Provider vs. provider
PlushCare vs. Sesame (2026): Insurance or Cash Price for Online Therapy and Prescriptions?
PlushCare vs. Sesame compared — insurance vs. upfront cash prices, therapy and doctor visit costs, psychiatry, choosing a clinician, and which service suits you best.
Our bottom line
Choose PlushCare if you have insurance it accepts; choose Sesame if you’re paying cash and want lower prices, psychiatry specialists and the freedom to pick your own clinician.
PlushCare vs. Sesame: side by side
| PlushCare | Sesame | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | Online therapy and primary care | Online therapy, psychiatry and prescriptions |
| Pricing | Therapy $169 per session. Doctor visits $129 without insurance, plus a membership of $19.99/month or $149/year. | Each provider sets an upfront cash price you see before booking. Mental health visits from about $34; psychiatrist appointments average about $132 for 45 minutes. Mental Health Rx subscription $79/month. |
| Insurance | Accepts many insurance plans. PlushCare says most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less per doctor visit. FSA/HSA receipts provided for therapy. | Does not bill insurance. HSA and FSA accepted. Your pharmacy may still run insurance for the medication itself. |
| Prescribes medication | Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate) | Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate) |
| Ages served | Adults 18+ for therapy | Adults for mental health care (Sesame also lists separate pediatric visits) |
| Services | Individual online therapy (adults); Online primary care and urgent care visits; Mental health medication through PlushCare physicians; Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy | Online therapy sessions with a licensed therapist; Online couples therapy sessions; Online psychiatry consults with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners; Mental health consults and prescription refill visits with primary care providers; Mental Health Rx subscription for ongoing medication care; In-person mental health consults in some areas |
| Availability | Doctors licensed in all 50 states; you see a therapist licensed in your state. Availability of specific services varies by state. | Online across the US, with providers listed by state. Sesame says psychiatrists are not available in every state. |
| Links | Visit PlushCare (opens in a new tab)Read our PlushCare review | Visit Sesame (opens in a new tab)Read our Sesame review |
- Type of service
- Online therapy and primary care
- Pricing
- Therapy $169 per session. Doctor visits $129 without insurance, plus a membership of $19.99/month or $149/year.
- Insurance
- Accepts many insurance plans. PlushCare says most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less per doctor visit. FSA/HSA receipts provided for therapy.
- Prescribes medication
- Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate)
- Ages served
- Adults 18+ for therapy
- Services
- Individual online therapy (adults); Online primary care and urgent care visits; Mental health medication through PlushCare physicians; Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy
- Availability
- Doctors licensed in all 50 states; you see a therapist licensed in your state. Availability of specific services varies by state.
- Type of service
- Online therapy, psychiatry and prescriptions
- Pricing
- Each provider sets an upfront cash price you see before booking. Mental health visits from about $34; psychiatrist appointments average about $132 for 45 minutes. Mental Health Rx subscription $79/month.
- Insurance
- Does not bill insurance. HSA and FSA accepted. Your pharmacy may still run insurance for the medication itself.
- Prescribes medication
- Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate)
- Ages served
- Adults for mental health care (Sesame also lists separate pediatric visits)
- Services
- Online therapy sessions with a licensed therapist; Online couples therapy sessions; Online psychiatry consults with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners; Mental health consults and prescription refill visits with primary care providers; Mental Health Rx subscription for ongoing medication care; In-person mental health consults in some areas
- Availability
- Online across the US, with providers listed by state. Sesame says psychiatrists are not available in every state.
Details last verified September 25, 2026. Prices and coverage change often — confirm current details with each provider. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.Learn more
PlushCare and Sesame look similar from a distance: both offer online therapy, both have clinicians who can prescribe non-controlled medications by video, and both offer same-day appointments. The dividing line is insurance. PlushCare bills insurance; Sesame deliberately doesn’t, and shows you a cash price upfront instead.
The short answer
- PlushCare is the better choice if your insurance covers it.
- Sesame is the better choice if you’re paying cash — it is usually cheaper and gives you more choice of clinician.
Cost and insurance
| PlushCare | Sesame | |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy | $169 per session | Set by each therapist, shown before booking |
| Prescriber visits | $129 without insurance, plus $19.99/month or $149/year membership | From about $34; psychiatrist visits average about $132; $79/month Mental Health Rx |
| Insurance | Many plans; most in-network patients pay $30 or less per doctor visit | Doesn’t bill insurance |
| HSA/FSA | Yes | Yes |
Prescribing
Both services prescribe non-controlled medications such as common antidepressants, and neither prescribes stimulants or benzodiazepines. Sesame also lists psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, and non-stimulant ADHD options, which can matter if your needs go beyond a first-line prescription. PlushCare prescribing is handled by its physicians.
Choosing your clinician
Sesame is a marketplace: you compare profiles, reviews, prices and time slots and book whoever you like. PlushCare is a single practice with set prices, which makes it simpler — and keeps your records with one organization for both mental and physical health.
Therapy options
PlushCare offers individual video therapy for adults. Sesame offers individual and couples therapy sessions, booked per visit.
Our verdict
If PlushCare is in network for you, its simplicity and insurance billing make it a strong choice. If you’re paying yourself, Sesame is usually cheaper, offers psychiatric specialists and lets you choose exactly who you see.
For emergencies, call 911 or call or text 988 in the US — see Get Help Now.
Which should you choose?
Choose PlushCare if…
- You have in-network insurance and want to use it for therapy or doctor visits.
- You want one consistent practice for both mental and general health care.
- You like a single set price per therapy session ($169) without comparing providers.
Choose Sesame if…
- You don’t have insurance or have a high deductible.
- You want cheaper visits — mental health visits on Sesame start around $34.
- You want a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner rather than a primary care doctor.
- You want couples therapy or to choose your own clinician from reviews.
Read the full reviews
- PlushCare ReviewA telehealth practice offering video therapy for adults at $169 a session, plus online doctor visits that can prescribe non-controlled medication. Insurance accepted.
- Sesame Care ReviewA cash-price healthcare marketplace where you book therapists, psychiatric clinicians and doctors directly. Mental health visits start around $34, and ongoing medication care costs $79 a month. No insurance needed; no controlled substances.
More provider comparisons
- BetterHelp vs. SesameA weekly therapy subscription versus a cash-price marketplace for therapy, psychiatry and refills. How BetterHelp and Sesame compare on cost, choice of clinician and medication.
- Talkspace vs. SesameBoth offer online therapy and psychiatry with non-controlled prescriptions. The difference is how you pay — Talkspace through insurance or a weekly plan, Sesame per visit at an upfront cash price.
- BetterHelp vs. PlushCareBetterHelp is a weekly talk-therapy subscription; PlushCare offers per-session video therapy plus online doctors who can prescribe. Here’s how they compare on price, insurance and medication.
- Talkspace vs. PlushCareBoth take insurance and can prescribe non-controlled medication. Talkspace is a mental-health specialist with messaging therapy and psychiatry; PlushCare is a medical practice with per-session video therapy.
- Sesame vs. LemonaidTwo low-cost, no-insurance ways to get non-controlled mental health medication online. Sesame’s $79 plan lets you pick your prescriber; Lemonaid’s $95 plan includes delivery and a $25 first month.
- PlushCare vs. LemonaidBoth can prescribe non-controlled depression and anxiety medication online. PlushCare takes insurance and offers therapy; Lemonaid is a flat $95-a-month medication plan with delivery.
When to seek professional help
Consider talking with a doctor or licensed mental health professional if symptomslast for more than two weeks, keep coming back, or make it harder to manage work, school, relationships or daily tasks. You don’t need to wait until things feel severe — getting support early often makes things easier.
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Crisis resources in other countries.
Explore care optionsFrequently asked questions
Is Sesame cheaper than PlushCare?
Can PlushCare and Sesame prescribe ADHD medication?
Which has psychiatrists, PlushCare or Sesame?
References
We rely on government health agencies, professional medical organizations, peer-reviewed research and academic institutions. Read our sourcing standards.
About this article
Written by
ExploreMentalHealth Editorial Team
Our editors research and write every article using government health agencies, professional medical organizations and peer-reviewed research, following our published editorial standards.
- First published
- September 27, 2026
- Last updated
- September 27, 2026
- Last medically reviewed
- Review pending