We Tested Over 65 Online Therapy Companies — These 9 Were the Most Affordable Ones We Liked

Subscription services are great for therapy newcomers. They offer a set number of sessions, typically four a month, plus access to bonus support tools like unlimited messaging, a virtual journal, and other coping tools. BetterHelp is one of the more popular online therapy subscription services. What piqued our interest in BetterHelp was that the service is available in all 50 states plus 200 countries. This availability outside of the United States is rather unheard of. We also liked that financial aid is available, and promotional discount codes are occasionally offered.

Even at the base rate, BetterHelp offers good bang for your buck, with weekly live therapy sessions, unlimited therapist messaging, access to group-based discussions, and a digital journal included for a low flat monthly fee.

In our experience testing the platform, what stood out most was the matching services. While the therapist we were matched with wouldn’t necessarily have been our first choice, she ended up being an excellent fit and we were impressed with the quality of sessions we had with her. Should you be matched with a therapist who isn’t a great fit, you can switch quite easily. Whereas most platforms only offer video therapy, at BetterHelp, sessions can be conducted via video, live chat, or audio. We do wish psychiatry services were available. If that’s a need of yours, be sure to check out Brightside. Also, note that BetterHelp currently accepts insurance in only 13 states, but expansion is underway.

We also appreciated the range of services available, making this an appropriate option for folks with varying needs. Plus, Brightside Health’s specialized crisis care program sets them apart from other online platforms. Just be mindful that the cost of medication isn’t included in the psychiatry plans, which may be troublesome for those paying out-of-pocket.

When struggling in your relationship, couples therapy may be the solution to get things back on track. Accessing therapy focused on healthier relationships as an individual can also be very helpful, yet this is often overlooked by many platforms. OurRitual is an online relationship therapy platform that offers sessions for individuals and couples plus an educational program to help folks develop thriving relationships. Its fees are lower than its competitors: Starting at $240 a month, you can access four couples therapy sessions plus the educational program. If you’re an individual, services start at $144 a month.

When we tested OurRitual, we appreciated the structure of the program. Not only did we have the opportunity for weekly sessions, but we were also prompted to watch educational videos and answer questions about them, thus allowing us to complete the platform’s educational program between sessions. We also found it super easy to get in touch with our therapist and liked that there were separate messaging portals for couples, so you can maintain a private conversation with your therapist as needed. OurRitual doesn’t accept insurance, but it is rare for couples therapy to be covered by insurance and its pricing is comparable to what you may pay in copays for a month of sessions.

When we tested Innerwell, we liked how easy it was to get started. We were shown a list of therapists to choose from based on the type of therapy we wanted to receive. We were interested in talk therapy, but the provider we worked with also practiced EMDR and psychedelic integration sessions, which is when a therapist supports someone in understanding their experience using psychedelics therapeutically. We were also able to access soothing music tracks and guided meditations in the client portal.

There’s no way around the fact that new and innovative treatments will be pricey, and Innerwell only accepts insurance in 33 states. That said, we found Innerwell’s $100 half-hour sessions and ketamine therapy packages very helpful in decreasing the overall cost of services. Read more about our time using Innerwell.

When seeking out a great group online, look for one that’s led by a licensed therapist, has the same people week-to-week, and focuses on a topic that matters to you. Grouport is an online service offering weekly group therapy on topics ranging from anxiety and OCD to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and trauma. We appreciate its affordable pricing structure and that the groups are facilitated by licensed therapists.

An excellent way to keep your therapy costs down is to seek support from a therapist who is in-network with your insurance. That way, you may only be responsible for a copay, which could be as little as $15. However, finding a therapist who accepts insurance can feel like a full-time job. It isn’t uncommon to have to call various providers, ask if they accept your insurance, and return to the drawing board after many inevitably say they don’t.

Alternatively, you may ask your insurance for a list of providers only to call each of them to see if they are accepting new clients. Or, you could turn to Alma. It’s an online directory working to combat this conundrum by focusing on listing therapists who accept insurance. It is super easy to use and takes the guesswork out of the process.

To get started with Alma, simply head to the homepage, select the type of therapy you want, and answer a few questions designed to help match you with the best provider for your needs. You can expect to answer questions about what you’d like to focus on in therapy, if you’d like talk therapy or psychiatry support, the type of approach you want your therapist to take in session, any identities you want your provider to have, the type of insurance you have, and more. We love how detailed these questions are because they help ensure you’ll find your perfect fit. Something to keep in mind is that you’ll be provided a cost estimate, rather than exact pricing for your sessions. This is likely due to how variable insurance offerings can be. Additionally, not all therapists are actually accepting new clients. While we hate that this can cause delays in quality care, we also recognize that this issue isn’t unique to this platform.

Directories can be an excellent resource for therapy-seekers because they offer a high level of freedom. Instead of being tethered to a specific therapy platform or locked into a monthly subscription, you can find a therapist practicing independently and work with them as you please. Plus, directories can open up more variety when it comes to finding a therapist who accepts your insurance or offers discounted rates. ZocDoc is an easy-to-navigate therapy directory that makes scheduling easier than ever, thanks to the handy feature of displaying the therapist’s schedules directly on their profile. With tons of providers who accept insurance and some who offer a sliding scale, ZocDoc can help you meet your mental health needs without breaking the budget.

When we tried ZocDoc, we were immediately smitten by the fact that we could peruse therapist profiles and schedules without even creating an account. This allowed us to see if the platform felt like a good fit for us before entering any private information. Once we signed up and began our search process in earnest, we were impressed by how many therapists had same-day or next-day availability. Our search process worked out well, too — we had one of our best provider experiences while testing this platform.

Just a heads up: Therapists on this directory may not regularly update their availability on their profiles. In our case, our therapist was extremely proactive and reached out immediately to get us scheduled in a time slot that worked for both of us.

We like that Calm makes it extremely easy to get started with mindfulness. You can opt to try out a meditation that fits your schedule or listen to a sleep story to help you get ready for bed. If neither are your thing, there are relaxing music tracks you can put on while working or going for a walk. Calm doesn’t offer therapy services, so if you want support from a licensed mental health provider, take a peek at our other nominations on this list. Also, mindfulness isn’t for everyone. If you’re hesitant, we recommend starting with the music tracks and easing into the rest of the app’s offerings.

We also appreciated that there were different tiers of plans you could subscribe to and that every tier included access to a self-paced CBT program, plenty of worksheets, a journal, and access to messaging with a therapist. In our experience, the quality of care amongst providers can vary widely, but switching therapists is a breeze. Heads up — if you find CBT isn’t the best form of therapy for you, consider BetterHelp, as its therapists offer a variety of modalities, discount codes are often available, and its prices are similar to Online-Therapy.com.