We used Grow Therapy and BetterHelp to see which online mental health platform stands out. For those with insurance, Grow Therapy is the better option, thanks to its wide insurance acceptance and combination of therapy and medication management. BetterHelp, however, is a solid choice for those paying out-of-pocket who only need therapy.
Compare Grow Therapy Vs. BetterHelp
| Services Offered | Therapy for children, teens, and adults, couples therapy, and medication management | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Price | $75–$250+ per session | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | USA & International | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? |  |  |
| Session options | Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers medications? |  |  |
| Offers financial aid? |  |  |
| Services Offered | |
| Therapy for children, teens, and adults, couples therapy, and medication management | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Price | |
| $75–$250+ per session | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | |
| USA & International | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? | |
 |  |
| Session options | |
| Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers medications? | |
 |  |
| Offers financial aid? | |
 |  |
Editor's Notes
After thoroughly re-reviewing both BetterHelp and Grow Therapy, we maintain that BetterHelp will likely be the better option for cash-pay clients, while Grow Therapy is great for those with insurance.
You’ll likely have more therapists to choose from on BetterHelp’s platform, plus it offers financial assistance.
Grow Therapy’s simple billing, medication management, and in-person appointment options make it a top choice for those with insurance.
BetterHelp Vs. Grow Therapy: What Are the Differences?
Here are the major differences between Grow Therapy and BetterHelp when considering which online therapy platform to choose:
- Insurance? No
- Medication? No
- Between-Session Messaging? Yes
BetterHelp makes online therapy simple and stress-free. With a network of over 30,000 therapists and an affordable pricing system, it’s a top choice for anyone seeking fast, convenient, cash-pay therapy on a subscription model.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Huge selection of 30k+ therapists
- Offers financial aid to help offset costs
Cons - Doesn’t accept insurance
- Doesn’t offer medication management
- Not much choice over initial therapist match
Cost
BetterHelp costs between $280 and $400 monthly (advertised as $70 to $100 weekly), depending on your location and the availability of therapists licensed in your state. This price includes weekly therapy sessions, access to BetterHelp’s extra resources, and a weekly group webinar. However, BetterHelp does not accept any insurance plans. If you prefer to pay by individual sessions, they are available at $110 each.
If BetterHelp’s prices in your area are on the lower end or if you qualify for its financial assistance program, it may be the more affordable choice for therapy. However, if you’re planning to use insurance, Grow Therapy could save you much more—so it’s worth checking if you can find a therapist on Grow Therapy who is in-network with your plan.
Overview
BetterHelp is an online platform offering therapy for adults, teens, and couples across the U.S. With costs ranging from $280 to $400 per month for weekly sessions, it’s a flexible option for cash-pay therapy. While BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, its financial aid program can make therapy more affordable by reducing costs by 10% to 40%.
When I used BetterHelp to work on my depression symptoms, I appreciated its ease and simplicity, especially for cash-pay therapy. Even though I didn’t find a perfect therapist match right away, BetterHelp made it easy to change therapists and keep trying to find a good fit. Eventually, I landed on a therapist who helped me work out new strategies for managing my depression. However, if you need medication management or prefer to use insurance, other platforms might be a better fit for you.
- Insurance? Yes
- Medication? Yes
- Between-Session Messaging? No
With wide insurance acceptance, Grow Therapy makes it easy to use your plan for therapy or medication management. It treats kids as young as age six and offers seamless insurance billing, making it a strong option for insured users, especially compared to BetterHelp.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Accepts many insurance plans
- Works with children as young as six
- Also offers medication management
Cons - Some states have limited provider selection
- Cash-pay rates can be high
Cost
Most Grow Therapy clients pay through insurance, with copays typically under $20 per session. For those paying out of pocket, therapy fees range from $75 to $150+, and medication management costs between $80 and $250+ per session. Session fees vary depending on the individual provider. There are no subscription fees or extra fees beyond the copay or session fee.
For insured users, Grow Therapy is the better option, with copays often under $20–$50 per session, far outperforming BetterHelp’s cost. BetterHelp, with a fixed cost range of $280–$400 per month for therapy, can be a good option for those without insurance, but some Grow therapists might be able to offer better prices for cash-pay clients.
Overview
Grow Therapy is an online mental health platform specializing in therapy and medication management with a strong focus on providing services through insurance. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want to use their insurance for mental health care. Grow Therapy offers a variety of services, including individual therapy, couples therapy, and psychiatry, with providers who treat children as young as six. However, in some states, the provider network may be limited compared to other platforms.
A key difference between Grow Therapy and BetterHelp is payment structure. While BetterHelp uses a monthly subscription model that doesn’t accept insurance, Grow Therapy primarily works with insurance, making it more accessible for insured users. Grow Therapy also offers cash-pay options, but its out-of-pocket rates can be higher than BetterHelp’s fixed pricing in many cases.
See more details in our full Grow Therapy review.
Other Alternatives to Consider
Grow Therapy and BetterHelp are both top options to consider. However, people seeking comprehensive psychiatric care or specialty services, such as ADHD care or substance use recovery, may want to look into alternatives.
Alternatives for Psychiatric Care
While Grow Therapy offers medication management, services like Brightside Health provide more comprehensive psychiatric care, on top of offering therapy, crisis care, and more. Talkiatry could also be a decent option, as it offers personalized treatment plans and can prescribe controlled medications—but it only accepts in-network insurance and doesn’t offer cash-pay at all.
See more options in our list of the best online psychiatry services.
Alternatives for ADHD Care
While Grow Therapist’s psychiatrists are able to diagnose and treat ADHD to an extent, the platform is unable to prescribe any controlled medications. For specialized ADHD care, look to Klarity, Talkiatry, or Circle Medical instead. Find more options on our list of the best online ADHD treatments.
Alternatives for OCD Treatment
Grow Therapy and BetterHelp can both work for treating OCD, but not every provider will have experience with the best practices for OCD therapy. NOCD stands out as the top choice for treating OCD and its variants, as every therapist on the platform is specifically trained in the current best models for OCD care.
Alternatives for Substance Use Treatment
BetterHelp and Grow Therapy aren’t ideal for treating alcoholism or substance use disorder (SUD). For specialized care, try WorkIt Health or Sunnyside. Brightside Health also offers an intensive outpatient program.
If you’re looking for lighter support, check out some of the best mindful drinking apps.
Final Verdict: Which Is Better, Grow Therapy or BetterHelp?
“Opt for Grow Therapy if you have insurance or want therapy combined with medication management. BetterHelp is ideal if you’re paying out-of-pocket and only need therapy. Ultimately, Grow Therapy offers the best value for insured users, with low copays and a wide selection of services. Without insurance, BetterHelp may be simpler and more affordable, but Grow Therapy’s out-of-pocket rates could still be worth considering, depending on your location.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grow Therapy the Same as BetterHelp?
No, Grow Therapy and BetterHelp work differently. Grow Therapy focuses on providing care through billing insurance (though they do have cash pay options), and it can offer medication management. Plus, you’ll only pay after you have a session. BetterHelp uses a monthly subscription model for its therapy services and doesn’t accept insurance, plus it doesn’t offer any psychiatry services.
Can Grow Therapy Write Prescriptions?
Yes, Grow Therapy medication providers can prescribe appropriate non-controlled medications when needed.
Does Grow Therapy Diagnose?
Yes, Grow Therapy providers can diagnose mental health disorders. It’s worth noting that some severe mental health conditions may not be appropriate for online diagnosis and treatment.
Choosing Therapy 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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Bell, Caitlin. September 23, 2024. Grow Therapy Review 2024: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/grow-therapy-review/
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Church, Matthew. February 5, 2025. BetterHelp Review 2025: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Frequently asked questions. BetterHelp. https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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How it works. Grow Therapy. https://growtherapy.com/wp/how-it-works/
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, M.S. (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
Primary Changes: Updated BetterHelp’s pricing throughout, from $260–$360 monthly to $280–$400 monthly. Added FAQ, “Is Grow Therapy the same as BetterHelp?” Updated “Other Alternatives to Consider” to include Brightside Health. Fact-checked and edited for readability and clarity.
Author: Matthew Church, M.S.
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
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