Head-to-head · AI Mental Health Chatbots
Alongside vs Clare
Alongside leads on 0 checks, Clare on 2, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreAlongside · 7.7/10
- Free planonly Clare
- Most featuresClare · 5 of 5
Alongside scores higher on our rubric for ai mental health chatbots: 7.7 against 7.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.
Clare offers free plan; Alongside doesn't. Clare offers conversation memory; Alongside doesn't publish it.
Alongside is the better fit for schools needing safety and administration tools. Clare is the better fit for users preferring phone and WhatsApp conversations.
- Alongside fits best
Schools needing safety and administration tools
- Clare fits best
Users preferring phone and WhatsApp conversations
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Side by side
| Feature | Alongside 7.7/10 Visit ↗ | Clare 7.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.7 | 7.2 |
| Ranking | #5 in AI Mental Health Chatbots | #7 in AI Mental Health Chatbots |
| Best for | Schools needing safety and administration tools | Users preferring phone and WhatsApp conversations |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 7 days |
| Compliance | 2FA | GDPR, HIPAA |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Enterprise |
| Features Alongside 4/5 · Clare 5/5 | ||
| Guided exercises | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioral coaching | ✓ | ✓ |
| Human escalation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crisis resources | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conversation memory | Not published | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Access platforms | web, iOS, Android | phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Alongside is a clinician-designed wellness platform for K-12 schools, with an AI chatbot that provides personalized coaching, self-reflection, journaling, goal setting, behavioral exercises, and social-emotional skill building. It is… Read the review → |
Clare is an AI mental-health companion for people seeking self-help through reflection, emotional processing, and behavioral-health guidance. It supports phone-call conversations, WhatsApp messaging, and SMS, with content covering… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Alongside — where it wins
- Combines CBT, DBT, ACT, and mindfulness skill building
- Includes crisis detection, 988 links, and school notifications
- Supports school integrations, screening, and district dashboards
Where it doesn't
- Paid subscription with no free plan
- Designed primarily for adolescents, especially middle and high school students
- Supplements rather than replaces professional mental-health services
Clare — where it wins
- Phone calls, WhatsApp messaging, and SMS access
- Conversation memory supports continuity across interactions
- Behavioral exercises, mindfulness, and crisis guidance included
Where it doesn't
- Premium costs $99.99 annually
- Free access is limited to 9 am–5 pm daily
- Not intended for diagnosis or treatment
- Alongside7.7/10 · 7-day trial
A school-focused AI wellness platform with safety workflows and district administration tools.
Visit AlongsideFull verdict → - Clare7.2/10 · Free plan · paid from $99.99/yr · 7-day trial
A phone- and WhatsApp-first AI companion with memory, exercises, and crisis guidance.
Visit ClareFull verdict →
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All AI mental health chatbots comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update