Apps and online care
Mindfulness Coach vs Brightside Health
They differ on 8 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Mindfulness Coach
Mindfulness Coach walks you through learning mindfulness, from short readings to guided audio exercises, and helps you set goals and practise regularly.
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
- Mindfulness Coach: An app I use on my own
- Brightside Health: A therapist, Medication
- Good for
- Mindfulness Coach: Beginners who want a structured, free mindfulness course without ads or subscriptions; Veterans and others with PTSD or stress who want a gentle practice to add to treatment
- 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
- Mindfulness Coach: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988 (veterans press 1)
- Brightside Health: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Mindfulness Coach: Free
- Brightside Health: Copay with insurance; $95/month psychiatry or $299/month therapy self-pay
- How you pay
- Mindfulness Coach: Free
- Brightside Health: Insurance
- Where
- Mindfulness Coach: iPhone, Android
- Brightside Health: iPhone, Android, Web
- Privacy
- Mindfulness Coach: Grade A+
- Brightside Health: Grade C
- HIPAA
- Mindfulness Coach: No
- Brightside Health: Yes
The same for both: research (some research support), 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.