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Looking for a Cerebral alternative?
A factual look at how shrinkMD compares to Cerebral, and who each one suits.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Last reviewed July 17, 2026 · Editorial policy
Cerebral offers online medication management and therapy through insurance and self pay subscriptions. shrinkMD is a cash pay, physician led practice. Here's a neutral comparison.
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Cerebral and shrinkMD, side by side
| Cerebral | shrinkMD | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Accepts insurance and offers self pay subscriptions. | Cash pay only. We don't bill insurance; a superbill is available on request for possible out-of-network reimbursement. |
| Self pay price | Medication management around $60 per month self pay. | From $295 initial, $110 to $215 follow-ups, optional $49 per month membership. |
| Controlled substances | Does not prescribe controlled substances, including stimulants and benzodiazepines. | Never. No stimulants, benzodiazepines, or other controlled substances. |
| Who you see | Prescribers and therapists. | Board certified psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. |
| States | Available in all 50 states. | Launching in Nebraska and Maine, with more states licensed and launching. |
| Model | Subscription medication management and therapy. | Full initial evaluation, then the same clinician for follow-ups. |
Is shrinkMD a fit?
Who shrinkMD is, and isn't, for
A good fit if: you want a board certified psychiatrist or psychiatric NP, a full initial evaluation, the same clinician over time, and clear cash pricing.
Not the right fit if: you want to use insurance, or you need controlled medication. Neither Cerebral nor shrinkMD prescribes controlled substances.
Making the switch
Why patients move from Cerebral to shrinkMD
Cerebral built a broad subscription model that bundles medication management and therapy at a monthly price. That structure works well for people who want a low friction way to try mental health support, and for those already stable on a medication who mainly need refills. The tradeoffs are also real: subscription models tend to prioritize volume, clinicians historically turned over quickly, and the depth of the initial evaluation can be shorter than what a physician led practice would run.
The most common reasons patients look for an alternative are wanting more time with a psychiatrist on the first visit, wanting the same clinician month after month instead of a rotating team, and wanting a clinical plan that isn't shaped by a subscription structure. If you want a longer evaluation, physician led decision making, and true continuity, shrinkMD is built around those things.
There's also a practical difference in what you pay for. Cerebral's monthly fee bundles the service; at shrinkMD you pay per visit at a transparent published price, so you can see exactly what a first evaluation costs, what follow-ups cost, and what the optional membership costs. No auto-renewal surprise, no bundle you have to keep for the medication to keep coming.
How shrinkMD differs
How shrinkMD's evaluation differs from Cerebral's intake
The first visit at shrinkMD is a full 45 to 60 minute video visit with a board certified psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. That length isn't a marketing claim, it's what accurate psychiatric diagnosis actually requires: a real history, past treatments, medical context, current stressors, sleep, substances, and what daily life looks like. From there your clinician builds a plan you both agree on, and if medication is part of it, it's usually prescribed that day.
Follow-ups are then with the same clinician who did the intake. That continuity is what makes real treatment possible, because your clinician remembers your baseline and can adjust the plan based on your actual response. It's harder to do that when the person seeing you today isn't the person who wrote the initial plan.
“Dr. Refai is very quick to respond to questions in the portal, and his team makes sure you get seen quickly so problems get handled before they go too far.”
Individual experiences. Outcomes vary. Care is personalized to each patient.
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is shrinkMD a subscription like Cerebral?
No. shrinkMD is per-visit cash pay. There's an optional $49 per month membership that covers small things like message-based follow-ups and prescription requests between visits, but it isn't required and can be canceled anytime. Visits themselves are billed individually at published prices.
Does shrinkMD offer therapy the way Cerebral does?
shrinkMD is a psychiatry practice, focused on diagnosis, medication management, and coordinated care. We coordinate with therapists where therapy is part of the plan, and can refer you to qualified therapists, but therapy sessions are provided by therapy focused practices rather than by shrinkMD directly.
Can shrinkMD prescribe what Cerebral prescribes?
For non-controlled psychiatric medications, yes: SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and non-stimulant ADHD medications. Neither shrinkMD nor Cerebral prescribes controlled substances like stimulants or benzodiazepines.
How do I transfer my records from Cerebral to shrinkMD?
After your first shrinkMD visit, we can send a records request to Cerebral with your written authorization. In the meantime, bring a list of current medications, doses, when you started them, and any notes on side effects or what's worked. That's usually enough to build a starting plan.
Ready to start with shrinkMD?
shrinkMD is physician led, cash pay online psychiatry for adults, with no controlled substances and the same clinician over time. See if it's the right fit, then join the waitlist for your state.
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