BetterHelp vs Open Path Collective Therapy: 2024 Comparison

Determining whether an online therapy provider is a good fit to support your mental and emotional health is the first step to well-being.

However, selecting a plan that’s not right for you can set you back significantly, delaying treatment for your condition.

Because there are many online therapy platforms available, finding reliable information about each service before starting is your safest bet.

In this article, we take a close look at the similarities and differences between BetterHelp and Open Path, and also give our recommendation on which one we believe is the best.

Overall Best: BetterHelp is our recommended therapy provider because it is 100% online, you can message your therapist anytime and is a globally recognized brand where each therapist has at least 3 years and 1,000 hours experience. 

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

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

BetterHelp vs Open Path Therapy: How do they differ?

BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects people all over the world with therapists based in both the US and the UK for virtual talk-therapy sessions.

Open Path, on the other hand, is a not-for-profit therapy directory focused on affordable in-person and online therapy across the United States and Canada.

Other points of difference are seen across both platform’s billing models, costs and availability of virtual sessions.

	BetterHelp	Open Path
Cost of Online Therapy	From $65 to $90 per week, billed every 4 weeks.	Once-off $65 life-time subscription fee to join Open Path, followed by approximately $40 to $80 per session payments to private therapists
Services offered	Therapy for individuals. Group webinars are also available.	A range of different psychotherapy services for individuals, couples and groups.
Commun-ication method	Live video, audio and chat sessions. Members can message their therapist anytime.	Typically face-to-face sessions. Availability for online communication depends on individual therapists.
Insurance accepted	No	Subscription fee to platform is not covered by insurance. Payment to private therapists is unlikely to be covered by insurance, as the platform is meant for underinsured users.
Payment method	Credit card or Paypal	Subscription to platform can be paid via credit card or check. Payment to selected therapist is dependent on a private therapist’s billing options.
Provider website	Click here to visit BetterHelp.	Click here to visit Open Path.

BetterHelp: A Closer Look

BetterHelp is the world’s largest entirely online therapy service.

Their mission is to provide affordable professional therapy to anyone undergoing life’s many challenges.

Each therapist is licensed and holds a Master’s degree or higher in their areas of expertise.

BetterHelp therapists also have at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of direct experience.

Using their platform, you can get help for mental and emotional health struggles like depression, anxiety, grief, relationships and more.

You also have a range of different communication styles to choose from when receiving treatment.

Finally, I would say in my experience using BetterHelp, I found their online therapy to be on par with the quality of traditional in-person therapy.

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

Open Path: A Closer Look

The Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit online service that networks with accredited mental health professionals to offer affordable psychotherapy services.

Their services target middle and low-income clients and those uninsured, underinsured, or experiencing financial hardship.

Open Path caters specifically to clients who cannot afford traditional therapy.

Rather than provide therapy services on their platform, Open Path creates a system of mental health professionals who provide mostly in-office therapy but can also do online therapy depending on the therapist.

Clients initiate their Open Path membership by identifying a member therapist in their area.

BetterHelp vs. Open Path: Cost

Both Open Path and BetterHelp work on a subscription basis. However, the subscription billing cycles vary greatly between services.

Open Path

Open Path requires users to make a $65 one-time life subscription, followed by recurring fees to private therapists once matched.

These recurring fees are typically between $40–$70 per session for individual therapy.

The rate changes to $40–$80 per session for family and couples therapy. In the case of couples therapy, you still only pay one lifetime membership fee.

Individual Open Path therapists may adjust therapy fees upwards for longer sessions or when a client’s financial status changes for the better.

Open Path allows credit, debit, or check payments for the one-time $65 membership fee. Individual Open Path therapists have varied billing methods, including:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

BetterHelp

BetterHelp users are billed once every 4 weeks, which amounts to approximately $260-$360 per billing cycle ($65–$90 per week) as long as their membership is active.

However, these BetterHelp rates can change depending on factors like location, preferences and therapist availability.

You can pay with PayPal or by credit card. When signing up, you’ll be prompted to indicate your preferred payment method when creating your BetterHelp account.

BetterHelp vs. Open Path: Services

BetterHelp and Open Path offer psychotherapy (talk therapy) services but not psychiatric services.

This means you’ll be unable to get medication prescriptions from either of the therapy providers.

However, BetterHelp does have articles on psychiatry which are freely available on their website under the ‘Advice’ section.

BetterHelp

In terms of services provided, BetterHelp therapy is catered to individuals and also has the option for group webinars.

All therapy provided by BetterHelp is done online.

Their therapists specialize in a wide range of issues, including (but not limited to):

• Depression
• Anxiety/Stress
• Interpersonal relationships
• Dissociation
• Loss and grief
• Trauma (including PTSD & CPTSD)
• Addiction/substance abuse
• Religion
• Anger management
• Relationship issues
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders
• Managing low self-esteem
• Assertiveness training

Open Path

The issues addressed by Open Path therapists depend on their area of training.

When you search the Open Path therapist directory, you can use the “specialties” filter to find the right professional for your issue or condition.

At Open Path, some therapists offer online therapy while others only do in-person therapy.

For some people, in-person therapy may be more appropriate. This is especially true if you need privacy (away from home), or if you feel in-person visits could result in deeper connection with your therapist.

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

Matching With Your Therapist & More

	BetterHelp	Open Path Collective
Can you choose therapists?	Members can choose their therapist after the initial match.	Yes, therapists are chosen through the online directory.
Time taken to match with a therapist	Can be matched within 48 hours.	Soon after the membership fee is paid, an Open Path Member ID is sent to your email with details to contact your therapist.
Frequency and duration of Sessions	1 session per week. Each session is typically 30 to 45 minutes.	Frequency of sessions is determined by the therapist. A standard session is 50 minutes. Therapists can decide on longer sessions with clients and charge session fees accordingly.

BetterHelp

BetterHelp specifies that in many cases, it can take 48 hours to match a client with a therapist.

Depending on the nature of your requirements and challenges, it may take longer than 2 days to find your match.

Open Path

At Open Path, you first use the therapist directory to find a suitable therapist.

Once located, you pay the $65 one-time membership fee and are matched with your chosen therapist.

Open Path sends you your Member ID with the therapist’s contact details by email.

You can then proceed to contact your therapist directly, share your Open Path ID and organize the second recurring billing to the private therapist.

Switching Therapists

Both Open Path and BetterHelp allow you to change your therapist if you feel your current therapist isn’t a good match.

Changing therapists within BetterHelp is done via the dedicated phone app:

1. Open the app.
2. Tap the far right bottom icon labelled ‘More’ to open up app settings.
3. Under the ‘Account’ subheading, select ‘Change Therapist’.
4. You’ll be directed to another page. Tap the second ‘Change Therapist’ hyperlink and follow the instructions.

For Open Path, you’ll be required to fill out a form so that your Member ID details can be updated and communicated to your new therapist.

The process takes about two business days.

Account Setup & Communication

BetterHelp

To set up your account on BetterHelp, you can click here to be taken to the sign up page.

On the sign up page, you’ll fill in a brief questionnaire that can help match you with a therapist.

When you subscribe with BetterHelp, you can connect with your therapist through a number of different channels, which is a huge plus given everyone has different communication styles.

These communication channels can be across any of the following:

• Live chats
• Phone calls
• Video conferencing
• You can also message your therapist at anytime.

Open Path

To get started with Open Path, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Open Path website and click on the “Find Your Therapist” menu.
2. Search through the directory to find a local therapist.
3. Check the therapist’s availability tag. If the therapist has the “Accepting new clients” label, click the tag. You will be taken to the therapist’s profile.
4. Check the therapist profile, and if it seems a good fit, click on the “Join Open Path” tag.
5. Complete the appearing client registration form and submit it. Then wait for a response.

Once you’ve been matched with a therapist on Open Path, you need to contact the therapist and decide on the communication methods you will use.

You can opt for in-person talk therapy, audio, or video calls, depending on the therapist you match with.

Resources

Both Open Path and BetterHelp have additional resources.

BetterHelp

BetterHelp has a series of articles reviewed by licensed therapists under its “Advice” section. The articles cover specific areas of mental health like depression, anxiety, and types and methods of therapy.

BetterHelp therapists can also provide clients with worksheets for individual work, tailored to your condition.

Your therapist may also assign ‘homework’ tasks to be completed after each session:

Patients can also utilize the journaling section, which I found very useful to record my thoughts in after my sessions.

There is also a goals setting feature, which is a great way to add accountability to tasks assigned by your therapist.

Open Path

Under their “Learn More” section, Open Path has a blog that provides inspiring posts and a range of wellness courses.

The provider also has a section for the Healing Arts Collective with material on holistic health disciplines like acupuncture, coaching, nutrition, and yoga.

Therapists may also share with you additional resources from their private practices.

Final Verdict

Both BetterHelp and Open Path aim to provide quality therapy for people with emotional and mental issues.

However, the methods used to realize the mission of each therapy provider vary.

If you prefer in-person therapy and need an affordable therapist, Open Path is a great choice.

However, if you’re looking for remote, online therapy from a reputable, well-known brand, then BetterHelp is the way to go.

Overall Best Provider

Overall, between BetterHelp and Open Path, we believe BetterHelp is the best choice for most people, as their service stands out in the following ways:

• A dedicated phone app.
• A robust, diverse directory of licensed therapists (over 30,000).
• Well recognized brand with very positive customer reviews.
• 100% online therapy.
• More than 3 million users.
• Multiple different communication methods for your therapy sessions.
• Can message your therapist at anytime.

To match with a therapist at BetterHelp, simply fill in this questionnaire and a member of their team will be in touch shortly.

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

FAQ

Are therapists licensed on both platforms?

Open Path therapists have a graduate degree at minimum in their specialized field of counselling/therapy/psychology.

All Open Path therapists are also licensed or provisionally-licensed mental health clinicians.

BetterHelp therapists are licensed and have at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of experience, in addition to their relevant credentials.

Do either platform accept insurance?

Open Path’s goal is to bypass insurance in favor of underinsured or uninsured users. Therefore, the online therapy provider does not accept insurance to pay the membership fee.

Open Path therapy providers are also not obliged to subscribe to insurance options to support their clients.

BetterHelp does not accept insurance either, however you can receive a 15% discount off your first month using this link here.

How can I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel your subscription to BetterHelp at any time without any conditions.

You simply log into your app and cancel your subscription, which will automatically opt you out of the next monthly billing cycle.

For Open Path, the cancellation policy allows you to cancel your membership and ask for a refund via email if you do not find a matching therapist within ten days.

After that, the membership fee is non-refundable.

Customer support options

BetterHelp has dedicated customer support to help you answer questions, report problems, offer ideas, or express concerns. You can do this via email or by filling out their contact form.

On their contact page, Open Path gives customers the option of contacting them through email, live chat, or by filling in and submitting the form on the page.

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.