Compared to its competitors, BetterHelp has a fairly simple subscription plan — $260 – $360 monthly gets you weekly therapy sessions, plus a few extras. While it doesn’t make sense for folks with insurance, BetterHelp is one of the most affordable out-of-pocket online therapy options out there. Below, we’ll explore more about BetterHelp’s cost and how to get the most bang for your buck.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Key Takeaways
BetterHelp costs $260 – $360 monthly, depending on your location and other factors.
BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance; there are better online therapy options available for those with insurance.
Financial assistance can reduce BetterHelp monthly cost by 10% – 40%.
Choosing Therapy readers automatically receive 20% off their first month of BetterHelp.
How Much Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp costs between $260 – $360 monthly for weekly virtual therapy sessions. 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 between 10% – 40% through its financial assistance program.
Aside from the standard monthly subscription, you can also choose to purchase sessions individually, or a maintenance plan that includes a monthly therapy session, plus ongoing messaging.
Details about BetterHelp pricing plans include:
- Standard subscription – $260 – $360 monthly
- Pay-per-session price – $110 per session
- Maintenance plan (monthly sessions) – $200 monthly
- BetterHelp couples therapy cost (through Regain) – $260 – $360 monthly
- Teen Counseling (13+) cost – $260 – $360 monthly
Does BetterHelp Take Insurance?
No, BetterHelp does not take any insurance plans. They do accept HSA and FSA cards as a form of payment, and they 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 Talkspace, 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, and Google Pay as payment options.
What’s Included with a BetterHelp Subscription?
The BetterHelp cost per month of $260 – $360 includes one weekly therapy session, a weekly group webinar, unlimited messaging with your therapist, and access to all of the BetterHelp app’s extra features like the journal, worksheets, and goal setting.
BetterHelp therapy sessions are available via three formats, including video, audio, and live messaging.
Does BetterHelp Offer Financial Aid?
Yes, BetterHelp offers financial aid to those who meet certain criteria. You can sign up for 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.
Does BetterHelp Offer Discounts?
Choosing Therapy offers its readers 20% off the first month of BetterHelp service.
As we stated above, BetterHelp can offer a discount of between 10% – 40% off your monthly price through its financial assistance program. We confirmed with BetterHelp that there are no other discounts available to the general public. While there aren’t official Veteran or Student discounts, both of those statuses are factors in the financial aid application.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Is BetterHelp Expensive?
BetterHelp’s standard price is between $260 – $360 monthly. Traditional in-person therapy usually costs around $100 per session cash-pay, which would amount to $400 monthly for weekly sessions.1 BetterHelp’s high-end of the price range still comes in under the average cost per session for traditional therapy, so it’s a pretty good deal. When it comes to cash-pay online therapy platforms, BetterHelp is one of the most affordable options on the market.
However, if you have an insurance plan that covers therapy, you’ll likely get a better deal elsewhere. To find an alternative to BetterHelp that accepts insurance, visit our list of the best online therapy options for insurance.
How Does BetterHelp’s Cost Compare to its Competitors?
BetterHelp’s main competitors in the online therapy world are Talkspace, Online-Therapy.com, and Brightside Health, which all offer similar services at slightly different price points.
Talkspace’s most comparable cash-pay plan for therapy clocks in at $396 monthly. Online-Therapy.com has a weekly therapy plan that’s a bit more affordable at $256 monthly, and Brightside Health therapy costs $299 monthly.
Comparison Table of BetterHelp’s Competitors
| Cost | $260 - $360 monthly | $396 monthly | $256 monthly | $299 monthly |
| Sessions Per Month | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Accepts Insurance? |  |  |  |  |
| Plan Includes Webinars? |  |  |  |  |
| Does Platform Specialize in a Modality? |  |  | Yes, CBT |  |
| Visit Our Full Review | ||||
| Get Started |
| Cost | |||
| $260 - $360 monthly | $396 monthly | $256 monthly | $299 monthly |
| Sessions Per Month | |||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Accepts Insurance? | |||
 |  |  |  |
| Plan Includes Webinars? | |||
 |  |  |  |
| Does Platform Specialize in a Modality? | |||
 |  | Yes, CBT |  |
| Visit Our Full Review | |||
| Get Started | |||
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 that 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.”
How to Get Started With BetterHelp
To get started, simply navigate to the BetterHelp home page to claim your 20% discount on your first month of service. Enter a few details about yourself and what you’re looking for and follow the onboarding process. The key here is to deeply consider what you are looking for and answer the onboarding questions honestly and completely, so the matching algorithm can find a good match for you.
After that, you’ll apply for financial assistance if you feel you need it, and purchase your first month’s subscription. Then, the system will consider your responses and match you with a therapist – usually within a couple of hours. Visit our guide on how to find a good BetterHelp therapist match to learn how to get the most out of your time in therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BetterHelp Free?
No, BetterHelp is not free. BetterHelp’s monthly cost is $260 – $360, 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 $360:
How Much Can You Save With BetterHelp’s Financial Aid?
| Discount | Monthly Cost | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 10% Off | $324.00 | $36.00 |
| 15% Off | $306.00 | $54.00 |
| 20% Off | $288.00 | $72.00 |
| 25% Off | $270.00 | $90.00 |
| 30% Off | $252.00 | $108.00 |
| 35% Off | $234.00 | $126.00 |
| 40% Off | $216.00 | $144.00 |
What is BetterHelp’s Cancellation Policy?
BetterHelp doesn’t have any long-term commitments and everything is paid in-advance, so you can cancel any time easily 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.
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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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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