The Fast Facts
- We vetted, reviewed, and scored over 36 platforms that offer online therapy, online psychiatry, affordable therapy, and more.
- These online therapy services are the best in their categories, from best for insurance coverage to best for couples and families.
- Talkspace made the top of our list for a variety of reasons. Follow along to find out why.
In the ever-changing landscape of online therapy, it can be difficult to know what platforms are trustworthy, what to consider when choosing a therapist, and a lot more. No matter if you’re new to therapy or a seasoned expert, you’ll find that researching a platform and your potential therapist is almost unavoidable.
So, we did the brunt of the work for you.
We gathered over 30 online therapy platforms, sent them through our vetting process, reviewed them, and then put them through our intensive scoring process. Based on these standards, these eight online therapy platforms emerged as the best in their category.
Online therapy is NOT for emergencies
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, call your local emergency services, or dial 911.
*Some names have been changed at the request of testers.
The gist
- Looking for culturally competent LGBTQIA+ online therapy options? Check out Grow Therapy, Inclusive Therapists, and the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network.
- The platforms that accept insurance areGrow Therapy, Talkspace, , Doctor on Demand, and Amwell.
- Get in-person sessions via Grow Therapy.
- Grow Therapy, Octave, and Online-Therapy.com are the only teletherapy services that don’t have an app. You just interact through their websites.
While most of the therapy platforms we scored had great results, we couldn’t include all in our roundup. Below, we list some honorable mentions that are still worth it, but were missing that one ‘wow’ factor to get it on our Top 6.
- Therapy for Black Girls | HL Score: 4.4: Therapy for Black Girls is a podcast and therapist directory that gives Black women and girls access to and start conversations about mental health and wellness. You can search by insurance provider, location, in-person or online sessions, group therapy, medication, and by free consultations. It’s a great starting point for Black women, girls, couples, and families who want a therapist who can understand their lifestyle with sensitivity and awareness.
- Postpartum Support International | HL Score: 4.4: Postpartum Support International is a therapist directory, online support group, and crisis hotline. We didn’t include it on our list since there was information missing from its privacy policy about its encryption process and safeguard for personal health information.
- Inclusive Therapists | HL Score: 4.1: Inclusive Therapists is another option for underserved identities. It also has search filters for sliding scale, insurance, and more. Because it is a directory and you must contact the therapist outside of its platform, we mentioned Inclusive Therapists as an honorable mention.
- BetterHelp | HL Score: 3.9: BetterHelp is one of the most well-known and widespread online therapy platforms. Its subscription-based platform is somewhat affordable, but its lack of insurance options and separate platforms for teen and couples counseling had us consider it an honorable mention.
*Price is estimated out-of-pocket cost. Fees and copays may vary by professional and location.
We considered many criteria when selecting the best online therapy platforms. In addition to our vetting team’s standards, we also took into account licensed mental health professionals, positive customer feedback, flexible payment options, insurance coverage, affordability, and platforms that offer professionals with a wide range of expertise.
We also took into consideration our 2022 study on online therapy. It measured what online therapy users value most when looking for a service. Some of the key components we got from the results of this study were:
- Pricing and insurance are key when choosing the best online therapy platform.
- Common complaints from online therapy users include not feeling like they’re being heard and feeling like there’s a lack of trust.
- Convenience, accessibility, and immediate access to a therapist are all important factors in picking a good online therapy program.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the online therapy platforms on this page, we considered all the platforms that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further. Read more about how we review online therapy platforms.
Choosing an online therapy platform is similar to finding a therapist that suits your needs. First, you want to consider your needs: how do you like to communicate? Do you want to use insurance? Do you prefer subscription-based or pay-by-session models?
If you’re a first-time user, make sure to check the platform’s policy on changing therapists. Most platforms make it easy to switch therapists if you’re not feeling a connection, but others require you to email or call customer service to make that change.
Online therapy is making mental health services accessible and more affordable for many people.
With the ability to choose a therapist by attributes that matter most to you, online therapy becomes more personalized to you and your needs.
Several online therapy platforms have partnered with major insurance companies to cover the cost of mental health services. If not, many licensed therapists can offer therapy sessions on a sliding scale to accommodate your financial circumstances.
We chose Talkspace as our best overall pick for only therapy. It earned this spot because of its countless options for users, making it almost customizable for everyone who is looking for an online therapy option.
Plenty of research supports the effectiveness of online therapy. In general, live video calls are most similar to face-to-face therapy sessions and offer the most benefit.
Many people appreciate the variety of available communication formats, such as text, video calls, and chat rooms. A 2019 study suggests psychotherapy platforms offering several digital communication options can effectively treat depression.
According to research from 2017, internet-based CBT is an economical and effective way to treat several mental health conditions, including phobias, bipolar disorder, and OCD.
Research from 2021 found that live video psychotherapy sessions were as effective as in-person sessions. The video sessions involving CBT for anxiety, depression, and PTSD were most effective.
The average out-of-pocket cost for a session can range from $75 to $150.
If you have insurance that covers mental health services, start by contacting your insurance company to see if the service or platform you’re interested in is part of their network.
You’ll also want to find out if the online platform you’re using takes insurance. Many companies do not, so it’s worth looking at a few different sites to see if one fits your needs.
Some top online therapy programs offer different subscription plans to make counseling more affordable. Some private therapists who provide online counseling offer a sliding scale, with some willing to lower costs as much as 50%.
The other place to check is with your Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Many employers offer mental health benefits as part of their EAP package.
Finally, community-based behavioral health clinics may offer free or low cost services to anyone who qualifies.
Each platform manages security and data protection differently. If you’re concerned about your rights and how the company will protect your personal information, read the privacy policy or frequently asked questions pages on the website.
Look for companies that offer transparency about how they collect and use your data. Reach out to the platform if you have specific questions regarding privacy and confidentiality so they can clarify any gray areas. Find out the process for deleting your account data if you cancel your plan.
Online therapy platforms on this list follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) federal guidelines to encrypt information and keep health data private. For example, companies encrypt all messaging systems and don’t record video calls.
However, HIPAA laws may not prevent companies from sharing some of your personal data that you submit to an app, questionnaire, or chat box, especially if you do so before you start an account.
It’s important to know that online therapy platforms may provide information to third parties, including Facebook.
Companies can use this data for targeted ads and marketing research, which is something to consider when dealing with sensitive information. Your profile information may also be visible to users if you use an app to connect to a community support group.
Teletherapy is good for people who prefer a range of communication formats and are comfortable using technology to communicate and disclose personal information. It’s important to have a quiet, private area, a functional device, and a strong, reliable internet connection.
“Anyone who is seeking outpatient support for mental health difficulties would be a good candidate for mental healthcare,” said expert Dr. Matthew Boland, a licensed clinical psychologist.
It can address several types of issues and feelings, including anxiety, depression, stress, life changes, and more.
It is NOT suggested for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988.
Online therapy is also suitable for people who:
- feel more comfortable in their environment
- can’t leave their home due to a disability or health condition
- don’t have access to transportation
- live in a rural or remote area
- have a busy or changing schedule
- want an affordable therapy option
People find success with both BetterHelp and Talkspace. BetterHelp offers more ways to access therapy, from video sessions to group and phone appointments. It is also cheaper than Talkspace, which may make it better for people just starting to explore therapy or those working with a tighter budget.
However, Talkspace offers lots of different types of therapy, including psychiatry and kids’ therapy.