last updated september 29, 2026
MDLive, an Evernorth company, sells therapy and psychiatry by phone or video, and unlike many telehealth brands it prints its prices: $0 to $179 for a first therapy visit, $0 to $299 for a first psychiatry visit, and follow-ups of $140 and $159 before insurance. that is licensed care at a known price, and for many people it is the right call. veisund is not that. it is free peer support by post and reply, under a handle you choose. below is what each one is, and when to pick which.
| MDLive (behavioral health) | veisund | |
|---|---|---|
| first visit | therapy $0-179; psychiatry $0-299, depending on insurance | free. no subscription, no ads, no insurance needed |
| follow-ups | therapy $0-140; psychiatry $0-159, depending on insurance ($140 and $159 before insurance) | free |
| late cancellation | $50 fee for mental health visits cancelled within 24 hours (not charged to Medicare or Medicaid members) | nothing to cancel |
| who you talk to | licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists | other members who have been through something similar. no clinicians provide care |
| format | phone or video; therapy typically 45-60 minutes, psychiatry 15-30 | you post, members reply in the app. not live chat, so replies come when people read your post |
| medication | psychiatrists can prescribe, but MDLive does not prescribe controlled substances (e.g., anxiolytics, stimulants) | none. veisund does not diagnose or prescribe |
| wait | first therapy appointment in a week or less; evenings and weekends offered | post any time; replies depend on who is reading |
| age | mental health care includes children 10-17 | n/a: peer support, not care |
checked on 2026-09-29 against MDLive's own behavioral health page, which carries its pricing, FAQ and cancellation policy. the prices are MDLive's published ranges; your exact cost depends on your plan and MDLive shows it after you log in. a follow-up is defined by MDLive as a visit with the same provider within 6 months.
if you want a diagnosis, talk therapy with a licensed therapist, or a psychiatrist to evaluate medication, MDLive does that and veisund does not. its prices are published, which makes budgeting possible even without insurance. it offers evenings and weekends and says a first therapy visit can happen within a week. it also sees children aged 10 to 17. if what you are dealing with has lasted weeks and is affecting work, sleep or relationships, that is a reason to talk to a clinician.
MDLive is unusually direct about its limits. it does not prescribe controlled substances, and its FAQ names anxiolytics and stimulants. it says that if you need ADHD stimulant medication, are in an emergency or crisis, or have a condition that stops normal day-to-day functioning, you should go to an urgent care center or emergency department instead. it also charges a $50 fee for a mental health visit cancelled within 24 hours, though not to Medicare or Medicaid members. knowing those three things up front saves a wasted booking.
veisund is a free app (iOS and Android) where you post what you are dealing with under a handle you choose, and other members reply. it is not live chat, nobody is waiting on the other end, and the community is still small, so a reply can take a while. when a reply helps, you can mark your post resolved and credit that reply. the web side is an evidence library: plain-language summaries of studies, each with its source and an evidence grade, and a lookup of drug-company payments to your own doctor from the federal Open Payments data. no one on veisund is a licensed clinician treating you, nothing is billed to insurance, and nothing is prescribed. next to MDLive, the honest pitch is small: no price at all, no appointment, and no account tied to your insurance. it can be a place to talk while you wait for a first appointment, or between sessions.
MDLive lists $0-179 for an initial therapy visit and says follow-up appointments are $140 before insurance. Psychiatry is $0-299 for an initial visit and $159 for follow-ups before insurance. Your exact price shows in your account before booking.
MDLive states it does not prescribe controlled substances and names anxiolytics and stimulants as examples. It tells people who need ADHD stimulant medication to seek care elsewhere. Questions about a specific medication belong with your own prescriber.
Both. MDLive says its therapists and psychiatrists are available by phone or video, including evenings and weekends.
$50 for a mental health visit cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment. MDLive says the fee does not apply to Medicaid or Medicare members and may be waived for emergencies or technical problems.
Not for licensed therapy. veisund is free peer support, not treatment. If cost is the barrier, check whether your plan brings MDLive to $0, or look at community mental health centers and university training clinics. In a crisis, call or text 988.
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.