How Much Does BetterHelp Cost Compared to Your Other Options?

Finding the right online therapy option is tricky, especially with the multitude of platforms available.

Each one comes with its own set of fees and policies regarding insurance, which can be challenging to navigate.

Fortunately, this guide breaks down the cost of BetterHelp compared to the other top virtual counseling platforms to help you make the right decision for your unique situation.

How Much Does BetterHelp Cost?

BetterHelp subscriptions start at US$65 per week, billed every four weeks.

A subscription comes with weekly 30-45 minute therapy sessions, as well as the ability to utilize the platform’s app and associated features and resources.

Discussing Psychology readers get 15% off their first month with BetterHelp.

The actual price you pay for your BetterHelp subscription depends on a multitude of factors.

For example you may receive an introductory discount, or you might have other specific circumstances that impact the overall cost such as:

• Your location,
• Your preferences,
• Counselor availability

Payment Methods

You can pay for your BetterHelp subscription using a credit card or PayPal account.

BetterHelp does not accept insurance and Medicare or Medicaid.

However, BetterHelp may still be more affordable than other options, even when considering the cost of therapy after insurance deductions.

BetterHelp vs Traditional Therapy: Which Is More Cost Effective?

When deciding the cost-effectiveness of BetterHelp compared to traditional therapy, it is essential to consider several factors besides insurance.

These include the time it takes to travel to a conventional therapist, transportation costs, and the convenience of virtual therapy.

Here is a comparison of the costs of BetterHelp versus traditional therapy.

	BetterHelp	Traditional therapy (e.g., private practice in-person therapy)
Costs	From $65-$90 weekly, billed every four weeks.	$100–$200 per session
Discount	Discussing Psychology readers get 15% off their first month. Click here to claim your discount.	N/A
Insurance	Not accepted.	Yes
Medicare / Medicaid	Not accepted.	Accepted by many therapists.

As you can see from the table, BetterHelp is typically more affordable than traditional in-person therapy.

However, if you have insurance, in-person therapy might be more cost-effective after deductions.

But don’t forget insurance typically costs at least $100 per week. So, including insurance costs, you’ll still be paying more than BetterHelp’s total cost per session.

The assumption here is of course you're only using insurance for therapy—which is unlikely! 

The water gets a little murky here. But generally speaking BetterHelp is more affordable on a per session basis than the traditional therapy route. 

Online therapy prices starting at $65 per week. Cancel anytime.

BetterHelp Pricing vs Popular Online Therapy Platforms

It is crucial to assess the cost of each online therapy option when making the right choice for your circumstances.

Each platform varies in cost and insurance coverage, and each service has pros and cons.

Online Therapy Platform	Standard Cost	Cost after insurance deduction
BetterHelp	$65–$90 weekly billed every four weeks.	Does not accept insurance.
Talkspace	$69–$109 per week.	$35 copay with most insurance.
Alma	Initial consultation is free with a sliding-scale fee per session.	Dependent upon the insurance company.
SonderMind	Not specified, however typical private therapy sessions cost approximately $100–$200 without insurance.	$50–$180 per session, depending on insurance
Online-Therapy .com	Plans start at $48 per week (messaging therapy).	Insurance is not accepted, although you can request itemized receipts.
Brightside	$95–$349 monthly, with additional therapy sessions at $59 each.	Co-pay is dependent upon the plan and insurance company.
Calmerry	Subscriptions start at $50 per month (messaging therapy).	Does not accept insurance.
Regain	$60–$90 per week, billed every four weeks.	Does not accept insurance.
Cerebral	$99–$365 per month.	As low as $30 per month.
Monument	$14.99 monthly for community membership, $100 per physician appointment, weekly/biweekly therapy, $149–$249 per month.	Varies depending on insurance.
MD Live	Up to $284 for initial psychiatric consult and then up to $108 per follow-up visit.	Pricing depends on insurance coverage.
Open Path	Once-off $65 fee to join Open Path network. Thereafter, approximately $40–$80 per session, $30 for student intern sessions.	Insured clients should use Being Seen, their sister site.

Does BetterHelp Offer a Discount?

You can receive 15% off your first month using the code “discussingpsych” which you can claim by clicking here.

This 15% discount can bring your first month’s cost down from $65–$90 per week to $55.25–$76.50 per week.

What is included in a BetterHelp Subscription?

A BetterHelp subscription generally offers a weekly session lasting 30 to 45 minutes with your therapist.

These sessions can be conducted via audio, video or live chat. During these sessions you can work with your therapist to get support for mental health challenges and other life difficulties.

In your BetterHelp subscription, you’ll also have:

• The ability to message your therapist at any time.
• Capacity to utilize the BetterHelp app and associated features. This includes a dedicated goals setting section, live chat, a journal to work with your thoughts and much more.
• Supplemental mental health resources and “homework” tasks if assigned by your therapist
• Much more.

So, how do these features come together to impact overall user experience?

Below we’ve listed the pros and cons after a member of our team reviewed BetterHelp first-hand.

Is the Cost of BetterHelp Worth It?

The cost associated with counseling services through BetterHelp is typically lower than what you would pay for seeking traditional therapy, even when factoring in insurance plans.

When including transportation and the time and effort it takes to meet with a therapist face-to-face, the convenience of meeting with a virtual counselor makes the cost of a membership to BetterHelp worthwhile for many.

When compared to popular online therapy platforms, BetterHelp is still our preferred platform. It averages 4.8 out of 5 across hundreds of thousands of reviews, making it one of the top-rated virtual therapy platforms ever.

BetterHelp: In Summary

BetterHelp is a convenient way for people to connect with affordable counseling services and enhance their well-being. Most users report positive platform experiences, citing a user-friendly app and compassionate counselors.

All BetterHelp therapists are fully licensed and vetted.

Smart provider matching means you can be matched with therapists based on your objectives, preferences, and the type of issues you are dealing with. You can also switch providers at any time.

BetterHelp is a good option for those who may not have insurance coverage for traditional therapy or are looking for alternative ways to address their mental health needs.

BetterHelp is our recommended top online therapy provider for 2024. 

• Prices starting at $65 per week

• Can be matched within 48 hours with a licensed therapist

• Video, live chat and audio calls with your therapist

• One of the top-rated therapy platforms averaging 4.8 out of 5 across thousands of user reviews

To get started with BetterHelp, click here to fill in their brief questionnaire.

Discussing Psychology readers get 15% off their first month with BetterHelp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions about BetterHelp and it’s associated services.

Does BetterHelp offer a free trial?

No, BetterHelp does not offer a free trial.

Does BetterHelp offer a refund?

BetterHelp may offer a refund. However, refunds are decided on a case-by-case basis.

If you are unhappy with the services you receive through BetterHelp, contact their support team and discuss the reasons you would like a refund and the reasons for your dissatisfaction.

You can include screenshots and additional documentation of the services you received.

It’s also important to mention the amount of compensation you desire. They will determine if a refund is warranted.

Is there a cancellation policy?

As a user, you can cancel your BetterHelp subscription anytime.

To do this, log in to the BetterHelp app or browser. Select “Payment Settings” under “My Account” and then select to cancel your plan.

How We Select Products

Product reviews, comparisons and write-ups are based on personal testing experience, customer review analysis and/or product research.

All product review information is liable to our product review process.

For Emergencies

In the case of an emergency, online therapy is not suitable. If you are at risk of self-harm or require emergency mental health assistance, contact your country/states emergency or suicide hotline.

If you are in the US, your emergency line is: 911. US Suicide Hotline: 988.

For an international list of suicide hotline numbers, visit this link here.