Tip: our BetterHelp discount code (UK readers: see the BetterHelp NHS discount guide) takes 20% off your first month.
How expensive is BetterHelp? It costs $70 to $100 a week, which comes to $280 to $400 a month for a weekly live therapy session plus messaging with your therapist (prices checked October 13, 2026). Eligible insured members pay a copay instead, about $23 a session on average, though most members pay out of pocket.
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 group sessions, therapist messaging, and a journaling space. BetterHelp now works with commercial insurance plans in all 50 states and DC, but whether you can use yours depends on your plan and on therapist availability in your state. Most members still pay out of pocket.
Learn more about all its offerings in our thorough BetterHelp review.
Editor’s Notes
BetterHelp is one of the most affordable cash-pay options available, maintaining its place as a decent option for those new to therapy.
If you’re able to use insurance, you’ll likely find much more affordable costs elsewhere. Check out our list of the best online therapy options for insurance if this applies to you.
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. There is no separate fee for EMDR, as our BetterHelp EMDR guide explains. BetterHelp now works with commercial insurance in all 50 states and DC, but coverage depends on your plan, your state and therapist availability, so most people still pay cash. For the details, see our guide to BetterHelp’s insurance coverage. However, it does offer discounts from 10%–40% through its financial assistance program.
BetterHelp sells one subscription. As of October 2026 there is no pay-per-session option and no cheaper maintenance plan with fewer sessions, so the plans below are the only ones offered.
Here are all the pricing plans for the therapy options provided by BetterHelp:
- Standard subscription: $280–$400 monthly (pay weekly or monthly, though monthly will get you a better rate)
- BetterHelp couples therapy (through Regain): $280–$400 monthly
- Therapy for ages 13–18 (through Teen Counseling): $280–$400 monthly
Does BetterHelp Take Insurance?
Yes, for commercial plans. BetterHelp works with more than 125 commercial insurance plans, and insurance is available in all 50 states and DC. If you pay yourself, our BetterHelp HSA and FSA guide explains how to use pre-tax funds. Whether you can use yours depends on your specific plan, your state, and whether an in-network therapist is available to you, so double check with both BetterHelp and your insurance plan. BetterHelp does not accept Medicaid or Medicare, and most members still pay out of pocket. (Confirmed by BetterHelp, September 2026.)
BetterHelp does not provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement, however, you can use your FSA or HSA for therapy costs through BetterHelp.
If you have insurance that covers behavioral health, BetterHelp is probably not your best choice. Instead, you might consider Grow Therapy or Brightside Health, which both accept 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.
How BetterHelp Billing and Payment Work
BetterHelp accepts debit or credit cards, cards linked to HSA or FSA accounts, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal as payment options.
BetterHelp bills the subscription in advance, and there is no charge per session. BetterHelp’s cost page says plans are billed weekly or monthly, and its app listing and gift page describe the standard membership as renewing every four weeks, so expect $280 to $400 up front each cycle (checked October 13, 2026). Our 20% off link applies to the first month only, and BetterHelp’s sign-up notes that discount offers do not apply if you pay with insurance.
Because there is no per-session pricing, the cost is the same whether or not you book your weekly session. A session missed or cancelled within 24 hours carries a $15 fee. You can cancel the subscription from your account settings at any time; the cancellation FAQ below has the details.
What the BetterHelp Membership Includes
A BetterHelp membership is one plan with no tiers: every subscriber gets the same package, and the $280 to $400 a month price band reflects your location, therapist availability and your matching preferences, and there is no premium tier. The only other route in is the insurance offering, where you pay a copay per session instead of the subscription, and BetterHelp says some features, including chat-based sessions, groups and classes, and some self-help tools, may be limited or unavailable on that route.
The BetterHelp monthly cost of $280–$400 includes one weekly therapy session, an optional weekly group session, 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 video, audio, and live messaging, though not all therapists on the platform offer all three types. If you really want to access chat therapy, make sure your therapist offers this service, as it’s the least popular of the three options among therapists.
The weekly group session is a therapist-led Zoom session of about 90 minutes with 5 to 18 peers, and BetterHelp lists hundreds of topics to choose from. One group session a week is included at no extra cost; joining a second group in the same week may carry a charge, which BetterHelp shows before you register.
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 competitor in the online therapy world is Talkspace. Its most comparable cash-pay plan costs $396 monthly for video and messaging therapy. One of our favorite alternatives is Brightside Health, which offers a more affordable out-of-pocket weekly therapy subscription plan at $299 monthly. Another option to consider is Grow Therapy, in which users pay per session instead of a monthly fee. It takes a ton of insurance options, but you can also filter by cost, and many therapists on the platform offer sliding scale cash-pay rates.
Price: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Therapy & Psychiatry: Yes
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Many major health insurance plans are accepted
Many major health insurance plans are accepted-
Limited ability to choose your therapist
Limited ability to choose your therapist
Price: $95–$349 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Therapy & Psychiatry: Yes
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Accepts many insurance plans
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Excellent, hands-on care from providers
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Customer service can be slow
Price: $75–$250 per session
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Therapy & Psychiatry: Yes
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Most insurance accepted
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Choose your own providers
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Some states have fewer providers to choose from
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.”
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 $168 monthly. This figure assumes the low-end of the price range at $280 monthly and assumes you’re approved for the highest amount of financial aid.
Here are 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?
BetterHelp has no hidden fees beyond the subscription, except a $15 fee for a session missed or cancelled within 24 hours and a possible charge for joining a second group session in the same week, which BetterHelp shows before you register (both checked October 13, 2026). Your weekly therapy session, messaging with your therapist, one group session a week, and tools such as the journal and worksheets are all included in the subscription price.
Can you buy BetterHelp as a gift?
Yes, you can buy BetterHelp as a gift: it is sold as a gifted subscription. On BetterHelp’s gift page you enter the recipient’s details and a message, BetterHelp emails them an invitation, and the subscription starts when they begin therapy and renews every four weeks on your card at BetterHelp’s normal rate. Gifts cover individual therapy for adults 18 and over only, and you can stop paying at any time, after which the recipient can carry on paying for it themselves without interruption (checked October 13, 2026).
How many sessions do you get, and what are group sessions (groupinars)?
A BetterHelp subscription includes one live session a week with your therapist by video, phone or live chat, plus unlimited messaging between sessions. It also includes one group session a week at no extra cost: therapist-led Zoom sessions of about 90 minutes with 5 to 18 peers, on hundreds of topics. Joining more than one group in the same week may carry an extra charge, which BetterHelp shows before you register.
Is there a BetterHelp free trial?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a free trial; its own cost article, updated October 2, 2026, says so, and its terms mention only occasional trials that it is not running. The first-month offer is a discount: our BetterHelp discount code link takes 20% off your first month, and financial aid can cut the price by a further 10% to 40% if you qualify.
Is there a cheaper maintenance plan?
No, BetterHelp no longer offers a maintenance plan, and as of October 2026 its only plan is the weekly-session subscription at $280 to $400 a month. BetterHelp has no cheaper rate for fewer sessions, so if you want to see your therapist less often your options are to keep the subscription and use the messaging and group sessions between live sessions, or to cancel and rejoin later.
Can you pay per session?
No, BetterHelp does not sell sessions individually; the only way to use it is the subscription, billed in advance at $280 to $400 a month (checked October 13, 2026). If you want to pay per visit, Grow Therapy charges per session and takes most insurance plans, and many of its therapists offer sliding-scale cash rates. BetterHelp’s cheapest route is its financial aid, which can cut the subscription by 10% to 40%.
Does BetterHelp have employer or corporate plans?
Yes, BetterHelp has employer and corporate plans through BetterHelp Business, which works with employers, employee assistance programs (EAPs), brokers and other organizations. If your employer or EAP partners with BetterHelp, you are referred through that pathway and then go through the normal sign-up and therapist matching; the steps vary by EAP partner (confirmed by BetterHelp, September 2026). Ask your HR team or EAP whether BetterHelp is part of your benefits and what, if anything, it covers, because those terms are set by your organization rather than by BetterHelp. Our guide to employee assistance programs explains how EAP sessions work.
Why is BetterHelp so expensive?
BetterHelp costs $280 to $400 a month because the subscription pays a licensed therapist for a live session every week plus messaging in between, and most members pay all of that out of pocket rather than a copay. The price also moves with your location and how many therapists are available there, so people in high-demand areas see the top of the range. The two ways to bring it down are financial aid, which takes 10% to 40% off for those who qualify, and paying through a commercial insurance plan, where eligible members pay an average copay of about $23 a session.
Is BetterHelp cheaper than in-person therapy?
BetterHelp is usually cheaper than in-person therapy if you are paying cash. BetterHelp’s $70 to $100 a week works out to $280 to $400 for four sessions, while BetterHelp’s own comparison puts in-person therapy at $100 to $200 a session, or $400 to $800 for the same four sessions, before travel and time off work (figures checked October 13, 2026). If you have insurance with a low copay, an in-network therapist in person or online may cost less than BetterHelp’s self-pay subscription, though BetterHelp’s insurance route brings the average copay to about $23 a session. See our guide to how much therapy costs for the wider picture.
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. (August 2025). BetterHelp Review: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Church, Matthew. (March 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: Added an opening cost summary, gave the membership and billing sections their own headings with details on group sessions, billing cycles, and the absence of per-session or maintenance plans, and corrected the lowest-cost FAQ figure to $168. Prices re-checked on BetterHelp’s site. Also corrected the hidden fees FAQ to include the $15 late-cancellation fee and the possible charge for a second group session in a week.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (no change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (no change)
Primary Changes: Added insurance information; removed maintenance plan.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (no change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (no change)
Primary Changes: Swapped Online-Therapy.com for Grow Therapy in the Competitors section. Fact-checked and edited entire article for readability.
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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For teens who need more support than weekly therapy, read our Charlie Health review of its virtual intensive outpatient program.
