Therapy isn’t cheap, even from some of the most affordable online services. However, for those who qualify, BetterHelp financial aid can result in a 10%–40% discount on a monthly subscription. That could bring the cost of therapy down to as low as $168 per month. Anyone can apply for BetterHelp’s financial assistance program during the signup process or at any point during services and receive a decision within minutes, but only those who meet certain income thresholds and financial hardship standards will qualify.
Regardless of whether or not you qualify for financial aid, ChoosingTherapy.com readers can get 20% off their first month of BetterHelp. Read our thorough BetterHelp review to see if its services are right for you.
Editor’s Notes
We regularly review and update our content to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information. Not much has changed with BetterHelp’s offerings, and it still posits that users can access therapy for as low as $65 per week or $260 monthly. We’ve seen monthly subscriptions for closer to $350–$380, but this depends on your location and how many therapists are available in your area.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Does BetterHelp Offer Financial Aid?
Yes, BetterHelp offers financial aid as a sliding scale discount of 10%–40% to those who qualify for the program. Depending on what you’re eligible for, BetterHelp’s financial assistance could save you anywhere from $28 to $160 per month. BetterHelp offers this financial assistance in order to further its mission of making mental healthcare more accessible and affordable for all, including low-income individuals. When I used BetterHelp, I didn’t think I would be eligible for financial aid, but I still got 10% off.
BetterHelp Financial Assistance Summary
| Discount | 10%–40% off base subscription cost |
| Time to Decision | Within minutes, or up to 2–3 days after intake & application |
| What is the Sliding Scale Discount Based On? | Household income Overall financial situation Recent financial hardship |
| How to Apply | During the final stage of initial intake, select “I can’t afford therapy” and complete BetterHelp’s financial aid application. |
BetterHelp also offers financial aid through its couples counseling brand, Regain, and its brand for adolescents, Teen Counseling. You can read our review of Regain and our review of Teen Counseling for more details on those programs.
Who Is Eligible for BetterHelp Financial Aid?
BetterHelp does not disclose the exact details of how it determines eligibility for financial aid. We don’t know how it sets income thresholds or if those thresholds vary based on things like family size, cost of living in an area, etc. All BetterHelp discloses is that household income, current financial stressors, and unemployment are the key factors that help determine eligibility.
When we signed up for BetterHelp financial aid, the company did not ask us for verification of our financial information (paystubs, tax forms, etc.) which makes things convenient because you don’t have to dig up a bunch of paperwork to get started.
People that might qualify for BetterHelp financial aid include:
- Individuals with low income
- People or households experiencing temporary financial hardship
- Those facing unemployment
- Students
How to Apply
Applying for BetterHelp financial aid is very simple and is built right into the sign-up process. While you’re signing up for BetterHelp, you’ll be asked a few questions about income and finances. Answer these questions honestly, and BetterHelp will be able to determine whether you qualify for financial assistance.
After you finish the intake questionnaire you’ll need to set up an account by providing a name, email, and password. You will not be asked for payment information at this time. In order to continue, you’ll need to verify your email by entering a code that BetterHelp sends you—so you can’t use a fake email just to see if you’ll get a discount.
BetterHelp financial aid lasts for three months at a time, but can be extended if needed. You’ll receive an email about a week before your financial aid expires that will allow you to fill out another form.
Here are steps to apply for BetterHelp low-income financial aid:
- Navigate to BetterHelp’s website and click “Get Started.”
- Complete the therapy intake questionnaire, and take special note of the questions that ask about finances.
- After you complete the sign-up and arrive at the checkout screen, click “I can’t afford therapy.”
- Complete the BetterHelp financial aid eligibility form
- Wait up to three days for BetterHelp to determine your eligibility
You’ll be asked around 40 questions as part of the intake questionnaire. Most of those questions are about your mental health, physical health, and preferences concerning therapy and your therapist. However, there are three questions within the intake questionnaire related to your income and financial situation. Those questions are:
- Are you currently employed? (Yes / No)
- How would you rate your current financial status? (Good / Fair / Poor)
- Please mark all that apply: (I’m a student / I’m a veteran / I’m disabled / I’m unemployed / I’m employed but my income is low)
If BetterHelp determines you’re eligible for financial aid for therapy, you’ll receive notification of your ongoing monthly cost. Even if you are not eligible for financial assistance, you can still reach out to BetterHelp customer service to see about further discounts.
The questions asked during BetterHelp’s financial aid application are:
- What is your current employment status? (Unemployed / Student / Hourly worker / Employed part-time / Employed full-time)
- What is the current employment status of your spouse? (I don’t have a spouse / Unemployed / Student / Hourly worker / Employed part-time / Employed full-time)
- How much do you and your spouse (combined) earn from working on a monthly basis? (USD per month)
- Please enter the monthly income of you and your spouse (combined) from the following sources: (Social security / Disability / Unemployment benefits / Support or alimony / Public assistance or veteran’s payments / Survivor benefits / Pension or retirement income / Interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates or trusts)
- Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? (Yes / No)
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? (Yes / No)
- How many children do you have who receive more than half of their support from you? (0-9)
- How many dependents (other than your children or spouse) live with you and receive more than half of their support from you? (0-9)
- In the last 2 years, did you or anyone in your household receive benefits from any of the federal programs listed? (Supplemental Security Income [SSI] / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] / Free or Reduced Price Lunch / Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF] / Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC])
- Do you live in a rural area defined as having a population of less than 50,000 in the surrounding 25 miles? (Yes / No)
- Are you a person of color? (Yes / No)
What If I’m Already Using BetterHelp But My Income Has Changed?
To apply for BetterHelp financial aid after you’ve already started services, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your BetterHelp account settings page and select “Payment Settings.”
- Select the option labeled “Change membership,” and select the button to cancel your membership.
- The website will ask you a question, “If you don’t mind sharing, why are you ending therapy?” Answer this with the option labeled “I can’t afford it.”
- The website should open a pop-up that will take you to the BetterHelp financial aid application.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Other Affordable Therapy Options
BetterHelp can be an affordable solution for convenient virtual therapy. However, there are other low-cost options available. Open Path Collective is a unique therapist directory designed for people who need financial aid for therapy. If you have insurance, Brightside Health and Headspace Care could both be better options with low copays.
Open Path Collective
Price: ~ $30–$70 per session
Insurance Accepted? No
Open Path Collective is a unique therapist directory designed for those faced with difficult financial situations. All therapists on this directory must offer discounted rates, and all clients must meet eligibility criteria to join.
Open Path Collective is structured differently than BetterHelp. Rather than pay a set monthly fee, therapists on Open Path Collective are independent and sessions are charged one at a time.
Depending on your financial situation, Open Path Collective offers a sliding scale rate between $30 per session (for pre-licensure student therapists still under supervision) up to $70 per session. Meanwhile, BetterHelp costs $280–$400 monthly, before factoring in any discounts.
For more information, read our Open Path Collective review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Specifically for those in difficult financial situations Very affordable sliding scale rates
Cons - Smaller platform than competitors
- No insurance accepted
Brightside Health
Price: $45–$349 monthly
Insurance Accepted? Yes
Brightside Health offers a variety of care plans to best suit its patients’ needs, including just therapy, just medication, a bundled plan at a discounted rate, or a psychiatric maintenance plan for those who establish care with a prescriber for at least 90 days and are stable on their medication.
You can start with a free assessment to ensure Brightside Health is a good fit for your needs, plus it’s in-network with lots of insurance plans, including some Medicare and Medicaid plans.
Learn more in our full Brightside Health review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Get a free assessment before signing on
- Takes many insurance plans, including some Medicare & Medicaid
- Weekend & evening appointments often available
Cons - Customer service can be slow
Headspace Care
Price: $149 per session (for cash-pay)
Insurance Accepted? Yes
You’ve probably heard of Headspace. It’s one of the most popular apps for meditation and mindfulness exercises, as well as sleep scapes and yoga and fitness content. However, it also offers therapy nationwide from the same app. It’s in-network with a wide variety of insurance plans, or you can pay a flat rate of $149 per session. Signing up and joining session from the app is incredibly simple.
With all these offerings in one clean, easy-to-use app, Headspace could become your main hub for all your mental health needs.
Learn more in our full Headspace Care review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Tons of mental health features in one app
- Accepts many major insurance plans
- Next-day appointments often available
Cons - Harder to navigate on desktop
- $125 cancellation fee
In My Experience
“Searching for therapy can be a daunting task for anyone, and financial constraints certainly don’t help matters. Remember that there may be frequent roadblocks on your journey to finding care, but with a bit of resiliency, high-quality virtual mental healthcare can be found for anyone in any financial situation. In my years working with companies like BetterHelp, it has occurred to me many times that determination is one of your most valuable assets in finding care.
Overall, I believe BetterHelp’s low-income assistance program can be helpful for those who have difficulties accessing care or need financial aid for therapy.
If you find a provider is too expensive, try reaching out to the customer service team to see if they have any discounts to offer. While these businesses are run for profit, many of them will offer assistance in order to help those who need it most.
For even more guidance, consider looking into our guides to the best online therapy providers that take insurance, and our full breakdown of the overall best online therapy providers.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does BetterHelp Financial Aid Last?
BetterHelp financial assistance lasts for three months, however, BetterHelp will send you an email about a week before the financial aid expires. If you need to continue financial aid, you’ll be able to fill out another application to extend your financial aid by another three months.
Does BetterHelp Verify My Income?
When we signed up for BetterHelp, the company did not reach out to verify our income or other responses to the financial aid application.
Does BetterHelp Have a Student Discount?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a student discount. However, BetterHelp does ask if you or your spouse are a student. Depending on their income and financial situation, students may qualify for a discounted therapy subscription through BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Senior Discount?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a student discount. However, BetterHelp does ask if you or your spouse are a student. Depending on their income and financial situation, students may qualify for a discounted therapy subscription through BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for Veterans?
No, BetterHelp does not have a discount specifically for veterans. However, BetterHelp does ask whether you’re a veteran and asks about income sources like veteran’s benefits. Depending on their income and financial situation, veterans of the US Armed Forces may qualify for BetterHelp’s financial assistance and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for Active Duty Military Members and Their Families?
No, BetterHelp does not have a discount specifically for veterans. However, BetterHelp does ask whether you’re a veteran and asks about income sources like veteran’s benefits. Depending on their income and financial situation, veterans of the US Armed Forces may qualify for BetterHelp’s financial assistance and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for BIPOC Folks?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a discount specifically for BIPOC folks. However, BetterHelp does ask if you’re a person of color. Depending on their income and financial situation, someone who is BIPOC may qualify for BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for People with Disabilities?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a discount specifically for people with disabilities. However, BetterHelp does ask if you or your spouse has a disability. Depending on their income and financial situation, people with disabilities may qualify for a discounted therapy subscription through BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Can I Use My Insurance for BetterHelp?
BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance as payment. However, the company will provide a superbill or invoice to submit to your insurance group for potential out-of-network reimbursement. As well, you can use FSA or HSA funds for mental health services provided by BetterHelp. Simply use your HSA card during the checkout process just as you would with a credit or debit card.
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Church, Matthew. (August 2025). BetterHelp Review: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Church, Matthew. (August 2025). How Much Does BetterHelp Cost? ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-much-does-betterhelp-cost/
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BetterHelp. (2025). About Us. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/about/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Switched OnlineTherapy.com and Talkspace recommendations for Brightside Health and Headspace Care in the Alternatives section. Edited and rewrote all content for readability.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited article for clarity and readability. Adjusted the pricing information from $260–$400 to $280–$400 throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited article for clarity and readability. Adjusted the pricing information throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and reviewed entire article and revised where necessary to improve factual accuracy, clarity, and enhanced readability. Revised statement about financial aid decisions timeline for better clarity.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated content to reflect questions asked on financial aid application; included responses from BetterHelp about various aspects of financial aid program; updated style.
Author: Matthew Church, MS
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
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