last updated september 29, 2026
a lot of people talk to ChatGPT when they're struggling. it's free to start, it's awake at 3am, and it doesn't judge. this page doesn't argue you out of that. it sets out what OpenAI itself says about ChatGPT in these conversations, from its terms, its usage policies and its own published research, and then describes a different option: veisund, where people who have been through it reply to what you post. neither one is therapy.
| ChatGPT | veisund | |
|---|---|---|
| who replies | an AI model | people who read your post |
| cost (US, per month) | Free $0, Go $8, Plus $20, Pro from $100. OpenAI says the Go plan "may include ads" | free. no subscription, no ads |
| speed | instant, any hour | replies come when people read your post. the community is small, so that can take a while |
| OpenAI's own caution | terms: don't rely on output "as a substitute for professional advice" | peer support. not therapy, not a crisis service |
| licensed advice | usage policies bar "tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional" | no licensed clinicians, no medical advice |
| crisis handling | OpenAI says it trains the model to point people to crisis lines and professional care | 988 and Crisis Text Line are one tap away in the app |
| age | 13+. under 18 needs a parent's or guardian's permission | 18+ |
| sources | varies by answer | the evidence library shows the study and an evidence grade for each summary |
OpenAI's terms of use (effective January 1, 2026) say: "You should not rely on Output from our Services as a sole source of truth or factual information, or as a substitute for professional advice." its usage policies (effective October 29, 2025) list among the things you may not use its services for "provision of tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional". the terms set the minimum age at 13, and anyone under 18 needs a parent's or guardian's permission. on price, the ChatGPT pricing page listed Free at $0, Go at $8 a month, Plus at $20 and Pro from $100. checked on 2026-09-29 against the company's own pages. prices and terms change, so the links are in the sources for this page.
in October 2025 OpenAI published estimates of how often these conversations happen. about 0.15% of users active in a given week have conversations that include "explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent". about 0.07% show possible signs of psychosis or mania. about 0.15% show "potentially heightened levels of emotional attachment to ChatGPT". OpenAI says it worked with more than 170 mental health experts to teach the model to recognize distress, de-escalate, and guide people to crisis lines and professional care, and that responses falling short of its target behavior dropped by 65 to 80%. for emotional reliance, it says it teaches the model to "encourage real-world connection". these are OpenAI's own figures, and OpenAI calls them initial estimates that are hard to measure.
on September 11, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission issued orders to seven companies that run consumer AI chatbots, including OpenAI OpCo, LLC. the orders ask how they measure, test and monitor potential negative effects on children and teens. the FTC used its 6(b) authority, which is for studies and, in the FTC's words, does not have "a specific law enforcement purpose". it is not an accusation. it's a public record that the question is open.
ChatGPT is instant and endlessly patient, and at 3am that matters. it's good at structure: helping you put a messy feeling into words, drafting a hard text to a family member, explaining what a term your doctor used means, or walking you through a breathing exercise. its free tier costs nothing. veisund can't do any of that on demand. if what you need is a thinking partner right now, and you keep OpenAI's own caution about professional advice in mind, it can be the right tool.
on veisund, the replies come from people who have been through it: the same diagnosis, the same breakup, the same medication side effect. you post under a handle, and they answer when they read it. it's slower. the community is still small, and nobody is waiting on the other end. when a reply helps, you mark the post resolved and credit the reply, so the next person can see what worked. for the factual side there's an evidence library: plain-language study summaries that show the source and an evidence grade, and a lookup of what drug companies have paid your own doctor from federal Open Payments data. it's free, and it's not therapy or a crisis service. if you're in danger, call or text 988.
OpenAI doesn't present it as one. Its terms say not to rely on output as a substitute for professional advice, and its usage policies bar tailored advice that requires a license without a licensed professional involved. Many people find it useful for sorting out their thoughts, but it isn't therapy. In a crisis, call or text 988.
ChatGPT has a free tier ($0). Paid plans in the US were $8 (Go), $20 (Plus) and from $100 (Pro) per month on OpenAI's pricing page on 2026-09-29. OpenAI notes the Go plan may include ads.
OpenAI says it trains the model to recognize distress, de-escalate and direct people to crisis lines such as 988 and to professional care. It also says the model may not always behave as intended in these situations.
veisund is free peer support where people reply to your posts, and it has no paid tier. It's not live chat, so replies can take a while, and it's not therapy. For licensed care, see a therapist. For a crisis, 988 and Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) are free.
OpenAI's terms set a minimum age of 13 and require a parent's or guardian's permission for anyone under 18. veisund is 18 and over only.
free. anonymous. post any hour, and people who've been there reply. 🤍
get veisund — it's freenot sure whether what you need is a therapist or people? six questions, two minutes — no diagnosis, no email.