• Mental Health

LifeMD vs. PlushCare: How Do Their Mental Health Programs Compare?

Published: September 24, 2025
Updated: September 24, 2025
5 mins

Finding the right mental health support can feel overwhelming, especially with so many telehealth options available. Two platforms that offer online care are LifeMD and PlushCare, but their approaches differ in ways that may influence which service is the best fit for you.

The LifeMD Mental Health Program

LifeMD’s Mental Health Program focuses on virtual psychiatric care for anxiety and depression. Care is personalized and guided by licensed medical providers who design treatment plans based on your symptoms, history, and goals. 

Conditions like performance anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression can be addressed through provider-guided medication management. LifeMD doesn’t provide therapy sessions, but ensures ongoing support through secure messaging and monthly treatment reviews to monitor progress, side effects, and medication effectiveness.

Access and convenience

LifeMD delivers care entirely online, from your first consultation to prescription management, with medications shipped directly to your door. Depending on your needs, treatment may begin with a video visit or message-based care, and you’ll have regular check-ins with your provider to keep your treatment plan on track.

Your membership also includes access to LifeMD+, which offers virtual urgent and primary care for health concerns beyond mental health, often with appointments available in under an hour. In addition, you can book 6S Wellness sessions designed to support better sleep, stress management, physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle habits. Both LifeMD+ and 6S appointments are offered at a clear, upfront cost per consultation, making it easy to get the care you need without surprises.

Medication options

LifeMD offers a curated list of medications for mental health conditions, including SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, and certain off-label options like beta blockers. Medications are prescribed based on your personalized treatment plan, and ongoing follow-ups ensure proper dosing and adjustments. The medications currently included in the LifeMD program, when medically appropriate, as of October 2025 include:

• Bupropion SR (generic Wellbutrin SR®)

• Buspirone HCI (generic Buspar®)

• Sertraline (generic Zoloft®)

• Escitalopram (generic Lexapro®)

• Citalopram (generic Celexa®)

• Paroxetine (generic Paxil®)

• Fluoxetine (generic Prozac®)

• Duloxetine (generic Cymbalta®)

• Propranolol (generic Inderal®)

• Venlafaxine (generic Effexor®)

Cost and insurance

With LifeMD, pricing is straightforward and includes the cost of medications prescribed through your care plan, though exact pricing can vary depending on your plan and needs. Plans start at $49 per month, though the exact cost depends on your treatment plan. 

PlushCare’s Mental Health Services

PlushCare offers both medication management and online therapy, providing flexibility for those who want a combined approach. Patients can consult board-certified doctors for mental health medications including antidepressants, anxiety medications, and certain bipolar and panic disorder treatments. They can also book therapy sessions separately. 

However, online therapists cannot prescribe medication, so medication management requires a separate consultation with a prescribing physician. PlushCare doesn’t prescribe controlled substances and may have limited ADHD treatment options.

Access and convenience

PlushCare also offers online appointments, but prescriptions are filled at a local pharmacy. While convenient, this extra step may be less seamless than LifeMD’s fully online prescription delivery.

Cost and insurance

PlushCare offers several payment options: with in-network insurance, most patients pay $30 or less per visit, while self-pay patients face an initial $129 consultation fee. Therapy sessions through PlushCare cost around $169 per session. Both platforms provide first-month promotions, with PlushCare offering $19.99 for the first month plus insurance copay where applicable.

Medication options

PlushCare provides a wider range of medications for conditions including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Common prescriptions include SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants. However, they do not prescribe controlled substances and therapy and medication management are handled separately. As of September 2025, Plushcare offers the following mental health medications for online prescription:

• BuSpar

• Celexa

• Cymbalta

• Effexor

• Intuniv

• Latuda

• Lexapro

• Luvox

• Pamelor®

• Paxil

• Prozac

• Remeron

• Rexulti

• Strattera

• Trintellix

• Viibryd

• Vraylar

• Wellbutrin

• Zoloft (sertraline)

• Vistaril

• Qelbree 

Which Program Might Be Right for You?

If you want a fully online, medication-focused program with ongoing provider support and convenient prescription delivery, LifeMD may be the better fit. For those who prefer a combination of therapy and medication, or who want the option to see a therapist and a prescribing physician through the same platform, PlushCare offers a broader set of services, though it requires coordinating therapy and medication separately.

Ultimately, choosing a mental health program depends on your goals, your preferred approach to care, and the level of ongoing support you need. Both platforms make mental health care more accessible than ever, giving patients options that fit different lifestyles and treatment preferences.

Where Can I Learn More About Online Mental Health Services?

With LifeMD, you can connect online with a licensed healthcare provider to determine the best starting point for your mental health journey. The LifeMD Mental Health Program offers flexible, virtual care tailored to your individual needs.

To get started, complete a brief intake form to gather your health information and set the stage for a personalized treatment plan.