Online Therapy · Review
BetterHelp Review
The world’s largest online therapy platform — convenient, flexible, and out-of-pocket.
Our rating
4.2 / 5
Starting price
~$70–$100/week (billed monthly)
Free tier
No
Platforms
iOS · Android · Web
Developer
BetterHelp (Teladoc Health)
Launched
2013
Our verdict
BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform, with a huge therapist network and an easy, flexible format of video, phone, and unlimited messaging. It is convenient and often cheaper out-of-pocket than weekly in-person therapy. The catches: it does not bill insurance, and you should switch therapists freely until the fit is right.
This review is editorial and unsponsored — no affiliate payments influence our ratings. Selfpause makes a wellness app of its own, so where a product competes with us, we say so plainly and let you judge.
BetterHelp connects you with licensed therapists for sessions over video, phone, live chat, and asynchronous messaging. With tens of thousands of therapists, it is the largest service of its kind, and it largely defined the modern teletherapy category.
The appeal is access and flexibility. You answer an intake questionnaire, get matched quickly, and can message your therapist between sessions. For people intimidated by traditional therapy or short on time, that low barrier is the whole point.
Two things to go in clear-eyed about: BetterHelp generally does not work with insurance (you pay a weekly subscription billed monthly), and it faced an FTC action over how it handled user data in the past, after which it changed practices. Neither is disqualifying, but both belong in any honest assessment. Disclosure: Selfpause makes a wellness app and does not provide therapy; this review is editorial and unsponsored.
Pros & cons
What we like
- The largest therapist network, so matching and switching are fast.
- Flexible formats: video, phone, live chat, and unlimited messaging.
- Often cheaper out-of-pocket than weekly in-person sessions.
- Easy to change therapists until you find the right fit.
- Financial aid available to qualifying users.
What we don’t
- Does not bill insurance — it is an out-of-pocket subscription.
- No psychiatry or medication management.
- Session length and cadence can feel limited on some plans.
- Past FTC action over data handling is worth knowing (practices since changed).
- Quality varies by therapist, so the first match may not be the one.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- →People who want convenient therapy without using insurance
- →Anyone who values messaging a therapist between sessions
- →Those new to therapy who want a low-friction start
- →People in areas with few local therapists
Avoid if
- →You want to use insurance — Talkspace may be cheaper for you
- →You need medication management or psychiatry
- →You have a serious condition needing specialized or in-person care
- →You are in crisis — contact emergency services or a crisis line
Pricing
Subscription
~$70–$100/week
Billed every four weeks; includes weekly sessions plus unlimited messaging. Price varies by location and demand.
Financial aid
Reduced
Discounts for qualifying users based on circumstances.
What BetterHelp is
BetterHelp is an online therapy subscription that matches you with a licensed therapist for sessions by video, phone, or chat, plus messaging between sessions.
It is talk therapy delivered remotely and flexibly. It is not a psychiatry service and does not prescribe medication.
Why scale is BetterHelp’s advantage
Because its therapist network is so large, BetterHelp can match you quickly and let you switch with little friction until the fit is right — something that is far harder and slower with local in-person therapy.
That accessibility is the platform’s core value. The single biggest barrier to therapy is starting, and BetterHelp lowers it dramatically.
Flexible session formats plus messaging
Meet by video, phone, or live chat, and message your therapist anytime between sessions.
The asynchronous messaging is genuinely valuable — you can process something the moment it happens rather than waiting a week.
Fast matching and easy switching
An intake questionnaire pairs you with a therapist within a day or two, and you can change therapists freely.
Use this. Therapy outcomes hinge on fit, and the ability to switch without a fuss is one of BetterHelp’s best features.
Where BetterHelp falls behind
Insurance. It does not bill insurance, so insured users may pay less with Talkspace.
Medication. No psychiatry — if you need prescriptions, look elsewhere.
Consistency and privacy history. Therapist quality varies, and its past data-handling issues are worth weighing.
BetterHelp vs. Talkspace
BetterHelp and Talkspace are the two giants. The deciding factor is usually insurance: Talkspace accepts many insurance plans and offers psychiatry, while BetterHelp is out-of-pocket and therapy-only.
If you are paying cash, BetterHelp is often the more affordable and has the larger network. If you have in-network insurance — or you need medication management — Talkspace is frequently the better value and the more complete service.
Both are convenient, legitimate ways to access licensed therapists; the choice comes down to how you will pay and whether you need psychiatry.
Bottom line
BetterHelp is the most accessible way to start therapy if you are paying out of pocket, with the largest network and the most flexible format. If you want to use insurance or need medication, compare it against Talkspace first — and switch therapists freely until the fit is right.
Want a daily positivity practice in your own voice? Selfpause lets you record personalized affirmations, layer them with calming music, and keep them on your lock screen.
Try Selfpause FreeAlternatives to BetterHelp
Talkspace
4.2Online therapy and psychiatry that accepts many insurance plans.
Read our review →
Wysa
4.3A free AI companion for support between or before therapy.
Read our review →
Sanvello
4.2Self-guided CBT for milder needs or alongside therapy.
Read our review →
Frequently asked questions
How much does BetterHelp cost?+
Typically around $70–$100 per week, billed every four weeks, depending on your location and demand. Financial aid can lower this for qualifying users. It does not bill insurance.
Does BetterHelp take insurance?+
Generally no. It is an out-of-pocket subscription. If you want to use insurance, Talkspace accepts many plans.
Is BetterHelp legitimate?+
Yes — its therapists are licensed professionals. Just know it is therapy-only (no psychiatry), quality varies by therapist, and it faced an FTC action over past data handling that it has since changed.
BetterHelp or Talkspace?+
BetterHelp is often cheaper if you pay cash and has the larger network; Talkspace is usually better if you have in-network insurance or need medication management.
A note on mental health: apps and online services can support wellbeing, but they are not a substitute for professional care. If you are struggling, a licensed professional can help — and if you are in crisis, contact your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
More online therapy reviews
NOCD
4.5The OCD specialist — exposure and response prevention therapy delivered by trained clinicians, mostly in-network.
Talkspace
4.2The online therapy platform that actually takes insurance — and offers psychiatry too.
Online-Therapy.com
4.1Teletherapy with a spine — a complete CBT program with worksheets wrapped around your live sessions.