The Bottom Line
Teladoc is the dominant player in employer-sponsored telehealth. For many employees, it's the default "free" (or low-cost) option bundled with their benefits package. The platform offers behavioral health alongside general medical, dermatology, and nutrition services—a true one-stop-shop. However, the experience is functional rather than specialized, lacking the engagement tools and mental health focus of dedicated therapy platforms.
What Is Teladoc?
Teladoc is a telehealth giant—one of the largest in the US. While they're primarily known for general medical visits (urgent care, dermatology), they've built out a significant behavioral health division. For millions of Americans, Teladoc is available through their employer's health plan at little to no cost.
Unlike consumer-focused platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace, Teladoc operates primarily in the B2B space, contracting with employers and insurers to provide covered telehealth services.
Pricing
Teladoc pricing depends heavily on your insurance and employer benefits:
Pricing Structure
| With Employer Coverage | $0 - $30 (copay) |
| With Insurance (no employer) | $0 - $75 (copay) |
| Cash-Pay Therapy | ~$119/session |
| Cash-Pay Psychiatry (Initial) | ~$299 |
| Cash-Pay Psychiatry (Follow-up) | ~$129 |
Key point: Teladoc's value proposition depends entirely on your coverage. With employer benefits, it's often free or near-free. Without, cash-pay pricing is higher than competitors like BetterHelp.
Key Features
Integrated Healthcare Ecosystem
Teladoc's main advantage is integration. Within one app, you can access:
- Behavioral health (therapy and psychiatry)
- General medical visits
- Dermatology
- Nutrition counseling
For users who prefer a single healthcare hub, this is convenient.
Provider Choice
Unlike platforms that use matching algorithms, Teladoc lets you browse provider bios and book specific time slots. You choose your therapist or psychiatrist based on their profile, availability, and specialty.
What Teladoc Doesn't Offer
- No messaging therapy: Appointments only—no asynchronous text/chat with your therapist
- No engagement tools: No journals, mood trackers, or worksheets
- Limited mental health focus: Behavioral health is one service among many
What Users Say
What People Like
- Free or very low-cost with employer coverage
- One-stop-shop for all telehealth needs
- Choose your own provider from available options
- Established, reliable platform with wide availability
Common Complaints
- High cost for cash-pay users without employer coverage
- Functional but not engaging—no journaling, tracking, or tools
- No messaging between sessions
- Interface feels clinical/corporate rather than warm
Who Should Consider Teladoc
- Employees with Teladoc in their benefits package
- Those who want healthcare services consolidated in one platform
- Users who prefer choosing their own provider
- People with insurance that covers Teladoc at low/no cost
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Cash-pay users (better value elsewhere)
- Those wanting messaging-based therapy between sessions
- Users seeking specialized mental health tools and engagement features
- Anyone needing condition-specific care (OCD, eating disorders, etc.)
Final Verdict
Teladoc is the obvious choice if you already have it through work—free or cheap therapy beats paying out of pocket. The platform is reliable, the providers are licensed, and it gets the job done.
But if you're paying cash or comparing options, dedicated mental health platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, or Brightside offer more value: messaging between sessions, engagement tools, and interfaces designed specifically for mental health care rather than being one module in a general telehealth suite.
Check your benefits first. If Teladoc is covered, it's worth trying. If not, look elsewhere.