Cerebral review
Online therapy and medication management in some states and plans. Adults who want therapy and medication management coordinated through one online service, where it is available to them. We rank it #4 of 7 in our online therapy comparison, with an editorial score of 8.5 out of 10.
Cerebral scores well on Clinician credentials & matching and Cost & insurance transparency because it offers therapy and medication management, works with some insurance plans and explains its plan types on its site. It scores lower on Privacy & safety because of a 2024 US Federal Trade Commission settlement over its handling of health data and its cancellation practices, and on Session formats & flexibility, with fewer live formats than the leaders.
Visit site (Cerebral, opens in a new tab)Quick facts
Overview
Cerebral offers online mental-health care that can include individual therapy, couples therapy, medication management with a licensed prescriber, or a combination, depending on your state and plan. Sessions take place by video or phone, and you can message your care team between appointments.
Cerebral works with some insurance plans, and you can also sign up without insurance. Coverage and which services are available vary by state and plan, so check what applies to you on the site. Any decision about medication is made by the prescriber after an evaluation; no service can promise a prescription.
In April 2024 Cerebral agreed to a proposed order with the US Federal Trade Commission, filed in federal court by the Department of Justice. The FTC alleged that Cerebral disclosed consumers' sensitive health information to third parties for advertising and made cancelling difficult. The order restricts how Cerebral can use or disclose sensitive data for advertising, requires a simple way to cancel, and, according to the FTC, required a payment of $7 million; in May 2025 the FTC announced more than $5 million in refunds to affected consumers. Read Cerebral's current privacy policy and cancellation terms before you sign up.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Therapy and medication management in one service where available
- Works with some insurance plans
- Clear plan types on the site
Cons
- Services available vary by state and plan
- Subject to a 2024 FTC settlement over health-data sharing and cancellation practices; review the current privacy policy and cancellation terms
- Fewer live session formats than some rivals
Key features
- Therapy, medication management or both (varies by state and plan)
- Individual and couples therapy plans
- Video and phone sessions
- Messaging with your care team
- Works with some insurance plans (check coverage)
Who Cerebral is for
A good fit if
Adults who want therapy and medication management coordinated through one online service, where it is available to them.
Look elsewhere if
Anyone who wants live chat sessions or only asynchronous messaging therapy.
How we scored Cerebral
Cerebral scores well on Clinician credentials & matching and Cost & insurance transparency because it offers therapy and medication management, works with some insurance plans and explains its plan types on its site. It scores lower on Privacy & safety because of a 2024 US Federal Trade Commission settlement over its handling of health data and its cancellation practices, and on Session formats & flexibility, with fewer live formats than the leaders.
Our online therapy score weighs clinician credentials & matching (25%), session formats & flexibility (20%), cost & insurance transparency (20%), privacy & safety (20%), ease of switching & cancelling (15%). See the methodology.
Cerebral alternatives
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#1
BetterHelp
Best overallLarge network of licensed therapists with messaging, chat, phone and video sessions.
- Messaging, live chat, phone and video sessions
- Matching based on an intake questionnaire
- Request a new therapist from your account
- In network with some health plans in some states (check coverage)
-
#2
Talkspace
Best for using insuranceTherapy and psychiatry by messaging and live sessions, in-network with some insurance plans.
- Messaging plus scheduled live video and audio sessions
- Separate psychiatry service (eligibility varies)
- Coverage check for some insurance and employer plans
- Option to change providers
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#3
ReGain
Best for couplesRelationship-focused online counseling for couples and individuals, part of the BetterHelp network.
- Couples or individual relationship counseling
- Shared account and therapist for couples
- Messaging, live chat, phone and video
- Part of the BetterHelp network
Head-to-head
Cerebral FAQ
Does Cerebral offer therapy and medication?
Cerebral offers therapy, medication management, or both, depending on your state and plan. A licensed prescriber decides whether medication is appropriate after an evaluation.
Does Cerebral take insurance?
Cerebral works with some insurance plans and also offers self-pay plans. Check whether your plan is covered on the site and with your insurer.
How do Cerebral sessions work?
Appointments take place by video or phone, and you can message your care team between sessions. Check the site for what your plan includes.
Sources and fact check
We checked the facts on this page against Cerebral's own website on .