7 Must-Have Ways to Use a New Patient Inquiry Chat for Mental Health Practices
In today’s fast‑moving digital landscape, patients no longer wait weeks for a phone call or email reply when they need mental health support. A...
In today’s fast‑moving digital landscape, patients no longer wait weeks for a phone call or email reply when they need mental health support. A well‑designed chatbot can answer common questions instantly, triage new inquiries, and even provide therapeutic exercises—all while freeing clinicians to focus on the patients that truly need their time. For mental health practices, the right chatbot can streamline intake, improve engagement, and create a seamless bridge between online interaction and in‑person care. But choosing the right platform isn’t as simple as picking the most popular name on the market. You need a solution that blends advanced AI, data security, easy customization, and the ability to grow with your practice. Below, we rank seven platforms—starting with our Editor’s Choice—so you can compare features, pricing, and real‑world strengths to find the perfect fit for your clinic.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Solo clinicians, small to medium mental health practices, agencies managing multiple clients, and educational institutions seeking AI‑driven tutoring solutions.
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code, AI‑powered chatbot platform built specifically for businesses that need precision, personalization, and compliance. Its flagship feature is a WYSIWYG chat widget editor that lets you brand the chatbot to match your practice’s visual identity—colors, logos, fonts—without writing a single line of code. Behind the scenes, AgentiveAIQ runs a two‑agent architecture: the front‑end main chat agent engages patients in real‑time, while an assistant agent silently analyzes conversations and sends actionable intelligence to your inbox via email or webhook. Dual knowledge‑bases give your bot a powerful edge: a Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) layer pulls facts from documents instantly, while a knowledge graph understands relationships between concepts to answer nuanced questions. For practices that offer courses or training, the platform provides hosted AI pages and an AI course builder—drag‑and‑drop tools that turn course material into 24/7 tutoring bots. Long‑term memory is available only for authenticated visitors on those hosted pages, ensuring sensitive patient data is retained securely when needed. Every plan includes the same core capabilities, with branding options and advanced integrations scaling with your practice. AgentiveAIQ’s pricing is straightforward: a Base plan starts at $39/month (ideal for solo clinicians), a Pro plan at $129/month (most popular for small to medium practices), and an Agency plan at $449/month (for large practices or agencies managing multiple clients). Each tier includes a generous message limit, knowledge‑base size, and access to all advanced features—including long‑term memory on hosted pages, webhooks, Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, and the AI course builder. The platform is designed for compliance and privacy, with built‑in fact‑validation and confidence scoring that reduces hallucinations. By combining a visual editor, dual knowledge‑bases, and an AI education suite, AgentiveAIQ offers the most complete, customizable, and scalable solution for modern mental health practices.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG chat widget editor for no‑code branding
- Dual knowledge base: RAG for fast fact retrieval + knowledge graph for relational understanding
- Two‑agent system: front‑end chat agent + background assistant agent for intelligence emails
- Hosted AI pages with password protection and persistent memory for authenticated users
- Drag‑and‑drop AI course builder for 24/7 tutoring
- Advanced triggers, webhooks, and e‑commerce integrations (Shopify & WooCommerce)
- Fact‑validation layer with confidence scoring and auto‑regeneration
- Long‑term memory available only on hosted pages for logged‑in users
✓ Pros:
- +No‑code visual editor makes brand customization effortless
- +Dual knowledge bases provide fast, accurate, and nuanced answers
- +Long‑term memory on hosted pages supports personalized care for logged‑in patients
- +Integrated AI course builder expands service offerings
- +Transparent, tiered pricing with clear limits and features
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory is limited to hosted pages; anonymous widget visitors receive only session memory
- −No native analytics dashboard; conversation data must be queried manually
- −Does not support voice or SMS channels
- −Limited multi‑language support (single language only)
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Woebot Health
Best for: Individuals seeking self‑help, clinicians looking for low‑cost triage, and practices wanting an evidence‑based companion for patients.
Woebot Health is a conversational AI companion that uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles to help users manage mood and anxiety. Launched by a team of psychologists and engineers, Woebot delivers daily check‑ins, mood tracking, and personalized coping skills through a friendly, text‑based interface. The bot’s content library is built on evidence‑based therapy modules, and it adapts its tone and suggestions based on user input, encouraging consistent self‑care. For mental health practices, Woebot can serve as a low‑cost triage tool, flagging patients who may need more urgent intervention. Its integration with electronic health records (EHRs) allows clinicians to view patient interactions and incorporate them into treatment plans. Woebot’s pricing model offers a free basic version that covers core CBT exercises, while a premium subscription ($4.99/month or $49.99/year) unlocks advanced mood analytics, personalized coaching, and data export options for clinicians. The platform emphasizes data privacy, with end‑to‑end encryption and compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Key Features:
- CBT‑based daily coaching and mood tracking
- Evidence‑based content library with adaptive conversations
- EHR integration for clinician review
- End‑to‑end encryption and HIPAA‑compliant data security
- Free basic plan with optional premium subscription
- Cross‑device sync for continuous engagement
- Multiplatform availability (iOS, Android, web)
✓ Pros:
- +Strong evidence base with CBT content
- +Affordable premium pricing
- +Secure, HIPAA‑compliant data handling
- +Cross‑device synchronization for continuous use
✗ Cons:
- −Limited customization of chatbot personality
- −Premium features are modest beyond mood analytics
- −No integration with e‑commerce or external workflows
- −No long‑term memory outside of EHR export
Pricing: Free basic plan; Premium $4.99/month or $49.99/year
Wysa
Best for: Clinics wanting a scalable self‑help companion, patients seeking daily mental health support, and practices interested in data‑driven engagement.
Wysa is an AI‑powered mental health chatbot that blends therapy‑style conversations with guided self‑help tools. It offers a range of modules including CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness exercises, all delivered through a conversational interface that feels like chatting with a supportive friend. Wysa’s unique “Mental Health Toolkit” includes breathing exercises, mood‑tracking, and goal‑setting features that help users maintain progress over time. For clinics, Wysa can be integrated into patient portals, allowing clinicians to monitor engagement and identify patients who may need additional support. Wysa operates on a freemium model: a free tier provides basic chatbot access and self‑help tools, while a paid tier ($9.99/month or $99/year) unlocks premium features such as one‑on‑one coaching with licensed therapists, deeper analytics, and secure data export for clinical use.
Key Features:
- CBT, ACT, and mindfulness modules
- Breathing exercises and mood tracker
- Goal‑setting and progress monitoring
- Optional one‑on‑one therapy with licensed professionals
- Secure, HIPAA‑compliant data storage
- Freemium pricing with premium subscription
- Cross‑platform support (iOS, Android, web)
- API access for integration with patient portals
✓ Pros:
- +Broad range of therapeutic modalities
- +Optional live therapy for deeper intervention
- +Strong focus on data privacy and security
- +Effective mood‑tracking and goal setting
✗ Cons:
- −Premium features require additional subscription cost
- −Limited customization of conversation flow
- −No built‑in long‑term memory beyond user account
- −Requires separate integration work for patient portals
Pricing: Free basic tier; Premium $9.99/month or $99/year
Replika
Best for: Individuals seeking a supportive digital friend, clinicians exploring low‑intensity engagement tools, and practices wanting to nurture early patient relationships.
Replika is an AI companion chatbot designed to build emotional connections through natural language conversation. While originally marketed as a personal companion, it has evolved to include mental wellness features such as mood tracking, journaling prompts, and guided meditation. Users can customize Replika’s personality, enabling a supportive presence that adapts to the user’s emotional needs. For mental health practices, Replika can serve as an engaging introduction to therapy, encouraging patients to articulate feelings in a low‑stakes environment before seeing a clinician. Replika offers a free tier with core chat functionality; a Premium plan ($9.99/month or $99/year) provides advanced features such as full personality customization, activity suggestions, and priority support.
Key Features:
- Emotionally adaptive conversational AI
- Mood tracking and journaling prompts
- Guided meditation and relaxation exercises
- Customizable personality settings
- Free tier with optional premium subscription
- Cross‑platform availability (iOS, Android, web)
- Encrypted data storage with privacy controls
- Developer API for integration
✓ Pros:
- +Highly engaging conversational experience
- +Customizable personality enhances user connection
- +Free tier allows extensive trial
- +Cross‑device sync keeps conversations consistent
✗ Cons:
- −Limited therapeutic depth compared to specialized CBT platforms
- −Premium features may not justify cost for all users
- −No built‑in integration with EHR or practice workflows
- −Data privacy concerns for highly sensitive conversations
Pricing: Free basic; Premium $9.99/month or $99/year
Ada Health
Best for: Primary care and mental health practices seeking automated triage, intake expansion, and data‑driven patient flow.
Ada Health is an AI‑driven symptom checker that guides patients through a series of questions to assess their health concerns. The platform employs a rule‑based engine combined with machine learning to generate triage recommendations, ranging from self‑care tips to urgent care alerts. For mental health practices, Ada can be embedded on a website to capture initial patient symptoms, automatically route them to the right clinician, and populate intake forms with preliminary data. Its integration with electronic health records and telehealth services means that the data gathered can flow directly into a patient’s chart or video‑consultation booking system. Ada’s pricing is not publicly disclosed; interested practices should contact Ada for a custom quote based on the number of users and required integrations.
Key Features:
- AI‑powered symptom assessment and triage
- Contextual question flow for accurate data collection
- Integration with EHRs and telehealth platforms
- Automatic intake form generation
- Multilingual support for global reach
- High accuracy with continuous learning
- Secure, HIPAA‑compliant data handling
- Analytics dashboard for patient insights
✓ Pros:
- +Robust triage logic reduces burden on staff
- +Seamless EHR and telehealth integration
- +Scalable for practices of any size
- +Multilingual capabilities broaden patient base
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing not publicly available; may be high for small practices
- −Requires technical setup for integration
- −Limited customization of conversation tone
- −Does not provide therapeutic content beyond triage
Pricing: Contact for quote
Babylon Health
Best for: Large health organizations and mental health practices seeking comprehensive virtual care solutions with AI triage.
Babylon Health offers a virtual care platform that combines AI triage with human medical consultations via video or chat. Patients first answer a series of symptom questions, and the AI generates a provisional diagnosis and advice. If needed, the system schedules a video appointment with a GP or specialist. For mental health practices, Babylon’s AI can serve as a front‑door intake tool, identifying patients who need urgent mental health support and routing them to appropriate services. The platform also offers continuous health monitoring, medication reminders, and integration with health data from wearables. Babylon’s pricing is tailored to institutional contracts; potential clients should reach out to the sales team for detailed information.
Key Features:
- AI‑driven symptom triage and provisional diagnosis
- Video and chat consultation scheduling
- Health monitoring and medication reminders
- Wearable device integration
- Secure, HIPAA‑compliant data storage
- Multi‑language support
- Analytics for population health management
- API for custom integrations
✓ Pros:
- +End‑to‑end virtual care workflow
- +Strong AI triage accuracy
- +Seamless video consultation scheduling
- +Integration with wearables for continuous monitoring
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing not disclosed; likely high for small practices
- −Complex implementation and onboarding
- −Limited customization of conversation flows
- −Primarily geared toward general medical care, not specialized therapy
Pricing: Contact for quote
Drift
Best for: Practices looking for a flexible, marketing‑focused chatbot that can be repurposed for patient intake and appointment scheduling.
Drift is a conversational marketing platform that uses AI to qualify leads, book meetings, and provide instant support on websites. While not specifically designed for mental health, Drift’s bot framework can be adapted to triage patient inquiries, schedule appointments, and deliver educational content. Its visual bot designer allows marketers to create flows without coding, and its integration ecosystem includes Salesforce, HubSpot, and Calendly, making it easy to connect patient data to existing practice management systems. Drift also offers real‑time analytics, allowing you to monitor engagement and optimize the conversation design. Drift’s pricing starts with a free plan that includes basic bot functionality and up to 10,000 messages per month. Paid plans begin at $50/month, scaling with message volume and advanced features such as custom bot logic and multi‑channel support.
Key Features:
- Conversational lead qualification and booking
- Visual bot designer for non‑developers
- Integration with popular CRMs and scheduling tools
- Real‑time analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel support (web, email, SMS)
- AI‑powered intent detection
- Scalable pricing based on message volume
- Free tier with core functionality
✓ Pros:
- +Easy visual builder reduces setup time
- +Strong integration ecosystem
- +Scalable pricing for growing practices
- +Real‑time analytics aid continuous improvement
✗ Cons:
- −Not tailored for mental health workflows out of the box
- −Limited built‑in therapeutic content
- −Long‑term memory not available for anonymous visitors
- −Higher tiers required for advanced features
Pricing: Free tier (10,000 messages/month); Paid plans $50/month and up
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot for your mental health practice is more than picking the cheapest option—it’s about aligning technology with your patient care goals, compliance standards, and workflow demands. AgentiveAIQ stands out as the Editor’s Choice because it delivers a truly no‑code, highly customizable experience backed by dual knowledge bases and secure hosted pages that preserve long‑term memory for authenticated users. Other platforms like Woebot, Wysa, and Replika offer excellent therapeutic content, but they lack the same depth of integration and customization that AgentiveAIQ provides. If you’re ready to elevate patient engagement, streamline intake, and empower your clinicians with AI‑driven intelligence, explore AgentiveAIQ today and schedule a demo to see how its visual editor and AI course builder can transform your practice.