Apps and online care
Smiling Mind vs Brightside Health
They differ on 6 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Smiling Mind
You pick short guided meditations or programs for yourself or your child (ages 5–12), for things like stress, calm and sleep, and can check in on your mood.
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
- Smiling Mind: An app I use on my own
- Brightside Health: A therapist, Medication
- Good for
- Smiling Mind: Families who want free mindfulness exercises for children aged 5–12; Adults who want a free meditation app with no subscription
- Brightside Health: Adults with depression or anxiety who want medication management by video; People who want therapy and psychiatry from the same service
- Cost
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Brightside Health: Copay with insurance; $95/month psychiatry or $299/month therapy self-pay
- How you pay
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Brightside Health: Insurance
- Where
- Smiling Mind: iPhone, Android
- Brightside Health: iPhone, Android, Web
- HIPAA
- Smiling Mind: No
- Brightside Health: Yes
The same for both: probably not for (anyone in crisis: call or text 988), research (some research support), privacy (grade c), 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.