anxiety disorders and generalized anxiety
Depression
Bipolar disorder
PTSD and trauma-related concerns
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Social anxiety and panic attacks
Grief and bereavement support
Sleep difficulties and insomnia
Stress management
Psychiatry services, including medication management, are limited to adults 18 and up. Amwell providers aren't able to prescribe controlled substances through telehealth visits.
Treatment approaches offered by Brightside
Brightside's primary focus is treating anxiety and depression, though the platform also provides care for ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, postpartum depression, and substance use disorder.
Therapeutic approaches include:
Evidence-based therapy incorporating the Unified Protocol (UP)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Behavioral activation (BA)
The platform also provides psychiatry services and medication management as part of its integrated care approach.
Treatment approaches offered by Rula
Through Rula's network, you can connect with licensed providers across 180+ clinical specialties and therapeutic approaches, covering a wide range of mental health concerns—from anxiety and ADHD to autism, trauma and PTSD, OCD, and addiction.
Therapeutic approaches you can access through Rula include:
Trauma-focused methods, including EMDR and prolonged exposure
Internal family systems (IFS)) and attachment-based therapy
Couples and family therapy approaches, such as the Gottman Method and emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
Mindfulness-based and somatic therapies
Rula also provides psychiatric care for patients ages 13 and up, including medication management.
Inclusivity and specialized care
Finding a provider who understands your identity, background, and specific needs is essential for effective care. Both platforms offer specialized services, though they differ in how they approach inclusivity across their networks.
Amwell inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Amwell works with licensed therapists, board-certified psychiatrists, and multi-disciplinary providers.
Specializations offered: Providers offer dedicated LGBTQ+ counseling, couples and family therapy, and grief counseling. They also treat a wide range of conditions including anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD.
Languages available: Amwell does not publicly specify the number of languages available on its platform.
Inclusivity factors: Amwell provides LGBTQ+ affirming care, leveraging the Fenway Institute to train providers on best practices. They also offer teen services starting at age 10 with parental consent.
Brightside inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Brightside employs licensed therapists with master's or doctorate degrees, alongside board-certified psychiatrists, physicians, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs).
Specializations offered: The platform focuses heavily on anxiety and depression, while also offering specialized care for ADHD, postpartum depression, and substance use disorder.
Languages available: Brightside offers translation services with an interpreter for patients who need language support.
Inclusivity factors: Brightside features a dedicated suicide prevention program for patients experiencing suicidal ideation and offers a teen care program specifically designed for ages 13 and older.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Platform availability and access
Speed to care and ease of navigation often determine whether you will actually engage with treatment. Both platforms cover all 50 states, but their matching processes, wait times, and session formats differ in ways that matter for scheduling.
Rula is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with online appointments available as soon as tomorrow via live video.
How access works with Amwell
States served: Amwell operates across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Most providers maintain licenses in several states, allowing them to treat patients in any state where they're credentialed.
Matching process: You choose your state to view available licensed therapists, and the mobile app can automatically adjust based on your location. You'll browse provider profiles showing credentials, clinical background, and therapeutic methods before scheduling. At intake, you fill out a health questionnaire that your provider reviews ahead of your first video session.
Session formats: Sessions are entirely virtual, delivered through HIPAA-compliant video or phone appointments. You can also send secure messages to your provider between scheduled visits.
Scheduling: Appointments are scheduled in advance. Psychiatry visits generally open up within a two-week timeframe. Therapy availability varies by provider, though you'll find options during daytime, evening, and weekend hours.
App/portal experience: You can schedule appointments, join video sessions, and send secure messages through either a web portal or a mobile app that works on phones and tablets.
How access works with Brightside
States served: Brightside provides virtual mental health services in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Matching process: You'll complete a free clinical assessment, provide your insurance details or select self-pay, then schedule your initial session with a provider matched to your needs.
Session formats: Psychiatry appointments include video visits and unlimited messaging (with responses within 72 hours). Therapy plans include four 30-minute video sessions each month, plus unlimited messaging with replies within 24 hours on weekdays.
Scheduling: Initial appointments are often available within two days, with many providers offering evening and weekend time slots. You can manage all scheduling through the Brightside app or website.
App/portal experience: The Brightside Health app lets you schedule appointments, message your care team, track your progress with clinical assessments, and access self-guided educational resources.
What each platform does best
Understanding each platform's core strengths can help you choose the option that best aligns with your priorities and care needs.
Amwell excels when you need:
Pay-per-session flexibility without subscription commitments
Multiple session formats including couples, family, and group therapy
Both video and phone appointment options
The ability to review and select your own provider based on detailed profiles
LGBTQ+ affirming care with specialized training through the Fenway Institute
Brightside excels when you need:
Rapid access to care, with appointments often available in as little as two days
Unlimited messaging with your provider between sessions
A data-driven, measurement-based approach with regular progress tracking
Medicare or Medicaid coverage, which Amwell does not accept
Combined therapy and psychiatry in one integrated subscription plan
Summary: Is Amwell or Brightside right for you?
Amwell and Brightside take different approaches to mental healthcare. Amwell offers pay-per-session flexibility with provider choice and virtual-only care. Brightside provides subscription-based care with assessment-driven matching, unlimited messaging, and a structured clinical model.
Amwell may be the better fit for people who prefer selecting their own provider, want pay-per-session pricing, need couples or family therapy, or want the option of phone appointments. Brightside tends to work well for people who value unlimited messaging, require Medicare coverage, or prefer a data-driven approach to care.
Rula is also worth considering for people who want insurance-based care with the option of therapy or psychiatry (medication management) through a single platform. Rula supports therapy for ages 5+ and psychiatry for ages 13+ across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with sessions held via live video on Zoom and in-person. Patients receive an upfront cost estimate before their first appointment, and appointments are often available as soon as tomorrow.
FAQs
Does Amwell or Brightside accept insurance?
Both platforms accept insurance, but their coverage differs. Amwell partners with major commercial insurance providers but does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. Brightside accepts major commercial plans along with Original Medicare Part B, multiple Medicare Advantage plans, and select Medicaid plans. Brightside's broader public coverage is a meaningful differentiator for patients on government-sponsored plans.
How much does Amwell cost compared to Brightside?
Amwell uses pay-per-session pricing, with therapy at $99 or less per session and psychiatry at $199 for initial visits and $95 for follow-ups. Brightside operates on a monthly subscription model — $95 for psychiatry, $299 for therapy, or $349 for combined care — which includes appointments and unlimited messaging.
Does Amwell or Brightside offer in-person therapy?
Neither platform offers in-person therapy. Both Amwell and Brightside operate as virtual-only platforms, with sessions delivered through video (and phone for Amwell). People who want the option of face-to-face appointments will need to look at hybrid platforms that offer both telehealth and in-person care.
Why choose Rula for quality of care?
Rula emphasizes measurable outcomes, with 93% of patients reporting they feel better about their symptoms after receiving care through the platform. Its nationwide network of 21,000+ licensed providers spans 180+ clinical specialties and modalities, offering therapy and psychiatry through virtual appointments on Zoom and in-person. Rula is in-network with most major insurance plans and provides a personalized cost estimate before your first appointment, with typical insured costs around $15 per session.
Find care with Rula
Choosing between mental health platforms is an important decision — one that can shape how supported you feel and how much progress you make. If you're ready to move forward, Rula makes it straightforward to get started. You can verify your insurance in minutes, browse providers who match what you're looking for, and often book your first appointment as soon as tomorrow. You'll see your estimated cost upfront, so there are no surprises. When you're ready, Rula is here to help you find care that works.
Rula Health
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Rula’s editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
