Is Recovery.com Legit? A Transparent Look at How We Work

Listing Is Free and Every Type of Program Is Welcome

Any treatment provider can be listed on Recovery.com at no cost. We believe people deserve access to the full picture, not just the facilities with the biggest marketing budgets.

Today, we list over 20,000 providers, including:

• Inpatient and outpatient programs
  
• Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and harm reduction services
  
• Providers that accept Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance
  
• Sober living homes, detox centers, and dual-diagnosis programs
  
• Luxury and self-pay facilities
  

No matter your location, background, or budget, our goal is to help you see all your options in one place and decide what’s right for you.

We Don’t Sell Leads or Accept Referral Fees

Let’s be clear: we do not sell leads, collect referral fees, or get paid when someone contacts a specific provider.

We also don’t operate a call center. You never have to give us your name, phone number, or email just to browse. And when you’re ready to reach out, you do so directly through the contact details provided in each listing.

Your choice stays your own. That’s how it should be.

What ethical concerns arise when treatment websites sell leads or accept referral fees, and how can patients protect themselves when searching for care online?

People searching for help deserve clarity, not manipulation disguised as guidance. To protect themselves, patients should look for signs of transparency: platforms that clearly explain how they’re funded, that don’t require personal information just to browse, and that let you contact providers directly—without a call center or a sales funnel in the way. A trustworthy platform gives power back to the person searching. The more control you have over your choices, the safer and more authentic the path to care becomes.

Dr. Malasri Chaudhery-MalgeriChief Clinical Officer at Recovery.com

Some Providers Do Advertise—But They’re Vetted and Clearly Marked

Some treatment centers choose to advertise on Recovery.com to gain additional visibility. Those listings are clearly labeled as advertiser-supported—and advertising is never a requirement for being listed.

Importantly, advertising on our platform comes with responsibility. We recently partnered with LegitScript, a trusted third-party certification company. In the U.S., any clinical provider advertising on Recovery.com must be LegitScript-certified, meaning they meet strict standards for safety, transparency, and ethical marketing.

We want you to know that if a provider is being promoted on our platform, they’ve earned that spot through a verified process, not just by paying for it.

We Maintain and Monitor Provider Information

Our research team works continuously to ensure the treatment center profiles on our platform are accurate and up to date. We collect and update publicly available information and encourage providers to claim their listings to confirm or revise details.

That said, we do not independently verify licenses, accreditations, or certifications. If those credentials are listed in a provider’s profile, they are based on information publicly shared by the provider or found through trusted sources.

We focus on maintaining accuracy, but we encourage every visitor to do their own due diligence before choosing a treatment center.

Your Privacy Is Protected

You can explore Recovery.com without creating an account or submitting personal information. And because we don’t run a call center or broker leads, you stay in control of who you contact and when.

We’re Led by Experts, Clinicians, and People in Recovery

Our team includes licensed clinicians, behavioral health researchers, and people in long-term recovery. That mix of expertise and lived experience shapes everything we do—from how we design our tools to how we write our content.

We also have a dedicated Advisory Board of professionals in mental health, addiction treatment, policy, and nonprofit leadership who help guide our standards and keep us accountable.

We believe platforms like ours should be built with empathy, accuracy, and humility. So we made sure ours is.

We Don’t Hide Controversial Providers—We Show the Full Picture

We aim to list all licensed and legitimate treatment centers—regardless of whether they’ve claimed their profile or received public criticism. Transparency matters. People should have access to all available information so they can make informed choices.

If a provider is licensed and operating, we believe it’s better to show the facts and let the public decide.

We Prioritize Equity and Access

Recovery.com is here to help everyone—not just those who can afford private care. We highlight treatment centers that offer:

• Sliding-scale payment options
  
• Public insurance (like Medicaid and Medicare)
  
• Low-cost or free community services
  
• Culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and identity-affirming care
  

We also publish free educational resources to help people understand their options and navigate the process—from how to support loved ones, compare insurance coverage, and what type of treatment is needed.

We strongly believe that access shouldn’t be a barrier to getting help. At Recovery.com, we aim to be part of the solution to addressing these barriers to treatment for everyone.

Still Have Questions?

We get it. You should ask questions. This is your health, your recovery, or your loved one’s future.

We’re committed to being the kind of platform that earns your trust—not with buzzwords, but with action. If something on Recovery.com feels unclear or inaccurate, we want to hear from you.

You can always reach us directly at [email protected]. We’re here to help.