Alma vs Headway Therapy: How Do They Compare in 2024?

Alma and Headway are fee-free therapy directories that bridge the gap between people struggling with mental health and therapists offering support.

From a snapshot look, people may assume Alma and Headway are two peas in a pod, but this assumption needs to be revised.

While Alma prides itself on diversity and accessibility, Headway ensures affordability for a specific cohort: people with insurance.

But overall, how do Alma and Headway compare?

Let’s take a close look at what each therapy directory has in common, as well as the distinct differences between the two.

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• Prices starting at $65/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.

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Alma vs Headway: How Do They Compare?

The main difference between Alma and Headway is that Alma accepts patients both with and without insurance, whereas with Headway you must have insurance to connect with a therapist.

Alma also consistently holds much better client reviews, while Headway scores quite poorly across major rating platforms.

There is also quite a large difference across pricing, billing methods and US state coverage, all of which is covered below.

Features	Alma	Headway
Pricing	For people without insurance, the cost is typically between $80 to $300 per session.	$20‒$50 per session, excluding insurance plan costs.
Average Customer Reviews	Reviews speak highly about Alma’s inclusivity, user-friendly directory and transparency about session costs.	Very poor reviews across major rating platforms, stressing issues across billing and customer support.
Therapeutic Services	A therapy directory connecting clients with mental health professionals offering therapy, treatment and/or medication management.	A therapy directory connecting clients with mental health professionals for therapy, treatment and/or medication support.
Communication Method	In-person or virtual via video call.	In-person or virtual via video call.
Insurance Accepted	Yes, however Alma also accepts out-of-pocket payments.	Yes. Insurance is a prerequisite for using Headway.
Payment Method	Payment method differs between professionals.	Bank transfers or credit card payments for most.
Provider Website	Click here to visit Alma	Click here to visit Headway

Alma Therapy

Alma is a US therapy directory that makes it easy to find a therapist within your state who accepts your insurance and specializes in your precise difficulties.

Dr. Harry Ritter, doctor and former vice president of insurance company Oscar, launched Alma to make mental health support more accessible to all―particularly minority populations.

So far, Alma has fulfilled its mandate. With 8000+ licensed therapists, 30% of whom identify as Black or Hispanic and 10% as Asian, Alma breaks the typical mold of the predominantly white mental health provider.

Click here to visit Alma.

Headway Therapy

Headway is a therapy directory based in the USA that recognizes that:

1. Many Americans struggle to fund their mental health care privately.
2. 70% of therapists don’t accept insurance.

Headway’s key motivation is to bridge the gap between people needing mental health support and therapists who accept insurance.

In this way, Headway makes therapy more accessible to significantly more Americans.

Headway works with over 20,000 therapists with different qualifications, experience levels, and specialties across 16 US states.

BetterHelp is our top pick for online therapy providers in 2024.

The platform has over 30,000 licensed therapists and is a top-rated therapy provider averaging 4.8 out of 5 across thousands of user reviews.

Prices starting at $65/week. To get started with BetterHelp online therapy, click here to fill in their brief questionnaire.

Alma vs Headway: Pricing

Alma

Alma is a fee-free site that connects you to mental health providers across 50 US states.

The cost of therapy through Alma depends on

• Whether you have medical insurance.
• Your plan’s mental health treatment coverage.
• Your mental health provider’s education and training.

Alma claims that people with insurance can save up to 77% on the cost of therapy sessions.

Alma also provides a free cost-estimator tool, allowing you to check your insurance’s mental health coverage before booking a consultation.

If you don’t have insurance, Alma has a “pay out-of-pocket” price range on providers’ profiles. The price estimates are as follows:

• $ = Below $80 per session
• $$ = $80‒$140 per session
• $$$ = $140‒$200 per session
• $$$$ = $200‒$260 per session
• $$$$$ = Above $260 per session

Some providers also offer a sliding scale, reducing their fees depending on your financial circumstances.

Payment Method:

The professionals decide which payment methods to use, so payment options depend on your chosen provider.

Headway

Headway is also free to join; it provides a directory of practitioners rather than in-house therapy services.

Headway states that sessions cost between $30 and $50 if you have insurance. This is around 75% less than in-person therapy.

Headway also provides a cost estimator; you simply enter your insurance information and personal details.

Some insurance providers will offer better rates than others―it depends on your insurance plan’s behavioral health benefits. Your sessions may also change in price due to fluctuations in out-of-pocket accumulation and deductibles.

Headway simplifies paying for therapy by collecting payment, analyzing your insurance benefits, and automatically billing you, supposedly considering insurance deductions.

Not only is this an easy process, but it drastically reduces your waiting time.

Payment Method:

Headway accepts payments via bank accounts and credit cards. Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Account cards are also accepted for some services and providers.

Which Is More Affordable?

Alma claims that therapy through their platform costs 77% less than regular in-person therapy, while Headway states their cost is 75% lower than typical in-person therapy costs.

Based on these claims, Alma and Headway have minimal disparity with respect to session prices.

Both directories accept insurance making them an affordable option to many. 

This is a major benefit, given that many other leading US therapy platforms such as Calmerry, Open Path and BetterHelp do not accept insurance at all.

Alma vs Headway: Services

Alma

Alma’s directory has a modest 8000 practitioners spanning 50 US states. Alma is typically available within 19 of these states (listed below).

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

Although Alma covers the remaining 39 states, coverage is described as ‘limited availability’, meaning people living in these state may be unable to find a provider that meets their preferences.

Alma’s directory has a wide range of practitioners. These include:

• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Licensed psychotherapists (with at least two years of experience)
• Social workers
• Psychiatric nurse practitioners.

The variety of practitioners allows you to obtain medication management support as well as participate in individual, couples, family, child, or adolescent therapy in-person or online.

The range in experience and expertise of Alma’s providers also means people who don’t have insurance can find a practitioner to suit their budget requirements because less experienced practitioners typically offer lower rates.

Overall, Alma’s services are accessible in some ways but not others. 

Yes, you can access support, whatever your budget or insurance status, and the collection of therapists is more diverse than some other therapy directories. 

But in states where Alma only has “limited availability,” you may not have the same range of choices as other states.

Headway

Headway’s directory has over 20,000 practitioners, including psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

These providers are spread out across 16 US states, including:

• Ohio
• Washington
• Virginia
• Texas
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• New York
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Colorado
• California
• Florida
• District of Colombia
• Massachusetts

Headway, therefore, has significantly more practitioners on its platform but across fewer US states than Alma.

While this means the diversity of practitioners may be excellent in these 16 states, Headway doesn’t cater to people from states that are not listed.

However, within Headway’s remit, practitioners provide support for various issues. These include but are not limited to:

• ADD/ADHD
• Anger Management
• Psychiatric conditions like anxiety, OCD, depression, and PTSD
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders
• Family issues
• Grief and loss
• Infertility
• LGBTQIA+ related concerns
• Relationship issues
• Sleep disorder
• Substance use/addiction
• Trauma
• Stress

You can also choose between individual adult, child, adolescent, couple, and family therapy.

Overall, Headway offers comprehensive psychiatric support for various mental health concerns, but only for people who reside within the 16 states it covers and who have medical insurance.

Therapy Sessions

Details	Alma	Headway
Can You Choose Therapists?	Yes, you can choose a therapist from the directory.	Yes, you can select a therapist from the directory.
Therapists Licensed?	8000+ therapists who are all fully licensed in accordance with their own state licensing requirements.	20,000+ licensed and experienced therapists.
Time Taken to Match With a Therapist	Some therapists offer instant consultation booking; others require you to request a consultation.	You choose a timeslot for a consultation, allowing you to decide when to start; this can be within two days notice.
Frequency and Duration of Sessions	Decided by you and your therapist at the beginning of your care.	Decided by you and your therapist at the beginning of your care.

Alma

The first step in matching with a therapist on Alma is to book a consultation.

Some therapists offer the option to book with them immediately, automatically redirecting you to Alma’s online booking system.

For other practitioners, you have to “Request a Consultation.” When you click this option, you are redirected to a form in which you must enter your details and share a few sentences about what you’re looking for.

Headway

Due to Headway’s handy online booking system, you can check your chosen therapist’s availability when searching the directory.

Typically, you can book consultation sessions two days in advance.

The average time between booking with a practitioner on Headway and the first session is six days.

BetterHelp is our top pick for online therapy providers in 2024.

The platform has over 30,000 licensed therapists and is a top-rated therapy provider averaging 4.8 out of 5 across thousands of user reviews.

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

Account Setup & Communication

Alma

You don’t need to create an account to use Alma. However, to book a session with a therapist, follow these steps:

1. Click “Find a Provider” and enter the type of service you want, your insurance provider, and your city.
2. Find a suitable therapist from the directory and choose “Request a consultation” or “Book a consultation.”
3. Enter your details and write a few sentences about why you’re booking a consultation.
4. Wait for the therapist to contact you.

Headway

To get started with Headway, simply:

1. Enter your location, concerns, and insurance carrier on Headway’s homepage.
2. Find a therapist and click on their profile.
3. Organize a time to meet them and click whether you prefer to meet in person or virtually.
4. Choose “Book Session.”
5. This will create a new tab asking you to create an account. Enter your details and sign up.
6. Log your insurance information and payment details, then confirm your booking.

Reviews Across Both Platforms

Alma

Dr. Harry Ritter launched Alma in 2019. Because it has only recently come out of startup status, reviews on its efficacy are limited.

There is, interestingly, more information from the therapist community.

Alma has been given approximatelty 3.6 out of 5 stars by employees on Glassdoor, with 51% of reviewers saying they would recommend Alma to a friend and 66% stating they approve of the CEO.

Overall, therapists claim to have been well-paid and supported by Alma. However, other therapists report teething problems, including

• Unrealistic expectations for meeting quotas.
• Having to pay high premiums without receiving clients.
• Long wait times for provider support.

These conflicting reviews suggest that working as a provider for Alma suits some but not others.

Although Alma doesn’t appear on well-known review pages like Trustpilot, Yelp, or the Apple App Store, it offers customer insights on its website.

Overall, these reviews suggest that customers find Alma highly effective at removing the stress surrounding finding a therapist.

Clients also claim the website is user-friendly, making finding a therapist aligned with your values easy.

Headway

Customer reviews on Headway’s website suggest that its directory is easy to use, practical, and takes much of the time and energy out of finding a suitable therapist.

Reviewers also claim to pay as little as $8 copay for therapy, made easy by Headway’s effortless processing and billing procedures.

However, the independent review site Trustpilot paints a different picture.

Headway has a meager rating of 1.8 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, with reviewers stating Headway is a “bait and switch” and fraudulent company after not considering account deductibles before billing and overcharging.

Reviewers also claim that Headway is poor at handling these mishaps, with the support team being slow to respond and proving unreliable.

In addition, many people have reported problems with Headway’s therapists, with some reviewers experiencing repeated last-minute cancellations and others questioning Headway’s therapist vetting process after witnessing various “unethical” practices.

Headway’s customer feedback would worry anyone considering using an online therapy directory to access mental health support, especially when compared to the glowing reviews for BetterHelp, the world’s largest online therapy provider.

Alma vs Headway: Resources

Alma

Alma isn’t available on a mobile app. However, it offers a comprehensive therapy directory that is easy to navigate and takes much of the stress out of finding a therapist.

Once you enter your details, including your chosen service (individual, couples, family therapy, etc.), insurance provider, city, and whether you prefer in-person or virtual sessions, the directory offers various filters.

Alma’s filters allow you to choose a therapist based on their gender identity, race, sexuality, specialty, qualifications, language, and therapeutic style, thus helping to narrow down your search effectively.

One of Alma’s best features is the well-written profiles for each provider. Once you click on a provider’s profile, you can read about them, their specialties, price ranges, locations, and the cities where their licenses are valid.

This additional information, laid out in a way that’s easy to understand, aids your choice when deciding on a therapist.

Alma also has an educational blog covering a broad range of topics, including guidance on different forms of therapy and finding the right therapist for you.

Moreover, it frequently shares resources on its social media platforms, such as mental health-related podcasts.

Alma Customer Support Resources

Other than a simple contact support email address, Alma doesn’t appear to offer a specific page to connect with customer support, nor does it seem to guide or assist you if you need to make a complaint or inquiry. 

Alma provides a FAQs page and two email addresses to contact if you have any questions at the bottom banner of each page, which could reflect the company’s just-out-of-startup status or it could suggest customer service is available but not a priority at this time. 

Only time will tell if this design is an oversight or simply growing pains of a newly emerging startup.

Headway

Headway also doesn’t offer an app, but again, it has a well-laid-out therapist directory that gives you most of the information you need to know right off the bat.

Headway offers numerous filters to help narrow down your search for a provider, including:

• Your main concerns
• Your Insurance provider
• Your preferred form of psychiatric care
• Provider availability
• Provider gender
• Provider ethnicity
• Your language preference
• Therapeutic modality
• In-person or virtual sessions option

By giving you so many filter options, Headway goes a long way to aid your search, helping you find a therapist that suits your individual preferences.

With 20,000+ professionals, you will likely have options, even if you have very specific search preferences.

One feature Headway offers that Alma doesn’t is the opportunity for mental health providers to choose three words that symbolize their practice. Some examples of these are:

• Affirming
• Empowering
• Holistic
• Warm
• Open-minded

This little touch makes Headway’s directory feel more personable and user-friendly, because it helps you find a therapist that aligns with your core values.

Unfortunately, one vital item missing from Headway’s directory homepage is the cost of sessions.

Headway offers little transparency regarding pricing on each provider’s profile, giving you a broad price range, typically between $0‒$250.

This limited information prevents you from choosing a provider based on price, without first signing up with the provider.

Headway Blog Resources 

Although there is no Headway app, Headway does provide a reasonably comprehensive blog on its website. 

However, this blog focuses less on mental health difficulties and more on Headway’s reputation, such as its funding and efforts to improve mental health care. 

While this information helps verify Headway’s reputation and credibility, it doesn’t offer much practical guidance on finding a therapist or information about its therapy services.

Final Verdict

Both Alma and Headway strive to make mental health support more accessible to Americans. However, the services each directory offers differ.

If you have insurance and live in one of the 16 states Headway covers, Headway is a prime choice.

However, if you don’t have insurance, live outside of Headway’s 16 states, and belong to a minority group, you may feel more supported by Alma.

BetterHelp is our top pick for online therapy providers in 2024.

The platform has over 30,000 licensed therapists and is a top-rated therapy provider averaging 4.8 out of 5 across thousands of user reviews.

Prices starting at $65/week. To get started with BetterHelp online therapy, click here to fill in their brief questionnaire.

FAQ

Which platforms accept insurance?

Both insurance payers and people without insurance can find a therapist on Alma. Alma accepts most of the leading insurance providers, including

• Aetna
• Cigna
• Optum
• Oscar
• Oxford
• UnitedHealthcare

You can find a complete list of the insurance providers Alma accepts by tapping the “Which Insurance?” drop-down menu on its “Find a Provider” page.

In contrast, Headway’s services are only available to people with insurance. Headway accepts Oxford, United, Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, and Aetna.

Headway doesn’t accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Are free trials available for either directory?

Both Alma and Headway are fee-free therapy directories.

Therefore, they do not offer free trials. With both sites, therapists choose their prices, with some offering a sliding scale for people experiencing financial difficulties.

Can I cancel my subscription to Alma or Headway?

Because you don’t subscribe to Alma, there’s no need to cancel your subscription. However, you will need to cancel any existing appointments.

The same applies to Headway, but to delete your Headway account, you must fill out a contact form.

Do both platforms provide customer support services?

Alma doesn’t offer a “Customer Support” page, only an “FAQs” page and two email addresses to contact if you have an inquiry or complaint.

Headway offers support Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. ‒ 6:00 p.m.

Headway also offers an online chat service, providing guidance with automated answers to questions.

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.