10 Best Online Therapy Services We Tested in 2024: BetterHelp, Talkspace, More (2024)

Therapy

By

Nicole Gleichmann

Medically Reviewed by

Marni Amsellem, PhD

Updated on March 15, 2024

Everyday Health independently vets all recommended products. If you purchase a featured product, we may be compensated. Learn why you can trust us.

Best Online Therapy Services at a Glance

With virtual therapy, you no longer have to travel to a therapist’s office to prioritize yourmental health. Now, you have access to therapy anywhere you have an internet connection. Plus, virtual therapy may be more affordable than in-person visits (unless you have insurance that covers therapy), according to the American Psychological Association.

With many new teletherapy platforms launching in recent years, it can be hard to choose the right one. To help guide you toward a provider that’s right for you, our reviews team conducted extensive research into online counseling platforms and selected the best for various healthcare needs, preferences, and budgets. We based our selections on cost, accessibility, the therapist matching process, if the platform accepts insurance, medication management, and specialized therapy options, including those for the LGBTQ+ community.

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Our Top Picks for the Best Online Therapy Platforms in 2024

• Best overallBetterHelp
• Most affordable:Calmerry
• Best for cognitive behavioral therapy:Online-Therapy.com
• Best that takes insurance:Talkspace
• Best that can provide medication:Brightside
• Best personalized psychiatric care:Talkiatry
• Best for teens:Teen Counseling
• Best for on-demand appointments:Sesame
• Best for couples therapy:ReGain
• Best for treating alcohol use disorder:Monument

What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy providers offer a platform that allows you to work with a licensed mental health professional online. Many include video, phone, or text therapy sessions, along with a virtual room where you can message your counselor between visits. That kind of flexibility can offer more convenience than in-person therapy. When we surveyed 1,000 online therapy users in June 2023, the top three reasons for choosing online therapy versus in-person therapy were the comfort of being at home, more flexibility in appointment scheduling, and no travel time required.

There are different types of online therapy available, such as online therapy for anxiety, depression, family counseling, eating disorders, and trauma, among others.

Is Online Counseling Effective?

The results of more than 100 independent studies were published in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy in May 2021, comparing the efficacy of in-person therapy and online therapy. Significant improvements occurred in patients in both categories, with no significant difference in efficacy between the two formats.

According to Nora Feldpausch, MD, a psychiatrist in Colorado and the medical director of Mantra Health, a digital mental health provider for university students, its unique benefits make virtual counseling a great fit for certain folks. “Telehealth is just easier to access than in-person care for many people,” says Dr. Feldpausch. She notes that many patients and caregivers are unable to take time off from work for in-person appointments, and that telehealth appointments can be of particular benefit to elderly patients or those living with disabilities. But Feldpausch says that telehealth isn't for everyone, and it should never fully replace in-person care. “Telehealth and on-the-ground care are complementary to each other,” says Feldpausch. She believes that it’s important to work with patients on a case-by-case basis to find the best solution for each person, rather than merely focusing on the cheapest option or whatever their insurance covers.

Pros and Cons of Online Counseling

Benefits of Virtual Therapy

Online therapy offers a number of benefits, including:

• More accessible than in-person therapy, since it’s available wherever there’s an internet connection

• Different options for sessions, including phone, text message, and video

• Counselor messaging between sessions (available on select platforms) allows patients to message their therapist between sessions

• Digital platform functionality such as progress tracking, and tools such as virtual journals, activity plans, online courses, and worksheets

Virtual Therapy Downsides

For all its benefits, there are also disadvantages to online therapy, such as:

• Technological hurdles, including connectivity problems or difficulty navigating the platforms themselves
• The lack of in-person interaction, which may be off-putting to people who prefer to be in the same room as their therapist
• The lack of immediate support for those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or another mental health emergency
• Out-of-pocket costs, since not all providers and platforms accept insurance
• Limits to prescription options for certain controlled medications, which cannot be prescribed on online therapy platforms, according to the Center for Connected Health Policy

How Much Does Online Therapy Cost?

Online therapy can cost anywhere from $50 to $110 per week or $70 to $300 per session, depending on your plan or insurance coverage. In our June 2023 survey, close to 23 percent of respondents ranked affordability as the most important factor when considering online therapy, and about 45 percent ranked it as extremely important.

You can pursue two main types of online therapy, which vary in pricing. The first option is a therapy subscription plan like BetterHelp or Talkspace. These plans cost roughly $50 to $110 per week and are billed monthly. Prices vary depending upon factors like where you live and the frequency of therapy sessions. The second teletherapy option is pay-as-you-go pricing. You usually work directly with a mental health professional, who sets their own prices. These sessions may cost between $70 and $300 each, and you're charged at the time of your appointment. In our reviews team's survey of 1,000 online therapy users, 44 percent of respondents paid between $100 and $200 monthly for online therapy.

How to Save Money on Online Therapy

You can potentially reduce the cost of virtual counseling in a number of ways.

• Consider insurance. Some companies, like Talkspace, accept insurance and may be covered under your plan. But sometimes you can find a better online therapy platform that’s more affordable out of pocket. Explore your options. Additionally, you may be able to find a local in-network therapist who does video visits, meaning you would only need to cover your copay. Ask your insurer for an explanation of your plan’s mental health benefits.
• Ask about discounts. Platforms may offer lower prices on your first month for students, members of the military, or teachers. BetterHelp and its extensions, including Teen Counseling and ReGain, offer financial assistance to those who qualify, reducing weekly online therapy costs to as little as $40 per week.
• Use an FSA or HSA account. You may be able to use your flexible spending account (FSA) orhealth savings account (HSA) to pay for virtual therapy. These are pre-tax accounts, so you end up saving money on your sessions.
• Pause your subscription. Some platforms allow you to pause your monthly subscription, so you can take a break from payments when needed.
• Ask your employer about an EAP. Some employers offer an employee assistance plan (EAP), which may provide discounts on certain virtual counseling providers.

What to Consider Before Purchasing an Online Therapy Subscription

When trying to decide whether an online therapy subscription is right for you, ask yourself the following questions.

• How much do you want to spend? Weekly prices start at around $40 but go up to $99 depending upon which service you use, what you want from the plan, and where you live. Select a plan with a price you’re comfortable with.
• Do you need immediate help? If prioritizing your mental health means you need more urgent, consistent support, an in-person therapist may be a better fit for you. Remember, if you have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
• Are you hoping for a diagnosis? Few providers on this list offer mental health diagnoses. Those therapists who do often charge a price that’s more than most insurance copays.
• Do you need medications? Most online therapists do not prescribe medications, so you may want to speak with your primary care physician about what type of practitioner to see.
• Do you have a private space? You’ll probably want a quiet, private space for virtual therapy visits. If you’re struggling to find one, you might consider text therapy. As one focus group participant told us, “Being able to have a full text session for an hour was better than trying to discuss sensitive topics where I could be overheard by my family.”

What to Look For in an Online Therapist

When searching for a therapist online, start with the basics. Your therapist should:

• Be licensed to practice in your state
• Have experience working with people with similar needs to yours
• Be open to your preferred form of communication, whether that’s video, phone, text, or a combination
• Have any characteristics that may be important to you, such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, or religious background
• Have relevant certifications or specialized training, if you’re interested in a specific type of therapy such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
• Possess a level of experience, personality, and approach that suits you, such as someone who can challenge you with tough questions or guide your progress with weekly homework assignments
• Display markers of professionalism in every interaction with you

How Can I Find a Therapist Who Is LGBTQ+?

For those in the LGBTQ+ community facing personal or mental health challenges, seeking support from online therapists practicing affirmative therapy can be invaluable. Affirmative therapy, focusing on intersectionality per the American Psychological Association (APA), recognizes how various factors like race, sexuality, and age influence one's experiences. It offers a safe space to address mental health issues and work through life challenges.

Our evaluation of online therapy platforms emphasized inclusivity, ensuring LGBTQ+ individuals find affirming therapists who understand their specific needs. For example, Betterhelp and Talkiatry pairs users with licensed counselors based on their preferences, including LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ couples can request an LGBTQ+ therapist and change their therapist if they prefer a different match.

How to Prepare for Your First Online Counseling Appointment

How We Chose Our Best Online Therapy Services

Our reviews team determined our top picks for the best online therapy options based on the following criteria:

• Cost:We chose companies that provide a range of costs, with a preference for companies that offer at least one budget-friendly plan.
• Customer service:Exemplary customer service is crucial with a virtual service like online therapy. We contacted each company on this list via phone or email to verify their responsiveness and helpfulness. We paid close attention to whether customer service teams answered promptly and cheerfully, shared their name, and worked to resolve our issue.
• Customer satisfaction:We recorded each company’s score on BBB and Trustpilot and read countless reviews to get a sense of overall customer satisfaction. We paid close attention to whether companies responded to complaints and negative reviews, how long it took them to respond, and whether the customer found the resolution satisfactory.
• Modes of therapy:We researched the modes of therapy offered and favored companies that had multiple types of therapy (such as CBT and psychoanalysis) for the user to choose from.
• Therapist credentials:We verified the credentials of each company’s therapists. We prioritized companies that have therapy teams that possess a variety of credentials (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional therapists, and licensed mental health counselors) or have particular expertise in their field (such as couples counselors or counselors trained in CBT).
• Years in operation:We examined companies that have been in operation for a long period of time as well as ones that have served as disruptors in the marketplace.
• System usability and access:The online therapy system should be easy to use and intuitive. Companies should, ideally, offer multiple formats for their therapy sessions and make it easy to switch therapists or cancel subscriptions altogether.
• Ease of registration: Companies should have an easy registration process that puts as much control into the user’s hands as possible. That includes a streamlined registration process with, ideally, control over who your therapist is and when you can meet with them.

How We Research and Evaluate Online Counseling Platforms

Our reviews team extensively scrutinizes online therapy platforms to make sure we only recommend those we believe will make a difference to our readers. According to our June 2023 survey, trust is the second most important factor behind affordability when it comes to deciding between online therapy platforms.

Together, our team has researched prominent brands by mystery shopping the platforms, understanding the experiences of real customers, and consulting with independent mental health professionals to better understand why people seek out online therapy. Our method includes going past the paywall to test online therapy platforms for ourselves, conducting in-depth interviews with focus groups, and deploying surveys to gain real customer insights.

We used our collected data to develop a scorecard to evaluate the platforms we tested ourselves. Read more about how we researched and tested online therapy platforms in our online therapy review methodology.

The Bottom Line

Online therapy isn’t for everyone, but the convenience, potential cost savings, and added perks make it win out over in-person sessions for quite a few folks. Still, with so many online therapy providers, choosing the best one for you can be daunting.

Our pick for the best online therapy is BetterHelp. Every membership includes weekly therapy sessions, unlimited counselor messaging, and group sessions. Plus, it has high customer reviews on trusted sites. Those looking for medication support may prefer Brightside, which offers psychiatry along with online therapy. If using insurance is a priority, Talkspace partners with a variety of insurance companies and EAPs.

Other online counseling platforms may be better for meeting specific needs. For instance, parents of teens will be more involved in the therapy process on Teen Counseling. Someone looking for couples therapy or therapists familiar with LGBTQ+ issues may want to consider ReGain or BetterHelp, respectively. And Calmerry’s low-cost messaging plan may be attractive to individuals who prefer written communication with their therapist. With so many different online counseling options, it’s helpful to ask yourself what matters most to you, and to read through our top picks to find one that fits.

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