Finding the best telehealth platforms for your needs in 2026 means comparing pricing, provider quality, insurance acceptance, available specialties, and ease of use across a crowded marketplace. Telehealth has matured from an emergency solution during the pandemic into a permanent fixture of American healthcare, and the number of platforms competing for patients has grown accordingly. The best telehealth platforms balance accessibility, affordability, and quality of care, but no single platform is ideal for everyone.
This guide compares the leading telehealth platforms side by side, covering what each does best, what it costs, and which types of patients benefit most from each option. For deeper dives into specific use cases, visit our telehealth guide.
How We Evaluated Telehealth Platforms
We assessed each platform on the following criteria: range of medical services and specialties available, cost transparency and pricing structure, insurance acceptance and coverage, provider qualifications and availability, user experience (app quality, scheduling ease, wait times), prescription capabilities including controlled substances, chronic care and follow-up management, and patient ratings and satisfaction data. Each platform below includes a summary of strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.
Teladoc Health
Teladoc is the largest and most established telehealth company in the United States, serving over 80 million members through employer and insurance partnerships. The platform covers urgent care, primary care, mental health (through BetterHelp, which Teladoc acquired), dermatology, chronic care management, and specialty consultations.
Pricing: Urgent care visits typically cost $0 to $75 depending on insurance. Without insurance, visits range from $75 to $100. Mental health therapy sessions start at approximately $99 per session without insurance. Chronic care management programs are priced separately.
Insurance: Teladoc works with most major insurance plans, Medicare (for eligible services), and many employer-sponsored health programs. It is often included as a covered benefit at no additional cost through employer health plans.
Specialties: General medicine, mental health, dermatology, nutrition, chronic condition management (diabetes, hypertension, weight management), sexual health, and back and joint care.
Pros: Extensive insurance partnerships, broad specialty offerings, 24/7 availability for urgent care, established reputation. Cons: You may not see the same provider consistently, mental health matchmaking can be inconsistent, less transparent cash-pay pricing for some services.
Best for: Patients whose insurance includes Teladoc as a benefit, those needing urgent care access, and patients managing chronic conditions.
Amwell
Amwell (formerly American Well) is a major telehealth platform that partners with health systems, insurers, and employers. It offers a wide range of services and has a strong clinical infrastructure. Amwell supports video visits, asynchronous consultations, and remote monitoring.
Pricing: Urgent care visits range from $0 to $79 with insurance, or approximately $79 without insurance. Therapy sessions range from $99 to $175 per session. Psychiatric consultations range from $199 to $299 for initial visits.
Insurance: Amwell accepts many commercial insurance plans, Medicare (for eligible services), and Medicaid in select states. Check coverage before scheduling.
Specialties: Urgent care, primary care, behavioral health, psychiatry, nutrition, lactation consulting, pediatrics, and chronic care management.
Pros: Strong health system partnerships, pediatric care availability, clean user interface, reliable technology. Cons: Provider availability can vary by state and time, pricing for specialty services can be high, less competitive on cash-pay pricing compared to some newer platforms.
Best for: Families needing pediatric telehealth, patients whose insurers partner with Amwell, and those seeking established health system affiliations.
MDLIVE
MDLIVE, now a part of Evernorth (Cigna’s health services division), provides urgent care, dermatology, behavioral health, and psychiatry services. Its integration with Cigna gives it a strong position in the employer-sponsored health market.
Pricing: Urgent care visits cost $0 to $82 depending on insurance. Dermatology consultations are approximately $75 without insurance. Therapy sessions start at around $99, and psychiatry appointments start at approximately $284 for initial consultations.
Insurance: MDLIVE accepts most commercial insurance plans and has deep integration with Cigna and Evernorth plans. Medicare coverage is available for eligible services.
Specialties: Urgent care, dermatology (including photo-based asynchronous consults), behavioral health, and psychiatry.
Pros: Strong dermatology service with asynchronous photo review, good behavioral health coverage, seamless Cigna integration. Cons: Narrower specialty range compared to Teladoc and Amwell, primary care continuity is limited, less well-known to patients outside Cigna networks.
Best for: Cigna members, patients needing dermatology consults, and those seeking behavioral health services.
PlushCare
PlushCare focuses on providing a primary-care-like experience through telehealth. Patients are matched with board-certified physicians and can build ongoing relationships with their providers, a feature that sets PlushCare apart from platforms focused on one-off urgent care visits.
Pricing: Membership costs $14.99 per month, with visits at $0 to $30 copay with insurance. Without insurance, visits cost approximately $129. PlushCare offers transparent pricing for common services.
Insurance: Accepts most major insurance plans including United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and others. Does not accept Medicare for all services.
Specialties: Primary care, urgent care, mental health, chronic care management, weight management, sexual health, and preventive care.
Pros: Continuity of care with the same physician, broad insurance acceptance, ability to prescribe controlled substances where legally permitted, strong reviews for provider quality. Cons: Monthly membership fee, no pediatric care, limited specialist availability compared to larger platforms.
Best for: Patients seeking an ongoing primary care relationship via telehealth, those who want provider continuity, and patients needing prescription management.
Sesame
Sesame takes a different approach by operating as a direct-pay marketplace that connects patients with healthcare providers at transparent cash prices. There is no insurance billing, no memberships, and no hidden fees. You see the price upfront and pay directly.
Pricing: Urgent care video visits start at approximately $25 to $39. Primary care visits range from $35 to $75. Specialist consultations vary but are clearly listed. Lab work, imaging, and prescriptions can also be booked through the platform at discounted cash prices.
Insurance: Sesame does not bill insurance. All services are cash-pay. This can actually be advantageous for uninsured patients or those with high-deductible plans who would pay out of pocket anyway.
Specialties: Primary care, urgent care, mental health, dermatology, weight management, sexual health, and select specialty consults. Sesame also offers in-person visits in many markets.
Pros: Lowest cash-pay prices in the market, complete pricing transparency, no membership or subscription required, fast scheduling. Cons: No insurance billing, costs are entirely out of pocket, limited chronic care infrastructure, variable provider consistency.
Best for: Uninsured patients, those with high-deductible health plans, anyone wanting transparent pricing without insurance complexity.
Doctor on Demand (Included Health)
Doctor on Demand merged with Grand Rounds to form Included Health, creating a platform that combines virtual care with in-person care navigation. The service offers urgent care, behavioral health, and preventive care.
Pricing: Urgent care visits cost $0 to $75 with insurance, or approximately $75 without insurance. Therapy sessions range from $129 to $179 per session. Psychiatry starts at approximately $299 for an initial assessment.
Insurance: Works with many commercial plans and is frequently offered as an employer benefit. Check with your employer or insurer for coverage details.
Specialties: Urgent care, behavioral health, psychiatry, preventive care, and chronic condition management.
Pros: Integration of virtual and in-person care navigation, strong behavioral health offerings, employer-sponsored access keeps costs low for many users. Cons: Less accessible as a standalone consumer product, pricing is higher without employer subsidy, specialty range is more limited than Teladoc.
Best for: Employees whose employers offer Included Health as a benefit, patients wanting coordinated virtual and in-person care.
Platform Comparison Summary
For the lowest out-of-pocket costs, Sesame is the clear winner with visits as low as $25. For the broadest insurance acceptance and specialty range, Teladoc leads the market. For ongoing primary care relationships, PlushCare offers the best continuity of care. For employer-sponsored benefits, check whether Teladoc, MDLIVE, Amwell, or Included Health is included in your plan, as covered visits can cost $0. For mental health services, all major platforms offer therapy and psychiatry, but PlushCare and Amwell receive consistently strong patient ratings in this area. For more on telehealth for specific conditions, explore our guides to weight loss telehealth, asthma telehealth, and Medicare telehealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can telehealth platforms prescribe medications?
Yes. All major telehealth platforms can prescribe non-controlled medications (antibiotics, blood pressure medications, etc.) during a visit. Prescribing controlled substances (like phentermine or certain anxiety medications) is subject to DEA telehealth rules and varies by platform, state, and medication schedule. PlushCare and some other platforms can prescribe select controlled substances where legally permitted.
Which telehealth platform is best for chronic conditions?
Teladoc and PlushCare are the strongest options for chronic condition management. Both offer ongoing provider relationships, medication management, and structured care programs for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and weight management. Amwell also has chronic care capabilities, particularly through its health system partnerships.
Do I need to use the telehealth platform my insurance provides?
No, but using your insurance’s preferred platform usually gives you the lowest cost. You can use any platform that accepts your insurance, and you can always use cash-pay platforms like Sesame regardless of your insurance status. Just be aware that out-of-network visits may not count toward your deductible.
Are telehealth visits as good as in-person visits?
For many conditions, telehealth visits are equally effective. Research published by the NIH shows that telehealth produces comparable outcomes for primary care, mental health, chronic disease management, and follow-up care. However, conditions requiring physical examination, procedures, or diagnostic imaging still require in-person visits.
Can I see a specialist through telehealth?
Yes, though specialist availability varies by platform. Teladoc and Amwell offer the broadest specialist networks. Sesame connects you with specialists at cash-pay prices. For highly specialized care, you may need a referral from your telehealth primary care provider to a specialist who also offers virtual visits.
Choosing the Right Platform for You
The best telehealth platform depends on your specific needs, insurance situation, and healthcare priorities. Start by checking whether your employer or insurance plan includes a telehealth benefit, as this often provides the lowest-cost access. If you are paying out of pocket, compare Sesame’s cash prices against other platforms. If continuity of care matters, invest in a platform like PlushCare that prioritizes ongoing provider relationships. Whatever you choose, telehealth in 2026 offers more options, better technology, and broader access than ever before. For a complete overview, explore our telehealth guide.