I’ve used Talkspace’s therapy and psychiatry services for about two years. Even after trying other platforms, I stick with Talkspace because it’s in-network with my insurance and offers comprehensive care. I’ve worked with multiple Talkspace therapists and medication providers, used all the app’s resources, and interacted with customer support. After evaluating the platform yet again, I still give Talkspace 4 out of 5 stars based on detailed criteria.
Editor's Notes
We regularly review and update our content to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information. In this round of updates, little has changed with Talkspace’s platform. We maintain that it’s generally a good choice for those with in-network insurance (and even Medicare) looking for comprehensive care.
Talkspace at a Glance
Cost: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Medication Available: Yes
Location: Available in all 50 states
Pros & Cons of Talkspace
Pros - Many major health insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare
- Also offers therapy for couples and teens, plus medication management
- Quick and easy sign-up
- Excellent mobile and web apps
Cons - Not much control over initial therapist choice
- Therapist-matching process can take a few days
Preview Talkspace
Talkspace is a subscription-based online therapy and medication management platform that costs $276–$436 monthly (depending on the selected therapy plan) for anyone ages 13+ across the US and internationally. Notably, Talkspace also offers both couples counseling and teen counseling. During our independent review of its services, it earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
When I tried Talkspace, I found it very easy to sign up and get matched with a therapist. The matching process was a little slow compared to other online therapy services, taking about two days. When comparing Talkspace to BetterHelp, I found that BetterHelp matched me with a therapist within an hour of signing up. Regardless, I was excited to have my first video therapy session with my therapist within a week of completing the initial Talkspace sign-up. My first session was easy to attend and I encountered no technical issues during my time with Talkspace.
Talkspace is fairly expensive for cash-pay psychiatry. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you should look to Brightside Health, which has some of the most affordable cash-pay rates we’ve seen (in addition to accepting many insurance plans). In terms of therapy, some people benefit from a bit more structure than what Talkspace offers—if that sounds like you, then Online-Therapy.com might be a better choice. Or, if you don’t have insurance and you’re looking for affordable therapy, Open Path Collective could be a good place to start.
Detailed Review of Talkspace
Talkspace is a subscription-based online therapy platform that offers a variety of ways to access your weekly therapy sessions including video, phone, and messaging. Talkspace also offers psychiatric services and therapy options for couples and teens. Additionally, Talkspace subscribers on the highest tier of the plan gain access to a wide range of educational webinars. While it’s a convenient option for many, some users have had issues with customer service, and its cash-pay cost is high for both therapy and psychiatry.
Continue reading for a detailed review of our experience, as well as our scoring breakdown of Talkspace below:
Review our scoring criteria for online therapy platforms here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Messaging With a Talkspace Therapist
All of Talkspace’s plans allow you to access an ongoing message thread with your therapist who is guaranteed to respond at least once per day Monday through Friday. You can discuss issues with your therapist, they can send you resources and homework, or you can use it as a place to jot down important things you’d like to discuss at your next session.
The messaging feature in Talkspace works well and acts as a hub that you can come back to time and again. It’s also the place you’ll go to join your therapy session when it’s time to do so. It allows you and your therapist to exchange files and any other useful materials that might come up during therapy.
Live Video & Phone Sessions
Talkspace therapists offer video and phone sessions that you can attend once weekly with the live therapy plan, which currently costs $396 monthly (advertised as $99 per week). Sessions are 30–50 minutes long and may vary depending on your therapist and your individual needs. I joined my first Talkspace video appointment from my iPhone via the Talkspace mobile app on my home wifi connection. Joining was very easy, as the app guided me directly to the virtual waiting room from my dashboard once I was within 10 minutes of my appointment time.
When I tried Talkspace, it provided me with plenty of reminders about my appointments via text messages, email, and push notifications on the mobile app. Thankfully, you can adjust the notification and reminder settings to your liking. The video platform that Talkspace uses seems very stable—I didn’t have technical issues during any of my sessions. It was quite simple, displaying our two video feeds as well as a button for ending the call.
My initial Talkspace therapy session lasted about 30 minutes. I was very impressed with my therapist and felt she was an excellent fit for me. She listened, conveyed empathy, and provided actionable ideas all while making me feel like I could express myself without fear of judgement. It can be a huge task to find an online therapist that’s compatible with you, so I was very impressed to find such a good fit on the first try with Talkspace.
Talkspace Psychiatry
Psychiatry through Talkspace is available for anyone 18+ in the US. With Talkspace psychiatry, you’ll be able to meet with a psychiatrist or qualified medical provider to work together and determine if mental health medication is a good choice for you. Psychiatry through Talkspace is a separate cost from their therapy subscription plans.
When it comes to the design on the platform, Talkspace psychiatry and therapy function quite similarly. With psychiatric sessions, you meet with a medication provider about once per month, but it may be more or less often depending on your needs and situation. Psychiatry through Talkspace is billed by session, with initial sessions costing $299 and follow-up sessions costing $175. Insurance is accepted for psychiatry as well, so if you’re in-network it will likely be much cheaper.
Talkspace psychiatry is meant for people experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health symptoms. Talkspace medical providers are able to prescribe, based on client medical necessity, a variety of medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antianxiety or antidepressant medications. Note that controlled substances, such as Adderall, cannot be prescribed by any Talkspace telehealth provider.
If you and your prescriber decide that medication would be a good fit for you, you’ll be able to have your medicine sent to you or choose to pick it up at a local pharmacy. Talkspace is a great option for psychiatry but our full breakdown of the best online psychiatry services have more choices worth considering.
Educational Workshops
Talkspace offers a huge selection of educational workshops, but they’re exclusively available on the most expensive plan, which currently costs $436 monthly. These workshops cover anything from learning new coping skills to practicing mindfulness and more. The plan covers one workshop per week in addition to your normal therapy session.
Notably, Talkspace offers workshops for both individuals and couples. All workshops are hosted via Zoom by licensed therapists Monday–Thursday. Workshops allow you to learn new skills and mental health concepts outside of your therapy sessions and can be a great supplement. However, workshops shouldn’t be considered an equivalent to therapy. Since the workshops use Zoom for the video platform, you’ll be able to control your camera and microphone settings, which is great for those who prefer a bit more privacy.
Talkspace Go
Talkspace Go is a self-directed therapy app designed for those who don’t need one-on-one, live therapy sessions, or who are looking for additional support outside of therapy. It offers short, daily exercises, plus live classes and other tools, designed to empower users to take charge of their own mental health.
The app costs $29.99 monthly, with a 7-day free trial available for you to decide whether the service is a good fit for you before making a commitment.
Other Valuable Resources
All Talkspace subscribers also get access to several useful interactive exercises for topics such as sensory awareness, improving focus, or decreasing anxiety. These exercises and resources are very well-implemented, easy to use, and offer great insights.
These resources are useful, but other providers offer more variety. For instance, BetterHelp has more worksheets that therapists can send, and Online-Therapy.com is practically built around worksheets.
Talkspace Cost & Insurance
Talkspace costs range from $276–$436 monthly. Talkspace has three different subscription packages for therapy, but the cost ultimately depends on your geographic location and therapist availability. The messaging-only package starts at $276 monthly, the live therapy package starts at $396 monthly, and the messaging, therapy, and workshop package costs $436 monthly.
If you’re paying with cash, you can get a Talkspace promo code for your first month to see if it would be a good fit: Save $85 off your first month with code CT85.
Talkspace offers three online therapy subscriptions for cash-pay members:
- Messaging Therapy ($276 monthly): This plan gives you a dedicated chatroom where you can send text, audio, or video messages to your therapist anytime. Therapists will respond to messages at least once daily, Monday–Friday. Costs start at $276 monthly, advertised at $69 weekly.
- Video + Messaging Therapy ($396 monthly): This plan gives you four, 45-minute video sessions with your therapist every month, as well as the messaging plan. Costs start at $396 monthly, advertised at $99 weekly.
- Video + Messaging Therapy+ Workshops ($436 monthly): This plan includes everything from the Messaging Only and Live Therapy plans as well as access to live Zoom workshops with licensed providers on various mental health topics. Costs start at $436 monthly, advertised at $109 weekly.
Here are the pricing breakdowns for Talkspace’s additional services:
- Psychiatry: Talkspace psychiatry is billed by session. An initial evaluation session costs $299 and follow-up sessions are $175 each. You can buy sessions in bundles for a bit of savings.
- Couples Therapy: Couples therapy with Talkspace starts at $436 monthly for weekly live sessions and unlimited messaging. Additional live sessions can be purchased for $65 each if you need an extra session before your billing renewal date.
- Teen Therapy: Teens ages 13-17 can use Talkspace therapy at the same monthly cost as adults.
- Talkspace Go: $29.99 monthly after a 7-day free trial.
Talkspace does accept a wide variety of insurance plans, but your cost with insurance will vary considerably depending on your individual coverage and needs. If your insurance plan covers Talkspace, you’ll only be responsible for any copays due. Keep in mind that you may be responsible for additional fees if you haven’t met your deductible. You can also use your FSA or HSA card for therapy with Talkspace.
Notably, Talkspace is one of the very few online therapy providers that accepts Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
Who Does Talkspace Serve?
Talkspace therapy services are available for anyone ages 13+ in the United States and internationally. Talkspace is intended as a solution for adults and teens experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health symptoms or concerns. Talkspace also offers services to couples and those seeking psychiatric services.
A deal between Talkspace and the New York City Health Department gives New York City teens (13–17) access to free online therapy. NYC Teenspace provides a licensed therapist to communicate through messaging, live chats, and video sessions. They also host free virtual and in-person events for teens, educators, and caregivers. For teens outside of New York City who don’t have in-network insurance with Talkspace and want an alternative, consider Teen Counseling. For more options, explore our guide to the best online teen therapy.
User Reviews
Users tend to have a positive sentiment toward Talkspace on review sites, highlighting that the company has helped to improve the lifestyles of many; however, some have criticized the company for poor customer service and high prices.
Reviews from Apple App Store - 4.8 out of 5 stars | 36.1K reviews
Positive reviews on the Apple App Store emphasized the convenience of Talkspace and online therapy in general. Users appreciated that Talkspace helped make the process of finding a therapist easy and painless.
Negative reviews on the Apple App Store tended to note some technical issues and glitches with the Talkspace mobile app, such as freezing, restarting, and problems with FaceID integration. Some also noted that Talkspace is slow to provide a refund in the event of an issue, and others stated that Talkspace never notified them that they were out-of-network with their insurance and were responsible for the cost of services themselves, as well as a few other insurance-related mixups.
Google Play Store | 4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars | 8.5k Reviews
Positive reviews on the Google Play Store focused on convenience and ease of use. Users tended to agree that Talkspace generally makes it very easy to access therapy. Others noted that they’ve made a great deal of progress since starting Talkspace.
Negative reviews on the Google Play Store tended to focus on pricing issues, customer service, and insurance. Some users believed that Talkspace pricing is far too high with limited financial aid. Others felt that using Talkspace with insurance is cumbersome and tends to cause problems that require intensive customer service intervention.
Alternatives & Competitors
Talkspace is a great choice for anyone seeking online therapy or psychiatry, particularly if you have an insurance plan that’s in-network. However, BetterHelp is a bit more affordable for cash-pay, and Online-Therapy.com has even more affordable options for those looking for CBT-style therapy. Meanwhile, for finding in-person care, Thriveworks is a great option in select cities.
Most Affordable - Betterhelp
Price: $280–$400 monthly
Insurance Accepted: No
Medication Available: No
BetterHelp is a very affordable and accessible option for online therapy, but it doesn’t accept insurance at all. It is, however, probably the fastest option out there, with appointments usually available same-day.
Talkspace counseling offers very similar services as BetterHelp, with the ability to message your therapist, attend live phone or video sessions, and access additional in-app mental health features. Both BetterHelp and Talkspace use a matching program to connect you with a licensed therapist in your state.
BetterHelp’s cost depends on which state you live in. The service starts at $280–$400 monthly, and Talkspace costs $276–$436 monthly, with both platforms stating that final costs depend on your location and therapist availability. However, TalkSpace accepts some insurance plans, which may help lower costs. Talkspace also offers psychiatric services whereas BetterHelp does not.
For more information, read our full BetterHelp Review or our BetterHelp vs. Talkspace comparison.
Pros & Cons
Pros - 30k+ therapists on the platform
- Same-day appointments available
Cons - Does not accept insurance
- Limited choice over initial therapist
Best for CBT - Online-Therapy.com
Price: $240–$480 monthly
Insurance Accepted: No
Medication Available: No
Online-Therapy.com is focused specifically on CBT-based therapy, whereas Talkspace providers can offer a broader range of services. If you’re looking for the most affordable online therapy provider for cash pay, then Online-Therapy.com is likely your best bet.
Talkspace and Online-Therapy.com share a few things in common. Both services offer video and phone sessions on a monthly subscription model. However, Talkspace accepts insurance whereas Online-Therapy.com does not. Online-Therapy.com costs $240–$480 monthly, whereas Talkspace costs $276–$436 monthly.
With Talkspace you will have a wider array of therapeutic techniques, whereas with Online-Therapy.com you will only receive CBT-based therapy. Also, the lowest-cost plan at Online-Therapy.com is primarily a self-guided course with the ability to message a therapist instead of live sessions as you have with Talkspace. Overall, Online-Therapy.com offers more flexibility with its pricing than Talkspace but with a tradeoff.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Affordable plans for biweekly or monthly sessions
- Great self-guided resources and content
Cons - Insurance is not accepted
- Exclusively CBT-focused therapy
Best For Teen Counseling - Thriveworks
Price: ~ $0–$50 copay with insurance
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Medication Available: Yes
Thriveworks offers therapy, psychiatry, and teen counseling, plus it even has options for in-person therapy in some cities. Like Talkspace, Thriveworks also accepts many major insurance plans. If one isn’t in-network with your plan, it’s worth checking the other.
Talkspace offers subscription-based therapy services while Thriveworks does not. The cost of Thriveworks varies based on provider and location, but with insurance it ranges from a $0–$50 copay.
Learn more in our detailed Thriveworks review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - In-person services available in select cities
- Accepts many major insurance plans
Cons - Cost varies by provider & location
- Psychiatry available exclusively online
Why You Can Trust My Review
“I’ve personally used Talkspace for about two years, so I have a good bit of experience with the app. When I first tried Talkspace, I was impressed with how easy it was to get started and the convenience offered by the Talkspace mobile app. The therapist that Talkspace matched me with was an ideal fit for me right away. After I used Talkspace for my initial review, I ended up adopting the service full-time for my own mental health needs.
I think that Talkspace is worth it for most people, as long as they are using an in-network insurance plan. Cash-pay rates with Talkspace are fairly high, so it’s better to go with insurance as the method of payment.”
History & News About Talkspace
Year Founded: 2012
Publicly Traded? Yes, since 2021
Founders: Roni & Oren Frank
Headquarters Location: New York, New York
Talkspace was founded in 2012 by married couple Roni and Oren Frank. It is headquartered in New York City and has been publicly traded since 2021. Early in Talkspace’s history, the company experienced criticism regarding inflated claims of effectiveness, therapists with questionable credentials, and issues with client data privacy.2
In 2020, journalists from the New York Times published an account that Talkspace was commissioning its employees to use burner phones to pump up positive reviews for Talkspace on app stores, and has knowingly released private client data and therapist chat logs in internal meetings, wherein supposedly anonymized identifying information was released.3
Talkspace co-founders Roni and Oren Frank wrote a response to the New York Times piece stating that many points within the article are false or misconstrued. Moreover, they contend that the New York Times reporter ignored many facts presented in their initial interview and further contend that Talkspace committed no wrongdoing in this instance.4
In May of 2024, Talkspace announced that the company would begin accepting Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, making it one of the only online therapy platforms of its kind to do so.5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Talkspace Legit?
Yes, Talkspace is a well-known provider of online therapy services. Talkspace is a relatively large, publicly traded company that’s been around since 2012. Talkspace is one of the most well-known online therapy services and it thoroughly vets and verifies its therapists. We’ve used Talkspace several times and have found it to be a useful online therapy resource.
How Much Does Talkspace Cost?
Talkspace costs between $276 – $436 monthly, depending on how often you’d like to meet with a therapist and whether or not you would like access to educational workshops.
How are Talkspace Therapists Verified & Vetted?
All providers on Talkspace are fully licensed and board-certified. They do not use interns, providers who are not fully licensed, or those who are still under supervision. It’s easy to find any Talkspace therapist’s credentials on their profile.
How Do I Change My Talkspace Therapist?
To change your Talkspace therapist, simply navigate to the account menu in the Talkspace mobile app or website, and select “Change Therapist.” This will allow you to select from an assortment of other therapists that might suit your needs.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Talkspace?
Yes, you can use your FSA or HSA for therapy with Talkspace. During setup, you will be asked to pay and you can input your card information at that time. You can also email Talkspace for a superbill if one is needed for your records or to submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
How Do I Cancel My Talkspace Subscription?
You can cancel your Talkspace subscription at any time. Your account will be marked as “do not renew” and you will still have access to your account until your subscription ends. To cancel on the website, go to your account, scroll to the “Payment” section, then you will simply click “Stop Subscription.”
If you are ever concerned that you did not unsubscribe correctly, I recommend emailing [email protected].
Does Talkspace Issue Refunds?
Yes, Talkspace may offer full, partial, or prorated refunds for services rendered on a case-by-case basis. To get in touch with someone at Talkspace, email them at [email protected].
Is Talkspace HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Talkspace is HIPAA compliant and you are asked to sign a consent form prior to your first interaction with your therapist.
For more information, you can read Talkspace’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Is Online Therapy Effective?
Yes. Several studies have shown that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy, under the right conditions. One notable study that sampled over 300 online therapy clients found significant improvements from using this type of treatment—particularly for those with mild depression symptoms who had never been to therapy before.1
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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Marcelle, E. T., Nolting, L., Hinshaw, S. P., & Aguilera, A. (2019). Effectiveness of a multimodal digital psychotherapy platform for adult depression: A naturalistic feasibility study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(1), e10948. https://doi.org/10.2196/10948. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6364202/
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Essig, T. (2015). Talkspace argues with Talkspace: Conflicting messages and clinical risk. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddessig/2015/06/29/talkspace-argues-with-talkspace-conflicting-messages-and-clinical-risk/
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Hill, K., Krolik, A. (April, 2020). At Talkspace, start-up culture collides with mental health concerns. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/technology/talkspace
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Frank, R., Frank, O. (August, 2020). Talkspace founders respond to a New York Times article. Medium. Retrieved from: https://medium.com/@founders_22883/talkspace-founders-respond-to-a-new-york-times-article-78d6f5c45c59
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Talkspace (May, 2024). Now Medicare covers Talkspace therapy. Talkspace. Retrieved from: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/medicare-at-talkspace/.
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: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added Talkspace Go to the Detailed Review. Added information about Talkspace Insights to the “History & News” section. Updated competitor pricing. Fact-checked and edited for readability and clarity.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and updated language throughout for readability and clarity. Updated pricing information on competitor sections.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated opening paragraph and information on Thriveworks.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated images and logos throughout, added new information about Talkspace Medicare coverage.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (New author)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (New author)
Primary Changes: Fully reviewed Talkspace platform, rewrote entire article based on new review experiences, reformatted entire article to new format. New content written by Matthew Church, MS, and medically reviewed by Benjamin Troy, MD.
Author: Caitlin Bell (No Change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated costs for BetterHelp in Vs. section.
Author: Caitlin Bell (No Change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: First-person account of Talkspace Couples Therapy added by Randi Sprintis
Author: Caitlin Bell (No Change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (New medical reviewer)
Primary Changes: Improve readability throughout; Updated Pros & Cons, Cost, and Therapy Subscriptions Offered; Created new images throughout; Attended Live session and added first-person point-of-view.
Author: Caitlin Bell (New author)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (New medical reviewer)
Primary Changes: Improve readability throughout; Updated cost sections, images, Pros & Cons, and information throughout; Added sections: Discount Table, Pros & Cons Table, “Talkspace Messaging, Live Therapy, & Messaging + Therapy: Detailed Review”, “Talkspace Psychiatry: Detailed Review”, “How Talkspace Has Changed”
Author: Eric Patterson, LPC
Medical Reviewer: Meera Patel, DO
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