Editorial rating:
Amwell is a telemedicine platform that offers a variety of services including mental healthcare. During our independent review, they earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. With Amwell, individuals can meet with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist via live video through Amwell’s website or app. Amwell’s costs range from $109 – $279, depending on which service you choose, and they accept many major insurance plans which could lower the cost of care.
Rating of Amwell’s Online Therapy
Emily Guarnotta is a PsyD. that specializes in perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, grief counseling for individuals who suffered miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, as well as infertility support and therapy for new parents and seasoned parents. Dr. Guarnotta has written for Choosing Therapy since 2020 and in the summer of 2022 began reviewing online therapy and psychiatry platforms. During her independent review, Amwell earned 4 out of 5 stars overall, performing best in the categories of clientele served, therapist specialties, and geographic location. However, Amwell underperformed in the categories of attending live sessions, and extra features compared to its competitors.
Pros & Cons of Amwell
Amwell offers a variety of services and has a large network of licensed providers throughout the US. Individual therapy is available for individuals 10-years and older and offers specialties like prenatal, postpartum, and menopause counseling. While Amwell does offer psychiatric services, it is only available to those 18-years and older. Amwell does not offer text-based therapy or medication delivery and is unable to prescribe controlled medications.
How to Sign Up For Amwell
To sign up for an account, please visit the Amwell website.
What Is Amwell?
Amwell is a telemedicine platform that offers therapy and psychiatry sessions via live video on the company’s website or app. Amwell does not offer text-based therapy, but you can message your provider with questions or concerns between appointments. The cost of therapy is $109 – $129 per 45-minute session depending on the type of provider. The cost of an initial 45-minute psychiatric evaluation is $279 and 15-minute follow-up appointments are $109. Amwell accepts many major health insurance plans which could make your costs even lower.
Amwell offers online therapy to anyone 10-years and older, with treatments for concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, stress management, and life transitions. You will be able to select your own therapist by browsing Amwell’s easy-to-navigate therapist directory. The directory has filtering options to search by therapist gender, language, and education level. Each therapist has their own profile which includes their schedule and treatment approach.
After creating an account with Amwell, I was able to browse the list of providers in my area and easily narrow down my search until I found a provider that appeared to be a good fit. Depending on your location, same-day, evening, and weekend appointments may be available. For these reasons, Amwell earned 5 stars in the “Clientele Served” and “Range of Therapist Specialties & Treatment Approaches” categories of our online therapy scoring criteria.
Amwell’s psychiatry services are currently only available for adults 18-years and older. Amwell’s network of psychiatrists can prescribe medications for a wide variety of conditions, such as medication for anxiety and medication for depression. Setting up psychiatry is similar to setting up therapy with Amwell, where you browse the directory, select a provider, and schedule your appointment. Your initial psychiatric appointment is a 45-minute evaluation where your provider will gather relevant background information and determine whether you would benefit from medication. If you and your provider agree on medication, then your psychiatrist will send it directly to your local pharmacy where you can pick it up. You and your provider will also discuss medication refills and how often you will attend the 15-minute follow-up visits.
Amwell Telemedicine Services
Amwell offers a range of other services in addition to behavioral health treatment. Urgent care, pediatrics, women’s health, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support are some of the other services you can access with Amwell.
Urgent care visits for children, teens, and adults are available for non-emergency conditions like sinus infections, allergies, and flu. Appointments can be scheduled 24/7 and cost only $79 (or less with insurance).
Nutrition counseling is provided by trained nutritionists, who can help with weight loss, digestive disorders, meal planning, and high blood pressure. These appointments cost $70 (or less with insurance).
Amwell offers telemedicine appointments for many different women’s issues, such as mastitis, endometriosis, UTIs, and birth control. These appointments cost $79 (or less with insurance). Breastfeeding support through Amwell is provided by certified lactation consultants. Lactation consultants can help with latching and milk supply issues, weaning, and other nursing challenges. Initial appointments are 50 minutes long and cost $129. Follow-up visits are 25 minutes long and cost $75 (or less with insurance).
Amwell also has a “Virtual Second Opinions” program where you can meet via telemedicine with an expert specialist from the Cleveland Clinic. This service is intended for people who are diagnosed with serious medical conditions like cancer or chronic health conditions and who would like assistance determining the next steps in their care. The cost of Virtual Second Opinions with Amwell is $1,850 and includes a virtual intake with a nurse care manager, a review and assessment of your condition by a Cleveland Clinic specialist, and a one-on-one consultation with a specialist to discuss their recommendation and answer any questions.
Who Is Amwell Right For?
Amwell is intended for anyone seeking the convenience of online mental health treatment. With a large network of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, you can choose between many providers in your state with flexible scheduling. Amwell also offers adolescent therapy and therapy for prenatal, postpartum, and menopause-related emotional issues. Anyone falling into these groups may benefit from treatment with an Amwell provider.
Seeking Convenient and Flexible Care
Anyone seeking convenient mental health treatment may be interested in Amwell’s therapy and psychiatry services. With Amwell, you pay per appointment, rather than a monthly subscription fee and can choose your own provider, unlike with Talkspace or BetterHelp. Weekend, evening, and in some cases same-day appointments are available. Amwell allows you to meet with a licensed mental health provider in the comfort of your own home with flexibility in scheduling, saving you both time and money.
You can learn more about how subscription-based therapy works by reading our in-depth Talkspace review or our BetterHelp review.
Children (10+) & Teens
Amwell offers adolescent therapy for teens ages 10 to 17. Providers with specialized training and experience working with adolescents are available to treat a range of mental health concerns. A parent or guardian must schedule the appointment and consent to an adolescent’s treatment. Children and teens cannot participate in psychiatry with Amwell at this time.
Prenatal, Postpartum, or Menopausal Women
Amwell offers therapy for women experiencing prenatal, postpartum, or menopause-related anxiety or depression. You can select this specific type of therapy and view providers in your state with specialized training and experience treating these conditions. When this specialty is paired with the other women’s health offerings, Amwell truly stands apart from other online telemedicine platforms.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Amwell?
Amwell has a wide range of mental health services but there are certain groups of people that cannot receive care on the platform. People struggling with substance use disorders and children and teens in need of medication management will need to seek out an alternative to Amwell.
Substance Use Disorders
While Amwell treats a wide range of mental health conditions, they do not provide treatment for substance use disorders. Amwell’s psychiatrists cannot prescribe controlled medications, so if you are detoxing from drugs or alcohol, you will need to seek out an alternative, such as Bicycle Health. Bicycle Health is an online platform that specializes in treating opioid use disorders and can prescribe Suboxone, a medication that can help people stop using opioids. Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may be best served in a face-to-face treatment setting, rather than through telemedicine.
To learn more about how Suboxone and online opioid use disorder treatment works, please read our comprehensive review of Bicycle Health.
Children & Teens Needing Psychiatry
Amwell’s psychiatry services are only available for adults 18-years and older. Adolescents 10 years and older can participate in therapy, but parents will need to find them an alternative when it comes to psychiatry. Online platforms like Brightline and Talkiatry offer psychiatric services and medication management to children six years and older.
To learn more about what they offer, you can read our in-depth review of Brightline.
What are Amwell Users Saying?
Amwell has a 4.9-star rating from 37,000+ reviews in the Apple Store and a 4.3-star rating from 8,300+ reviews in the Google Play Store. Reviewers found Amwell to be convenient while others felt frustrated over canceled appointments and longer waits to see a provider.
Convenient Appointments
Positive reviewers most often noted the convenience of using Amwell to schedule mental health and urgent care visits. They reported that it took only a short time to set up an account and schedule an appointment. Rather than waiting weeks to see an in-person provider, they were able to have their needs addressed within a few days or less.
Issues with the App
One of the most frequent criticisms of Amwell’s services were problems with the company’s app. Reviewers noted that both the Apple and Google Play apps experienced glitches and issues signing on that made using the service difficult. For some reviewers, this discouraged them from using the service altogether.
How Much Does Amwell Cost?
Amwell costs $109 – $129 for therapy and $109 – $279 for psychiatry. There are no monthly subscriptions or sign up fees.
Therapy costs depend on the type of provider you want to see – sessions with a master’s level therapist are $109, while sessions with a doctoral level psychologist are $129. All therapy sessions are 45 minutes long. Psychiatry costs $279 for a 45-minute initial evaluation and $109 for 15-minute follow up visit.
All appointments are held via live video through Amwell’s website or app. You will be able to select your own provider after browsing their provider directory. Payment for your appointments are due upfront and if you fail to attend or cancel less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment, you will be charged a $40 cancellation fee.
Both therapy and psychiatry costs are clearly provided and the per-session costs are in line with the length of service rendered. For these reasons, Amwell earned 5 stars in the “Online Therapy Cost” category of our scoring criteria.
Does Amwell Accept Insurance?
Yes, Amwell accepts health insurance for mental health services. Currently, they are in-network with over 55 major health plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Beacon Health, Emblem Health, United Healthcare, and Caremark. Many employers also offer Amwell as a service to their employees. For these reasons, plus the option to use your FSA or HSA funds and the ability to receive a superbill, Amwell earned 5 stars in the “Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits” category of our scoring criteria.
Out-of-Network Benefits
If your insurance is out-of-network, Amwell can provide you with a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company. Amwell does not submit superbills on your behalf. You can contact customer support by phone at 855-635-1393 or email at [email protected] for assistance.
How to Attend Your First Appointment on Amwell
Attending a therapy or psychiatry appointment on Amwell requires you to sign up for an account and complete all the required questions. From there simply choose “Behavioral Health” and find a provider and appointment that works for you.
- To attend a session on Amwell, follow the steps below:
- Create an account through the Amwell website.
- Enter your personal information and then select “Behavioral Health”.
- Choose what type of service you would like between therapy, psychiatry, adolescent therapy, menopause counseling, and pregnancy & postpartum therapy.
- Choose to search appointment options by provider or appointment date and time.
- Select an appointment that works for you.
- Pay for the appointment.
- Download the app from one of the app stores for convenient access to your account from anywhere.
- Log on to the website or use the app to attend your scheduled appointment.
Amwell Therapy: Detailed Review
Therapy with Amwell can help with a wide variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, and women’s mental health. Amwell’s therapists include licensed psychologists and masters-level therapists. The cost of therapy with Amwell varies depending on the type of provider. Therapy sessions with a master’s level therapist cost $109, while sessions with a psychologist cost $129.
What is Therapy on Amwell?
Amwell offers therapy for anyone 10 years and older – therapists are available with specialized experience in treating adolescents’ and women’s issues, including emotional issues due to pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. You have the ability to select your own provider from a directory and, in some cases, you can schedule an appointment in as little as 24 hours. When I set up my Amwell account, I was able to schedule an appointment the following day. Evening and weekend appointments are also an option, which makes it a great choice for families and those with busy schedules.
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes long and can be scheduled as often as you and your therapist feel are right for you based on your treatment plan. Because Amwell does not require a monthly subscription, you are not required to pay for a certain number of sessions each month like some other online mental health platforms, such as Cerebral. Depending on your therapist’s approach, they may assign “homework” or other activities to do outside of sessions to help support what you discuss. You can also message your provider between appointments with questions and concerns.
Amwell Psychiatry: Detailed Review
Psychiatry with Amwell is only available to adults, 18-years and older. Amwell’s psychiatric providers are able to help those dealing with a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, and bulimia. Like therapy with Amwell, you pay a standard fee for each psychiatry appointment. The cost of an initial 45-minute consultation is $279 and 15-minute follow-up appointments are $109.
Amwell’s network of psychiatrists includes licensed physicians who are board-certified in psychiatry or neurology. You have the ability to choose your own provider by browsing the listing of psychiatrists in your state. Much like searching for a therapist, there are a couple of ways to find a psychiatric provider. You can choose a specific date and time you want to see a therapist or you can browse all providers and see their individual availability. I found the process of selecting a psychiatric provider to be seamless. I was easily able to look through all of the providers in my area and narrow down by search until I found the right one.
Once you have selected a provider, you can schedule your initial 45-minute consultation. If your provider prescribes medication, they will send it directly to your local pharmacy for pick up. You can then schedule 15-minute follow-up appointments as needed. There is also the option to message your provider between appointments with questions or concerns.
Amwell Vs Competitors
Amwell is one of several online mental health treatment platforms. Amwell and its competitors Teladoc and Doctor on Demand offer similar services and pricing. They differ slightly in the age ranges that they serve, therapist selection, and the availability of coaching. Compared to its competitors, Amwell’s fees tend to be lower for psychiatry. However, Teladoc offers the most affordable rate for online therapy.
Amwell Vs Teladoc
Like Amwell, Teladoc offers therapy and psychiatry for a range of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Both platforms allow you to select your own provider, but Teladoc provides assistance with provider matching. When you sign up with Teladoc, they will ask you questions and then provide you with a list of providers that match your preferences. Both Teladoc and Amwell have a fee-for-service model, so there are no monthly subscription or sign-up fees.
Compared to Amwell, Teladoc costs slightly more for psychiatry and slightly less for therapy. The cost of psychiatry with Teladoc is $299 for an initial evaluation and $199 for follow-up visits. The cost of therapy is $99 per session. Both platforms accept health insurance and Teladoc serves teens and adults ages 13 and older. Teladoc is the parent company of BetterHelp, which currently offers subscription-based online therapy worldwide to individuals 18-years and older. To learn more about how subscription-based online therapy works, you can read more in our comprehensive review of BetterHelp.
Amwell Vs Doctor on Demand
Doctor on Demand offers many of the same features as Amwell. Both platforms provide therapy and psychiatry, allow you to select your own provider, and treat similar mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress, and postpartum issues. Doctor on Demand costs slightly more. The cost of psychiatry with Doctor on Demand is $299 for an initial evaluation and $129 for follow up visits. The cost of therapy is $129 for a 25-minute session and $179 for a 45-minute session. Doctor on Demand’s therapists are all licensed psychologists, so they all have a doctorate degree in psychology. Like Amwell, Doctor on Demand also accepts some health insurance plans, including Medicare, so actual costs may be lower.
One key difference is that Doctor on Demand offers 24/7 chat-based coaching support. Coaching is not meant to replace mental health treatment, but can help support your progress and provide assistance with making health and lifestyle changes. Doctor on Demand also allows children over age 10 to participate in therapy and psychiatry with a parent’s consent. Therefore, Doctor on Demand can serve a larger age range than Amwell.
How Amwell Has Evolved
Amwell’s primary business is providing the technology platform that allows health plans and systems to connect doctors with their patients. Their direct-to-consumer app, which was the focus of this review, is just one aspect of their business.
Amwell was founded in 2006 by Ido Schoenberg and Roy Schoenberg with the vision of connecting patients, providers, insurers, and innovators together to provide quality affordable healthcare. Together they have grown Amwell to be one of the largest telemedicine companies in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amwell grew exponentially, which led the company to go public in August, 2020. In 2020, Amwell had a total of 5.9 million virtual visits, which was an increase of 400% from the previous year.1 Currently, over 80 million members have Amwell as a covered benefit, more than 98,500 providers are part of the Amwell network, and more than 55 health plans partner with the company.
Amwell’s growth has not been without controversy. In 2015 Amwell filed a lawsuit against fellow telehealth platform Teladoc for patent infringement. The lawsuit was thrown out by a federal judge. In 2020, Teladoc filed a lawsuit against Amwell with similar claims.2 The two companies settled in 2022.3
Frequently Asked Questions About Amwell
What Credentials Do Amwell Providers Hold?
Amwell’s network of therapy providers includes doctoral-level psychologists and master’s level therapists. All providers are licensed in the states they practice and have additional training in providing telemedicine services. Currently, there are more than 350 psychologists, social workers, and therapists in the Amwell network.
How Do I Choose a Provider on Amwell?
After you sign up for an Amwell account you will be able to view the directory of licensed providers in your state and there are a couple of ways to choose one. You can choose a specific date and time you want to see a therapist or you can browse all providers and see their individual availability. There are even options to filter the directory by therapist gender and spoken language. This allows you to then view each therapist’s profile to see additional information such as their areas of specialty, years of experience, and treatment approach. For these reasons, Amwell earned 4 out of 5 stars in the “Therapist Matching or Selection” category of our scoring criteria.
Can I Change Providers?
Yes, if you do not feel like your provider is a good fit, you can always choose to stop scheduling appointments with them and select another provider for future appointments.
Who is Eligible for Medication?
Psychiatry with Amwell is only available to adults over the age of 18. Children and teens are not eligible for medication through Amwell at this time.
What Medications are Available?
Amwell providers may prescribe a wide range of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines. However, they do not prescribe controlled medications, such as benzodiazepines, of any kind. If your provider feels that you could benefit from a controlled medication, they may coordinate care with your primary care physician so they can prescribe you the controlled medication based on your psychiatrist’s recommendation.
Where Is Medication Management Available?
Psychiatric services with Amwell are available in all 50 US states.
How Do I Get My Medication?
If your provider feels that you could benefit from medication, they will send a prescription to your local pharmacy for pick up. Amwell does not offer medication shipping and the cost for your medications will depend on your pharmacy co-pay.
Can I use my FSA or HSA Funds?
Yes, Amwell does accept FSA and HSA funds benefits as a form of payment.
How Do I Cancel My Amwell Account?
Amwell does not charge you monthly subscription fees and you can simply stop scheduling appointments if you no longer wish to use Amwell’s services. If you would like to have your account canceled, you can contact customer support by phone at (855) 635-1393 or email at sup[email protected].
Does Amwell Offer Refunds?
If you would like a refund on an appointment that you have not yet attended, you can cancel the appointment up to 24 hours before the scheduled time for a full refund. If you cancel an appointment 24 hours or less before the scheduled time, you will be charged a $40 cancellation fee. For any questions or concerns about refunds, you can contact customer support by phone at (855) 635-1393 or email at [email protected].
Is Amwell HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Amwell is a secure HIPAA-compliant platform. The company takes steps to ensure that your information is kept private and secure. They earned 5 stars in the “Privacy & HIPAA” category of our scoring criteria. You can learn more by reading Amwell’s Privacy Policy and Amwell’s Terms of Use.
Final Verdict on Amwell
Amwell is ideal for adults seeking psychiatry and teens and adults seeking therapy for concerns like anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and women’s issues. Benefits of Amwell include the ability to select your own provider, fast scheduling, and evening and weekend appointments. The cost of Amwell’s therapy services are similar to other online mental health platforms and many different insurance plans are accepted. Compared to other platforms like Doctor on Demand and Teladoc, the cost of Amwell’s psychiatry services are more affordable.
Overall, my experience with selecting a provider and scheduling an appointment were positive. I was able to choose from several providers in my state and schedule an appointment the next day. I also appreciated that Amwell has providers with specialized training in treating emotional issues related to pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Amwell appears to be a good and affordable option for online therapy and definitely earned their 4 star overall rating during our independent review.
Summary Table of What Amwell Offers
| Cost of Online Therapy | $109 - $129 |
| Cost of Online Psychiatry | $109 - $279 |
| Insurance Accepted | Yes |
| Frequency of Appointments | Varies |
| Messaging with Provider Between Appointments | Yes |
| Provider Choices | Self Select |
| Can You Change Providers? | Yes |
| Speed to First Appointment | As little as 24 hours |
| Geographic Coverage | United States |
| Age Limitations for Therapy | 10+ |
| Age Limitations for Psychiatry | 18+ |
