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Cerebral vs Circle Medical: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of Cerebral and Circle Medical based on our independent scoring across trust, value, experience, product range, and reputation — plus real pricing for the treatments they both offer.

Our Verdict

Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 55/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. Cerebral comes out ahead on value, experience.

Cerebral logo
55

Mental health telehealth platform offering therapy and medication management, rebuilding trust after a DOJ investigation.

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Circle Medical logo
60

Circle Medical is a UCSF Health-affiliated video primary care practice with a large ADHD, anxiety, and depression practice, offering same-day visits and medication management including stimulants where permitted.

Visit Circle Medical

Score Breakdown

DimensionCerebralCircle Medical
Overall Score55/10060.2/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%45/10062/100 ✓
Value25%70/100 ✓55/100
Experience20%65/100 ✓55/100
Product Range15%50/10072/100 ✓
Reputation10%35/10060/100 ✓

At a Glance

Founded20202015
HeadquartersAustin, TXSan Francisco, CA
Publicly tradedNoNo
Treatment categories12
Treatments listed32
Starting price$60/mo—

Pricing Where They Compete

Prices shown are based on our most recent research and may not reflect current pricing. Telehealth providers update their pricing frequently. Always verify pricing directly with the provider before purchasing.

CategoryCerebralCircle Medical
Mental Health$60
Medication Only
Free–$120
ADHD Diagnosis & Medication Management

Cerebral

+Flat $60/mo medication plan with prescription costs included through their own pharmacy
+Remediated the conduct behind the 2024 judgment, including reinstating a simple cancellation mechanism
+Flexible scheduling for therapy sessions
−Publishes out-of-network caps if an insurance claim is denied: up to $290 for a medication intake and $250 for a therapy intake
−Agreed to a stipulated federal court order in April 2024 (U.S. v. Cerebral, S.D. Fla.) over patient-data use in advertising and cancellation practices, paying about $7M including more than $5M refunded to consumers; the case continues against its former CEO
−Limited to mental health only
Read the full Cerebral review →

Circle Medical

+UCSF Health affiliation lends institutional credibility to its primary care and mental health practice
+Same-day video visits with flat $120 self-pay pricing when insurance isn't used
+Handles complex ongoing care (ADHD stimulant management, hormone therapy, weight care) that many async competitors avoid
−Prescribes Schedule II-V controlled substances via telehealth, which depends on DEA telemedicine flexibilities currently extended only through 2026-12-31 — a future rule change could disrupt care continuity
−Trustpilot rating (3.6 stars) is weak for the category, with roughly 30% one-star reviews concentrated on billing: incorrect insurance charges, no-show fees, and refund difficulty
−Support access is largely limited to chat/bot channels, which reviewers say makes billing disputes slow to resolve
Read the full Circle Medical review →

Cerebral vs Circle Medical — FAQ

Is Cerebral better than Circle Medical?

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Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 55/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. Cerebral comes out ahead on value, experience.

What do Cerebral and Circle Medical both offer?

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Both platforms treat Mental Health. Cerebral covers 1 treatment category total and Circle Medical covers 2.

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