BetterHelp Online Therapy: A 2023 Review

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We tried BetterHelp and found it to be a great online option for just starting out with therapy, and for short-term use. Here’s everything you need to know.

A quick summary of BetterHelp

BetterHelp is an online therapy service where you can access a therapist 24/7 via a phone call, video chat, live chat, or text message. They offer a variety of different services, and their monthly membership payment plan is flexible so you can cancel anytime. For more in-depth information, continue reading.

Despite the arguments of political opponents to the contrary, premium increases had been going on for decades before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In fact, the average rate of yearly premium increases decreased after the law was passed in 2010, according to Forbes.

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Despite the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, they are incredibly common. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of people in the United States will experience a mental health condition in any given year.

Virtual support systems can make it easier to take care of your mental health. They can be convenient and private for many people, making them a viable option for receiving coaching and therapy from anywhere and at any time.

BetterHelp is one such online therapy service that allows you to text-chat with a licensed, accredited therapist 24/7. We discuss how Betterhelp works, what to consider if you’re in the market for online therapy, and what would work best for you. We also included our editor’s assessment of BetterHelp and her personal experience with this online service. Follow along to find out more.

Founded in 2013, BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform in the world, offering virtual therapy with licensed and accredited therapists via chat, phone calls, and video calls. It also provides additional services like journaling and group therapy sessions.

BetterHelp uses a monthly membership payment plan, but you can cancel your membership at any time.

BetterHelp has expanded its services in recent years and now partners with businesses and universities. It also has several sister websites that provide therapy for couples, teens, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those seeking a faith-based approach.

Chat room

Once you’ve been matched with a counselor, you can immediately start messaging them in a private and secure chat room.

The chat room is accessible at any time, as long as your device has reliable internet. Messaging isn’t done in real time, but as soon as you receive a response from your therapist, you will get an email notification. As a result, you’re free to message your counselor at any hour of the day.

Your counselor will reply with questions, guidance, homework, or feedback. The app will notify you of their response.

The conversations are saved in the chat room, so you’re free to reflect and reread whenever you’d like. BetterHelp says therapists are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) , which is a federal law protecting sensitive health information.

“Therapy can be intimidating, especially for a lot of first-time clients. Text-based communication (texting and live-chat sessions) are a great way to take some of the anxiety out of starting therapy and help clients dive into the process,” says James Imrie, the creative and marketing manager at BetterHelp.

Live chat

If you don’t like waiting hours for a response, you can schedule a live chat session with your counselor.

This option mimics the comfort of texting a good friend.

“Writing down your thoughts is a useful exercise for all kinds of situations,” Imrie says. “If you feel like your thoughts are crowded or foggy, boiling them down into a few sentences can help bring a lot of clarity and understanding.”

Live phone session

For those who prefer working through problems out loud, it’s possible to schedule a phone call with your counselor.

The system does not share your personal phone number with the counselor — everything is done through the BetterHelp app.

Live video session

If you’re someone who enjoys face-to-face conversation, you can also schedule a video session with your counselor. Just log on at your appointment time and your counselor will prompt you to start the video chat.

Group support

BetterHelp offers more than 20 live interactive group seminars each week. These are called “groupinars.” If you want to attend a groupinar but aren’t able to make it to the meeting time, you can get a link to the recording via email.

Topics of the groupinars vary from sleep to self-care to anxiety and depression.

Journaling

BetterHelp includes an online journal that’s yours and yours alone. It won’t be visible to anyone else unless you choose to share it.

The journal feature may be useful if you want to try writing down your thoughts and feelings. BetterHelp offers journal prompts that can help you get started in your journaling.

In addition to screening BetterHelp using our intensive vetting process, we also looked at their medical credibility, business practices, and social impact. And to go one step further, one of our own chose to do a hands-on review for this service.

Assistant Editor Parisa Syed (she/they) tried out BetterHelp and was satisfied with her experience. While their regular therapist was on maternity leave, Parisa was looking for someone who could help keep up with the progress she’s made so far.

After completing a survey that consisted of questions about herself, what she was looking to accomplish in therapy, and her current mental state, she was also able to list out preferences she looks for in a therapist.

Some of these options included the therapist’s gender, experiences, and other personal traits that might help when deciding who to see. Syed, in particular, looked for a therapist of color with experience in LGBTQIA+-related issues.

Syed was matched with a therapist within 2 hours of completing the forms.

“I received a notification via email and a text,” she says. “I had the option to schedule an appointment with her or to choose another therapist. I chose to make an appointment with her, and it’s been great so far!”

Between the options for meeting over a call, messenger, or video, Syed chose to meet over video.

“It was just like hopping on a Zoom meeting,” she says. “Super simple.”

The initial appointment lasted for about 50 minutes. A lot of what Syed was looking for in a therapist was established in this initial appointment.

“I was looking for someone who could understand the background of a first-gen American, [the] family dynamics associated with that, and someone who was honest and wasn’t afraid to push back,” she says. “My therapist is all of those things, plus funny, empathetic, and easy to talk to.”

Syed also likes that the method of contact can be changed based on their preference. She likes being able to talk on the phone if she wishes instead of meeting over video.

According to BetterHelp, counselors are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or licensed professional counselors.

All the company’s counselors have a master’s or doctorate degree and possess at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of experience as mental health professionals.

If you don’t like who you’re paired with, you can request to be matched with a new therapist. As someone who’s been through their fair share of therapists, Syed found this feature to be a pretty great perk.

Who BetterHelp would be best for

“Online therapy can serve as a source of connection and support, especially during a time (in light of the pandemic) that feels otherwise isolating,” says Sheava Zadeh, PhD, LEP, BCIM, a psychologist and the founder of Pamper Your Brain.

“Clients who live in remote areas or who have limited mobility or limited access to transportation may be more motivated to participate in online therapy,” Zadeh says. “It allows for more flexibility in scheduling, as clients have access to more specialists and can select the specialists who can work with their schedules.”

You also get the comfort that comes with being in your own personal space — and you don’t have to worry about running into anyone you know in the waiting room.

BetterHelp has a wide array of counselors who are specialized in specific concerns and needs, like:

• stress
• anxiety
• relationships
• parenting
• depression
• addiction
• eating
• sleeping
• trauma
• anger
• family conflicts
• LGBTQIA+ matters
• grief
• religious and spiritual concerns
• self-esteem

BetterHelp also offers individual counseling, couples counseling, and teen counseling with a focus on the services above.

Who shouldn’t use BetterHelp

Consider in-person therapy rather than virtual therapy if you:

• connect better at in-person interactions
• dislike virtual communication
• don’t have stable internet access

Also, BetterHelp therapy sessions may not be suitable for people who need more intense treatment options, like dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and psychodynamic therapy.

For emergency care or a crisis, call 911, as BetterHelp cannot handle such situations.

Syed noted that BetterHelp is one of the more affordable online therapy options she’s seen, especially since there are several different ways to communicate with your therapist.

Prices range from $60 to $90 a week, depending on how many live sessions you want to schedule. You’ll be billed monthly.

However, BetterHelp does not accept insurance, so you may find there are other more cost-effective options.

Does BetterHelp offer financial aid?

BetterHelp also offers financial aid for those who qualify — for example, for anyone who’s unemployed or going through financial difficulty.

If you want to apply for financial aid, you’ll do so during the sign-up process. You’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire to check your eligibility.

Does BetterHelp accept insurance?

BetterHelp is a subscription plan with services not generally covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Can you change or cancel your BetterHelp subscription?

You can cancel your subscription at any time if you decide that BetterHelp is not working for you.

Along with BetterHelp, there are other online therapy services that offer services that could better align with your needs. Take a look at the following services, and the comparison chart at the end to see which online therapy service could work best for you.

Amwell

Amwell is a telehealth company that connects people with healthcare professionals through a virtual care platform. For $109 to $129, you can receive counseling for a variety of different services:

• anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling
• urgent care
• primary care
• psychiatric care
• behavioral healthcare
• chronic care management
• nutrition interventions
• healthy living
• PTSD
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• life transitions
• insomnia
• panic attacks

Amwell’s therapy services are not subscription-based, meaning you have to pay for each therapist visit. The therapist’s credentials and experience level determine how much you pay for your visits. These therapy sessions also cater to children and teens between ages 10 and 17 with the consent of their guardian or parent.

Talkspace

Talkspace is a digital therapy platform that hosts thousands of licensed therapists and connects them with clients via the web and mobile app. The platform offers therapy and counseling to individuals, couples, teens between ages 13 and 17, and veterans. Psychiatry evaluations and medication management are also available.

The network of therapists can help with a variety of needs:

• anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling
• childhood abuse
• parenting
• chronic illness
• family conflict
• trauma
• mood disorders
• anger management
• bipolar disorder
• substance use disorders
• eating disorders
• obsessive-compulsive disorder

Therapy services operate on a subscription basis and may cost between $65 and $99 a week. A psychiatry session costs $249 for the initial visit, followed by $125 for each subsequent session. Talkspace accepts insurance from a couple of insurance providers.

7 Cups

7 Cups is a mental health platform that provides users with emotional support from an online community and therapy sessions as needed. For $150 a month, you get unlimited access to a therapist. You may connect with them through text-only messaging in your private chat room. The platform does not accept insurance.

7 Cups provides mental-health care through mindfulness exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal exercises, along with support for a variety of different needs:

• anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling
• talk therapy
• mindfulness exercises
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• interpersonal exercises

7 Cups matches you with a therapist, so you will not have the option of choosing your therapist.

Pricing	Services offered	Who it’s best for	Financial aid/insurance?
BetterHelp	$60–$90 per week	•basics*, and more	people without insurance (or who don’t have mental health coverage) who are looking for an affordable way to access 24/7 mental health care	does not accept insurance
Amwell	$109–$129 per session	•basics*, and more	people looking for a per-appointment (not subscription) virtual service	insurance accepted
Talkspace	$65–$129 per week for therapy; $249 for initial psychiatry and $125 for follow-up sessions	•basics*, and more	people looking for 24/7 counseling that might be covered by insurance and that you can access via video, phone, or chat	insurance accepted, but limited mental health professionals
7 Cups	$150 per month	•basics*, and more	people who prefer to chat with a therapist only through text	insurance not accepted

*Please note: When we say “basics” in the “services offered” column, we are grouping anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling together. Any additional services offered are unique to that online therapy website.

BetterHelp is rated as a top teletherapy platform for a variety of mental health concerns. Users generally report positive experiences with BetterHelp’s network of therapists, services, and the effectiveness of the therapy sessions.

BetterHelp has an average of 4.07 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau (BBB) from over 330 customer reviews. It also has an A rating from the site, which is based on the BBB’s opinion of the company’s reputation and trustworthiness.

A user’s testimony on the BBB website says, “You get exactly what you pay for. I was hooked up with an amazing therapist, and she is so intelligent and kind-hearted. I had a hard time finding a therapist in my city, and I decided to give BetterHelp a try after seeing advertisements. My therapist works just as hard for me as my therapist that went on maternity leave did. I’m actually in another country and time zone as my therapist, and she makes it work.”

Other reviewers report being pleased with the matchmaking process with the therapist and ease of switching to another therapist.

They also appreciate the efficiency of their therapist, the improvement in their mental health, and constant checking in from BetterHelp on their progress and relationship with their therapist.

BetterHelp has a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot from more than 4,100 customer reviews. The reviews about BetterHelp’s services on Trustpilot are as positive and appreciative as the ones on BBB.

Although BetterHelp has helped many people access mental health services, the company has faced significant controversy related to its effectiveness, ethics, and privacy practices.

One of the primary sources of controversy has been the platform’s marketing tactics, which have been criticized for being misleading and predatory. For example, some social media influencers were accused of capitalizing on their viewers’ mental health issues by promoting the app for personal gain.

While affiliate links are common in the influencer world, promoting a mental health app to vulnerable followers has been viewed as exploitative.

Transparency around the qualifications and training of therapists on the app has also been called into question, with many users complaining about therapists who fail to show up for sessions, who are unresponsive and unhelpful, or who flat-out deny service.

Additionally, verifying the identity and qualifications of online therapists can be difficult, raising concerns about the quality of care provided on the platform. BetterHelp faced a class-action lawsuit in 2018, which alleged that the company made misleading claims about the qualifications and credentials of its therapists.

BetterHelp’s privacy practices have also been a source of controversy, with users expressing concern about the collection and sharing of their data with third-party companies without adequate disclosure or consent.

The platform’s ability to record and store user conversations with therapists has also raised concerns about data privacy and security. Many individuals have spoken out against the platform for selling their data to companies like Facebook without their knowledge or consent.

Pros

• Many ways to access care: You can access therapy via texts, live chat, phone calls, and video calls.
• 24/7 access: You can reach your therapist at any time of the day.
• Easy to change therapists: You can request a change of therapist whenever.
• No time commitment: You can decide how long you want to use the platform, and you can cancel anytime.
• Access to well-qualified and experienced therapists: BetterHelp therapists are board certified and have a minimum of 3 years and 1,000 hours of experience. Each therapist also goes through a vetting process before they’re admitted into BetterHelp’s network.
• Affordable: BetterHelp offers financial assistance to those who qualify for it.

Cons

• Not covered by insurance: Generally, insurance doesn’t cover BetterHelp’s online therapy services. This includes private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid.
• Limited scope: BetterHelp therapists can provide talk therapy, but they can’t diagnose a mental health condition, prescribe medications, or fulfill a court order.
• Only for adults: BetterHelp doesn’t provide therapy for kids or teens. Instead, the website transfers you to its sister website, teencounseling.com.