# Brightside Health — user reviews > 822 indexed App Store user reviews of Brightside Health by Brightside Health Inc, rated 4.20/5 from 10,501 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightside-health/id1591640582/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightside-health/id1591640582.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 7,982 · 4★ 528 · 3★ 208 · 2★ 200 · 1★ 1,583 ## What do users think of Brightside Health? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 🚀 Convenient - 🚀 Affordable - 🚀 Helpful providers - 🚀 Effective treatment **Cons** - 🐛 Technical issues - 🐛 Unresponsive customer service - 🐛 Inconsistent provider availability - 🚫 Limited medication options - 💰 Misleading billing and coverage **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes and freezes - Inability to access account features - Missed appointments and lost records - Billing errors and unexpected charges **Most requested features** - Improve app stability and functionality - Enhance communication with providers - Offer more medication options - Provide transparent billing and coverage information ## Newest reviews (16 of 822) ### 3/5 — Unorganized *2026-08-09, version 17.85.0* If you need help getting therapy or wanted it at ease, this may be a little bit of a relief compared to Brick + Mortar, but be prepared to ask them for your refills and ask them for anything else you may need. They don’t seem to operate on any Real schedule.. ### 1/5 — Provider never showed up *2026-08-05, version 17.81.2* In urgent need of seeing a psychiatrist but the provider never showed up or answered my message I sent. ### 1/5 — Fraud!!! *2026-08-05, version 17.81.2* Total fraud!!! Dont use them!! They are thieves who mess with your credit!! Reported them for fraud ### 1/5 — Worst experience I’ve ever had with a health professional *2026-08-05, version 17.81.2* I absolutely do not recommend using this company. I was very specific about the reasons I was booking the appointment in the help that I needed and I felt completely discarded. The professional I met with had no empathy or bedside manner quickly prescribe me a medication which I was never interested in and told me to seek therapy. I also spoke to her about specific paperwork I needed for work and she told me I don’t fill out that paperwork talk to your primary care doctor instead. I asked specifically about this in pre-appointment work and through the company and was told that providers can provide this paperwork however she was unwilling to help me. Worse experience ever with a “professional” in a health setting. Save your money. ### 2/5 — Too expensive *2026-08-04, version 17.81.2* It is very expensive for someone who has no insurance and is self pay. ### 1/5 — Brightside platform *2026-08-04, version 17.81.2* This technology is subpar at best. Therapy and its technology should be more customer and patient friendly. I would rate it a 0 if it were available. ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-08-03, version 17.81.2* I have set up 2 different appointments in desperate need of therapy and the therapist never showed the first time I waited 2 hours today I waited an hour no one came to the video room I waisted time and gas to go to a quiet place for the appointments I never got. Find a different service because there is no help here! ### 3/5 — Gave me more anxiety after appointment when I received numerous notifications daily saying I owed $ *2026-08-03, version 17.81.2* I really liked everything about therapist and psychiatrist. But because I was late paying at $30 co-pay I received daily notifications demanding that I pay. Caused so much more depression and anxiety that I was being treated for then when I had to begin with. ### 1/5 — Worst telehealth *2026-08-01, version 17.81.2* They will get you in quick- but the Dr spends less than 10 minutes with you- they can “diagnose” you in ten minutes and prescribe psych meds but refuse to write Dr notes for the appointment time spent lol terrible service and cannot replace traditional doctors visits. Try again bright side. ### 1/5 — Do not use this service *2026-07-31, version 5.28* This company is dishonest in how they treat patients and the therapist they gave me couldn’t even explain how therapy works. The providers get irrationally upset when you text them, even though thats one of the selling points of the service. It’s impossible to get anyone to cancel anything or remove accounts. Once you sign up, they make it impossible to leave. Do not use this service. If I could give it 0 stars, I would. The only responses you get is either AI generated or just generic “we’ll get back to you” emails, no actual intervention. They make it impossible to take down your account once created, keeping you in a billion g cycle over and over. ### 2/5 — Great Assessment *2026-07-31, version 5.28* UPDATE-I do not like how this app/system works. I can’tsee my therapists schedule to reschedule when reschedule is necessary and I messaged her before her vacation, didn’t hear back, went into the app to msg again and she isn’t even associated with my acct anymore they just plugged a new therapist in. WHY WOULD I WANT TO SEE SOMEONE FOR ONE SESSION WHO I HAVE NOT MET??? WHY WOULD SOMEONE NEW JUST BE ASSIGNED AND I GET NO NOTIFICATION? I was able to carefully select my therapist and all of a sudden she is on vacation and they just throw someone in my bucket?? Not thrilled. ORIGINAL POST-I have been putting off therapy for a long time, finally got the nerve to do it and can’t wait! The assessment was what I had hoped it would be and feel I’m really going to like my therapist, Tiffany. ### 2/5 — No connection *2026-07-29, version 5.28* The platform is not easy to use or reschedule with the providers. ### 1/5 — Worst *2026-07-25, version 5.28* Just because I was 10mins late to appointment they charged me a no show and late reschedule for $285. Absolute scam and you’re meant to pay that the same day. Absolutely do not use this app. ### 1/5 — Ask for CC info too soon *2026-07-25, version 5.28* Sorry but I don’t feel comfortable putting my card card into into your website before I even know if it’s a the right fit for me. How about having a consultation or heck even a phone conversation with me about my issues & goals before trying to get money? I’m so sick of not being able to get the care o desperately need because I’m not rich, healthcare shouldn’t be only for those with huge bank accounts ### 1/5 — You will overpay and receive bad care *2026-07-25, version 5.28* My insurance covers it and I pay double the out of pocket cost despite them telling me it was covered. I had a scheduled appointment and I went to check if my provider responded to my message and everything is gone, no longer have an appointment, never received notice. Terrible way to treat patients looking for mental health support. ### 1/5 — Expensive *2026-07-24, version 5.28* Not worth it ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Dissatisfied with provider *2026-08-20, version 17.89.0* App is user friendly but the provider I saw had terrible bedside manners. She did not use therapeutic communication or shared decision making. She also did not use active listening or empathy. I will not be using Brightside going forward. ### 1/5 — Dangerous *2026-08-18, version 17.88.2* I was kicked from my medicine management with no warning and no way to reach out to my doctor or anyone on the customer support side. This is not okay. ### 1/5 — Very Disappointing *2026-08-18, version 17.88.2* Basically, I paid money for a video call that was essentially useless. It really should be stated up front that certain meds can not be prescribed. The whole nature of my call was to manage meds and get what I needed for severe anxiety attacks. Very upsetting to find out after the fact. Misleading ### 1/5 — Not clear about charges *2026-08-17, version 17.88.2* When I first signed up they got all of my information and told me my insurance would cover my appointments. I had two appointments, one month apart. The first bill for the first appointment came AFTER the second appointment and was $170 for a 5 minute appointment. My second appointment was 2 minutes long and I’m getting billed another $170 for it. It’s a rip off and dishonest to lie about how much I will owe, then not give me the bill till I’ve already completed a follow up appointment I’ll have to pay for. ### 1/5 — Not worth it *2026-08-16, version 17.88.2* Way too expensive just to get a prescription. Provider was judgmental about my substance issues and seemed very robotic. Check in questionnaires are very generic and limited. Time slots for virtual appointments were extremely limited and sometimes even unavailable. Then they cancelled my subscription because I was unable to attend the virtual appointments due to technical difficulties on their app which I opened a tech ticket for and they were unable to fix. Now I have 30 days to find a new provider to get my prescriptions, which if I don’t get will result in a mental breakdown. So yeah absolutely not worth it. ### 1/5 — Would not recommend *2026-08-13, version 17.85.0* I thought this would be a good start to get some help but this program is just a money grab. You know it’s an issue when they don’t give you a phone number to talk to someone. ### 1/5 — Not impressed *2026-08-12, version 17.85.0* The psychiatrist spoke to me for less than 10 minutes and just gave me a prescription. . . Then my very 1st therapy appointment was rescheduled. She did not even wait 2 minutes for me to respond before scheduling me for a day and time I am not available and heads up they charge fees if you cancel the appointment. ### 1/5 — Stay Away *2026-08-11, version 17.85.0* I give Brightside Health not even one star. They cut me off a day before a session, saying my ins was invalid. My ins is active. They just don’t want to accept United Healthcare all of a sudden. They are an absolute disgrace. You leave messages and they don’t get back to you for days. I highly recommend finding another place for therapy/ psychiatric care. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2026-08-10, version 17.85.0* Don’t waste your time or money ### 1/5 — Don't know what happened to their billing dept *2026-08-09* I've been using Brightside for 2 years now without much issue but this past year has been a mess with their billing and insurance departments. First, they insisted I was no longer covered by insurance despite me verifying with my insurance that I am very much covered and relaying this to Brightside support; during the month it took for them to resolve the issue after already knowing that I am still covered and the issue was 100% on their end, the only option I was given to make an appointment was to pay $400 for their cash subscription. Second and third issues where repeated erroneous charges to my card totaling $200+ that I should have never been billed in the first place, overdrafting my bank account and leaving me without funds to fuel my car. After these incidents, they refused to remove my card on file to avoid future erroneous charges citing the policy they're more than happy to ignore when taking other people's money. Don't trust them with any of your financial information. They will charge you for things you don't owe and then give you the runaround for a month before finally refunding you. I don't know what changes they recently made to their billing and insurance dept but its a disaster. They have caused me so much stress that I've had to make the difficult choice of finding a new therapist despite liking the one I had at Brightside. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Android app??? *2026-08-13, version 17.85.0* This is my I phone, can’t find android app ### 5/5 — Therapy with SusanParkman *2026-08-06, version 17.81.2* Wonderful and kind, Susan guides me through the struggles I am dealing with in my family crises. The homework is a good start to journaling the situations and the triggers that set your emotions in play. The process is a chance to be quiet and be able to control reactions. Thank you Susan. ### 5/5 — Wonderful personal experience *2026-07-30, version 5.28* Working with Eric has been a great experience for me and I would recommend Eric. ### 5/5 — Finally, Therapy I Enjoy! *2026-07-24, version 5.28* I’ve tried therapy many times throughout my life, but I never found a therapist who truly felt like the right fit for me. I always dreaded my appointments, and when therapists assigned homework, it would hang over my head all week, creating more anxiety than progress. Even when I explained that homework wasn’t helpful for me, it was still pushed, and because of that and other factors, I never stayed with therapy for very long. Over the past few years, I did a lot of work on myself independently while continuing to work with my psychiatrist. Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I needed the support of a therapist. I was hesitant because of my past experiences, but at the beginning of 2026 I started searching. I met with several therapists along the way, but I never found one who truly resonated with me. I came across Brightside and found Marissa Maffei’s profile around early-June. Something about it immediately resonated with me, and for the first time I found myself genuinely looking forward to a therapy appointment. From our very first session, I knew I had found someone different. Marissa is kind, compassionate, supportive, and incredibly easy to talk to. She accepts me exactly as I am, even when I talk a mile a minute or jump from one topic to another. When I explained that homework had been a major source of stress for me in the past, she respected that boundary without hesitation and has never tried to push it. What I appreciate most is her approach. She doesn’t tell me what to do or make me feel judged. Instead, she asks thoughtful questions, helps me work through situations, remembers details from previous conversations, and gently guides me toward finding my own answers while offering insight and support along the way. I always leave our sessions feeling heard, understood, and better equipped to handle whatever I’m facing. I honestly don’t know how I went so long without Marissa in my life. For the first time, I don’t dread therapy. I actually look forward to every appointment. She’s created a space where I feel safe to be completely myself without fear of judgment, and that has made all the difference. It hasn’t been long since we started working together, but I can confidently say that finding Marissa has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my mental health. I can’t recommend her highly enough! ### 5/5 — Very difficult time *2026-07-24, version 5.28* I was fortunate enough to have started therapy with Mary before one of the absolute worst times of my life happened. If I didn’t have her through this time, I think I would not have handled it in the way that I have. Brightside and Mary have been a guiding light through a very challenging time and I’m beyond appreciative. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2026-07-23, version 5.28* Awesome platform easy use an super sweet ### 5/5 — telemedicine for depression/anxiety *2026-07-22, version 5.28* while it's limiting that brightside can't prescribe controlled substance, it's still a great place for non-narcotics, such as zoloft, gabapentin, minipress, stratera, effexor, etcetera. much easier than in-office appointments. prescribers and clinicians are well trained and professional. ### 5/5 — So appreciative *2026-07-18, version 5.28* My therapist Amberlynn is a very kind, compassionate, and understanding human being. She’s patient, gentle, spoken,, helpful and recommends links to educational literature that might be beneficial. It’s that safe space to be yourself and open up and talk. ### 5/5 — Stephanie Wilson PMHNP *2026-07-14, version 5.28* I cannot say enough wonderful things about Stephanie Wilson PMHNP. Since starting treatment with Ms. Stephanie, I have improved tremendously. My mind is clearer, my focus is stronger, and I am finally able to manage my emotions in a healthy way. From the very beginning, Ms. Stephanie has made me feel safe, heard, and never judged. She is consistently supportive, positive, and encouraging, which has made such a difference in my healing journey. She has an incredible way of helping me navigate my emotions while empowering me to work through and solve my issues at my own pace. I truly feel very lucky to have her as my provider. Ms. Stephanie is not only highly skilled but also a genuinely wonderful person who truly cares about her patients. I give her 10 stars without hesitation. Thank you, Ms. Stephanie, for everything you do. ### 5/5 — Intake *2026-07-12, version 5.28* My intake was really good. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*