Over the last few years, telehealth has become quite popular for those who would like remote access to quality healthcare services. This includes access to mental health care. Online psychiatrist platforms offer a convenient way to look for board-certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs). One can get consultations and diagnoses from the comfort of a private space. Here are some of the top ones for those looking for popular online psychiatrist platforms:

1. Brightside
Brightside is an online platform that specializes in the treatment of anxiety and depression. It offers psychotherapy and psychiatry services in addition to providing streamlined and coordinated treatment plans. Besides, it is known for focusing on seamless tracking of patient progress, which ensures improvement of symptoms over time. This is done by asking patients to fill out surveys frequently. With this, medical providers on Brightside are also able to adjust the treatment and management plans. 

Also, the plans are quite affordable, at $95 a month, which gives access to one 15-minute psychiatric appointment, prescription delivery, and continual provider support. With Brightside accepting most major insurance plans, out-of-pocket costs can go lower.

2. Teladoc Health
Teladoc Health is one of the leading online psychiatrist platforms with a highly intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It has a vast network that includes well-qualified mental health providers and over 80 online mental health services. Besides, it offers flexible scheduling, with appointments available all through the week for nearly the entire day, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. However, there are no same-day or next-day appointments available. Patients can usually schedule a consultation with a provider of their choice only after a few days but within a week.
 
In terms of pricing, Teladoc Health charges $499 per session for therapy visits. The initial psychiatric consultation is around $299, with $199 per session for further follow-ups. Teladoc is in-network with 60 insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid in some states, so those with insurance will only have to pay the copay.

3. Talkiatry
Talkiatry is one of the top online psychiatrist platforms that offers a wide range of mental health care services. It has over 300 providers in the network, including specialists in psychiatry and psychiatric care. What makes Talkiatry stand out is that it inquires about the type of specialist one is looking for during sign-up. This means patients have the option to find providers who have expertise in a particular condition and have specific cultural knowledge or sensitivity. 

Apart from this, Talkiatry differs from other platforms in session duration, which is almost double that of other platforms. Psychiatric intake sessions last 60 minutes, and follow-up consultations can last 30 minutes. Another benefit of this platform is that it does not have subscription costs; it follows a pay-per-visit model. However, patients are accepted only through health insurance.

4. Thriveworks
Thriveworks, a comprehensive online platform for psychiatry and therapy, provides access to a wide network of board-certified mental health care providers. Moreover, it boasts a user-friendly interface that makes finding and signing up for a service with a simple click easier. It also makes it quite easy to do other tasks, from signing up to finding information on the website, connecting with customer service, scheduling sessions, switching providers, and adding a psychiatrist to one’s care team.

The various services include psychiatry, individual therapy, family therapy, child therapy, and couples counseling. When it comes to pricing, Thriveworks accepts all major insurance plans. For out-of-pocket costs, the first session usually costs around $200, with $160 for subsequent sessions. For psychiatry initial intake sessions, the cost is $300, with $200 for follow-ups.

5. Talkspace
Talkspace offers services for various conditions and has one of the largest networks of qualified providers. Moreover, the platform has been designed well for ease of use and accessibility. The website and the app allow patients to connect with their providers from anywhere and anytime. There is an assurance of guaranteed responses five days a week. In addition, the platform makes seeking care more accessible and convenient through its text-only therapy feature.

Another major strength of this platform is its easy access to care. Board-certified therapists and psychiatric care providers are available within 48 hours of completing a brief assessment questionnaire. Despite the convenience of seeking care, Talkspace is a bit more expensive than other platforms. While there is a three-tier plan for therapy, no plans are offered for psychiatry. An initial psychiatric evaluation is priced at $249, with follow-up appointments priced at around $125.

6. LiveHealth Online
LiveHealth Online is known for offering one of the largest networks of board-certified providers at quite low out-of-pocket costs. The cost of an initial psychiatric intake appointment is around $175, with follow-up visits priced at $75. Meanwhile, talk therapy sessions cost around $80 for each visit with a therapist and $95 for each visit with a psychologist. Compared to the national average cost for psychiatric care, the price points of LiveHealth Online are nearly half. Besides, the platform has been designed to be comprehensive and intuitive. Moreover, it makes mental health care more accessible by allowing patients to participate in video appointments through phone apps and websites.