Online-Therapy.com and Cerebral both let you see a licensed professional from home, but they are built for different needs. Cerebral is organized around medication management plus therapy and works with insurance. Online-Therapy.com is a self-pay, CBT-based therapy program with worksheets, messaging and weekly live sessions, and no prescribing. Here is how they compare on price, format and fit, using the prices each company listed on its own site in September 2026.
OUR PICK
Quick verdict
- Choose Online-Therapy.com if you want structured CBT therapy, weekly sessions and between-session messaging at a predictable weekly price, without insurance.
- Choose Cerebral if you want a prescriber for (non-controlled) medication, or you want to use insurance.
- Online-Therapy.com: 20% off your first month with code THERAPY20.
Sponsored link · 20% off your first month with code THERAPY20
Online-Therapy.com vs Cerebral at a glance
| Online-Therapy.com | Cerebral | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Therapy + structured CBT program | Medication management and/or therapy |
| Self-pay therapy price | Standard plan: $72/week first month, then $90/week (1 live session/week + messaging) | $175 per therapy session |
| Medication | Not offered (no psychiatry) | $180 every 3 months for medication management (no controlled substances) |
| Insurance | Not accepted; HSA/FSA cards accepted | Accepted with many plans (Cerebral cites an average $30 copay per session) |
| Between sessions | Unlimited messaging, CBT worksheets, journal, activity plan | Messaging with your care team |
| Session format | Video, voice or text chat, 45 minutes | Video or phone, 60 minutes |
| Cancel | Anytime from your account | Anytime from your account |
Ready to talk to a licensed therapist?
Online-Therapy.com pairs you with a licensed therapist, weekly live sessions by video, voice or text (Standard plan and up), and a step-by-step CBT program. Use code THERAPY20 for 20% off your first month.
Get started with Online-Therapy.com →Sponsored link · Cancel anytime · Not an emergency service — in crisis, call or text 988
Price: what you would actually pay
If you pay out of pocket for weekly therapy, the gap is large. Four weekly sessions on Online-Therapy.com’s Standard plan cost about $288 in the first month ($72 × 4) and about $360 in later months. Four self-pay therapy sessions at Cerebral’s listed $175 per session come to $700.
Insurance changes the math. If your plan covers Cerebral’s therapists, your cost may drop to your copay, which Cerebral says averages around $30 per session. Online-Therapy.com does not bill insurance, although many people pay with an HSA or FSA card and some request out-of-network reimbursement. See our guide: does online therapy take insurance?.
Medication: the biggest difference
Online-Therapy.com is therapy only. Its therapists do not prescribe, and it does not offer psychiatry. Cerebral offers medication management through prescribers, for conditions such as depression and anxiety. Cerebral states that it does not prescribe controlled substances (for example, stimulants for ADHD or benzodiazepines).
We can’t tell you whether medication is right for you. That is a conversation for a doctor or psychiatrist. Many people use therapy and medication together; others start with therapy alone. If you already have a prescriber you like, a therapy-only service such as Online-Therapy.com can sit alongside that care.
Therapy experience
Online-Therapy.com
- A licensed therapist assigned to you, with the option to switch.
- An 8-section CBT program with worksheets your therapist reviews and comments on.
- Unlimited messaging, a journal, an activity plan, and yoga/meditation videos.
- Live sessions by video, voice or text chat (1 per week on Standard, 2 on Premium). The Basic plan is messaging and the program only.
Cerebral
- You choose a clinician from those available in your state and book sessions.
- 60-minute video or phone sessions; additional sessions are billed per session.
- Can be combined with medication management in one plan.
- A monthly check-in questionnaire to track symptoms over time.
Ready to talk to a licensed therapist?
Online-Therapy.com pairs you with a licensed therapist, weekly live sessions by video, voice or text (Standard plan and up), and a step-by-step CBT program. Use code THERAPY20 for 20% off your first month.
Get started with Online-Therapy.com →Sponsored link · Cancel anytime · Not an emergency service — in crisis, call or text 988
Privacy and track record
Before signing up with any mental health app, it is worth reading how it handles your data. In April 2024 the FTC announced a settlement with Cerebral over allegations that it shared sensitive health information with advertising platforms and made cancellation difficult; the order included refunds and a ban on using health information for most advertising. Cerebral now lets you cancel from your account. Whichever service you choose, read the privacy policy and adjust your ad and cookie settings.
Who each one fits best
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| You want to learn practical CBT skills with weekly guidance | Online-Therapy.com |
| You pay out of pocket and want a predictable weekly price | Online-Therapy.com |
| You want to discuss medication with a prescriber | Cerebral |
| You want to use insurance | Cerebral |
| You prefer text or voice sessions to video | Online-Therapy.com |
| You need ADHD stimulants or benzodiazepines | Neither (see an in-person psychiatrist) |
Not sure yet? Our Online-Therapy.com review goes deeper into the program, and the Online-Therapy.com pricing guide breaks down every plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Online-Therapy.com cheaper than Cerebral?
For self-pay weekly therapy, yes: about $72–$90 per week including messaging and the CBT program, versus $175 per session at Cerebral. With insurance, Cerebral may cost less if your plan covers it.
Can Online-Therapy.com prescribe medication?
No. It offers therapy only. If you need medication, talk to a primary care doctor or psychiatrist, or use a service that offers psychiatry.
Does Cerebral prescribe Adderall or Xanax?
Cerebral states that it does not prescribe controlled substances, including stimulants like Adderall and benzodiazepines like Xanax.
Can I use both?
Some people see a prescriber through one service (or their own doctor) and do therapy elsewhere. Tell each provider about the other so your care is coordinated.
Ready to talk to a licensed therapist?
Online-Therapy.com pairs you with a licensed therapist, weekly live sessions by video, voice or text (Standard plan and up), and a step-by-step CBT program. Use code THERAPY20 for 20% off your first month.
Get started with Online-Therapy.com →Sponsored link · Cancel anytime · Not an emergency service — in crisis, call or text 988
Sources
- Online-Therapy.com: Pricing
- Online-Therapy.com FAQ: Does Online-Therapy.com accept insurance?
- Online-Therapy.com FAQ: Who will my therapist be?
- Cerebral: Therapy plans
- Cerebral: Medication and therapy plans
- FTC (April 2024): Proposed order prohibits telehealth firm Cerebral from using or disclosing sensitive data
- NIMH: Psychotherapies