7 Cups is an online community space and text-based therapy service dedicated to mental health and wellness. It features topic-specific discussion boards, various chat groups, educational activities and an interactive AI Chatbot. 7 Cups therapy is asynchronous, via text, with a licensed mental health professional for $150 per month.
7 Cups Pros & Cons
7 Cups has an impressive online community space built around mental health and wellness. Its unique features allow you to connect with others in larger groups, or one-on-one with a dedicated, “active listener.” Both options are great when you need someone to talk to. However, the community discussion boards can be overwhelming and others may not see or engage with your posts. While you can access 7 Cups through their website or app, the app is buggy and doesn’t include all features that are found on the website.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The community space has a lot of topic-specific discussion boards (forums) to explore and where you can connect with other like-minded people | With so many discussion boards available to interact with, your post may not get a response from others which can be difficult if you’re hoping to start a conversation |
| Various, large, group chats (like chat rooms) offer a space to write about what’s on your mind and receive support from others | There are strict guidelines and rules for the group chats which can be a deterrent for new users |
| The AI Chatbot, Noni, can help you navigate the website or app, or it can guide you through various activities in its own chat room | “Active Listeners” are not licensed and their background and credentials are not clear |
| Asynchronous texting with a therapist is great for people with varied schedules who need the option to text as needed on their own time | 7 Cups therapy does not happen in real-time and is text-based with no option for video or phone calls, sometimes making the services seem limited |
| While 7 Cups has an app, it is very buggy and does not include everything the website offers (like meditations) |
How to Sign Up for 7 Cups
If you are an Android user, you can download the 7 Cups app in the Google Play Store.
For those with Apple products, you can download 7 cups in the Apple App Store.
For the best experience, sign up for an account on the 7 Cups website.
What Is 7 Cups?
7 Cups, also known as 7 Cups of Tea, is a text-based mental wellness app and therapy platform. 7 Cups’ biggest feature by far is its expansive community discussion boards. In these community forums, you can connect with others who are going through similar situations and give each other advice, encouragement, or anything else you may find helpful.
For those looking for more one-on-one connection, 7 Cups offers two choices for free: you can choose to chat with the AI Chatbot, Noni, or with an “Active Listener”. The Noni chatbot has a special menu that allows you to guide the conversation. You can choose to journal with Noni or just chat with it, but be aware that it only has a set number of responses. “Active Listeners”, on the other hand, are live people and can offer more in the way of support.
Interestingly, the more you participate in 7 Cups’ communities or with an “Active Listener”, the greater number of points and badges you receive. Points allow you to level up, and with each level, you receive different perks. One of these perks is the ability to access different group chats.
In addition to various chatting services, 7 Cups offers self-help guides, a very large Q&A section, learning modules called “Paths”, and, for a fee, asynchronous therapy via texting. The self-help guides are on numerous mental health topics with advice and guidance on how to work towards improvement. The Q&A section has thousands of threads on various mental health issues from anxiety and depression to bullying and forgiveness. “Paths” are learning modules on topics from parenting to addiction, all with their own activities to complete.
7 Cups therapy is done completely via text in a chat box, either online or in the app. Therapists usually respond once or twice a day, once you text them first, and only Monday through Friday. Therapy with 7 Cups is not like therapy with other online therapy platforms as you never actually talk or engage with your therapist on the phone or via Zoom.
Active Listeners vs AI Bot vs Therapy
Active Listeners, an AI Bot named Noni, and asynchronous, text-based therapy are all offered on the 7 Cup platform. You can access the Active Listeners and AI Bot for free, but have to pay $150 per month to text with a therapist.
Active Listeners
Active Listeners are volunteers who complete online training classes with 7 Cups, pass a test, and use their skills to actively listen and message with those in need. Listeners can be professional counselors and psychologists, but most of them are kind people interested in volunteering their time for a good cause.
Per their training, Active Listeners know the limitations of their tools and refer users to additional supports as needed. 1 Listeners will refer users to crisis services if they are experiencing severe symptoms or suicidal or homicidal ideations.
AI Chatbot (Noni)
The AI Chatbot, Noni, is just that – a chatbot with a limited scope of help and advice. It can guide you through various text-based activities, but it is not the same as talking to a live human and the responses aren’t always the best.
Noni also has its own chat room that you can enter at any time. It can help navigate you through the website and app, or it can guide you through various activities in the chat room. Noni has a very limited range of responses, and doesn’t really offer help or advice the way a person would.
7 Cups Therapy
All of the therapists on 7 Cups are licensed professionals, including psychologists, social workers or counselors. For $150 per month, you can send your therapist messages whenever you want and most will respond to you within the day. Every interaction with your therapist happens asynchronously via text; there is no direct contact with them. You don’t have the option to speak with them over the phone or via Zoom.
Who Is 7 Cups Right For?
7 Cups offers several services, like community forums, asynchronous therapy, and one-on-one chatting, which can help people across the country and globe with their mental wellness. It could be a great fit for a couple of specific groups of people, but others may want to look for an alternative.
Those Seeking a Quick Connection
7 Cups is great for people who just need someone to talk to, those who sometimes feel lonely, or people who do not get the support they need from their loved ones. Chatting with Active Listeners, who can offer real-time support via text can be very helpful for these folks.
AI Bot Fans
With the Noni AI Chatbot, people can have a guide to the 7 Cups website and app. Those who need a little bit of help, structure, and fun will enjoy utilizing the chatbot feature.
Social Space Dedicated to Mental Health
For those who wish to have a social space focused on mental health and wellness will like 7 Cups. The large community forums are similar to Reddit and allow you to interact with people from all over the world.
Who May Want an Alternative to 7 Cups?
Although 7 Cups is an interesting and unique service, there are a few groups of people it would not be a good fit for.
Less Community
Those who wish to be less social and have something more strictly focused on mental health and wellness will want to search for a different mental health app. One of the biggest components of 7 Cups are its community forums and chatting options, and while you can ignore these features, there isn’t a ton of other content or activities to explore like there may be in apps like Calm or Headspace.
You Want More Mindfulness and Meditation
7 Cups offers some mindfulness and meditation, but these are only available on their website and aren’t as varied as other meditation apps. For those seeking a way to create a daily meditation practice that you can access anywhere, you’ll want to try an app like Insight Timer or Headspace.
More Learning Opportunities
While 7 Cups features some learning modules called “Paths”, its library is not as big as other apps. It is also unclear if the “Paths” on 7 Cups use CBT, positive psychology, or some other skill set to help people manage anxiety, stress, or depression symptoms. Those looking for an app that has a large learning library that is rooted in psychology skills would be better off with the Happify app.
Live Therapy and Medication Management
7 Cups clearly states throughout their platform that they are not a service for people in crisis or for anyone experiencing serious mental distress. There are no Zoom/virtual therapy sessions with therapists on 7 Cups, and everything is done asynchronously through text only.
There are also no medication options with 7 Cups. Those seeking live, online therapy or medication management would be best served by seeing someone in person or with another online therapy provider like TalkSpace.
Age Requirements
7 Cups can only be used by those 13-years and older.
What Are 7 Cups Users Saying?
7 Cups has a pretty high star rating in both app stores, with a 4.8-star rating from 25,000+ reviews in the Google Play Store and a 4.3-star rating from 3,700+ reviews in the Apple App Store. Despite the high star ratings in the app stores, users were really divided over the app.
“Active Listeners” Are Very Problematic
Many users mentioned over and over again that they felt like 7 Cups was a scam. This was specifically aimed at “Active Listeners” and therapists.
When it came to the listeners, people said they were not vetted nor properly trained to talk with people experiencing a need for emotional support. Many women mention that once their listener found out they were female, they began receiving inappropriate and flirtatious messages. Additionally, users reported that sometimes listeners didn’t respond, or talked for a few minutes then left abruptly.
While there is an option to look at reviews of the listeners, none of the reviews are negative. 7 Cups only shows you the positive reviews, making it more suspicious. I had a fine experience with the listeners, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary or worth noting.
Bullying
Much like other large community forum sites, 7 Cups has reports of bullying in both app stores. This is despite the fact that there are moderators for all the forums and sub-forums. While people can get banned from posting in forums and comments can be removed, it doesn’t negate the fact that this is happening to people.
Therapy is Questionable
The 7 Cups website claims that all therapists are licensed and credentialed, but many users questioned whether this was true. People reported they were bounced from therapist to therapist or that their therapist never returned messages.
Some pointed out that there seemed to be a large disconnect between what the site claims to offer and what it actually provides. I have to agree with this. The therapist I was auto-matched with has her place of residence listed as Romania, and when I got to search for a therapist near me, nothing popped up.
The App is Glitchy
Users pointed out that the app is very glitchy and that there are features from the website that are not present in the app. To me, most notably, the meditations are missing from the app or are very hard to find. If you click on certain banners in the app, it automatically directs you to the website. This made users, and myself, wonder if the app was actually worth the download.
7 Cups Is Not For Everyone
While there were positive reviews about the listeners, the activities available, and the therapy option, many users had a caveat to their review: text-based mental health and wellness is not for everyone. This is absolutely true! Active and frequent users of 7 Cups are well aware of what it does well and where its failings are.
7 Cups Cost
7 Cups has a fairly large free section on its website and in the app. There is a premium version with expanded content for $12.99 per month or $94.99 per year. You can also sign up for text-based therapy for $150 per month.
Is 7 Cups Free?
Yes, 7 Cups offers many of its features for free either online or in the app. If you are just looking to be a part of a community forum space to discuss mental health and wellness, the free version is your best choice. You will also have access to the AI Chatbot, Noni, as well as “Active Listeners”.
7 Cups Premium Cost
The premium version of 7 Cups is $12.99 per month or $94.99 per year. In addition to the content in the free version, you get access to premium learning modules called “Paths”. This option is great for those that want a large community space to interact with as well as some guided learning to complete.
7 Cups Therapy Cost
7 Cups therapy costs $150 per month. You will receive everything in the premium version plus unlimited chatting with a licensed therapist. It is important to note that “unlimited chatting” entails getting a response once or twice a day, Monday-Friday only.
7 Cups Discounts & Free Trials
| Yes/No | |
|---|---|
| Free Trial of Premium Plan | No |
| Free Version | Yes |
| Student Discount | No |
| Family Plan | No |
| Senior Discount | No |
| COVID-19 Specials | No |
Does 7 Cups Take Insurance?
No, 7 Cups does not currently take insurance.
Can I Use My HSA/ or FSA?
According to 7 Cups, they accept HSA/FSA funds for therapy only, if your insurance provider allows it. Your HSA/FSA funds can only be used towards the $150 per month fee for therapy and not for the premium option of the website or app.
What if I Want to Cancel?
You can absolutely cancel at any time, but doing so can be complicated for some. Even if you sign up for a subscription through the app store, it is best to log on to the 7 Cups website to cancel your subscription. You will log in and then go to your profile. From there, click “Settings”, then “Manage Subscriptions”, you will then be able to cancel.
Does 7 Cups Offer Refunds?
7 Cups can issue refunds at their discretion. You must fill out a refund request form on their main website.
Is 7 Cups Safe/HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, 7 Cups is HIPAA compliant. You will sign a HIPAA agreement prior to being matched with a therapist. You will not have to sign a HIPAA agreement if you choose to use the free version of 7 Cups or if you use the “Active Listeners”.
How to Get Started with 7 Cups
Getting started with 7 Cups is really fast and easy. You can choose to download the app from the app stores or create an account on the website. While the app may be more convenient, I recommend using the website for a better user experience.
Step 1
To get started with 7 Cups, download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Or create an account on the 7 Cups website.
Step 2
To create an account, you will enter your email, create a unique username, a password, and limited information about your age. You will then be taken to the main screen where you can navigate to chat with the AI Chatbot Noni or an “Active Listener”, community spaces, and the learning modules called “Paths”. There is a lot to explore, whether you chose the app or the website version, so be sure to look around.
Step 3
If you want access to premium learning “Paths”, you can click on any locked path and be brought to the pay screen to sign up. Likewise, if you want to begin therapy you will select “Considering Therapy” and follow the prompts to sign up and pay.
7 Cups Free Version: Detailed Review
At the core of 7 Cups free version are the “Active Listeners”, the AI Chatbot, and the community spaces. There are select learning modules called “Paths” and some meditations available as well, but these don’t seem like the main draw.
Feature 1: “Home”
In both the app and on the website, the first place you will land is the “Home” screen. This resembles the way Facebook’s social feed looks and has messages, notifications, and posts from your learning path, communities, and a mood check-in. From the home screen, you can quickly navigate anywhere else on the site.
Feature 2: Noni Chat Bot
Noni is the AI Chatbot on 7 Cups and it can act as an activity guide or just as a chatting partner. The responses from Noni are rather limited and the activities are fine. I mostly used Noni just for fun and didn’t take it too seriously. Chatbots are great if you want a guided activity to complete in a set timeframe, but it will not give you a fulfilling experience the way chatting with a human will.
Feature 3: “Active Listeners”
7 Cups clearly and frequently states that the “Active Listeners” are not professional counselors nor are they qualified to handle crisis situations. While 7 Cups does require some level of training that listeners must complete, they do not verify the skills, degrees, qualifications, credentials, or background of any listeners. They are simply there to listen and should not offer advice or therapeutic techniques to explore.
The two listeners I was matched with were fine. One was more chatty than the other and neither offered advice or guidance about my situation. They did exactly what the website said they would do, which was listen to my issue. Initially, I was bothered that they weren’t giving me advice but this did allow me to come to my own conclusions, which was a valuable learning moment for me.
Feature 4: Group Chats
There are a couple of basic group chats available to you as a new user, notably one called “Sharing Circle”. Each group chat will have specific rules to follow, like in the “Sharing Circle” only one person at a time can share and for 7-minute increments. All those who choose to share must write in short sentences and no one is allowed to ask questions during a sharing time.
While some of the rules do seem rather weird at first, the thought behind ones like “no questions” is so the person who is sharing doesn’t feel pressured to share more than they are comfortable with. Being in the group chats was certainly an interesting experience!
Feature 5: Community Space
Easily the biggest part of this platform is the community space. There are so many different forums and subforums that I couldn’t possibly list them all, and more sub-forums are added all the time. I decided to join the 35+ forum and have posted on a couple of subforum topics about anxiety, parenting, and aging. Overall, the community space has been positive and kind towards me and I like that all the spaces are dedicated to only mental health topics.
Paths
“Paths” are learning modules that give you articles to read, videos to watch, or a mindfulness exercise to complete. These are on topics like how to sleep better, coping with anxiety or depression, and more. The free version has a basic path for you to follow, with more available in the premium subscription.
Self Help Guides
Whether you are in the app or on the website, you will also have access to “Self Help Guides” in the “Paths” section and there are five available to read.
The “Self Help Guides” are:
- Preventing Relapse by Dr. John C Norcross
- Rewarding Yourself for Changing by Rory Pfund
- Moving Forward with Self-Forgiveness by Everett L Worthington
- Your Path to REACH Forgiveness (under construction)
- The Path to Patience by Everett L Worthington
Mindfulness Exercises
There are 20 different categories in the mindfulness exercises section and cover skills like body scan, breathwork, and meditations. It is important to note that I could not find this section in the app and much of the meditations seem geared more towards beginners than intermediate or advanced meditators.
Feature 6: “Path” Section
The “Path” section contains all the learning paths, self-help guides, and mindfulness exercises. You can access these options by clicking on the drop-down menu on the website or by tapping the sun and cloud icon in the app.
Paths
“Paths” are learning modules that give you articles to read, videos to watch, or a mindfulness exercise to complete. These are on topics like how to sleep better, coping with anxiety or depression, and more. The free version has a basic path for you to follow, with more available in the premium subscription.
Self Help Guides
Whether you are in the app or on the website, you will also have access to “Self Help Guides” in the “Paths” section and there are five available to read.
The “Self Help Guides” are:
- Preventing Relapse by Dr. John C Norcross
- Rewarding Yourself for Changing by Rory Pfund
- Moving Forward with Self-Forgiveness by Everett L Worthington
- Your Path to REACH Forgiveness (under construction)
- The Path to Patience by Everett L Worthington
Mindfulness Exercises
There are 20 different categories in the mindfulness exercises section and cover skills like body scan, breathwork, and meditations. It is important to note that I could not find this section in the app and much of the meditations seem geared more towards beginners than intermediate or advanced meditators.
7 Cups Premium: Detailed Review
The premium version of 7 Cups is rather straightforward in what it offers. You will have access to everything in the free version plus additional premium “Paths”. It is $12.99 per month or $94.99 per year.
Feature 1: Premium “Paths”
Whether you are in the app or on the website, the “Paths” remain the same. In the free version a basic path called “My Growth Path” is the only one available, more variety becomes available in premium.
Some of the premium paths on topics like breakups, overcoming depression and worry, parenting, and college life. I am currently completing the parenting path and find it easy to complete the activities because they are usually pretty short.
7 Cups Therapy: Detailed Review
7 Cups offers online therapy delivered through text-based communication either in the app or on the website. It is $150 per month and you will receive everything in the premium version in addition to being matched with a therapist.
What Does 7 Cups Therapy Entail?
7 Cups Therapy is online, asynchronous, and text-based. You can chat with your therapist either on the website or through the app. You have great control over what you want to discuss with your therapist, but it is important to note that there are no Zoom sessions or phone sessions available with your therapist. They will also only respond once or twice per day, via text, and only Monday-Friday.
Text-based therapy is very different than talk therapy and the messages from the therapists on 7 Cups can feel a little impersonal. The therapist I was automatically matched with messaged me right away, but then I didn’t hear anything from her for days. I was under the impression that she would reach out to me daily, but when I messaged for clarification it seemed like I would be the one driving the conversations. For me, it has been hard to create a connection with my therapist through text alone and I would prefer talking to someone via Zoom or phone instead.
How Are Therapists Vetted?
According to the 7 Cups website, they verify the license, qualifications, and credentials of therapists providing services through them. However, they would like you to acknowledge that they do not guarantee such verification of the skills, degrees, qualifications, credentials, competence or background of any therapist.
How Does Matching With A Therapist Work?
7 Cups will automatically place you with a therapist. There were not really any screening questions to answer, but you do sign some HIPAA agreements before you are placed with a therapist. When I initially matched, the name of my therapist was different from the one I am currently talking to. I reached out to 7 Cups for clarification about the matching process, but I am still waiting for a reply.
Can I Get a New Therapist?
Yes, you can choose a new therapist by going into your account settings. Simply click “subscriptions”, then “manage subscriptions”, you will then see an option to switch therapists.
What States is 7 Cups Therapy Available?
According to the therapist directory, therapists are very limited across the US. The therapist I am currently matched with has her place of residence listed as Romania. WI am currently waiting to hear from 7 Cups about what states are covered for therapy and how therapists can work overseas but offer care in the US.
7 Cups vs. Talkspace vs. Betterhelp vs. In-Person Therapy
7 Cups can be a great option for some, but it exists alongside many other mental health providers offering other types of therapy (such as phone or video) that may be more appealing to others.
7 Cups vs Talkspace
Talkspace is an online mental health provider for teens and adults looking to boost their well-being. Talkspace differentiates itself by forgoing a free option and instead focusing on various therapy options.
Talkspace provides various services from mental health professionals like:2
- Unlimited messaging therapy
- Live video therapy sessions with a consistent professional
- Couples counseling messaging therapy
- Psychiatric services for people interested in an evaluation for medication
- Insomnia program that presents guided materials for those with poor sleep patterns
- Different tiers of therapy with varying levels of video sessions
The cheapest Talkspace therapy option is $260 per month, so 7 Cups paid version is much cheaper at $150 per month. On the other hand, Talkspace has options to pay with insurance coverage and HSA, and you’re able to talk with your therapist in real-time.
7 Cups vs Betterhelp
Betterhelp boasts that it’s the world’s largest e-counseling platform and it has far more in common with Talkspace than 7 Cups. Like Talkspace, Betterhelp uses messaging services to make progress, but the platform incorporates live video and telephone therapy sessions as well.
Betterhelp’s pricing is comparable to Talkspace with weekly fees ranging from $60 to $100.3Therefore, Betterhelp could be more of a replacement for individual therapy, while 7 Cups is something very different.
7 Cups vs In-Person Counseling
Comparing 7 Cups’ free service to in-person individual counseling is a bit of an uneven comparison. Instead of viewing them as “either/or,” it could be more helpful to view them as completely different services that could boost the other’s effectiveness.
In-person therapy offers a traditional counseling experience that has been largely unchanged for decades, while 7 Cups is an innovative form of emotional assistance that uses volunteer listeners. What 7 Cups lacks in expertise, it makes up for in accessibility, low cost, and availability.
How Has 7 Cups Changed?
7 Cups was founded by Glen Moriarty, who is a psychologist and believes that the internet has the power to help people lead better lives. 4
In 2013, “Active Listeners” could set fees for their service as either a certain rate per hour or by accepting payments on a sliding scale/pay-what-you-want basis. 7 Cups would then take a 40 percent commission on all listener transactions. 5 However, the listeners are now a free service and the only costs are for premium learning “Paths” at $12.99 per month or $94.99 per year or online, text therapy at $150 per month.
Within the last few years, the 7 Cups home screen was updated to look more like a social feed similar to Facebook or Twitter. This shows people a combination of their current path, posts from forums, and other activities or posts from around the site. 6 7 Cups continues to remain true to its core, which is creating a community of people who want to support each other as they navigate their mental health and wellness goals.
7 Cups for Organizations
7Cups has three programs available for different organizations to purchase for their members/employees. Student Support is a plan geared toward universities and colleges to support their students as they navigate test anxiety and or try to avoid college burnout.
Employee Support is a plan geared towards companies who want to support their employees and help them learn to manage stress and anxiety. The last program is geared towards non-profits to help retain and support their members.
All of these plans are for the premium version of 7 Cups and come with customized branding. Those interested in the Student Support plan, the Employee Support plan, or the Member Retention and Support System plan should contact 7 Cups for a demo.
Final Verdict on 7 Cups
Overall, people looking for empathy and support that is both free and convenient, should check out 7 Cups. It offers great community spaces, an AI chatbot, and “Active Listeners”, all of which can help you connect and feel heard as you work on your mental wellness. But 7 Cups is not set up to be a replacement for in-person or teletherapy, so those who need more than a text-based support system will need to find something else.
I still have lingering questions about how the therapists are vetted and where they’re practicing. For now, I cannot recommend 7 Cups therapy services, but I do recommend the free version of 7 Cups for anyone looking to create connections within a dedicated mental health space.
