Apps and online care
Finch 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.
Finch
You adopt a small bird and help it grow by doing your own self-care: a morning and evening check-in, tiny goals like drinking water or going outside, and short breathing, journaling or reflection exercises.
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
- Finch: An app I use on my own
- Brightside Health: A therapist, Medication
- Good for
- Finch: People who want a low-pressure, playful way to build small daily self-care habits; People who like gentle reminders and mood check-ins without clinical language
- 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
- Finch: Anyone in crisis or thinking about suicide: call or text 988
- Brightside Health: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Finch: Free version, or Free; Finch Plus $9.99/month or $69.99/year
- Brightside Health: Copay with insurance; $95/month psychiatry or $299/month therapy self-pay
- How you pay
- Finch: Free, I'll pay myself
- Brightside Health: Insurance
- Where
- Finch: iPhone, Android
- Brightside Health: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Finch: Not stated
- Brightside Health: Some research support
- Sells your data
- Finch: Yes
- Brightside Health: No
- HIPAA
- Finch: No
- Brightside Health: Yes
The same for both: privacy (grade c).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.