Cerebral vs MDLive
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top telehealth platforms picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Cerebral
Ranked #6 of 15 in this directory
Online psychiatry and therapy for anxiety and depression
MDLive
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Virtual healthcare backed by Evernorth and Cigna
Our pick: MDLive. Our editors rank MDLive higher overall in Telehealth Platforms — but Cerebral can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Cerebral | MDLive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Mental Health | Primary Care |
| Editorial rank | #6 of 15 | #3 of 15 |
Strengths
Cerebral
- ✓Subscription includes prescriber visits, medication delivery, and optional therapy
- ✓Works with most major insurance plans to reduce out-of-pocket costs
- ✓Handles prior authorizations for medications on your behalf
- ✓Focus on anxiety, depression, and insomnia — the most common mental health conditions
MDLive
- ✓Backed by Cigna/Evernorth with deep insurance network integration
- ✓24/7 urgent care availability with short wait times
- ✓Dermatology consultations with photo upload and async review
- ✓Behavioral health services including psychiatry and therapy
- ✓Often available at $0 copay for Cigna members
Watch out for
Cerebral
- !Past regulatory scrutiny around prescribing practices has affected reputation
- !Cancellation process has drawn complaints from some subscribers
- !Not suitable for severe mental health conditions requiring in-person care
MDLive
- !Best value is limited to Cigna and Evernorth network members
- !Provider continuity can be inconsistent across visits
- !Non-insurance pricing is less competitive than newer platforms
Best use cases
Cerebral
- →Person with anxiety or depression wanting online psychiatry with medication management
- →Patient needing medications delivered to their door with prescriber oversight
- →Individual wanting to combine therapy and psychiatry in one subscription platform
MDLive
- →Use your Cigna insurance for a $0 copay urgent care visit for a UTI or pink eye
- →Upload skin photos for an asynchronous dermatology consultation within 24 hours
- →Schedule ongoing therapy sessions with a licensed behavioral health provider
About each tool
Cerebral
Cerebral offers online psychiatry and therapy services with a focus on anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The subscription model includes monthly prescriber visits, medication delivery, and optional therapy sessions. Cerebral handles prior authorizations and works with most major insurance plans to minimize out-of-pocket costs for ongoing mental health care.
MDLive
MDLive, now part of Evernorth (Cigna's health services division), provides virtual urgent care, primary care, dermatology, and behavioral health services. The acquisition by Cigna has expanded MDLive's reach through one of the largest health insurance networks in the country. Board-certified doctors are available 24/7 for urgent care consultations with an average wait time under 15 minutes.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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