We Tried 65 Online Therapy Platforms — Here Are The Ones We Recommend

Talkspace may be one of the better-known online therapy platforms today, but that’s not just because it’s been around for a long time. Of all the online therapy companies we tested, it stands out as the most user-friendly option, thanks to its convenient subscription model, simple-to-use platform and app, and variety of therapy formats — including text, audio, and video messaging.

Talkspace’s subscription tiers range from $69 to $109 per week, depending on the type of therapy format you choose. One of Talkspace’s biggest advantages is its financial accessibility. It accepts most major insurance plans, including Cigna Healthcare, Optum, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, and Medicare (in select states), along with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which provide employees with free mental health support.

The variety of therapy types offered — individual, couples, or teen therapy — is an additional benefit, compared with other subscription-based platforms. Medication management is also available on Talkspace, creating a one-stop shop for those desiring psychiatric care alongside talk therapy.

Erin Heger, a health journalist, tested Talkspace’s individual therapy and had a mostly positive experience with the platform. She appreciated having the ability to message her therapist between sessions and the various options for increasing financial accessibility (accepting insurance and EAPs, tiered pricing, and the option to pay with a health savings account or flexible spending account). “Unfortunately, the advice I received from both therapists I tried on the platform felt a bit impersonal, which made it hard to connect,” Heger states.

Because of this, Talkspace might be a better fit for individuals who are new to therapy. Not only does its subscription structure keep therapy affordable — it can also help users stay accountable for attending therapy on a consistent basis.

Not all of the companies we tested provide services in multiple languages, but among those that do, Octave stands out by offering support in more than 40 languages. Its intuitive platform, simple pricing structure, and prioritization of therapists of color help make starting therapy nearly stress-free.

Octave charges per session, as opposed to offering subscription-based pricing like many of its competitors. While this pricing structure can be more expensive than subscription tiers, it also offers greater flexibility, allowing users to pay only for the sessions they need, without committing to a recurring fee. Octave also accepts major insurance plans, such as Cigna Healthcare, Aetna, UMR, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

On its website, Octave states that its therapy services are available in over 40 languages. Though it doesn’t specify which languages are available in which states, the number of languages is impressive for the company’s size. For comparison, some larger online therapy services offer a similar amount of spoken languages, such as BetterHelp, which provides services in 56 languages, and Talkspace, which provides services in over 30 languages. Octave even goes a step further, stating that over 50 percent of its therapists identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The company’s prioritization of diverse representation in terms of therapists and clients alike makes it a distinct online therapy platform.

One of the standout features of Octave is its commitment to personalized care. The platform matches clients with therapists based on their specific needs and preferences after a thorough intake questionnaire. In fact, the intake questionnaire adapts based on your responses, further tailoring your therapy experience.

Of the 65 online therapy companies we tested, Talkiatry stands out as the most user-friendly option for psychiatric services. Its range of ages served (starting at 5 years old), longer-than-average appointment times, and ability to prescribe a wider variety of medications, such as controlled substances, sets Talkiatry apart.

Talkiatry requires insurance to use its services, which means it is not a good fit for people without insurance or those who prefer not to use their insurance for psychiatry services. Because of this, the cost of the service varies based on your insurance benefits. It also does not accept Medicaid, so people with Medicaid would need to seek support elsewhere.

Raki Swanson, a health writer, tested medication management services on Talkiatry for us and had an overall positive experience with her provider. “The first session was very relaxing, and it was really easy to talk with the therapist,” she says. She also notes that the flow of the conversation seemed natural, and even though the provider did have a set of questions she had to ask during the intake session, “she didn’t seem like she was asking them from a paper.”

An initial appointment with a Talkiatry psychiatrist is 60 minutes, with follow-up appointments typically lasting 30 minutes. This is a great advantage of this platform, as many follow-up psychiatry appointments, both in person and online, tend to be around 15 minutes in length. Additionally, Talkiatry psychiatrists can prescribe controlled substances, including benzodiazepines and stimulant medications, when appropriate, while most other online psychiatry platforms cannot.

While Talkiatry provides mental health medication management for many different diagnoses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, it does not provide treatment for schizophrenia or eating disorders. It is also important to point out that even though Talkiatry does have therapists, you can’t see one unless you’re already seeing a Talkiatry psychiatrist.

Innerwell ranks as our top choice for trauma-response therapy due to its willingness to use novel approaches to target and treat trauma symptoms, which is unmatched by its competitors.

Julia Childs Heyl, a clinical social worker and mental health writer,?tested individual therapy at Innerwell for us and found the platform to be user-friendly with an easy sign-up process and transparent pricing. “Innerwell is a great fit for those who are interested in less-traditional approaches to mental health care but still want the convenience an online therapy service offers,” she says. She also notes that, of the online therapy platforms she’s tried, Innerwell feels the most like going to a private practice clinician, adding a sense of safety that is necessary for a client to receive effective trauma treatment.

Innerwell offers therapy sessions for $165 per 50-minute session, and if you want extra support between sessions, you can add 30-minute boosters for $100 after your initial intake. Psychiatry intake sessions are $350, with 30-minute follow-ups at $200 each. Ketamine treatments range from $83 to $125 per session, billed monthly, and you can choose from programs like the 8-Dose Foundation ($366 per month for three months) or the 24-Dose Extended ($525 per month for four months). If you’re interested in psychedelic preparation and integration, sessions are $100 for 30 minutes or $165 for 50 minutes.

While Innerwell accepts insurance, it is limited to six states (California, Colorado, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Washington). Oftentimes, ketamine treatment is not covered by insurance, so it’s important to take your own benefits into consideration.

It’s important to remember that trauma treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether it’s talk therapy, EMDR, medication, or ketamine treatment, finding the right approach depends on your unique experiences, needs, and comfort level. Thankfully, Innerwell offers all of these services, to help ensure that you find the right treatment for you.

From its personalized app experience to its additional therapeutic tools, OurRitual focuses on relational work in a unique and effective way, allowing couples to strengthen their relationship with ease.

OurRitual is designed to support couples in every step of their relationship journey, offering a subscription model that includes both live sessions and self-guided tools. The cost of four weekly couples sessions and access to the app is $260 per month for a three-month plan or $310 for a single month. The three-month plan is a significant commitment in terms of time and money. However, this could be a benefit for some couples, as it encourages consistency and accountability, allowing for deeper progress and long-term relationship improvements. Couples who want to achieve a specific goal, such as premarital counseling, may also benefit from this setup.

That said, the company offers a 14-day money-back guarantee under certain circumstances, which gives you time to decide if the platform is a good fit for you and your partner.

Jen Sinclair, a health and wellness writer who tested OurRitual’s services for us, thoroughly enjoyed her time using OurRitual’s couples services. “The skills that my husband and I learned during our time on the platform really helped us communicate better, especially when it came to navigating transitions,” Sinclair says. “We enjoyed the exercises and came out stronger at the end of that month.”

Another aspect that makes OurRitual stand out is that it allows clients to sign up using an anonymous name, which can be a benefit for those worried about their privacy or data on an online platform. This can be a specific advantage for individuals in the LGBTQ+ population who may be interested in maintaining their online privacy.

Not all of the 65 online therapy platforms we tested provide therapy for adolescents, but of the ones that do, Teen Counseling is our top choice. Its network of licensed therapists who specialize in adolescent issues truly sets it apart from its competitors.

Teen Counseling, which is owned by BetterHelp, costs between $280 to $400 per month. The price fluctuates depending on where you live and how many therapists are available in your area.

Therapists at Teen Counseling specialize in teen mental health and can help with concerns ranging from social anxiety and academic stress to issues balancing sports and peer pressure. Therapy is available for teens ages 13 to 19, and they have the option to sign up on their own or have their parents or caregivers sign them up, allowing both parties to be involved in the therapeutic process. The site says that parents and caregivers can’t join the sessions between the teen and their therapist, but they can opt to meet with the therapist separately.

Multiple therapy formats are available, including video, phone, and live chat sessions, which is similar to other online therapy platforms. Olivia Campbell, a health journalist, tested Teen Counseling for us with her son, noting his preference for live chat sessions. “I really appreciate that Teen Counseling offers [chat therapy], because it’s a very effective way to get texting-native kids to participate in therapy when they are extremely video or phone-call shy,”?Campbell says.

Meeting teens where they are comfortable, even if it’s 45 minutes of live texting, is incredibly important in building a therapeutic relationship.

The convenience of accessing therapy from home eliminates potential barriers, such as transportation or scheduling conflicts, making it easier for teens to commit to improving their mental health.

Rula distinguishes itself as a standout provider by providing specialized teletherapy services for children starting at age 5, including child-centered play therapy and family therapy.

With Rula, kids can participate in individual therapy, family therapy, or a combination of both. Children tend to soak up and reflect stressors from other family members, so when a child is struggling with their mental health, it’s often (though not always) an indication that the parents or guardians are also having a difficult time. Addressing marital problems or mental health challenges faced by adults in the family can benefit the child by reducing the household’s overall stress level. Rula’s platform allows each family member to see their own individual therapist as well as a family therapist, when appropriate. This allows the entire family to get support in one place, making it easier to meet the various challenges impacting the child.

Rula is in-network with most major insurance companies and asserts that it can typically accommodate therapy sessions within two business days, making it a great option for anyone who needs support right away.

While many online therapy platforms clearly state that they will not work with patients in crisis, Brightside Health is paving an effective and realistic way for online mental health care providers to include crisis care.

Outpatient mental health care has certain limitations when it comes to managing serious mental health issues and mental health crises, especially those offered virtually. Those with symptoms or diagnoses that are labeled “severe” often struggle to find outpatient support because providers do not feel qualified to treat their symptoms or prefer not to work with clients who might present with a crisis. While providers have the right to set boundaries around their scope of practice, this can mean the clients who need the most need are often left without.

Brightside Health’s Crisis Care program is specifically designed for clients who experience active suicidal ideation, have recently survived suicidal behavior, or have recently been hospitalized for suicidality. It is not a replacement for emergency services that are needed for people who are seriously planning to harm themselves now or in the very near future. But it can provide fast virtual mental health care for others experiencing a crisis.

In addition to Crisis Care specifically, people can also benefit from Brightside Health’s other services, individual therapy and medication management. Amy Marschall, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and health writer, tested individual therapy at Brightside Health, and in her review she highlights benefits such as flexible scheduling, a variety of payment options, and a user-friendly design. Also, beyond her therapy sessions, she says she found Brightside Health’s additional activities like tracking symptoms and challenging maladaptive thoughts to be “helpful” throughout her time testing the service.

While a number of online therapy platforms offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Online-Therapy.com stands out for its exclusive focus on this modality, which includes therapists trained in CBT as well as access to additional CBT tools, making it a comprehensive and evidence-based option.

Online-Therapy.com is a subscription-based therapy platform that provides treatment to individuals or couples. We like that it offers different subscription tiers to fit any budget, plus a wealth of additional resources, including asynchronous messaging with therapists and self-guided therapeutic modules developed through the lens of CBT.

The platform offers individual and couples therapy, but not medication management. Additionally, Online-Therapy.com features numerous self-guided CBT resources and tools you can use outside of your sessions, including therapeutic worksheets, educational videos about mental health, a guided journal, an activity plan to help you articulate and achieve your goals, and a yoga practice.

Licensed therapist?Riley Blanton tested the services at Online-Therapy.com for us and highlights the self-improvement exercises as a positive way of keeping individuals engaged in their therapy. She says she enjoyed using the additional tools alongside her weekly sessions, but she notes that the exercises did begin to feel “repetitive” as time went on.

Zocdoc is distinct in that it is a directory rather than a therapy provider itself. It allows users to specify their search with filters like types of insurance accepted, therapist credentials, and available schedule.

Brittany Vargas, who tested Zocdoc for us, says she appreciates how user-friendly the platform’s search process and results page are. “The provider pool was much better than what I’ve seen on other platforms, and I loved seeing schedule info prominently displayed on each profile,” she adds. “While the system wasn’t perfect, it saved me a lot of time, not having to email or call providers one by one to ask about availability.”

A standout feature of this directory is the ability to book appointments directly via the platform, eliminating the need to visit another website to contact the therapist. While therapist availability may be limited in some areas, the user-friendly design and extensive selection of therapists make Zocdoc an excellent choice for individuals seeking a qualified clinician.

“I was impressed by the quality of the clinicians,” states Vargas. “It was a diverse group, and the majority had high ratings.”

We were also impressed by the specialized training of the therapists listed on Zocdoc. In addition to traditional modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy, our tester found professionals trained in innovative approaches such as somatic therapy and internal family systems?— an approach that helps individuals explore and heal different aspects of themselves, such as their inner critic. These modalities are harder to find in other directories.

Since Zocdoc is a directory, it’s best for individuals who already have an idea of what they’re looking for, such as a type of therapist they enjoy working with or a specific modality they’re looking to try.

BetterHelp earned its spot as the best option for text-based therapy due to its single subscription price, easy-to-use website, and extensive therapist network.

The platform is designed with user convenience in mind, allowing people to sign up quickly, match with a therapist, and start messaging within the same day. Whether users are new to therapy or have experience seeking mental health support, BetterHelp’s intuitive interface ensures that navigating the platform is seamless. This accessibility is especially beneficial for those who may feel overwhelmed in traditional therapy settings, offering a low-pressure way to reach out for help.

With a variety of therapy formats and access to over 30,000 licensed therapists, BetterHelp makes it easier to find a good therapist for text-based therapy, compared with smaller online therapy companies.

Unlike traditional therapy, where communication is often limited to scheduled appointments, BetterHelp allows users to send messages to their therapist anytime, offering continuous support and flexibility. Whether sharing daily struggles, asking follow-up questions, or seeking reassurance, the ability to stay connected with a therapist can be beneficial.

Erin Heger tested BetterHelp for us, and even though she was disappointed that she couldn’t choose her own provider, she says that her therapist was “warm and compassionate.” She also appreciated the straightforward sign-up process, affordable pricing, and minimal technical issues.

Of the online therapy platforms we tested that offer treatment for substance abuse, Monument was, hands down, the best option for alcohol use disorder. Its affordability, acceptance of insurance, and use of self-guided tools creates a user-friendly experience with few obstacles to accessing care.

We like that Monument’s online treatment for alcohol dependence offers convenient and flexible support for those who are uncomfortable in traditional therapy settings, and its variety of treatment options ensures that users get the support they need. Additionally, its catalog of self-guided educational resources provides encouragement and motivation that people can use throughout their sobriety journey.

Another thing that makes Monument unique is its flexible approach. Since many substance treatment programs require a commitment to full sobriety, individuals who are unwilling or unable to completely eliminate substance use may feel like there are no treatment options for them, and that therefore there is no point in trying to get support. Monument, however, offers treatment even if the person still consumes alcohol.

Monument’s various support groups are a great resource for clients who want to connect with other people who are going through similar experiences. These support groups focus on many topics, including trauma, grief, parenting, self-esteem, family issues, anxiety, and depression. The community forum allows clients to seek peer support at any time and is overseen by licensed therapists.

Monument is in-network with several insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna Healthcare, Oscar, and Medicare. It does not have sliding scale self-pay options, but the variety of plans it offers makes it affordable for many.

Monument’s community membership is $14.99 per month, plus an initial onboarding fee, and it provides access to the moderated support groups and community forum, as well as an SMS-based drink tracker and daily affirmations. Community membership is also required to sign up for the other offerings, such as individual therapy and medication management. Those who want to talk to a physician about medication that can support them in cutting back on their alcohol use can pay $100 per appointment. There are Total Care packages as well, which include either two or four therapy sessions per month ($149 per month for two sessions, or $249 per month for four sessions).

We tested a number of noteworthy online therapy platforms, but NOCD is one of the few that offers treatment specifically for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Riley Blanton, a licensed marriage and family therapist and mental health writer who tested NOCD for us, states that she would have continued using the platform after reviewing it, had it not been for the expensive cash-pay rates. She appreciates NOCD’s “ability to offer [her] personalized treatment, education about [her] diagnosis, and accountability in [her] progress.” Information about OCD can be an incredibly important part of the healing process, since OCD is a highly stigmatized disorder.

With out-of-pocket rates of $110 for 30-minute sessions, $150 for 45-minute sessions, and $210 for 60-minute sessions, NOCD is not the most affordable online therapy platform (though it is priced very competitively compared to in-person ERP treatment with an OCD specialist). However, NOCD does accept over 60 major insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna Healthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

If you have OCD and are open to exploring ERP therapy, keep an open line of communication with your provider and discuss whether it might be a good approach for your situation.

WellQor’s specialized focus on trauma-informed care and highly trained therapists shows its commitment to high-quality, evidence-based treatment, which is why it’s our top online therapy platform for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Traditional EMDR sessions often require in-office visits, but WellQor successfully adapts the process for online therapy, using video sessions and guided techniques to help clients reprocess traumatic experiences from the comfort of their own home. This flexibility allows more people to benefit from EMDR without geographical barriers.

Private pay rates at WellQor are $125 per session, and the company also accepts most major insurance plans, including Ambetter Health, Aetna, Tricare, Medicare, Cigna Healthcare, and more.

Julia Childs Heyl tested WellQor for us and was very happy with her experience. “I would enthusiastically recommend WellQor to others,” she says. She highlights the responsive and understanding customer service as well as the service’s qualified clinicians in particular.

Grouport’s structured discussions, use of licensed therapists, and wide variety of topics and meeting times make it a standout choice for those seeking affordable and accessible group therapy.

Group therapy may not be the right fit for everyone, but Grouport tries its best by intentionally including multiple meeting times per group and utilizing a care coordinator to match users to topical groups. Its prioritization of group therapy ensures that attention is paid to maintaining and improving the quality of the groups too.

With Grouport, users can access therapy groups via video sessions for just $35 per week. Its therapy groups cover multiple topics, such as anxiety and depression, parenting, grief, or borderline personality disorder. Unfortunately, Grouport operates most of its topical groups in just three states (New York, New Jersey, and Florida), which limits access for many. However, we appreciate that Grouport sets a maximum of 12 participants per group, which allows users to quickly get comfortable with the group setting — even if they have not previously tried group therapy.

While our tester of Grouport’s services, Katie Mannion, was initially disappointed that she couldn’t access the parenting group, she was impressed by her experience with the DBT skills group. A licensed therapist facilitated the group’s content smoothly, always started sessions promptly, and moved effectively through the 12-week structured DBT curriculum. However, Mannion does note that her “experience with the DBT group left something to be desired. It felt more like an educational workshop than true group therapy, but other groups could be different.”

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a directory devoted to making therapy affordable to those who are uninsured or underinsured. Its commitment to sliding scale payment options that make mental health care more accessible is truly remarkable.

Users who want to find a therapist with reduced-fee sessions through Open Path Psychotherapy Collective pay a one-time lifetime membership fee of $65. The fee is clearly listed on the website, and it allows Open Path Psychotherapy Collective to provide therapists with listings free of charge, increasing the number of therapists on the platform.

Users finding a therapist through Open Path Psychotherapy Collective must have financial need, with a household income under $100,000 annually. The platform does not engage in means testing and asks users to self-certify that they have financial need to use the platform (but you do not have to upload proof of income).

We appreciate that Teladoc Health offers a straightforward process for users to verify their coverage. By simply logging into their account and providing insurance details, users can quickly determine their eligibility and any associated costs. This transparency allows individuals to make informed decisions about their mental health care without the stress of unexpected expenses.

Additionally, Teladoc Health is unique in that it accepts Medicaid and Medicare plans, which few other online therapy platforms do. Users also have the option to self-pay through Teladoc Health, with therapy sessions priced at $119.

Amy Marschall?tested Teladoc Health’s services for us and had a positive experience overall. “My therapist had specialized training in my presenting issue and was compassionate,” she explains. “I appreciated the flexibility of the services provided and felt empowered to express my needs and get them met.”

Everyone’s journey through grief is different, and for those seeking support via community and connection with peers, we like The Dinner Party. Unlike traditional therapy or support groups, The Dinner Party brings together adults between the ages of 21 and 45 who have experienced a significant loss to share meals and conversations in a relaxed, social setting. These meals can occur in person or virtually.

This informal model creates a space where participants can openly discuss grief without societal stigma or the pressure to grieve in a certain way.

The Dinner Party’s model is particularly impactful because its focus is on community and shared lived experiences rather than clinical intervention. Instead of relying on therapists or structured counseling, the platform connects grieving individuals with others navigating similar emotions, helping to combat the feelings of isolation that often accompany loss. These gatherings provide a sense of belonging and understanding that many find difficult to access in conventional grief support groups.

It is free to join a “table” at The Dinner Party, but keep in mind, the in-person groups often operate potluck style, so be prepared to at least bring a box of cookies or a bag of chips.