Calmerry and BetterHelp are online therapy platforms for individuals 18 years and older throughout the US. While both offer online therapy, they’re structured differently and have different pricing plans. Calmerry has multiple plan options for those wanting either text or video therapy, while BetterHelp offers one subscription plan, which includes some therapist messaging. Our team has used both platforms in the past, and BetterHelp won out a bit in terms of accessibility, therapist availability, and onboarding.
Editor’s Notes
BetterHelp has more therapists in its directory than Calmerry does, meaning you’ll have a larger selection of therapists with BetterHelp.
BetterHelp also offers therapy for couples and teens whereas Calmerry does not.
While neither platform accepts insurance, both services are relatively affordable, and both offer financial aid.
Calmerry offers four separate pricing plans, while BetterHelp has a single model.
Compare BetterHelp Vs. Calmerry
| Services Offered | Individual therapy only | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Cost | $228–$360 monthly | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | USA Only | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? |  | |
| Session Options | Video, messaging, or a combination of both | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers Medications? | | |
| Offers Financial Aid? |  | |
| Services Offered | |
| Individual therapy only | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Cost | |
| $228–$360 monthly | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | |
| USA Only | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? | |
| | |
| Session Options | |
| Video, messaging, or a combination of both | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers Medications? | |
| | |
| Offers Financial Aid? | |
| | |
Calmerry Vs. BetterHelp: What Are the Differences?
In general, Calmerry is better for people who need more flexibility with the frequency of their services, whereas BetterHelp is better for those who want a larger selection of therapists or need therapy for teens or couples.
- Price: $228–$360 monthly
- Insurance Accepted: No
- Medication Management: No
- Age Limitations: 18+
Calmerry has more flexible pricing plans than many of its competitors, including BetterHelp. It could be a good choice if all you need is messaging, or just want a little more customization in your monthly plan.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Four subscription plans to choose from
- Affordable out-of-pocket costs compared to in-person care
- Extra features include a self-help library and an AI chatbot
Cons - Does not accept insurance
- Only offers video sessions, no phone or instant messaging sessions
- No teen, couples, or other types of therapy offered
Cost
Calmerry costs $228–$360 monthly (advertised as $57–$90 weekly), depending on the subscription model you choose. The first month of each subscription is offered at a discounted rate for new users. Calmerry states that those in financial need could be granted up to a 30% discount for three months of therapy by reaching out to the support team.
Calmerry offers the following subscriptions:
- Messaging Plan ($198 for first month, then $228 monthly): Advertised as $57 weekly, this plan includes unlimited messaging with a licensed counselor, a personalized therapy plan, and access to reflection tools. Your therapist should respond 5 days per week. This plan is best for those who prefer messaging therapy.
- 4 Live Videos ($218 for first month, then $250 monthly): Advertised as $62.50 weekly, this plan gets you weekly live video sessions with a therapist, a personalized treatment plan, and all the tools in the app. Unlimited texting is available, but therapists aren’t guaranteed to respond 5 days per week like other plans. This plan is best for those who prefer video therapy.
- Messaging + 2 Live Video Sessions ($264 for first month, then $310 monthly): Advertised as $77.50 weekly, this plan includes everything in the messaging plan plus two live 30-minute video sessions with a licensed therapist. This plan is best for those who want a good mix of live sessions and messaging.
- Messaging + 4 Live Video Sessions ($295 for first month, then $360 monthly): Advertised as $90 weekly, this plan includes everything in the messaging plan plus four live video sessions every month with a licensed therapist. This plan is best for those who want weekly sessions, plus ongoing messaging with responses guaranteed 5 days per week.
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 a bundle of four 30-minute sessions is $160.
Overview
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 four subscription plans, with all therapy sessions lasting 30 minutes. With Calmerry, you will be matched with a therapist via text messaging by a staff member who considers your location, schedule, and symptoms when determining a good fit. Depending on your plan, Calmerry costs $228–$360 monthly and does not accept insurance.
Calmerry can help people dealing with a wide range of mental health issues. It offers individual therapy for depression, grief, anxiety, OCD, self-esteem, emotional abuse, LGBTQ+ concerns, relationship therapy, and more. During the matching process, you will be able to explain what you’d like to focus on during your therapy process.
How to Sign Up for Calmerry
To sign up for Calmerry, visit its website and select “Get Started.” You will then complete the initial survey questions about your symptoms and then choose which subscription plan you want. You’ll be matched with a therapist after you pay for your first month.
After you are matched with a therapist, you can begin messaging them right away to get to know them better. You will be able to select a date and time for your first live therapy session if that is the subscription plan you chose.
To learn more about its sign-up process and other features, you can read our comprehensive review of Calmerry.
Calmerry’s Self-Help Library
The self-help library offers learning courses on various mental health topics, downloadable PDF worksheets, and audio journaling prompts. Everything in the self-help library is completed at your own pace, and you can pick and choose which materials you want to explore. While your therapist may assign you worksheets as “homework,” everything is designed to help you think more deeply about how your symptoms affect your daily life.
“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, or telepsychiatry, and does not serve children and teens.” – Emily Guarnotta, PsyD
- Price: $280–$400 monthly
- Insurance Accepted: No
- Medication Management: No
- Age Limitations: 18+, teen therapy available with sister company
BetterHelp is one of the easiest-to-use and most accessible online therapy options available. If you need therapy quickly and with minimal hassle, BetterHelp could be a smooth way to get started.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Attend therapy sessions via phone, video, or instant messaging
- Extra features include a journal space and group webinars
- Offers financial aid
Cons - Doesn't accept insurance
- Only one subscription plan available
- Monthly price can vary depending on your location
- Must use sister sites for couples or teen counseling
Cost
How Much Does BetterHelp Cost?
BetterHelp costs start at $280–$400 monthly (advertised at $70–$100 weekly), with the ultimate cost depending on your location and therapist availability. If you can’t afford therapy, BetterHelp offers financial aid to those experiencing difficult financial circumstances.
BetterHelp’s therapy subscription includes:
- One live, 30 or 45-minute weekly video, phone, or text session.
- Ability to text with your therapist at any time (responses can be expected at least once daily).
- An in-app journal that you can keep private or share with your therapist.
- Group webinars to attend on topics like anxiety, stress, depression, and more.
Overview
What Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp is a subscription-based online therapy platform for people 18 years and older across the US and internationally. It offers one subscription option (with weekly and monthly billing options), which includes a weekly, 30 or 45-minute video, phone, or live texting session. A subscription also includes the ability to message with your therapist anytime between sessions, a journaling tool, and group webinars.
BetterHelp’s therapy subscription includes:
- One live, 30 or 45-minute weekly video, phone, or text session.
- Ability to text with your therapist at any time (responses can be expected at least once daily).
- An in-app journal that you can keep private or share with your therapist.
- Group webinars to attend on topics like anxiety, stress, depression, and more.
BetterHelp will initially pair you with a therapist that its matching algorithm thinks would be a good fit for you. If you feel it’s not a good match, the option to change therapists is available at any time. BetterHelp can help clients address a wide variety of mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, stress, parenting, anger, self-esteem, and much more.
Just about any question you might have about BetterHelp is answered in our full BetterHelp FAQ.
How to Sign Up for BetterHelp
To sign up with BetterHelp, visit its website and select “Get Started.” You will then complete a short assessment of your symptoms and create your new account. Prior to being initially matched with a therapist, you will need to input your payment information and pay for your first month.
After you pay, you will be able to read about the therapist you were matched with and select “Schedule” in the app, then you can choose the date and time for your first session. If for whatever reason you feel your therapist is not a great match, you will be able to self-select a new therapist from a list provided by BetterHelp.
If you’re planning to utilize the financial aid offered by BetterHelp, select the button “I Can’t Afford Therapy” before you complete checkout so you can fill out the financial aid forms.
To learn even more about the sign-up process, please read our in-depth review of BetterHelp, or, for BetterHelp tips and tricks, check out our BetterHelp FAQ.
BetterHelp Extra Features
BetterHelp’s “Journal” section gives you a journal prompt suggestion, with options to shuffle or see all. There are quite a few journal prompts to choose from in categories like depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and general suggestions. Once you select a prompt, you will title your journal and begin your entry. When I used BetterHelp, I thought the journalling feature was very handy.
One convenient feature with the journaling space is that you can share with your therapist or keep them private. You also do not have to use the provided journal prompts and can, instead, treat this as a free writing space.
“Groupinars” are webinars you can attend through the app. Group topics include various mental health concerns, from relationships and trauma to anxiety and skill building. Each topic provides you with a group session name, date, time, and a description of what each group session will cover. If you click on “more information” then you can register for your first group session.
“When I was testing BetterHelp, it struck me as an ideal platform for someone who is looking for a fast and convenient way to get started in therapy and see if it’s right for them. BetterHelp is best suited for people looking for a little bit of help managing stress, burnout, or adjusting to life changes. It’s also a great resource for anyone who doesn’t have viable mental health options covered by insurance, as it’s one of the most affordable cash-pay options out there.” – Matthew Church, MS
Alternatives to BetterHelp & Calmerry
Calmerry and BetterHelp could both be decent options for people over the age of 18 seeking online therapy, but there are some people who will need an alternative. Those who want to use their insurance, people seeking medication management, and anyone looking for substance use disorder treatment will need to find care elsewhere.
Grow Therapy - Most Insurances Accepted
Price: Varies by provider
Insurance Accepted: Yes
While BetterHelp and Calmerry require monthly subscriptions to use their services, Grow Therapy acts more like a directory on which you can find the provider of your choice. You can filter your search by insurance, location, specialty, and much more, then message your provider and set up appointments all through the site.
While many of the providers on Grow Therapy take insurance, we’ve seen several low-cost cash-pay options available on the platform as well.
Learn more in our Grow Therapy review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - The largest insurance network we’ve seen, including some Medicaid and Medicare
- Same-day appointments often available
- Services for individuals, couples, teens, and children
Cons - Provider selection is limited in less-populated states
- Cash-pay prices vary by provider
Brightside Health - Best for Bundled Therapy + Medication
- Price: $95–$349 monthly
- Insurance Accepted: Yes
Similar to Calmerry and BetterHelp, Brightside Health uses a monthly subscription model for its services. However, it offers more options than either platform. In addition to both therapy and medication for adults, Brightside Health offers care for teens in 38 US states so far.
- Psychiatry Plan ($95 monthly): Get an initial consultation with a psychiatrist and ongoing monthly care.
- Therapy Plan ($299 monthly): Get four live video therapy sessions per month.
- Psychiatry + Therapy Plan ($349 monthly): This plan combines everything offered by the psychiatry and therapy plans.
- Psychiatric Maintenance Plan ($45 monthly): If you’ve maintained a relationship with your prescriber for 90 days, they may transfer you to the maintenance plan. However, if you require more active care, you may have to be upgraded back to the standard psychiatry plan.
Learn more in our Brightside Health review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - In-network with many major insurance platforms
- Same-day care often available
- Free assessment
Cons - Customer service can be a bit slow
- Cash-pay prices may be high for some
Talkspace - Best for Medicare
- Price: Varies by provider
- Insurance Accepted: Yes
While Calmerry and BetterHelp are similar to Talkspace in many ways, it sets itself apart from these platforms by also offering medication management as well. Users can choose to see a prescriber, a therapist, or both through Talkspace’s website and mobile app. It also provides therapy services for teens and couples.
Talkspace’s cash-pay prices are quite a bit higher than BetterHelp and Calmerry, but it is in-network with several insurance providers, including some Medicare plans, which could make it much more affordable for many.
Learn more in our full Talkspace review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Care for teens, couples, and individuals
- Medication management
- Easy-to-navigate mobile and web apps
Cons - Therapist matching can take longer than other platforms
- Users can’t really choose their first therapist
Calmerry Vs. BetterHelp: Which Is Better?
Overall, BetterHelp and Calmerry offer very similar services for comparable prices, so which one is best will depend on what you are looking for in a subscription. BetterHelp has been in business for over a decade, has a much larger therapist pool than Calmerry, and marginally outperformed them during our independent review. However, Calmerry allows you to choose from four flexible subscription plans and has a better self-paced learning library.
If you have insurance, we’d honestly recommend going a different way: Grow Therapy, Brightside Health, and Talkspace are all decent options for those with mental health insurance benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Credentials Do Calmerry & BetterHelp Therapists Hold?
Calmerry therapists hold a master’s or a doctorate degree in their field and are experts in evidence-based techniques. All therapists and counselors on BetterHelp are licensed and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional therapists.
Do BetterHelp & Calmerry Accept Insurance?
No, neither BetterHelp nor Calmerry accept insurance.
Brightside Health is an online platform that provides therapy and medication management, and accepts many insurance plans, including some versions of Medicare and Medicaid. Learn more in our full review of Brightside Health.
Can Calmerry & BetterHelp Prescribe Medication?
No, neither Calmerry nor BetterHelp prescribe medications.
If you’re looking for an online platform that can provide both medication and therapy, then Talkspace and Talkiatry are both excellent options. Read more in our full review of Talkspace and our Talkiatry review.
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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Calmerry. (2025). Calmerry plans and pricing. Retrieved from: https://calmerry.com/pricing/
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Calmerry. (2025). Calmerry therapy online: how it works for you. Retrieved from: https://calmerry.com/how-it-works/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Online therapy – Licensed therapist mental health counseling services. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/online-therapy/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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Rueger, Abigail. (February 27, 2025). Grow Therapy Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/grow-therapy-review/
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Church, Matthew. (March 18, 2025). Brightside Health Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/brightside-health-review/
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Church, Matthew. (March 14, 2025). Talkspace Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/talkspace-review/
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: Abigail Rueger, MA (New Author)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Changed BetterHelp pricing from $260–$360 to $280–$400 monthly. Updated the Alternatives section from general recommendations to Grow Therapy, Brightside Health, and Talkspace. Updated images throughout. Edited entire article for readability and clarity.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Reformatted article to new visual format, added “Why I Why I Recommend BetterHelp instead of Calmerry for Most People” section, updated pricing plans for Calmerry, reviewed and revised entire article for factual accuracy and enhanced readability.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
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