Compared to its competitors, BetterHelp has a fairly simple subscription plan: $280–$400 monthly (depending on your location) gets you weekly therapy sessions, plus a few extras like therapist messaging and a journaling space. While it doesn’t make sense for folks with mental health insurance, BetterHelp is one of the most affordable out-of-pocket online therapy options out there.
Editor’s Notes
BetterHelp’s cost has risen slightly, from $260–$400 per month to $280–$400 per month (the lowest weekly cost available used to be $65 and now it’s $70).
We maintain that BetterHelp is still one of the most affordable cash-pay options available, and is still a great choice, especially for those new to therapy. However, if you’re able to use insurance, you’ll likely find much more affordable costs elsewhere.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
How Much Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp costs between $280–$400 for a monthly subscription, which gets you weekly virtual therapy sessions plus a few extra features. The exact cost is based on your location, the demand for therapy in your area, and the quantity of available therapists. BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, but it does offer discounts from 10%–40% through its financial assistance program.
Aside from the standard monthly subscription, you can also choose to purchase sessions individually, or go with a maintenance plan that includes a monthly therapy session, plus unlimited ongoing messaging.
Here are all the pricing plans for the therapy options provided by BetterHelp:
- Standard subscription: $280–$400 monthly
- Pay-per-session price: $110 per session
- Maintenance plan (monthly sessions): $200 monthly
- BetterHelp couples therapy cost (through Regain): $280–$400 monthly
- Therapy for ages 13–18 cost (through Teen Counseling): $280–$400 monthly
Does BetterHelp Take Insurance?
No, BetterHelp does not take any insurance plans. However, it does accept HSA and FSA cards as a form of payment, and will provide an itemized bill that you could submit to your insurance plan for potential reimbursement—but that isn’t guaranteed.
If you have mental health insurance benefits, BetterHelp isn’t your best choice. Instead, you might consider Brightside Health, which accepts a large number of plans. Or, head over to our full list of the best online therapy options that accept insurance for more top choices.
BetterHelp Payment Options
BetterHelp accepts debit or credit cards, cards linked to HSA or FSA accounts, Google Pay, and PayPal as payment options.
What’s Included With a BetterHelp Subscription?
The BetterHelp monthly cost of $280–$400 includes one weekly therapy session, a weekly group webinar, unlimited messaging with your therapist, and access to all of BetterHelp’s extra features like the journal, worksheets, and goal setting.
BetterHelp therapy sessions are available via three formats: Video, audio, and live messaging.
Does BetterHelp Offer Financial Aid?
Yes, BetterHelp offers financial aid to those who meet certain criteria. You can request financial assistance when you first sign up for services, or at any point during your time with BetterHelp. Income, recent financial hardship, and other factors are considered to determine eligibility for a 10%–40% discount off your monthly cost.
When I used BetterHelp, I didn’t think I would be eligible for a discount, but I was surprised to receive 10% off.
BetterHelp Vs. Competitors
BetterHelp’s main competitors in the online therapy world are Talkspace, Online-Therapy.com, and Brightside Health: Talkspace’s most comparable cash-pay plan for therapy clocks in at $396 monthly, Online-Therapy.com has a weekly therapy plan that’s $360 monthly, and Brightside Health therapy is the most affordable cash-pay alternative, costing $299 monthly.
Price: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Medication Available: Yes
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Many major health insurance plans are accepted -
Psychiatry and teen (13+) therapy available
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Exact monthly costs vary -
Limited ability to choose your therapist
Price: $240–$480 monthly
Insurance Accepted: No
Medication Available: No
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Affordable plans for biweekly or monthly sessions -
Great self-guided resources and content
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Insurance is not accepted -
Exclusively CBT-focused therapy
Price: $95–$349 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Therapy & Psychiatry: Yes
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Accepts many insurance plans -
Excellent, hands-on care from providers
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Customer service can be slow -
Cash-pay may be too expensive for some
Is BetterHelp Worth the Cost?
“When I used BetterHelp, I thought it was well worth the cost. I was quickly able to find a therapist who worked well for me, and felt that the subscription offered a lot of value compared to many of BetterHelp’s competitors and online therapy in general. While it probably isn’t the best fit for someone with severe symptoms or mental health needs, BetterHelp is a great option for those who need a little help with life’s struggles.”
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BetterHelp Free?
No, BetterHelp is not free. BetterHelp’s monthly cost is $280–$400, depending on a few factors, but you can potentially lower this by 10%–40% if you apply for BetterHelp’s financial assistance program.
What’s the Lowest Cost of BetterHelp?
The lowest possible cost of BetterHelp is $156 monthly. This figure assumes the low-end of the price range at $260 monthly and assumes you’re approved for the highest amount of financial aid.
Here’s the details on what you can save with BetterHelp’s financial aid program if your monthly cost is $400:
| Discount | Monthly Cost | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 10% Off | $360.00 | $40.00 |
| 15% Off | $340.00 | $60.00 |
| 20% Off | $320.00 | $80.00 |
| 25% Off | $300.00 | $100.00 |
| 30% Off | $280.00 | $120.00 |
| 35% Off | $260.00 | $140.00 |
| 40% Off | $240.00 | $160.00 |
What is BetterHelp’s Cancellation Policy?
BetterHelp doesn’t have any long-term commitments and everything is paid in advance a month at a time, so you can easily cancel at any point from the account section of the BetterHelp app. Learn everything you need to know about BetterHelp tips and tricks in our full BetterHelp FAQ.
Regarding appointment cancellation, BetterHelp does have a 24-hour cancellation policy, otherwise you’ll be charged a $15 no-show fee. If something urgent has come up, you should message your therapist to see if you can work out an alternative scheduling arrangement.
Does BetterHelp Have Any Hidden Fees?
No, BetterHelp doesn’t have any additional fees or optional features outside of the base monthly price.
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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Benson, N. M., & Song, Z. (2020). Prices and cost-sharing for psychotherapy in-network versus out-of-network in the United States. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 39(7), 1210–1218. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8128060/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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BetterHelp Editorial Team. (March 13, 2025). How Much Does Therapy Cost? Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/can-i-afford-to-see-a-counselor-how-much-does-therapy-cost/
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BetterHelp Editorial Team. (March 12, 2025). Is BetterHelp Free? Affordable Mental Health Services. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/is-betterhelp-free-how-to-cover-your-therapy-cost/
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Church, Matthew. (March 12, 2025). BetterHelp Review 2025: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Church, Matthew. (March 19, 2025). Does BetterHelp Offer Financial Aid? How It Works & How to Apply. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-financial-aid/
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: Update BetterHelp’s pricing from $260–$400 monthly to $280–$400 monthly. Fact-checked and edited for readability and clarity.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (no change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (no change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited for readability and clarity. Updated BetterHelp’s pricing throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
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