Editorial rating:
Calmerry is a subscription-based online therapy platform that offers individuals 18+ the option to connect with a therapist through live video sessions or text-based therapy. With Calmerry, you can choose from three monthly subscription plans costing $228 – $360, depending on the plan. Currently, Calmerry does not accept insurance and they earned 3 out of 5 stars during our independent review.
Rating of Calmerry’s Online Therapy
Emily Guarnotta is a PsyD. that specializes in perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, grief counseling for individuals who suffered miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, as well as infertility support and therapy for new parents and seasoned parents. Dr. Guarnotta has written for Choosing Therapy since 2020 and in the summer of 2022 began reviewing online therapy and psychiatry platforms. During her independent review, Calmerry earned 3 out of 5 stars overall, performing best in the categories of clientele served, geographic location, and online therapy cost. However, Calmerry underperformed in the categories of therapist selection and matching as well as insurance and out-of-network benefits compared to its competitors.
Pros & Cons of Calmerry
Calmerry can connect those 18+ with a licensed therapist through text messaging or live video sessions on its website or through its app. You will be matched to a therapist in your state and have the option to choose from three subscription plans. However, messaging your therapist works more like email rather than live texting and Calmerry does not currently accept health insurance.
How to Sign Up for Calmerry
To sign up for a subscription, please visit the Calmerry website
What is Calmerry?
Calmerry offers online therapy for individuals 18-years and older who are dealing with a range of mental health issues. Calmerry offers three subscription plans with all live therapy sessions lasting 30 minutes long and you have the option to purchase additional sessions for an extra fee. Calmerry earned 3 out of 5 stars in the “Attending Live Video Sessions” category on our scoring rubric for the length of live sessions and ways to attend these sessions.
With Calmerry, you are matched with a licensed therapist based on your answers to an initial questionnaire. The matching is done by a staff member who considers your location, schedule, and symptoms when determining a good fit. There is no therapist directory, so you are unable to choose your own provider or view others. However, if you feel like your therapist is not a good fit, you can request a change by contacting the support team. I tried this feature myself and found changing therapists to be a quick and easy process. In addition to therapy, Calmerry also gives you access to a mood tracker and journal that your therapist can view, as well as video courses on topics like anxiety and depression. Calmerry earned a 4 out of 5 stars in the “Extra Features” category on our scoring criteria.
Calmerry’s providers are all licensed therapists with master’s or doctorate degrees. Each therapist brings their own experience and therapeutic approach, so there is no standard treatment model. Your therapist will share their own experience and approach with you when you start treatment. This is why Calmerry earned 3 out of 5 stars in the “Range of Therapist Specialties & Treatment Approaches” category on our scoring criteria.
While Calmerry does not accept health insurance, the costs of their subscription plans are more affordable than traditional in-person therapy and you may be able to use a coupon code or FSA/HSA benefits. Calmerry is also more affordable than other online mental health platforms. For example, Talkspace and Better Help offer similar plans that include messaging and live video therapy sessions, but their out-of-pocket costs are greater.
Calmerry Special Programs
Calmerry offers a special program for businesses that would like to offer online therapy to their employees. Businesses can sign up and work out an agreement with Calmerry to cover some or all of the costs of services. To learn more, please visit Calmerry for Companies.
Who Is Calmerry Right For?
Calmerry’s therapy services are would be ideal for those dealing with anxiety or depression and those who prefer text-based therapy.
Anyone Dealing With Depression and Anxiety
Calmerry advertises its services as being for people with depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms who are not experiencing suicidal thoughts. Some therapists with Calmerry also specialize in treating other mental health conditions. For example, the therapist that I was matched with also treated trauma-related disorders and personality disorders. Even though some therapists can offer support for other conditions, Calmerry is ideal for those with depression or anxiety.
Prefer Text-Based Therapy
All of Calmerry’s plans offer the option to communicate with a therapist via text message. For some people, text-based therapy may be more comfortable and convenient. If you do not have time to do traditional therapy or feel more comfortable writing about your thoughts and feelings, then Calmerry may be what you are looking for.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Calmerry?
While Calmerry might be a good fit for some, there are certain groups of people who will need to seek out an alternative. People who are experiencing a crisis or severe mental health symptoms, those who are uncomfortable with technology or anyone needing medication management will need to seek care elsewhere.
Those in Crisis or With Severe Mental Health Symptoms
Calmerry’s therapists do not provide emergency coverage to those in an active crisis or with severe mental health symptoms. If you are experiencing a crisis or having suicidal thoughts, you should call 911 or 988, rather than reach out to your counselor. If you are dealing with a mental health condition that causes severe symptoms, such as bipolar disorder or severe depression, then Calmerry is not the right service for you. If you are experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts and would like to see a provider online, Brightside Health’s Crisis Care program may be a better fit.
To learn more about how Brightside may be able to help you, please read our comprehensive review of Brightside.
People Uncomfortable with Technology
If you are uncomfortable with technology, Calmerry will not be a good match for you. To find a great in-person therapist, you can look at an online therapist directory which will give you lots of options about therapists located in your state. There are also some online therapy platforms, like Thriveworks, that offer in-person services as well.
To learn more about how in-person therapy works with them, you can read our in-depth review of Thriveworks.
You Need Medication Management
Calmerry does not have psychiatric services available and is unable to provide a mental health diagnosis or medication. If you want to connect with a provider online, some great alternatives are Talkspace or Cerebral. Talkspace offers psychiatric services per session and Cerebral is a subscription-based service. Both platforms accept many major insurance plans, which would make out-of-pocket costs lower than listed.
To learn more about these services, please read our comprehensive Talkspace Review our in-depth Cerebral review.
What Calmerry Users are Saying
Calmerry is not a well-reviewed app in the app stores, with a 2.1-star rating from 46 reviews in the Google Play Store. The star rating for Calmerry in the Apple App store is unavailable at this time. These poor star ratings may be due to the fact Calmerry has a small number of reviews written compared to other online therapy platforms. The most common reviewers noted that the website and app were helpful and user-friendly, and therapists were caring and professional, but communicating with therapists was sometimes difficult.
Easy to Use Technology
Several of Calmerry’s reviewers praised the company’s website and app. They noted that both were easy to use for messaging and live video sessions. This was true of my personal experience as well. Navigating the website and app are simple and there were no glitches in the technology. For this reason, Calmerry earned 5 stars in the “Client Interface & User Experience” on our scoring rubric.
Positive Experiences with Therapists
Many Calmerry reviewers expressed satisfaction with their experience with text and video therapy. They noted that their therapists were professional, caring, and helpful. Some reviewers shared that they did not “click” with the therapists that they were initially matched with, but switching therapists was easy and fast.
Poor Responses From Therapists
Some reviewers expressed frustration with limited text responses from therapists. They were advised that they could expect to hear back from their therapists five days per week, but this was not always the case. For some, it took several days to hear back and responses sounded generic, rather than personalized advice.
How Much Does Calmerry Cost?
Calmerry costs $228 – $360 monthly (advertised as $57 – $90 weekly) depending on the subscription option you choose. The first month of each subscription is offered at a discounted rate for new users. All plans offer unlimited messaging with a licensed counselor who will answer your messages five days per week. Calmerry earned 5 stars in the “Online Therapy Cost” category on our scoring criteria for the clearly explained costs.
Get 30% Off Your First Month With The Code “CARE”
Calmerry offers the following subscriptions:
- Messaging Plan: starting at $198 for the first month ($49.50 weekly), then $228 monthly ($57 weekly). This plan includes unlimited messaging with a licensed counselor, personalized therapy plan, and access to reflection tools.
- Messaging + 1 Live Video Session Plan: starting at $247 for the first month ($61.75 weekly), then $298 monthly ($74.50 weekly). This plan includes everything in the messaging plan plus one live 30 minute video session with a licensed therapist.
- Messaging + 4 Live Video Sessions Plan: starting at $293 for the first month ($73.25 weekly), then $360 monthly ($90 weekly). This plan includes everything in the messaging plan plus four live video sessions with a licensed therapist.
Additional Live Sessions: If you would like more therapy sessions per month, you have the option to purchase additional sessions. The cost of one additional 30-minute session is $45, two 30-minute sessions are $84, and four 30-minute sessions are $160.
Does Calmerry Accept Insurance?
No, Calmerry does not accept insurance at this time.
Out-of-Network Benefits
Calmerry can provide you with a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company. Depending on your coverage, you may be reimbursed for a portion of your costs. Unfortunately, due to Calmerry not accepting insurance, but does accept HSA or FSA funds and will create a superbill for you, they earned 2 stars in our “Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits” category on our scoring rubric.
How to Attend Your First Therapy Session with Calmerry
In order to attend your first therapy session with Calmerry, you must go to the Calmerry website and create an account. After you sign up on the website, you can download the Calmerry app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for convenient access to your account.
- Create an account through Calmerry’s website or app.
- Complete the initial survey questions.
- Select and pay for one of the three subscription plans.
- Get automatically matched with a therapist.
- Begin messaging your therapist.
- Schedule an appointment for a live video session.
- Attend a live session through the app.
Calmerry Therapy Plans: Detailed Reviews
Calmerry Messaging Plan: Detailed Review
Calmerry’s messaging plan allows you to exchange messages with a licensed therapist. It does not include video sessions. This plan costs $228 monthly (advertised at $57 weekly), with the first month discounted to $198. Messaging includes unlimited text messaging five days per week, a personalized therapy plan, and access to free reflection tools. If you are ever unhappy with your therapist, you can change to a new one or cancel your account at any time.
Much like other subscription-based therapy platforms, Calmerry allows you to exchange messages with your therapist in your own ”virtual therapy room,” which you can access through the company’s website or app. These messages are not exchanged through phone text messages or email. A great perk to your “virtual therapy room” is it’s open 24/7 and you can send messages whenever you want. Most therapists are available to answer messages five days per week and will generally respond to messages one to two times each day. Some therapists do work more than five days a week, but this is less common. You can send as many messages as you’d like, but you may not get a response right away.
The therapist I was matched with was up front with me about her working hours, so I knew when and how often to expect responses back from her. You can also send audio messages to your therapist if you feel more comfortable, but your therapist will respond with a written message. When I tried this plan, my therapist responded to my messages twice a day, which she had promised upfront before we started working together. Her responses seemed thorough and personalized to what I was experiencing.
Calmerry Messaging + 1 Live Video Plan: Detailed Review
This plan includes all of the features of the Messaging Plan, plus one 30-minute live video therapy session each month. The cost of the messaging + 1 live video plan is $298 monthly (advertised as $74.50 weekly) with the first month discounted to $247 ($61.75 weekly).
What Is Therapy Like With Calmerry?
Calmerry’s messaging + 1 live video plan gives you access to unlimited messaging with your therapist, as well as one live video session each month. It includes all of the features of the messaging plan, where you can exchange messages directly with your therapist five days per week. Even though you can technically exchange unlimited messages, you can expect to receive one to two messages per day from your therapist on the days that they work. When I signed up, my therapist was upfront about her working hours and when I could expect to hear from her.
What distinguishes this plan from the messaging plan is that it also gives you access to one live 30-minute video session each month. The video session is also held through the company’s app with the same therapist that you exchange messages. Like the messaging plan, you will be matched with a therapist in just a few hours after you sign up. If you would like more than one therapy session per month, you can purchase additional sessions. The cost of one additional 30-minute session is $45, two 30-minute sessions are $84, and four 30-minute sessions are $160.
All communication with your therapist takes place through the website or app. In my experience, both the app and website were user-friendly and helpful. When I had questions, I contacted customer support by email and received an answer within an hour. For all of these reasons, Calmerry earned 5 stars in the “Client Interface & User Experience” category on our scoring rubric.
Calmerry Messaging + 4 Live Videos Plan: Detailed Review
This plan includes all of the features of the Messaging Plan, plus four 30-minute live video therapy sessions each month. The messaging + 4 live videos plan costs $360 monthly (advertised as $90 weekly) with the first month costing $293 ($73.25 weekly
Calmerry Vs Competitors
Over the past few years, many different online therapy services have emerged offering a range of services. These platforms vary in their subscription plans, cost, and services. Many of these plans also offer messaging and live video sessions and match you with a provider. Compared to most other platforms, Calmerry is a more affordable out-of-pocket option.
Calmerry Vs BetterHelp
BetterHelp is another online mental health platform. Like Calmerry, BetterHelp offers options for messaging with a licensed therapist and scheduling live video sessions. Both platforms match you with a therapist based on where you live and your personal preferences. While there are some similarities, there are also notable differences. BetterHelp is able to serve anyone 18 years and older, but the cost varies based on your location and therapist. It ranges from $240 to $360 monthly, advertised as $60 to $90 per week. Therefore, Calmerry is slightly more affordable than BetterHelp. Both platforms do not accept insurance.
To learn even more about BetterHelp, you can read our in-depth and comprehensive BetterHelp review.
Calmerry Vs Talkspace
Like Calmerry, Talkspace also offers options for messaging and live video sessions with a licensed therapist. When you sign up, Talkspace will send you three possible therapist matches and allow you to choose which one you feel is the best fit. Depending on the plan you choose, Talkspace ranges from $276 to $516 monthly, advertised as $69 to $129 a week. This costs significantly more out-of-pocket than the plans offered through Calmerry. However, Talkspace does accept some insurance plans, which could lower these costs.
One notable difference between these two platforms is that Talkspace also offers online psychiatry. If you are interested in medication management, you can get matched with a prescriber and schedule an online psychiatry appointment. To learn about how much psychiatry costs, you can read all about it in our in-depth Talkspace review.
How Calmerry Has Evolved
Calmerry was founded in 2020 by CEO Alex Vitchenko. The goal was to make therapy more affordable and accessible. Calmerry was born as an online platform where licensed providers could connect with clients in a comfortable virtual environment. In 2021, the company secured $5 million in funding to put toward increasing the number of providers on the platform and adding more mental health tools.1In 2022, Calmerry launched B2B, a program that allows businesses to offer affordable mental health care to their employees.2The B2B program allows businesses to develop a mental health program for their company and monitor their employees’ progress. Since its founding, more than 600 licensed therapists have joined Calmerry and helped serve over 47,000 clients. The company plans to continue to grow and expand access to mental health care in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Calmerry
What Credentials Do Calmerry Therapists Hold?
Calmerry’s therapists include licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. All therapists have master’s or doctorate degrees in their field and are licensed in the state(s) where they practice.
How Am I Matched With a Therapist on Calmerry?
Calmerry matches you with a counselor based on your answers to the initial survey. When you sign up, you are assigned a mental health assistant who reads through your survey answers and selects a counselor that would be a good fit. While there is a mental health assistant to assign you a therapist, this process does not allow for any input from the client. This process earned 1 star in the “Therapist Matching or Selection” category on our scoring rubric.
Can I Choose a New Therapist?
All of Calmerry’s monthly subscription plans allow you to request a therapist change. To do so, you can contact customer support at [email protected] to submit your request. Calmerry will then match you with another therapist in your state.
Can I use my FSA or HSA Funds?
Yes, you can use FSA or HSA funds for therapy subscriptions with Calmerry.
How Do I Cancel My Calmerry Subscription?
Calmerry allows you to cancel your subscription with a full refund before your first session. You cannot cancel once you have started sending messages or having video sessions with your therapist. To cancel, you can email customer support at [email protected].
Does Calmerry Offer Refunds?
Calmerry offers refunds on a case-by-case basis. Before considering a refund, the company encourages you to consider changing therapists. If you are unhappy with your services, you can send an email to [email protected] explaining your situation. They may extend your subscription at no cost or offer a partial or full refund at their own discretion.
Is Calmerry HIPAA Compliant?
Calmerry’s services are fully HIPAA compliant. All private information is encrypted and Calmerry earned 5 stars in the “Privacy & HIPAA” category on our scoring rubric.
You can learn more by reading Calmerry’s Privacy Policy or Calmerry’s Terms and Conditions.
Final Verdict on Calmerry
Calmerry is an affordable out-of-pocket option for online therapy that earned 3 stars overall during our independent review. Whether you are looking to exchange messages or attend live video sessions, Calmerry gives you options for both plus the flexibility to choose between three different plans and is an affordable option compared to similar platforms like Better Help and Talkspace. Calmerry is worth a try if you are over 18 years old, dealing with depression or anxiety, and looking for online therapy. At the present time, Calmerry does not offer couples, family, or group therapy, telepsychiatry, and does not serve children and teens.
Summary Table of What Calmerry Offers
| Cost of Online Therapy Subscriptions | $198 - $360 depending on plan |
| Insurance Accepted | No |
| Geographic Coverage | United States |
| Age Limitations | 18+ |
| Provider Choices | Matched |
| Can You Change Therapists? | Yes |
| Speed to First Appointment | 1 - 3 Days |
| Frequency of Appointments | Varies |
| Messaging with Therapist Between Appointments | Yes |
| Online Psychiatry Offered | No |
