Key Takeaways

  • BetterHelp is our best online therapy platform overall due to the site’s extensive therapist network, extra features, and competitive pricing.
  • We’ve learned that online therapy users without insurance can expect to pay between $200 and $450 a month for virtual therapy. With insurance, copays can be as low as $20 or less per visit.
  • Through surveys, focus groups, and testing, we determined important factors to consider when choosing an online therapy platform, including pricing, types of therapy offered, therapist availability and connection methods, data privacy, and ease of use.

We know that getting access to affordable mental health care as soon as you need it has become, for some, an insurmountable task. Virtual therapy can help connect you to a licensed professional therapist or online psychiatrist who can help—fast. Whether you’re looking for online therapy that takes insurance or a platform where you’ll pay out of pocket, we want you to find the right match for your needs.

To help you narrow your search, our Handbook team researched 70 sites, signed up, and tested 14 excellent options. As part of our process, we created an index of the four most critical concerns users face when choosing online therapy: affordability, data privacy, availability, and inclusivity. We deeply researched each platform against our centralized standards in these categories to provide you with an index to show how well they perform. These are the top seven we recommend.

Our best overall online therapy pick

Best overall
Best therapist care according to our survey
A network of over 35,000 licensed therapists
Therapist matches in as little as 48 hours
Group sessions included in your subscription
20% off with HELPGUIDE20
Affordability
9.4 94%
Data privacy
9.4 94%
Availability
9.2 92%
Inclusivity
9.4 94%

7 best online therapy services of 2024

Here are our top online therapy platforms: 

We recommend these platforms if you are looking for a specific type of care:

Compare the best online therapy platforms of 2024

Services Individual therapy Individual therapy; Couples therapy Individual therapy for adults; Psychiatry Individual therapy; Couples therapy; Teen therapy; Psychiatry Individual therapy; Couples therapy Individual therapy for adults; Couples therapy; Psychiatry Individual therapy; Couples therapy; Psychiatry
Ways to Connect Messaging; Text, audio, or video sessions Messaging; Text, audio, or video sessions Messaging; Video sessions Messaging; Text, audio, or video sessions Messaging; Video sessions Audio or video sessions Audio or video sessions
Monthly Cost for Individual Therapy $260–$360 $200–$440 $300–$349 $276–$436 $260–$360 Depends on provider Depends on provider

The best online counseling reviews

BetterHelp: Best overall

Affordability
9.4 94%
Data privacy
9.4 94%
Availability
9.2 92%
Inclusivity
9.4 94%
20% off with HELPGUIDE20

Features

  • Four live therapy sessions monthly.
  • Message your therapist anytime.
  • Digital journal.
  • Group sessions and webinars.
  • Financial assistance program available.

BetterHelp Pricing:

Individual therapy: $260–$360 per month.

Pros and cons

Pros Therapist-matching questionnaire. Easy to switch providers. Helpful bonus features like a digital journal, group sessions and webinars, and worksheets. Cons Therapist matching can take a few days. Provider response time may vary. Insurance isn’t accepted.

Insights from our tester

BetterHelp says that it has more than 30,000 licensed therapists on the platform. Our Handbook Team tester went through the therapist matching and switching process to find out how easy it was for users to find a good therapist fit. Here are a few of the features we found that can help you find the right therapist:

  • A therapist-matching questionnaire that considers your gender identity, sexual orientation, areas of focus, and therapist expectations.
  • Ability to chat with your therapist to get to know their approach before booking an appointment.
  • Easy process to switch therapists anytime.
  • Ability to choose a new therapist based on a list of matches.

Our tester was especially impressed by the bonus features you can explore to support your therapy journey outside of interactions with therapists. “It’s cool that you can keep a journal and choose whether or not to share it with your therapist,” said one tester. “You can also set goals with your therapist, and there are so many classes to choose from to supplement your experience.”

A BetterHelp subscription also includes:

  • A digital journal
  • Group sessions and webinars
  • Worksheets (assigned by your therapist)

What other users are saying

In our October 2023 survey of online therapy users, BetterHelp users had the highest satisfaction rates with their therapists. Eighty-six percent of respondents rated their therapists as good or very good—that’s almost 9 out of 10 BetterHelp users we surveyed.

Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with can help you get the most out of your therapy sessions. “Having a good rapport with your therapist and being provided with a safe, non-judgmental space is a critical part of the therapeutic process,” explains GinaMarie Guarino, therapist and founder of Psychpoint in New York City. “Feeling seen, understood, and accepted without judgment creates a space for healing, so it is very important to feel seen by your therapist.”

Best overall

Why we chose BetterHelp as the best overall

BetterHelp offers an online therapy subscription with a wide selection of therapists, a process that makes it easy to switch providers, and useful extra features like a digital journal. In our survey, BetterHelp users were happier with their therapist matches compared to other platforms.

Who should use BetterHelp: BetterHelp is the best option for those seeking extra features with their online therapy subscription and who want to connect with their therapist prior to their first session

Who should not use BetterHelp: Those seeking an online therapy platform that takes insurance or who require psychiatric care should choose a different platform.

Read our in-depth BetterHelp review for more information.

therapist quality on online therapy platforms according to Handbook Team october 2023 survey

Online-Therapy.com: Best for making lasting changes

Affordability
9.8 98%
Data privacy
7.7 77%
Availability
6.4 64%
Inclusivity
7.7 77%

Features

  • Unlimited messaging included with every plan.
  • Couples therapy available.
  • Yoga and meditation videos.
  • Digital journal and worksheets.
  • Financial aid program available.

Online-Therapy.com Pricing:

  • Basic (messaging only): $200 per month.
  • Standard (messaging and one live session per week): $320 per month.
  • Premium (messaging and two live sessions per week): $440 per month.
  • Couples therapy: $440 per month.

Pros and cons

Pros Wide variety of bonus features and resources. Specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Financial aid available for qualified candidates. Cons Doesn’t accept insurance. Doesn’t offer therapy for teens or families. Therapist availability can vary by location.

Insights from our tester

We found that Online-Therapy.com offers the most resources outside of therapy for you to learn about behavioral change and, more importantly, to put it into practice. In addition to unlimited messaging and the option for live sessions with your therapist, the platform includes lessons with worksheets, a digital journal, an activity planner, yoga videos, and meditation videos with all their plans.

Online-Therapy.com specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a treatment approach that identifies unhelpful patterns of thinking or behavior, teaches people coping skills, and encourages a shift to more helpful behaviors and thoughts. We liked that the platform’s therapists are trained in delivering CBT, and its resources are geared toward helping individuals stay accountable to their goals for behavioral change.

CBT is well-researched in treating individuals with depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and addictions. Ling Lam, a licensed therapist and academic lecturer at Santa Clara University, explains that one of CBT’s strengths is how it leverages intentional practices like the activities assigned outside of therapy sessions. “I think journaling, CBT worksheets—these are important parts of any therapy, CBT or not.”

Since CBT relies heavily on your own initiative in making the changes, we recommend Online-Therapy.com if you are ready to make changes and could benefit from the many resources the platform offers to support your therapy goals.

Our Online-Therapy.com tester had to switch from their first provider match because of poor availability. They found it easy to switch but didn’t find many provider options once they searched for therapists with expertise in a certain area. Although our tester had a positive experience with the provider they chose, this clinician didn’t mention the extra resources like the worksheets and digital journal, and our tester had to explore these for themselves.

What other users are saying

Online-Therapy.com offers financial aid for those who qualify. Our tester found the application and approval process quick and straightforward. In our focus group of online therapy users, one participant told us, “I had to apply for financial aid on Online-Therapy.com to actually get the plan I’m currently on, which was 30% off. It was really a good deal for me.”

Why we chose Online-Therapy.com as best for making lasting changes

Online-Therapy.com includes an abundance of features with each membership to help you work on what you learn in therapy. These features are all informed by CBT to support you in changing behaviors or patterns. However, your experience may vary depending on how your therapist uses them in your sessions, and you might have to seek them out for yourself.

Who should use Online-Therapy.com: Those with specific goals they hope to accomplish through therapy will benefit from Online-Therapy.com’s CBT-focused approach.

Who should not use Online-Therapy.com: If you’re seeking a therapist for ongoing counseling rather than to treat a specific concern or prefer a different approach to therapy than CBT, you should pursue other platforms.

Brightside: Best for psychiatry and medication management

Affordability
7.9 79%
Data privacy
7.3 73%
Availability
5.1 51%
Inclusivity
7.8 78%
$60 off with promo code HELP60

Features

  • Lessons included with membership.
  • Unlimited messaging with your providers in every plan.
  • Accepts insurance.
  • Plans for psychiatry and therapy.

Brightside Pricing:

Psychiatry: $95 per month.

Therapy: $299 per month.

Psychiatry + therapy: $349 per month.

Pros and cons

Pros Unlimited messaging with providers included in every plan. Accepts insurance. Tracking and learning features included in the platform’s app. Cons Must contact customer service to switch providers. Accepts some insurance plans, but sign-up is required to see whether your plan is in-network.

Insights from our tester

For some, a combination of therapy and psychiatry can be more beneficial than just therapy alone. While psychiatrists can prescribe and help you manage medication, therapists cannot. But, having both a psychiatrist and a therapist can mean coordinating your appointments between two separate offices. Brightside Health, or Brightside, is an online mental health platform that offers a plan that combines therapy and medication management through psychiatry. We liked that Brightside integrates mental health providers on one platform, and you can message your providers anytime.

Your provider’s notes can be shared with any other providers on the platform, so switching therapists or between your therapy or psychiatry providers is a seamless experience.

From our tester

“When I had my first meeting with my new therapist, she was able to access notes in my account to see what I had been working on in the past. It was nice not to have to start from scratch with a new therapist, which can sometimes be overwhelming when trying new providers.”

Similar to Talkspace and BetterHelp, our testers found that Brightside first matches you with a provider. If you want to switch providers, you’ll have to request one through customer service, which may give you a few therapist bios to choose from. We didn’t like this process as much as being able to view provider profiles ourselves, but we still liked having the choice. Testers were able to switch providers at any time and found Brightside customer service very helpful in the matching process.

What other users are saying

We had a positive experience with the platform’s app, particularly the tracking and learning features that came with their Brightside subscription. One tester found the library of self-care videos helpful to watch in between sessions to work on managing their anxiety and stress.

“The app is such a great feature,” said the tester. “It has charts that help you track your anxiety and stress levels and offers easy access to book and join appointments. It also has a Resources section with short self-care videos to help develop tools to manage feelings and resources for crisis situations if needed.”

Brightside providers are in-network with some insurance plans, including Medicare Part B. However, we found it a bit of a hassle to sign up for an account first to see whether our plan was in-network.

Why we chose Brightside as best for psychiatry and medication management

We liked that Brightside integrates online therapy and online psychiatry on one platform. The care coordination and customer service were responsive and helpful, and its providers are in-network with some insurance plans, including Medicare Part B.

Who should use Brightside: We recommend Brightside for those looking to combine their online therapy and online psychiatry needs into one convenient platform.

Who should not use Brightside: Brightside does not treat kids or teens, and the psychiatrists on the platform cannot prescribe controlled substances, including many ADHD medications.

To learn more about Brightside, read our in-depth Brightside review.

Talkspace: Best for using insurance coverage

Affordability
9.0 90%
Data privacy
7.3 73%
Availability
9.8 98%
Inclusivity
7.8 78%
$85 off with promo code HELPGUIDE85

Features

  • Messaging included with all plans.
  • Four live sessions in plans with video therapy.
  • Plan with workshops to learn new skills.
  • Couples therapy, psychiatry, and teen therapy available.
  • Accepts insurance.

Talkspace Pricing:

  • Messaging therapy: $276 per month.
  • Video + messaging therapy: $396 per month.
  • Video + messaging + workshops: $436 per month.
  • Couples therapy: $436 per month.
  • Psychiatry: $299 for initial evaluation, $175 for each follow-up session.

Pros and cons

Pros Accepts insurance. Psychiatry plans available. Provides detailed therapist profiles. Cons Session formats don’t include phone calls. Psychiatry plan most expensive on this list. 30-minute therapy sessions are shorter than traditional appointments.

Insights from our tester

Talkspace is one of the few online therapy platforms that accept insurance. Its providers are in-network with major insurance plans such as Aetna, Cigna, and Optum, and our testers found it easy to find out how much you’ll have to pay for therapy on the platform without having to sign up for an account first.

Our Talkspace tester had a similar experience to our BetterHelp tester with finding the right therapist fit. The platform matches you with therapists in your state according to your concerns and gender preferences. When switching therapists on Talkspace, you can see a detailed profile of your therapist matches. Therapist profiles included information such as:

  • Name.
  • License information.
  • Video introduction.
  • Short biography.
  • Areas of focus.
  • Experience level.
  • Therapist availability, including working days, upcoming time off, and times they’re most likely to be active on the platform.

We liked that the provider profiles had enough details to help our tester choose a therapist who supported their concerns and had availability that worked for their schedule.

From our tester

“Although my first match didn’t work out, I liked that Talkspace showed when my therapist matches were more likely to be active so that I could pick someone who could answer my messages during the evenings when I was more available.”

Talkspace also provides psychiatry services. Though its out-of-pocket fees for psychiatry and medication management can add up, Talkspace psychiatry can still be a cost-effective option if you have an in-network insurance plan.

What other users are saying

About one in two of our October 2023 survey respondents (49 percent) paid for online therapy using their insurance coverage. Without insurance, Talkspace had the highest per-session costs for its Video + Messaging Therapy plan at $99. However, if covered, a Talkspace session could cost as low as a $22 copay per session (for Carelon members, according to the Talkspace website).

We found that if Talkspace verifies your coverage, but its providers aren’t in-network with your insurance plan, the platform will still offer a discount of $120 off your first month.

We want to highlight that the New York City Health Department offers free mental health support for New York City teens on Talkspace through a program called NYC Teenspace. As of this writing, teens ages 13 to 17 can get Talkspace’s Video + Messaging Therapy plan for free until they turn 18. Teens can sign up for the platform with their parents’ permission and have access to the Talkspace Go app, which has interactive lessons and exercises for teens.

Why we chose Talkspace as best for using insurance coverage

It’s worth checking if Talkspace is in-network with your insurance plan. If you’re covered, you could find Talkspace a more affordable online therapy or psychiatry option. We liked its detailed therapist profile features, and that messaging therapy is included with all plans.

Who should use Talkspace: If you’re hoping to use your insurance for online therapy, Talkspace accepts almost every major insurance provider.

Who should not use Talkspace: Those hoping to pay out of pocket for their online therapy can find more affordable options than Talkspace.

Read our in-depth Talkspace Review for additional details.

ReGain: Best for couples

Affordability
7.0 70%
Data privacy
9.4 94%
Availability
9.1 91%
Inclusivity
5.3 53%

Features

  • Platform specializes in relationship therapy.
  • Separate logins for you and your partner.
  • Shared chat room with therapist.
  • Separate digital journals for individual reflection.
  • Group webinars for learning relationship skills.

ReGain pricing:

Couples therapy: $260–$360 per month.

Pros and cons

Pros Specializes in relationship therapy, with separate logins for both partners. Interactive group webinars available. Virtual chat available 24/7. Cons Doesn’t accept insurance. Can be difficult to match with a suitable provider.

Insights from our tester

ReGain is BetterHelp’s platform specifically for relationship therapy. It offers live therapy sessions for couples and a running schedule of group webinars called “Classes.” We liked the webinars because partners can learn more about relationship skills such as communication, conflict resolution, and parenting, which can make therapy more effective.

Our testers liked that they were able to get an appointment quickly (within one to three business days) and that most therapists on the platform had evening hours. This was convenient timing for testers who work and have children. Testers put their children to bed and logged on to do therapy at 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The first therapist one testing couple was matched with was not a good fit, but the second therapist was a great fit. The testers noted that both of them felt heard and that the therapist provided some interesting ideas to help them reconnect.

Though its plan costs are in the same range as BetterHelp, a ReGain subscription gives you and your partner access to four monthly live sessions and unlimited group sessions. You and your partner each have a separate login and digital journal, but you have a shared chat room with your therapist.

What other users are saying

We learned that group-based resources were important to people seeking relationship therapy online. In our October 2023 survey, about one in three ReGain users felt that group-based activities (e.g. group therapy, workshops, or support groups) were essential to their online therapy experience.

Experts explain that group learning can help you feel more prepared to take advantage of your therapy sessions. “If clients were better prepared and informed, then therapy would be more effective,” says Lincoln Stoller, a professional counselor and founder of Mind Strength Balance in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. “Most new clients don’t know what to expect [from therapy] and have not organized themselves.”

Classes are interactive, meaning attendees can ask questions and participate in discussion periods along with the lessons. There is often more than one class scheduled in a day, and they’re organized under the following topics:

  • Anxiety & Depression
  • Skill Building Series
  • Relationships
  • Wellness
  • LGBT
  • Grief
  • Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • BetterHelp
  • Anger Management
  • Substance Abuse

Why we chose Regain as best for couples

ReGain offers couples therapy and extra learning sessions for partners in the form of group webinars. We found the webinar topics to be wide-ranging and scheduled often enough for busy couples to be able to attend.

Who should use ReGain: Anyone seeking couples counseling can benefit from ReGain’s user-friendly interface and three-way calling for sessions.

Who should not use ReGain: ReGain is not the right platform for those seeking one-on-one counseling from their therapist.

Read our in-depth ReGain Review for additional details.

Sesame: Best psychiatry without insurance

Affordability
4.3 43%
Data privacy
7.3 73%
Availability
7.7 77%
Inclusivity
7.9 79%

Features

  • Therapists and psychiatrists on the platform.
  • Couples therapy sessions available.
  • Pay-per-session visits.
  • Offers medication delivery for certain prescriptions.
  • Same-day appointments available.

Sesame pricing:

Pay per session: Session costs vary by provider and location.

Pros and cons

Pros Same-day appointments available. Pay-per-session structure may be more financially accessible for some. Medication delivery available for some prescriptions. Cons Provider availability can vary by location. Session costs vary depending on location and provider.

Insights from our tester

Sesame Care, or Sesame, is a telehealth platform that has providers with same-day availability and an easy signup process that quickly connects you to mental health care. We know how important it is to get mental health care when you need it. According to one survey, the national average wait time for therapy services is 48 days, almost seven weeks. Getting an appointment with a psychiatrist can take even longer.

Warning

If you need help urgently, don’t wait for an appointment. Crisis care is available to support your mental health immediately. Call or text 988 to connect to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Online therapy on Sesame can also be a good choice if you prefer to browse and choose from a therapist based on their profiles instead of getting matched with one. We liked that Sesame has clear provider profiles and availability schedules so you can choose the best provider for you.

However, the number of licensed providers available on Sesame varies by location. Depending on your state, you may have a different level of choice regarding provider availability. For example, as of this writing, users in Vermont can choose from 11 providers, whereas users in Alaska only have two providers to choose from.

Our tester found it easy to search for a variety of online mental health care providers in their area using Sesame. Providers are organized according to the services they offer, including online mental health consults, online couples therapy sessions, online therapy sessions for new patients, prescription refills, and online psychiatry consults. Each provider’s profile includes a schedule of the earliest available appointment times. Sesame also features a tool to filter your results for providers you can see within two hours, though this was only available on the mental health consult and prescription refill options for our tester.

What other users are saying

When searching in Charlotte, North Carolina, on a Sunday night, our tester found online mental health consult and prescription refill appointments available that same night, some in under an hour. There were five providers in our tester’s area for therapy appointments, and one had open appointment times the next day. The others had appointments available on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday that week. While only one provider was listed for online psychiatry consults in the area, they had appointments available the next morning starting at 10:00 a.m.

It can be hard to commit to a monthly subscription if your budget changes from month to month. Sesame can be a good choice if you want a no-frills experience with live online therapy sessions. Appointments are booked and paid per session, so you’re not locked into a monthly subscription. But since you’re only paying for provider sessions, the platform doesn’t offer extra mental health resources like digital journals or extra learning. Sesame does offer post-visit messaging with certain providers. This feature is only available with providers who choose to participate and is limited to four days of messaging after your visit for $19.

Why we chose Sesame as best psychiatry without insurance

Sesame can quickly connect you to online therapy and psychiatry services with same-day appointments, but provider availability can vary by location. Its pay-per-session structure can make online therapy more accessible for flexible budgets and those without insurance coverage for mental health care.

Who should use Sesame: Sesame is a good option for those seeking to pay by appointment without getting locked into a subscription.

Who should not use Sesame: Those seeking extra features like webinars, group sessions, or online learning won’t find it in Sesame’s “no frills” approach.

Zocdoc: Best provider directory

Affordability
3.1 31%
Data privacy
6.9 69%
Availability
9.7 97%
Inclusivity
9.6 96%

Features

  • Individual therapy, psychiatry, and couples therapy providers available.
  • Pay-per-session visits.
  • See provider appointment availability without having to sign up.
  • Same-day appointments available.
  • Search for providers using 14 filter categories.

Zocdoc pricing:

Pay per session: Session costs vary by provider and location.

Pros and cons

Pros Search tool makes it easy to find the right provider. Same-day appointments available. Pay-per-session visits create added flexibility. Cons Can be long waiting times for appointment confirmation. Session costs vary depending on location and provider.

Insights from our tester

We liked Zocdoc because its provider search tool was one of the easiest for our testers to use and filter for the right provider for them. You may be looking for a provider of a certain gender identity, who speaks a certain language, or who is in-network with your specific insurance plan.

Our testers found it easy to get started with Zocdoc. Unlike the other online therapy platforms we researched, you don’t have to sign up for an account to use the search tool. For therapy, Zocdoc asks a few questions about your location and the type of therapy you’re looking for. You can filter your search results further using the following categories:

  • Preferred appointment date.
  • Preferred appointment time.
  • Visit reason.
  • Specialty.
  • Distance (If you’re looking for in-person therapy).
  • Type of visit (Whether it’s a virtual video visit or an in-person visit).
  • Gender.
  • Patient age range.
  • Modality (Couples, individual, family, or group therapy).
  • Provider ethnicity.
  • Provider languages spoken.
  • Provider sexual orientation.
  • Provider faith.
  • Treatment approaches.

Although providers on Zocdoc may also have same-day availability, we found that the time to confirm your appointment wasn’t as quick as on Sesame. After making an appointment through Zocdoc, the provider reaches out (typically via email) to confirm your appointment again. Because of this extra step, we found that sometimes providers weren’t available at the requested appointment times as shown on the platform.

What other users are saying

Zocdoc was the only one of our top platforms that had a way to filter providers by both sexual orientation and ethnicity. We think it’s important to have the ability to choose a provider that makes you feel seen and comfortable sharing your experiences.

I wanted someone who could connect with me culturally.  Because I think there’s just a lot of things that I feel like that therapist would maybe understand that maybe someone that isn’t from my culture wouldn’t. So I wanted that choice.

Focus group participant, online therapy user

In our October 2023 survey, online therapy users indicated that affordability, positive reviews, and insurance coverage were among the top deciding factors when choosing an online therapy platform. We found it helpful that provider profiles displayed information such as user reviews, in-network insurance plans, and whether providers offered sliding scale fees. But we also noticed that not all providers have their out-of-pocket fees on their Zocdoc profiles.

Why we chose Zocdoc as best provider directory

Zocdoc has a detailed search tool with filters to help you find a provider you’re comfortable with and who accepts your insurance. Though the platform shows provider availability, you’ll still need to wait for the provider to confirm your appointment through email, which can add to your wait.

Who should use Zocdoc: If choosing your provider is important to you, Zocdoc offers an extensive provider directory and the ability to narrow down your search through multiple categories.

Who should not use Zocdoc: Zocdoc’s varying pricing and appointment availability may not work for those who need to know their budget and schedule in advance.

Other brands to consider

We tested many other online therapy platforms in order to find the best. Though they didn’t make it into our top recommendations, these platforms might be right for your specific situation.

Talkiatry is an online psychiatry provider available in 43 states. It’s a large network of virtual psychiatry providers treating patients as young as five who have an in-network insurance plan. Any patients under 18 will require treatment consent from a parent or guardian. Users can switch providers anytime, and Talkiatry’s providers offer psychiatry services and medication management. They can also refer you to a therapist to provide supportive care. Unlike Brightside, Talkiatry doesn’t have an app or extra resources that can integrate your mental health care with its providers. Instead, the platform uses the HIPPA-compliant Healow app to connect patients directly with their provider for messaging and video sessions.

In between sessions with your psychiatry provider, you can message them through Talkiatry’s platform. Our tester reviewed her message history and reported, “My current psychiatrist responds back within three hours each time.”

Talkiatry billing is pay-per-session, so you won’t have to worry about a membership fee or monthly subscription, and you can switch providers at any time. Although the cost of a session with Talkiatry varies by your provider and insurance plan, copays may range from $20-$50 per session.

Unfortunately, this platform isn’t yet widely available for everyone. Its providers are in-network with a few insurance plans, and the platform doesn’t accept out-of-network patients or those who want to pay out of pocket. As of this writing, it’s currently unavailable in North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and Delaware.

Talkiatry’s website clarifies that not all conditions and patients are a good fit for virtual treatment. The platform does not provide treatment for certain complex conditions, such as schizophrenia and eating disorders, which require in-person care. Talkiatry specializes in treating the following conditions:

  • Anxiety
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Substance use disorder

We recommend Talkiatry if you’re in-network with its providers, live in one of the 43 eligible states, and are looking for pay-per-session online psychiatry providers.

“I was going through intense anxiety, and finding a psychiatrist in person was impossible. The closest ones to me were an hour away as I live in a relatively small town. Additionally, seeing a psychiatrist seems more difficult than finding a therapist. I wanted to find something quick and online, and Talkiatry was the first platform to pop up. I was specifically looking for someone who could prescribe me medications, and that was the biggest draw for me with Talkiatry.” -Online Talkiatry user

Calmerry is a subscription-based online therapy platform with three plans: 

  • Messaging: $228 per month.
  • Messaging + One Live Video: $298 per month.
  • Messaging + Four Live Videos: $360 per month.

The platform has a reflection chatbot with daily prompts, and unlimited messaging is included with every plan. 

We didn’t like that provider choice may be limited depending on location. Our tester had a difficult time finding providers that fit their needs and were only offered three possible providers by customer service. With brief 30-minute live sessions, sometimes our tester didn’t get the full session time with their provider if the provider entered late and had more appointments to attend right after. 

We recommend Calmerry if you prefer connecting with your provider regularly through messaging. 

Open Path Collective is a directory of providers who offer lowered rates to make therapy more accessible. To book with providers, you’ll have to become a member by paying a one-time fee of $65 for a lifetime membership. You’re eligible for a membership if you:

  • Cannot afford the full cost of therapy.
  • Don’t have insurance coverage or are underinsured.
  • Have an annual household income below $100,000.

Providers on Open Path Collective offer members sessions that cost between $40 to $70. Student interns in the network offer therapy for $30 per session, which Lam recommends considering. “Actually, sometimes there are very experienced therapists who may not be a good fit for [you], and sometimes there are interns and trainees who are more affordable and who actually have that therapeutic presence and that sort of personal connection [you] can feel,” he says.

Similar to other networks of therapy providers, Open Path Collective doesn’t offer messaging or other features with its membership. 

Mental health resources for underserved populations

We believe mental health care should be accessible to everyone, and individuals should be able to find therapists who can relate to their unique identities. 

In researching online therapy platforms, we took note of the resources and directories for underserved minorities. For example, networks like Inclusive Therapists offer therapy for intersectional identities. 

Therapy for Black Girls is a great mental health resource (including a blog and podcast by a licensed therapist) for Black women and girls. It has a provider directory to find providers who can provide supportive care. 

Similarly, Therapy for Black Men is a directory of providers specializing in creating access to mental health care for Black men. It also has a financial assistance program to provide free therapy sessions for Black men.

Brands we don’t recommend

In our research, we encountered some online therapy platforms that we thought weren’t safe for our readers. We advise our readers to avoid Cerebral, an online platform offering therapy and psychiatry. Cerebral has a history of overprescribing controlled medications, making it difficult for its users to cancel their subscriptions, and sharing patient data with advertisers. As of May 2022, Cerebral providers can no longer prescribe controlled substances. 

We also can’t recommend the online therapy platform 7 Cups, a chat-based platform that advertises “free online therapy and counseling.” However, messaging with a therapist is actually $150 per month, the “free” messaging is either with an AI chatbot or a volunteer “listener.” Listeners on 7 Cups have no credentials and aren’t verified to be safe. We do not recommend 7 Cups because of its misleading “free therapy” claim and its listener chat, which can be unsafe for vulnerable users looking for mental health support.

Handbook’s research into online therapy platforms

of research
7,500+   hours
of research
researched
70   platforms
researched
tested
14   platforms
tested
surveyed
1,200   people
surveyed
interviewed
20   people
interviewed
consulted
60+   experts
consulted

There are many different options out there when it comes to online therapy services. Not every site offers therapist-matching services. Some simply serve as directories, where it’s up to you to search through the listings and connect with professionals. Other online therapy platforms allow you to apply search filters for factors like location, gender, faith, and age. Others have you complete an assessment, then pair you with a suitable therapist. 

Collectively, the Handbook Team has put in more than 7,500 hours of research, testing, and evaluation to review different online therapy platforms, down to the fine print. We wrote this review to guide you in finding a provider who can best fit your mental health care needs.

Learn more about our online therapy review methodology.

Online therapists may not be the most appropriate resource to help in a mental health crisis. If you or someone you know is a danger to themselves or others around them, it is an emergency, and cannot wait for an online therapist’s response.

Don’t wait. You can find help immediately by:

All the above options will connect you with trained professionals who can provide crisis support. You can find even more resources, including international options, on our helpline directory page.

What is online therapy?

Online therapy, also known as virtual therapy or online counseling, is a way to receive therapy virtually on your mobile device, laptop, or personal computer. Unlike traditional in-person therapy, which takes place at a therapist’s office, online therapy enables a patient to connect with a qualified therapist from the comfort and privacy of their own home. To attend an online therapy session, all you need is an internet connection, a device with a microphone and camera, and a safe and quiet space.

Online therapy vs in-person therapy

While both online and in-person therapy can be an effective treatment for mental and emotional health problems, the biggest difference is how treatment is delivered. Online therapy platforms may offer messaging, live texting, weekly phone calls, or live video chats. But it’s the latter that gives people the closest experience possible to traditional, in-person therapy, which means it’s most likely to offer the same rewards.

The ability to communicate between sessions with a therapist can be valuable, but most experts agree that online therapy is most effective when it includes regular face-to-face sessions. That’s because body language and other nonverbal cues play an important role in how we communicate as human beings. Facial expressions, mannerisms, posture, and tone of voice are all forms of communication, and subtleties here can be critical in helping your therapist pick up on inconsistencies between your verbal and nonverbal responses.

Face-to-face interactions with a therapist, whether online or in person, can also help create a connection by building trust. It’s much easier to do that when you’re face to face, rather than exchanging written messages or speaking over the phone.

Benefits of online therapy

  • Convenience: Online therapy allows you to access help from anywhere as long as you have a fast, reliable internet connection. It eliminates the time and money spent traveling to and from appointments, arranging for childcare, or taking time off work.
  • Comfort and safety: Seeing an online therapist from the comfort and security of your own home may make it easier to open up about your feelings. For those with mobility issues, chronic illness, or a condition that makes it challenging to leave home, online therapy can be ideal.
  • Selection: With online therapy, you aren’t limited to local therapists. Regardless of where you live, you’ll have access to a greater selection of qualified therapists. That means a greater likelihood of finding someone you trust who specializes in the treatment you need. Plus, online therapy platforms often make it easy to switch therapists until you find the right match.
  • Ease of communication: The ability to communicate with your therapist between live sessions to share your emotions and problems in real-time can be very helpful. The messaging feature of many online therapy platforms also serves as a valuable way to track your progress and monitor any setbacks.
  • Privacy: For some people, there is still a stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health problems. It may feel easier to receive treatment online than to visit a therapist in person and risk being seen in the waiting room or parking lot.

Drawbacks of online therapy

  • Technical issues: One of the biggest challenges of online therapy is the potential for technological issues. Without a fast, reliable internet connection and device, you won’t be able to complete a video chat session with your therapist. What’s more, even with reliable connections and equipment, internet outages can still occur. It’s important to consider personal limitations with technology as well. Some people may struggle to navigate online platforms.
  • Loss of emotional connection: With online therapy, patients don’t share the same physical space as their therapist. Even with video sessions, that loss of in-person intimacy can make it harder to connect emotionally.
  • Unqualified providers: Online services may come with a higher risk of falling prey to an unqualified or disreputable provider. Make sure to check a therapist’s credentials carefully.

How to get the most out of online therapy

The biggest benefit from any kind of therapy comes when you find the right therapist. Making that happen online can take time and effort, so be prepared to ask questions, read reviews and take advantage of free introductory sessions. Do your research before you proceed with a particular platform and therapist, and be open to change if you decide it’s just not working out.

It’s also helpful to be very clear about what you hope to achieve in therapy. Having specific goals makes it much easier to measure your progress and ensure you’re getting the most out of the experience. Whatever your reasons for seeking therapy, make sure to communicate them with your therapist.

Finally, remember to prepare for your sessions by limiting distractions at home, creating a quiet and private space, and ensuring your internet connection and device are in good working order.

What you need to know about our online therapy research and testing

These are the five things you need to know about online therapy:

Online Therapy
BetterHelp is our top pick for best online therapy platform. BetterHelp is our top pick for best online therapy platform.
Other best online therapy platforms: Online-Therapy.com, Talkspace, Sesame, Brightside, ReGain, and Zocdoc. Other best online therapy platforms: Online-Therapy.com, Talkspace, Sesame, Brightside, ReGain, and Zocdoc.
We don’t recommend Cerebral or 7 Cups. We don’t recommend Cerebral or 7 Cups.
Online therapy platforms may include unlimited messaging and resources like journals and worksheets.  Online therapy platforms may include unlimited messaging and resources like journals and worksheets.
There are ways to safeguard your privacy and data while receiving online therapy. There are ways to safeguard your privacy and data while receiving online therapy.

Our testing experience

The Handbook team researched more than 70 online therapy platforms, directories, and networks. Based on our research, we signed up for the top 14 platforms to test out for ourselves. Here’s what we did with each online therapy platform:

Our Online Psychiatry Testing Process
Fill out the intake assessment. Fill out the intake assessment.
Subscribe as a new user. Subscribe as a new user.
Review provider match options. Review provider match options.
Evaluate appointment availability. Evaluate appointment availability.
Research what types of medications the platform can prescribe. Research what types of medications the platform can prescribe.
Contact customer support with questions. Contact customer support with questions.
Explore platform features such as journals, worksheets, and symptom trackers. Explore platform features such as journals, worksheets, and symptom trackers.
Cancel subscription. Cancel subscription.

Testers explored the platforms and attended online therapy sessions for at least four weeks. Our testers were instructed to test the platforms through the lens of a real user, paying attention to how easy or difficult it was to find a therapist they could talk to. Testers logged their experience in a diary and came together to share their findings when testing concluded.

We learned that most testers felt the need to switch providers, especially the ones testing platforms that initially matched users to their providers. Our challenge was to test and evaluate the features and experience of the platforms themselves rather than the care from individual providers. We were surprised when we encountered the lack of choice in providers on some platforms. For example, when our Calmerry tester was looking for a provider of color in their state, they were given three choices, none of whom matched the tester’s preferences.

From our tester

“I was only given three [therapist] options and still couldn’t get the type of therapist I was looking for. When I didn’t find the therapist I was looking for, I felt unseen and underrepresented. Often, I’m reminded that I am a minority due to the lack of representation of someone who looks like me. This was just another example of that.”

Still, we were pleased that most of our testers had positive interactions with the providers they chose. “I’ve been through many therapists before, but I was surprised when I found a therapist who specialized in my concerns and had a different approach to therapy,” said one tester. “I learned a new perspective to frame my ongoing concerns and got to connect with a caring provider that I felt comfortable with.” 

We rated each online therapy platform we tested based on our findings and chose our top seven to share with you in this review.

Data privacy on mental health platforms

Conversations between you and your mental health care provider can be very personal and sensitive. In our October 2023 survey of online therapy users, about three in four (77 percent) of respondents said that the digital privacy of an online therapy platform was extremely or very important to them. Online therapy platforms have a responsibility to safeguard their users’ data in the following ways: 

What’s covered by HIPAA?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects your PHI from being disclosed to other parties to ensure your privacy. Your PHI can include your name, zip code, birth date, and contact information, collected from your medical record and used to make your health care decisions.

Although the information shared between you and your online therapy provider may be considered PHI, data collected by the online therapy platform may not be. In contrast to PHI, personally identifiable information (PII) can still be the same information—your name, date of birth, zip code, etc.—but it’s not covered under HIPAA. PII can also be data collected through questionnaires (i.e., onboarding questionnaires for online therapy platforms), which may be disclosed to third parties with your consent.

How your data is collected and used can be outlined in a Terms and Conditions agreement, Privacy Policy page, or a website disclosure. Many sites have Terms and Conditions that assume your consent to data collection simply by using its website, but some online therapy sites we visited had a popup asking you to acknowledge their data-sharing policy.

Your PII is protected under the Privacy Act of 1974 from being disclosed without your consent. Unlike the HITECH Act, there currently aren’t any laws that regulate the collection and sale of PII by private companies like online therapy sites. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a federal agency that enforces laws that protect consumers’ privacy.

Despite this, data privacy concerns have been raised about major online therapy platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace, namely for disclosing users’ personal data to advertisers without users’ consent. In July 2023, BetterHelp settled with the FTC and agreed to pay $7.8 million to affected users, among other remedial steps to protect user data. When we reached out to BetterHelp, the company clarified that it is not regulated by HIPAA because they are not a covered entity—a health plan, health care clearinghouse, or a health care provider.  BetterHelp states that its platform is now certified by the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST), a health industry data security program, and that all messages between you and your therapist are encrypted using 256-bit encryption.

According to the Mozilla Foundation’s *Privacy Not Included, Talkspace updated its privacy policy to state that it “doesn’t sell client information to third parties.” However, it still uses its users’ personal data for marketing, tailored advertising, and research purposes.

Data privacy concerns aren’t limited to online therapy platforms. With any online app or platform, we recommend reading through their privacy policies to understand what data will be collected, how it will be collected, and what the platform does with your data. 

Here are links to read more about the privacy policies of the platforms we recommend: 

Handbook Tip 1

In addition to understanding how your data is collected and used before signing up for a platform, we recommend the following basic steps that we learned from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) and Mozilla Foundation’s *Privacy Not Included project:

  • Attend your online therapy appointment in a private location, preferably not on a public Wi-Fi network.
  • Use your personal computer when possible.
  • Look out for checkboxes during sign-up to opt out of data tracking or medical information disclosure.
  • Sign up with your email, not using a social login like Facebook.
  • Choose a strong password to create a secure account login.

What a therapist can disclose

Although your sessions with your therapist are private and confidential, licensed therapists are required to disclose whether their clients are a danger to themselves or others around them. This means alerting local emergency services if they believe you are going through a mental health emergency. 

If you have any concerns about your privacy and confidentiality while receiving therapy, we recommend asking your provider about the limits of confidentiality. This conversation may help you fully understand when and why your provider may disclose your information outside your sessions.

Frequently asked questions

Online therapy platforms may offer the following ways to connect with your therapist:

  • Messaging: Like a text exchange, you and your therapist can leave and reply to text, audio, or video messages in between sessions.
  • Live text sessions: A session where you and your therapist communicate through text only.
  • Live audio sessions: A session where you and your therapist communicate through a phone or audio call.
  • Live video sessions: A session where you and your therapist communicate through a video conference call via an app, browser, or video conference program.

The cost of online therapy can vary widely. Depending on whether you’re using your insurance coverage or paying out of pocket, prices can span from a $10 copay to $300 per session. For subscription-based online therapy platforms, we found that a weekly session costs $81 on average, and an average monthly subscription with four live sessions costs $325 per month.

Some health insurance companies cover online therapy, so check with your provider. Depending on your income, you may qualify for low-cost online therapy at a community clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Colleges and universities often offer counseling services, both in-person and online, through their psychology department or a campus social worker. Some businesses also provide employee assistance programs, which may include free online therapy trials.

You can also look online for therapy services offering free trials, which is a good way to sample a particular platform before officially signing up. Some platforms offer the option of paying for therapy monthly or annually to reduce costs. There may also be packages that allow you to purchase multiple sessions at a discounted rate. Other platforms offer free or reduced rates if you work with a trained volunteer rather than a professional therapist.

Many different platforms offer online psychiatry in addition to online therapy. While online therapists can’t prescribe medication, online psychiatrists are able to diagnose and prescribe certain medications if they’re deemed appropriate. Controlled medications, such as stimulants, often require an in-person visit with a health care provider, though restrictions vary by state.   

Online therapy sessions on the platforms we tested were between 30-45 minutes long, but other platforms may offer longer session times.

Evidence suggests that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for many people. Not only does it improve accessibility and avoid the time, money, and inconvenience required to meet in person, but receiving therapy at home may make it easier for you to open up about your problems.

Online therapy can be effective in the treatment of conditions such as depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, stress, and generalized anxiety. But it’s not right for everyone and in every situation. Online therapy isn’t recommended for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm or in cases of severe mental health conditions. Those with serious addictions will benefit from the more intensive treatments available with in-person therapy.

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