Apps and online care
ACT Coach vs Brightside Health
They differ on 9 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
ACT Coach
If you're doing ACT with a therapist, ACT Coach gives you exercises, mindfulness audio and logs to practise between sessions.
Brightside Health
You complete an online assessment, then see a prescriber by video once a month, a therapist weekly, or both, and message your care team in between.
Where they differ
- Kind of help
- ACT Coach: An app I use on my own
- Brightside Health: A therapist, Medication
- Good for
- ACT Coach: People already in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a therapist; Veterans and service members using ACT for depression, anxiety or PTSD
- Brightside Health: Adults with depression or anxiety who want medication management by video; People who want therapy and psychiatry from the same service
- Probably not for
- ACT Coach: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988 (veterans press 1)
- Brightside Health: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- ACT Coach: Free
- Brightside Health: Copay with insurance; $95/month psychiatry or $299/month therapy self-pay
- How you pay
- ACT Coach: Free
- Brightside Health: Insurance
- Where
- ACT Coach: iPhone, Android
- Brightside Health: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- ACT Coach: Early research
- Brightside Health: Some research support
- Privacy
- ACT Coach: Grade A+
- Brightside Health: Grade C
- HIPAA
- ACT Coach: No
- Brightside Health: Yes
The same for both: sells your data (no).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.