Our verdict: a good fit if you are fully licensed and want to grow your caseload with in-network clients while Headway handles credentialing and billing; skip it if you want built-in EHR and practice management features or plan to see clients under PSYPACT without a full state license.
Headway for therapists is a free-to-join platform that gets licensed mental health providers credentialed with insurance companies and then bills those insurers for their sessions. It also lists you in a directory where clients with insurance can find and book you.
Headway charges no membership fee and keeps a small share of each insurance payment instead. From November 2026, it is also adding a $9.99 fee to every session with a new client who finds you through its marketplace (checked October 25, 2026).
Therapists just getting started with billing insurance are encouraged to learn more about how to get credentialed with insurance before settling on a platform.
Editor's Note
We regularly review and update our content to provide the most accurate and current information. In this round of updates, we added what Headway pays therapists by insurance plan and its new $9.99 marketplace fee, and we corrected outdated credentialing and telehealth details.
Headway At a Glance
Cost: Free to join ($9.99 per marketplace client session from November 2026)
Insurance Billing Features? Yes
Includes Telehealth Platform? Yes
Pros & Cons of Headway for Therapists
Pros
- Headway is free to join for therapists, with no membership fee
- Additional features for insurance and out-of-pocket billing
- Existing clients can be imported into Headway for easy management
- Both talk therapists and medication practitioners can join
- Available in all states
- Includes access to CEUs
- In-network with some Medicaid/Medicare
Cons
- You must be fully licensed to use Headway
- Adds a $9.99 fee to marketplace client sessions from November 2026
- Limited features for practice management or documentation
- Some users reported lower reimbursement rates than competitors
Preview Headway for Therapists
Headway is a directory and insurance billing platform that helps therapists and mental health practitioners market themselves to new clients, obtain credentialing with insurance providers, and manage insurance billing. Headway’s directory allows clients to view therapists that are in-network with their insurance. Headway only works for clients that are in-network with one of the payors that Headway works with – out-of-network billing through Headway is not possible. There is no cost for joining Headway as a therapist.
Headway offers two primary services, managed insurance credentialing and fully managed insurance billing, which are both highly useful services. Moreover, Headway’s provider directory markets your services to new clients who are in-network with the insurance payors you are credentialed with. Headway is a great choice for many practices, but if you’re looking for a platform that offers more built-in EHR features, you may be better served elsewhere, such as with Alma or Grow Therapy.
Headway vs. the alternatives we rate
| Platform | Cost | Insurance | What you get | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headway ★★★½☆ 3.5/5 |
Free to join; $9.99 a session for marketplace clients from November 2026 | Credentialing and billing handled | Insurance credentialing, managed billing, directory listing and telehealth | Visit Headway |
| Alma ★★★☆☆ 3/5Read our review |
$95 a month billed annually, or $125 month to month | Credentialing and billing handled | Credentialing, insurance billing, directory listing, EHR with telehealth | Visit Alma |
| Grow Therapy ★★★★½ 4.5/5Read our review |
Free to join; 5% fee on cash-pay sessions | Credentialing and billing handled | Credentialing, billing, directory listing, basic EHR with telehealth | Visit Grow Therapy |
Prices and ratings as published in our reviews, checked November 2026. Links to our partners are sponsored.
Key Takeaways
- Headway is a directory and insurance billing platform that helps practitioners get credentialed with insurance payors in their state and handles all of their insurance and direct pay billing.
- Headway operates a directory to help market your practice to a wider audience, focusing on insurance payors you are in-network with.
- Headway is free to join, but from November 2026 it deducts a $9.99 fee from each session with a new client who found you through its marketplace.
More than 5,000 therapists trust Heard to run the financial side of their practice. Choose Essential if you are solo or Premium for S corps and group practices, and get bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and banking in one place with real human support.
Klarity Health credentials you under your own NPI and Tax ID, so the insurance contracts stay with you. Your first three panels are free*, and Klarity Health’s team handles the weekly payer follow-ups while you wait. Once you are in-network, the same team runs your billing for 3.9% of paid claims.
*$50 refundable deposit per panel. Program terms apply.
What Is Headway?
Headway is a service that helps therapists and mental health practitioners market themselves to new clients, obtain credentialing with insurance providers, and manage insurance billing. Headway’s directory allows clients to view therapists that are in-network with their insurance. There is no cost for joining Headway as a therapist.
Review our scoring criteria for therapist directories here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Insurance Credentialing
One of the primary advantages to using Headway is the managed insurance credentialing. Headway handles all the legwork when it comes to getting credentialed for in-network billing, and does so more effectively than individual providers usually can on their own.
Headway, with its connections in the insurance industry, says it can get you credentialed in as few as 30 days, although its help center says approval takes anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months depending on the state and insurer (checked October 25, 2026). Headway does not publish its reimbursement rates, but its provider portal shows an estimated rate per session for each plan before you decide to join it.
Insurance payors that Headway can credential with as of October 2026 include:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (in select states)
- Cigna
- Oscar
- Oxford
- United Healthcare
- Optum affiliates
- Select Medicare Advantage plans nationally and select Medicaid managed care plans in some states
Fully Managed Client Billing
The other primary service Headway offers is fully managed insurance billing. Practitioners join the network, then Headway handles credentialing with major insurance groups, negotiates reimbursement rates, and handles all of the individual client insurance claims. This takes away the administrative burden from the practitioner and allows them to focus on providing high-quality client care.
Aside from insurance billing, Headway can also manage direct or private pay client billing on your behalf. Clients are able to pay for services via Headway in a variety of ways including debit cards, credit cards, and FSA or HSA funds.
It is worth noting that Headway only works for clients that are in-network with one of the payors that Headway works with – out-of-network billing through Headway is not possible.
According to Headway, its billing system reads insurance benefits in real time and bills clients at the time of service. Headway then processes the details with the insurance payor and pays you your agreed rate via direct deposit – your payment will come through Headway, not the insurance payor.1
In-Platform Telehealth
Headway has its own built-in, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, Headway Telehealth, allowing therapists to conduct virtual sessions directly within the Headway interface. This eliminates the need for third-party tools like Zoom or Doxy.me and brings Headway more in line with competitors like Alma and Grow Therapy. As of 2026, the telehealth platform is included for Headway providers at no extra cost, and therapists who prefer an external platform can still use one. This marks a major step forward in making Headway a more complete practice management solution.
Gain New Referrals with Headway’s Built-In Directory
Headway’s provider directory markets your services to new clients who are in-network with the insurance payors you are credentialed with. After you upload your availability, clients will be able to schedule appointments with you directly through the Headway app, minimizing friction in the scheduling process.
What States is Headway Available In?
Headway is available in all 50 states for independently licensed providers, according to its help center (checked October 25, 2026). If you are licensed in more than one state, you can be credentialed in each of them.
Headway does not accept PSYPACT in place of a full license, and your telehealth clients must be located in a state where you are licensed and credentialed on Headway.
How Does Headway for Therapists Work?
Headway for Therapists works by getting you credentialed with insurance payors and listing you on its therapist directory once everything is set up. Headway says credentialing with a given payor takes anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months, and it can take up to 8 more weeks for insurers to add you to their systems so Headway can pay you for those sessions.
Once you’re set up and ready to start seeing clients, you can either see them in person or virtually. For tracking client progress, you’ll be required to submit treatment plans and progress notes through Headway so the insurance payor can track the client’s progress. However, Headway states that its system is not designed for tracking psychotherapy notes and an external system may be needed for detailed clinical documentation.
During your session, you’ll confirm any payment that the client owes and once the session is complete, Headway will automatically bill the client for any amount due and begin the backend processes that go along with insurance billing. Headway handles everything else from here and you can focus on managing clients’ progress.
You may still want a separate EHR system for anything Headway does not cover, such as detailed psychotherapy notes. The best mental health EHRs will offer even more functionality for tracking the well-being of your clients and your practice.
How Much Does Headway Cost for Therapists to Join?
There is no cost for joining Headway as a therapist, and Headway charges no membership or credentialing fees. Instead, it keeps a small percentage of each insurance payment, an amount that varies by health plan and billing code and that Headway does not publish. If you choose to work with Headway, you will sign on as an independent (1099) contractor who handles all aspects of client care, while Headway handles client billing and marketing.
From November 2026, Headway is adding a $9.99 marketplace service fee to every session with a new client it connects you with, such as through its client search or its ads. It rolls out state by state and reaches every state by the end of 2026, and Headway deducts it from your payout for as long as you see that client (checked October 25, 2026).
The fee does not apply to clients you add yourself or who book through your direct Headway link. On private pay sessions, Headway keeps 2.95% of your session rate when the client pays by card, and nothing when they pay by bank account.
More than 5,000 therapists trust Heard to run the financial side of their practice. Choose Essential if you are solo or Premium for S corps and group practices, and get bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and banking in one place with real human support.
Klarity Health credentials you under your own NPI and Tax ID, so the insurance contracts stay with you. Your first three panels are free*, and Klarity Health’s team handles the weekly payer follow-ups while you wait. Once you are in-network, the same team runs your billing for 3.9% of paid claims.
*$50 refundable deposit per panel. Program terms apply.
How Much Does Headway Pay Therapists?
Headway pays therapists a set rate per session that depends on the insurance plan, the billing code, your license type, and your state, and it does not publish a rate card. Therapists who report their pay on therapistrates.org put the median Headway payout for a 60-minute session (CPT 90837) at $119, with the middle half of 151 reports between $98 and $127 (as of October 23, 2026).
You will know your exact rates before you sign the practitioner contract, because Headway’s practice consultants share them during intake and the provider portal lists them by insurer and billing code. Headway pays twice a month, on the 15th and the last day of the month, and it pays you for confirmed sessions on schedule even before the insurer has paid Headway.
Due to its agreements with payors, Headway is typically able to negotiate much better rates than you’d be able to on your own.
Headway Reimbursement Rates
A discussion on reimbursements with this type of platform is intrinsically difficult as reimbursement rates will vary tremendously depending on a number of variables. For instance, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia billing Cigna may have an entirely different rate than a Psychologist out of California billing United Healthcare.
Additionally, negotiations between companies like Headway and its insurance partners will constantly be shifting and updating and it’s impossible to say what reimbursement rates will be in the long haul. However, it is worth noting that you will likely get far better reimbursement rates through Headway than if you’d negotiated with an insurance payor on your own.
Headway states that as long as certain guidelines are followed in terms of client documentation, there are no instances in which Headway would need to recoup a reimbursement.1 Headway’s provider responsibility guidelines are well-documented as to what the expectations are, so ensuring a smooth experience is easy.
What Does Headway Pay by Insurance Plan?
Headway pays different rates by insurance plan, and the medians therapists report on therapistrates.org for a 60-minute session (CPT 90837) are $130 for Aetna, $120 for Optum and UnitedHealthcare, $106 for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and $95 for Cigna (as of October 23, 2026). These are payouts therapists report themselves, so use them as a guide and check the rates Headway quotes for your state and license.
The plans Headway credentials with are listed in the insurance credentialing section above. Some plans have waitlists, and the Add more plans tool in your provider portal shows which plans in your states are open to you, with the estimated rate each one pays.
Why Would I Want to Work With Headway?
Working with Headway is a unique experience that allows the autonomy of a private practice while offering a degree of support that helps you get your practice off the ground.
Here are a few reasons why you might want to work with Headway:
- Become credentialed with insurers without having to manage the process, and significantly faster than you could on your own, while also receiving enhanced reimbursement rates.
- Ensure consistent revenue with reliable insurance reimbursement
- Maintain the autonomy of a private practice with less administrative stress
- Find a reliable source of client referrals through a dedicated insurance-based system
Alternatives & Competitors
Headway is a great option for handling your insurance credentialing and billing, but there are other platforms in this niche worth exploring. Grow Therapy and Alma are two of the major competitors in the space.
Alma
Cost: $125 monthly or $1,140 annually
Insurance Billing Features? Yes
Includes Telehealth Platform? Yes
Headway and Alma are very similar services, however, there are a few key differences. Alma offers more practice management tools, such as treatment plan templates, while both platforms now include a free telehealth platform. Both also let you bill private pay clients, and Headway lets you add your existing clients yourself. Both platforms handle all of your insurance billing needs with a built-in directory.
Alma costs $125 a month on the monthly plan or $1,140 a year on the annual plan, whereas Headway is free to join and, from November 2026, deducts a $9.99 fee from sessions with new clients it finds for you.
Learn more in our full review of Alma for Therapists.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- More comprehensive system of features than other directory and insurance billing platforms
- EHR features such as treatment plan templates, telehealth, and others
- Higher reimbursement rates than competitors, according to members
- Discounts on annual memberships
- Comprehensive community and continuing education content
Cons
- One of the only directory and insurance billing platforms that require a monthly fee
- No free trial period
Grow Therapy
Cost: Free
Insurance Billing Features? Yes
Headway and Grow Therapy are similar in that they both offer insurance credentialing and billing services with built-in directories. However, Grow Therapy offers more EHR and additional features than Headway does. Both Headway and Grow Therapy now work in all 50 states.
Neither Headway nor Grow Therapy charges therapists a fee to join. Grow keeps 5% of cash-pay session fees, and from November 2026 Headway deducts a $9.99 fee from sessions with new clients it finds for you.
Learn more in our full therapist-focused review of Grow Therapy.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free to join with no ongoing costs
- Handles all aspects of in-network billing
- Features for billing cash-pay clients
- In-network with Medicare and Medicaid
Cons
- Reports of client confusion over billing issues
- Subpar EHR features, according to users
- Takes 5% of cash-pay session fees
How Do I Get Started with Headway?
Getting started with Headway is pretty simple. Navigate to the Headway sign-up page, enter a few details, and you can get the process started. While getting credentialed with insurance payors can take a while, Headway will keep you informed of the status of things throughout the process.
The steps for getting started with Headway are:
- Sign up for Headway. Navigate to Headway’s sign-up page and enter a few details. (5 minutes)
- Complete a detailed intake form. You will fill out a detailed intake form including your professional and educational background, experience, and other details. (20 minutes)
- Wait for insurance credentialing. Headway will work to get you credentialed with their insurance partners, negotiate your rates, and get things finalized. After this, you will sign your contract with Headway. (3 weeks to 4 months)
- Begin seeing clients. After everything is set up, clients will be able to schedule with you on Headway.
Final Verdict
Headway is a strong directory and insurance billing platform. It can make the job of running a private practice considerably easier and it doesn’t charge a monthly fee. However, it lacks the variety of features offered by some of its direct competitors and you can only see clients in states where you hold a full license and Headway has credentialed you.
You should consider signing up for Headway if you:
- Are looking to expand your client caseload
- Are looking for a way to offer in-network services at a higher reimbursement rate than negotiating with payors independently
You should consider looking for an alternative to Headway if you:
- Want to see clients under PSYPACT without a full license in their state
- Want to partner with a platform that offers more EHR and practice management features
History & News
- Year Founded: 2019
- Headquarters: New York, New York
According to the company’s LinkedIn profile and website, Headway was founded in 2019 after the founder struggled to find affordable therapy. The company is currently headquartered in New York City and has grown relatively large with nearly 1,000 employees listed on LinkedIn. Headway states that it powered over 300,000 therapy appointments in 2022 and, as of 2026, reports more than 70,000 credentialed providers in its network.2
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Headway Free for practitioners?
Yes, Headway is free to join for therapists, with no membership fee.
Do You Have to be Licensed to Use Headway?
Yes, you must be fully, and independently licensed by the state you practice in to use Headway.
Can You Bill Out-Of-Network with Headway?
No. Headway does not work with out-of-network clients.
How Does Headway Make Money?
Headway makes money by keeping a small percentage of each insurance payment for the sessions you hold, an amount that varies by health plan and billing code and that Headway does not publish. It sets your rate first and keeps what is left, so on plans that pay low rates it sometimes earns nothing on a session. From November 2026, it also deducts a $9.99 fee from each session with a new client who found you through its marketplace, and it keeps 2.95% of private pay sessions paid by card (checked October 25, 2026).
Does Headway Have a Telehealth Platform?
Yes, Headway has a free, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform called Headway Telehealth, and clients join sessions without a login or download (checked October 25, 2026). You can still use another HIPAA-compliant video platform if you prefer.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Headway. (n.d.) Billing your client. Retrieved from: https://findheadway.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360059065272-Billing-your-client
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Headway. (2022). Headway Annual Company Report. Retrieved from: https://headway.co/headway-annual-review-2022.pdf
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added a summary box above the introduction (rating, cost, insurance, who it suits), a comparison table with three rows (Headway, Alma, Grow Therapy) and a visit button for phones. Review text unchanged.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added what Headway pays therapists overall and by insurance plan and Headway’s new $9.99 marketplace fee, and updated credentialing timelines, telehealth, multi-state credentialing, and the founding year to Headway’s current help center, checked October 25, 2026.
Author: ChoosingTherapy.com Editorial Team
Primary Changes: Removed 1 outdated affiliate link that no longer had an active destination.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated Headway’s provider network size to the company’s current reported figure of more than 70,000 credentialed providers. Updated the in-platform telehealth section to reflect that the feature is now included for Headway providers. Verified pricing, credentialing, and payment details throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Reviewed full article to verify factual accuracy. Added information about the rollout of Headway’s telehealth platform, Headway’s expansion into Medicare/Medicaid markets, and a free continuing education program for Headway practitioners. Adjusted language throughout for better flow and clarity. Updated formatting and styling throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added article summary block, new star rating, and “Why You Can Trust My Review” section.
Author: Matthew Church, MS
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD
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