- Sesame is a cash-pay telehealth marketplace — no insurance, no membership required — where you book individual visits at listed flat prices; Teladoc is an insurance-billing telehealth platform used through many employer and commercial plans.
- The choice hinges mostly on insurance status: Sesame tends to be far cheaper for uninsured or cash-pay patients, while Teladoc is usually cheaper for insured patients whose plan covers it.
- As of 2026, Sesame's general visits are often advertised around $29–$49 and Teladoc's cash-pay general visits around $75–$89 — verify current pricing directly, since rates change.
- Sesame does not bill insurance at all; Teladoc accepts many major commercial plans and is often a low- or $0-copay benefit through employers.
- Neither is a substitute for ongoing primary care continuity or for emergency care — call 911 or go to the ER for emergencies.
- This article is general information; clinical questions should go to a licensed clinician.
Sesame and Teladoc represent two fundamentally different approaches to telehealth. Sesame is a cash-pay marketplace where patients book individual visits with independent clinicians at advertised flat rates — no insurance and no membership required. Teladoc is one of the largest insurance-billing telehealth platforms in the US, serving tens of millions of members through employer plans and major commercial insurance. The right choice between them depends almost entirely on insurance status: Sesame tends to win for uninsured or cash-pay patients, and Teladoc for insured patients with covered plans. This sesame vs teladoc comparison breaks down 2026 pricing, the structural differences, and which platform fits which use cases. The short version: Sesame is usually much cheaper for cash-pay patients, while Teladoc is usually cheaper for insured patients with in-network coverage. Prices and features change, so verify current details on each platform before deciding. For the bigger picture, see our telehealth guide.
The structural difference
Sesame Care is a marketplace platform. Each visit is an independent booking with whichever clinician you choose at their listed price. There is no membership requirement, no continuity assignment, and no insurance billing. A patient might book a low-cost video visit for a UTI today, then book a separate dermatology consultation with a different clinician next week — each as an independent transaction.
Teladoc operates a network of contracted clinicians providing on-demand urgent care, scheduled mental health, and some specialty services. The platform bills most major commercial insurance, with patients paying their plan copay, or cash-pay rates if uninsured. The model is closer to a virtual urgent-care clinic than a marketplace. See our individual Sesame Care review and Teladoc review.
Sesame vs Teladoc — pricing in 2026
Pricing below reflects commonly advertised 2026 ranges. Treat these as estimates and confirm the current price for your specific visit type on each platform, since rates vary by service, clinician, and market.
Sesame Care pricing (cash-pay only):
- General medical video visit: roughly $29–$49
- Urgent care visit: roughly $39–$65
- Mental health visit: roughly $50–$150
- Specialty visits: roughly $80–$200
- Therapy sessions: roughly $50–$100
- Sesame Plus membership (optional): about $10.99/month for discounts on many visits
Teladoc pricing:
- In-network insurance: often $0–$75 per general medical visit, depending on your plan
- In-network mental health: commonly $0–$90 therapy, $0–$200 psychiatry
- Cash-pay general medical: around $75–$89
- Cash-pay therapy: around $99
- Cash-pay psychiatry: around $229 initial, $109 follow-up
- Cash-pay dermatology: around $85
For cash-pay patients, Sesame is generally much cheaper across the board — a roughly $29–$49 Sesame visit can undercut Teladoc’s cash-pay rate by two to three times. For insured patients with Teladoc coverage, Teladoc’s in-network copays typically beat Sesame’s cash rates by a wide margin.
Insurance — the central decision factor
Teladoc accepts most major commercial insurance, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield (most plans), Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare, though specific coverage depends on your plan. Many employer-sponsored plans include Teladoc as a low- or $0-copay benefit, making it essentially free for covered patients.
Sesame does not bill insurance at all. Every visit is cash-pay regardless of insurance status, and Sesame does not require or use a membership to see a clinician. Some patients submit Sesame invoices for partial reimbursement under out-of-network benefits, with mixed results, but the standard model is fully cash-pay.
For insured patients, this is decisive. If your plan covers Teladoc with a low copay or a $0 employer-sponsored benefit, Teladoc is usually far cheaper than Sesame. For uninsured patients or those whose plans do not cover Teladoc, Sesame is usually far cheaper. Because Sesame charges cash and Teladoc’s cost swings with coverage, verify your own insurance benefit before choosing.
Conditions covered — both broad
Sesame’s marketplace covers a broad range of needs through individual clinicians: general medicine, mental health (therapy and, in many markets, psychiatry), dermatology, endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, nutrition, dental, and many other categories. The available breadth depends on which clinicians are listed in your area at a given time.
Teladoc covers general medicine, mental health (therapy and psychiatry), dermatology, nutrition, and some specialty consultations. Its chronic-condition management programs (for example, diabetes, hypertension, and weight management, built in part on the former Livongo tools) are typically offered through employers rather than to individuals directly.
Both platforms handle most common telehealth needs. Sesame’s marketplace can produce broader specialty access in some markets; Teladoc’s network is more standardized. For anything clinical, the right move is to route your specific question to a licensed clinician on whichever platform you use rather than self-diagnosing.
Continuity of care
Neither platform is built for true primary-care continuity. Sesame’s marketplace is transactional — each visit is independent. Teladoc connects patients to whichever clinician is available for urgent care, with appointment-scheduled mental health and specialty visits but no assigned primary care physician.
For ongoing primary care with a consistent clinician, neither Sesame nor Teladoc is the ideal fit. PlushCare offers primary care with assigned physicians and ongoing relationships. See our Sesame vs PlushCare and PlushCare vs Teladoc comparisons for those matchups.
Speed and convenience
Teladoc’s general medical urgent care is designed to connect patients with a clinician quickly, often within roughly 10–30 minutes during business hours; wait times can vary with demand. The on-demand model is convenient for acute issues.
Sesame’s model is appointment-based — patients book a specific clinician at a specific time, with same-day appointments often available. That is fast, but it does not offer the same instant-connect availability as Teladoc’s on-demand urgent care for unscheduled needs.
For unscheduled urgent care, Teladoc is generally faster. For scheduled visits, the two are similar. For uninsured patients willing to accept a short wait, Sesame’s lower cost often outweighs the convenience of instant connection.
Specific use cases — when each platform wins
Consider Sesame if: you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover Teladoc; you want the lowest cash-pay price; you can wait for a scheduled appointment rather than needing instant on-demand access; or you want broad specialty marketplace access.
Consider Teladoc if: you are insured through a plan that covers Teladoc with a low copay; your employer includes Teladoc as a $0-copay benefit; you need instant on-demand urgent care during business hours; or you want several services consolidated on one platform.
Consider using both if: you have Teladoc through insurance for primary urgent-care needs but want Sesame for occasional specialty consultations or therapy at a lower cash price than Teladoc’s cash-pay rates.
How both compare to PlushCare and LemonAID
For ongoing primary care, neither Sesame nor Teladoc offers continuity — PlushCare is the stronger choice with assigned physicians and insurance acceptance. For uninsured patients seeking specific one-off prescriptions, LemonAID‘s flat-fee model is similarly priced to Sesame for the conditions it covers. See our Sesame vs PlushCare, Teladoc vs LemonAID, and LemonAID vs PlushCare comparisons for the broader landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sesame cheaper than Teladoc?
For uninsured patients, usually yes, and often substantially — Sesame’s general visits (around $29–$49) tend to undercut Teladoc’s cash-pay rate (around $75–$89). For insured patients with Teladoc coverage, Teladoc’s in-network copays are usually cheaper than Sesame’s cash rates. Verify current pricing and your benefit before deciding.
Does Sesame take insurance?
No. Sesame is cash-pay only and requires no membership to book. Some patients submit invoices for partial out-of-network reimbursement with mixed results.
Are Sesame clinicians as qualified as Teladoc clinicians?
Both platforms use licensed clinicians — physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — with full credentials. The credential floor is broadly similar at both.
Which is faster?
Teladoc’s on-demand urgent care typically connects within roughly 10–30 minutes during business hours. Sesame’s appointment-based model often offers same-day slots but lacks instant-connect availability for unscheduled needs.
Can I use both Sesame and Teladoc?
Yes. Some patients use Teladoc through insurance for urgent care and Sesame for specialty consultations or therapy at a lower cash price.
The bottom line on Sesame vs Teladoc
The right choice between Sesame and Teladoc comes down almost entirely to insurance status. For insured patients with Teladoc coverage at a low copay or $0 employer benefit, Teladoc is usually cheaper and offers instant on-demand urgent care. For uninsured patients, or those whose plans do not cover Teladoc, Sesame’s cash-pay marketplace is usually cheaper across the board. In practice, the two platforms are not really competing for the same patients — they serve different populations based on coverage. Verify your insurance benefit and each platform’s current pricing before choosing, since the cost difference can swing widely depending on coverage. And remember that telehealth is for non-emergencies — for a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
This article is general information, not medical or insurance advice. Prices, services, and insurance acceptance change often, so confirm current details directly with Sesame and Teladoc and with your insurance plan. Bring any clinical questions to a licensed clinician, and for a medical emergency call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sources
- Sesame (sesamecare.com) — service model, cash-pay pricing pages, and Sesame Plus membership
- Teladoc Health (teladochealth.com) — services, insurance and employer model, and cash-pay pricing
- Company disclosures and current marketplace listings for 2026 pricing ranges (verify before relying on any figure)