How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- BetterHelp and Talkspace suit people who want a weekly subscription with messaging between sessions.
- Grow Therapy and Rula are stronger picks when insurance coverage matters most.
- Brightside and Cerebral add medication management alongside therapy.
- Online-Therapy.com pairs structured CBT worksheets with live sessions.
- This article is general information, not medical advice, and online therapy is not a crisis service.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 BetterHelp | Fast matching and messaging | From $70 per week | Free trial |
 Talkspace | Insurance-friendly subscriptions | From $69 per week | No |
 Brightside | Therapy plus medication | From $95 per month | No |
 Grow Therapy | Widest insurance coverage | See website | No |
 Rula | Pay-per-session with insurance | From $150 per session self-pay | No |
 Cerebral | Medication management | From $85 per month | No |
 Online-Therapy.com | Structured CBT programs | From $50 per week | No |
 7 Cups | Free peer support | Free; therapy from $150 per month | Yes |
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The best online therapy services
Starting priceFrom $70 per week
Free planFree trial
BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform, with tens of thousands of licensed therapists. After a short questionnaire, most users are matched within a day, and the plan includes one weekly live session plus unlimited messaging with the therapist between sessions. Sessions can run by video, phone, or live chat, which helps people who are not comfortable on camera.
The main limits are payment and scope. BetterHelp is mostly self-pay, billed weekly as a subscription, and the core plan does not include psychiatry or medication management. Financial aid exists for people who qualify, but it is not automatic. For straightforward talk therapy with fast access, BetterHelp remains the default choice for many first-time users.
What we like- Largest therapist network
- Weekly live session plus messaging
- Fast matching, often within a day
Watch out for- Mostly self-pay
- No psychiatry on the core plan
- Subscription billing confuses some users
Starting priceFrom $69 per week
Free planNo
Talkspace pairs subscription therapy with insurance billing, which is its biggest advantage. Members with coverage often pay a standard copay per session, and self-pay therapy runs from $69 to $109 a week depending on the plan. Psychiatry is available as a separate service, with evaluations and follow-up visits, so people who need medication do not need a second platform.
Matching typically takes two to three days, slower than BetterHelp. Plan details also vary by state and insurer, so the exact cost and session format should be confirmed during signup. For insured users who want one platform for therapy and psychiatry, Talkspace is a strong pick.
What we like- Takes most major insurance plans
- Psychiatry available
- Messaging plus live sessions
Watch out for- Self-pay rates are high
- Matching takes longer than some rivals
- Plan tiers vary by state
Starting priceFrom $95 per month
Free planNo
Brightside focuses on anxiety and depression care with a clear structure. Psychiatry plans start at $95 a month, therapy at $299 a month, and a combined plan at $349 a month for self-pay users. With insurance, many members pay a copay instead. Providers follow measurement-based care, tracking symptoms over time and adjusting treatment when scores do not improve.
The combined model suits people who want therapy and medication managed together. Self-pay therapy is pricier than subscription rivals, and medication plans require regular follow-ups. For people whose main concern is depression or anxiety and who want one coordinated team, Brightside is worth a close look.
What we like- Combined therapy and medication plans
- Accepts many insurance plans
- Structured depression and anxiety care
Watch out for- Therapy alone costs $299 a month self-pay
- Age limits vary
- Medication plans need regular check-ins
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Grow Therapy takes a different approach from subscription platforms: users browse therapists and prescribers in their state and book per session, with insurance billed directly. It accepts more plans than most rivals, including some Medicaid and Medicare plans, and the average insured cost is reported around $21 per session. That model appeals to people who want to choose a specific provider rather than accept an algorithm match.
Self-pay pricing is set by each provider, so costs vary. There is no weekly subscription, which some users prefer and others find less predictable. For insured users who value provider choice, Grow Therapy is one of the best options available.
What we like- Accepts 125-plus insurance plans
- Users pick their own provider
- Available in all 50 states
Watch out for- Self-pay rates are set per provider
- No subscription option
- Availability varies by state
Starting priceFrom $150 per session self-pay
Free planNo
Rula, formerly Path Mental Health, connects patients with therapists and prescribers and bills insurance where possible. Typical insured copays run around $15 per session, while self-pay therapy costs about $150 per session. The network covers therapy, psychiatry, couples, family, and child care, which makes it useful for households with different needs.
Coverage and availability vary by state, and self-pay users pay a premium compared with subscription platforms. For insured families that want one network for several kinds of care, Rula offers unusual breadth.
What we like- Broad payer network
- Therapy, psychiatry, couples, and family care
- Large provider network
Watch out for- Self-pay sessions are pricey
- Medicaid coverage varies by state
- Booking depends on local availability
Starting priceFrom $85 per month
Free planNo
Cerebral combines medication management with therapy, with plans reported from $85 to $325 a month depending on services. Medication-only plans are the cheapest entry point, while combined plans cost more. Some major insurance plans are accepted, which can bring costs down to a copay.
Cerebral has faced regulatory scrutiny in past years over prescribing practices, so prospective users should read recent coverage and confirm current policies before signing up. For people whose main need is ongoing medication management with therapy support, it remains a widely used option.
What we like- Medication management plus therapy
- Accepts some major insurance plans
- Regular prescriber check-ins
Watch out for- Therapy-only value is weaker
- Plan prices vary widely
- Past regulatory scrutiny deserves a read
Starting priceFrom $50 per week
Free planNo
Online-Therapy.com pairs live sessions with a structured cognitive behavioral therapy program. Worksheets, a journal, and activity plans sit alongside the weekly session, which suits people who like homework between sessions. Self-pay prices run from about $50 to $110 a week depending on session frequency and messaging level.
The trade-offs are no insurance billing and no psychiatry, plus a smaller network than the largest platforms. For self-pay users who want a structured, skills-based approach rather than open-ended talk therapy, the program format is a genuine advantage.
What we like- CBT worksheets and journal included
- Weekly live sessions
- Lower self-pay entry price
Watch out for- No insurance billing
- Smaller therapist network
- No psychiatry
Starting priceFree; therapy from $150 per month
Free planYes
7 Cups is the only service here with a genuinely free tier. Trained volunteer listeners are available around the clock for anyone who needs someone to talk to, and the service can be used anonymously. That makes it a useful first step for people who are unsure about therapy or cannot afford it yet.
Peer listeners are not licensed therapists, and that distinction matters. The paid therapist tier, around $150 a month, is messaging-focused rather than built around weekly video sessions. For free support today, 7 Cups has no rival on this list, but it does not replace professional treatment.
What we like- Free trained listeners around the clock
- Low-cost entry
- Anonymous support option
Watch out for- Listener support is not therapy
- Therapist tier is messaging-focused
- No insurance billing
How we chose
We compared services on vendor pricing pages, insurance coverage lists, and widely cited reviews, focusing on services US adults can use today. We favored services with licensed therapists, clear pricing, and a distinct strength. We did not claim hands-on testing, and where prices conflicted across sources we used the most recent published range or wrote See website. State licensing rules mean availability varies, so confirm your state is served before paying for any plan you are considering.
How to pick the right service
Start with payment. If you have insurance, check which services bill your plan before comparing features, because a copay changes the math completely. Grow Therapy, Rula, and Talkspace lead on coverage, while BetterHelp and Online-Therapy.com suit self-pay users. If cost is the barrier, look at Open Path Collective style reduced-fee options and financial aid programs, and treat free peer support as a bridge, not a replacement.
Then match the format to your needs. Weekly video sessions suit most people. Messaging-heavy plans help those with awkward schedules or phone anxiety. Medication needs point to Brightside, Talkspace psychiatry, Cerebral, or Rula. Finally, use the first sessions as a trial. Fit with a therapist matters more than any feature list, and every service here lets you switch providers. If the first match feels wrong, change early rather than drifting away from care.
Also check practical details before paying. Session length varies, from 30 to 50 minutes, and some plans limit how many live sessions you get each month. Cancellation rules matter too: subscription services bill until you cancel, and a few make cancellation harder than signup. Read the cancellation steps in advance, and set a calendar reminder to review the plan after the first month.
A note on safety: online therapy is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis in the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency. If a service feels unsafe or unprofessional, stop and report it to the platform and, where relevant, the state licensing board.
Frequently asked questions
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Research supports online therapy for many common concerns, including anxiety and depression, when delivered by licensed therapists over several weeks. Fit, consistency, and the right modality matter more than the medium.
Does insurance cover online therapy?
Often yes. Talkspace, Grow Therapy, Rula, Brightside, and Cerebral bill many major plans, though coverage varies by state and plan. Confirm your benefits during signup before the first session.
Can I switch therapists if the match is wrong?
Yes. Every service here allows switching, usually at no extra charge, and most let you change from inside your account settings without a phone call or a waiting period. A poor first match is common and does not mean therapy itself is a bad fit.
Is my information private?
Services must follow privacy rules for health data, but policies differ on data sharing and messaging storage. Read the privacy policy and ask what happens to messages if you cancel.
What if I need medication?
Choose a service with psychiatry, such as Talkspace, Brightside, Cerebral, or Rula. Subscription therapy-only platforms will refer you elsewhere for prescriptions.
How much should I budget per month?
Self-pay users should budget roughly $200 to $440 a month for weekly therapy, or less with insurance copays. Medication plans add a monthly fee plus any pharmacy copay. Financial aid and reduced-fee directories can lower the cost further for people who qualify.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.betterhelp.com/pricing
- https://www.talkspace.com/pricing
- https://www.brightside.com/pricing
- https://growtherapy.com
- https://www.rula.com
- https://cerebral.com/pricing
- https://www.online-therapy.com/pricing
- https://www.7cups.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.