Talkspace and BetterHelp are two well-known online therapy platforms offering similar nationwide services. The main difference is that Talkspace accepts insurance, while BetterHelp is almost exclusively cash-pay (and more affordable when paying out-of-pocket)—however, its out-of-pocket costs are some of the most affordable in the online therapy space. Another key variance is that Talkspace also provides medication management, while BetterHelp focuses only on talk therapy.
We’ve used both platforms several times over the last five years, and I re-signed up for them again in 2026 to get a fresh perspective. A key difference I noticed is that Talkspace is quicker to sign up for, with only a few questions before booking a session. BetterHelp’s intake process took longer (about 15 minutes), but the additional questions helped match me with a therapist who felt like a better initial fit. Overall, it may take longer to find the right match on Talkspace, but that could be worth it if your insurance helps cover the cost.
Editor's Notes
After reviewing both online therapy options again, Talkspace remains the better choice if you have in-network insurance, while BetterHelp is more affordable if you’re paying out of pocket.
Talkspace is the better option if you need medication management, since BetterHelp doesn’t offer psychiatric services.
Talkspace offers multiple subscription options, while BetterHelp just has one plan.
If you want extras like group sessions, courses, and journaling prompts, BetterHelp includes those for free. Talkspace offers similar features, but they cost extra through the Talkspace Go app.
Compare Talkspace Vs. BetterHelp
| Services Offered | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy, psychiatry (medication management) | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Cost | $276–$436 monthly (closest comparison to BetterHelp plan is $436 monthly) | $260–$400 monthly |
| Session Options | Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Insurance Accepted? |  |  |
| Offers Financial Assistance? | | |
| Offers Medications? | | |
| Geographic Availability | USA & International | USA & International |
| Learn More | Visit Talkspace | Visit BetterHelp |
| Services Offered | |
| Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy, psychiatry (medication management) | Individual therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy |
| Cost | |
| $276–$436 monthly (closest comparison to BetterHelp plan is $436 monthly) | $260–$400 monthly |
| Session Options | |
| Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Insurance Accepted? | |
| | |
| Offers Financial Assistance? | |
| | |
| Offers Medications? | |
| | |
| Geographic Availability | |
| USA & International | USA & International |
| Learn More | |
| Visit Talkspace | Visit BetterHelp |
Talkspace Vs. BetterHelp: Key Factors & Differences
Price: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
Age Limitations: 13+
When we tried Talkspace, we found that it accepts a really wide range of insurance providers, including some Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Since BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance at all, Talkspace is the better choice for those wanting to use insurance coverage for therapy.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Many major health insurance plans accepted
- Provides medication management services
- Quicker sign-up process
Cons - Fewer up-front questions could lead to lower quality therapist matching
- Extra features only available at an additional cost
Cost
Talkspace therapy costs are anywhere from $276–$436 monthly ($69–$109 weekly), with exact pricing depending on where you live, therapist availability, and which subscription package you choose.
Talkspace accepts select insurance plans, which could make the cost significantly more affordable. Talkspace states that many users have $0 copays, but the average is typically around $15 per session. You can also use your FSA or HSA to pay for therapy with Talkspace.
Talkspace offers three online therapy subscriptions:
- Messaging Therapy: Starts at $276 monthly (advertised at $69 weekly) and includes access to 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.
- Video + Messaging Therapy: Starts at $396 monthly (advertised at $99 weekly) and gives users access to the Messaging plan, as well as four, 30-minute video sessions with your therapist every month.
- Video + Messaging + Workshops: Starts at $436 monthly (advertised at $109 weekly) and 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.
- Extra video sessions: You can schedule extra therapy sessions for $65 each.
- Talkspace Go: $29.99 monthly after 7-day free trial
Talkspace Psychiatry costs $299 for an initial medication evaluation session and $175 for follow-up appointments, but there are a couple of bundle deals:
- Initial evaluation + 1 follow up session: $435 (saving $39)
- Initial evaluation + 3 follow up sessions: $725 (saving $99)
All psychiatric costs are in addition to the cost of the therapy subscriptions with Talkspace. It does not offer any subscription bundles for therapy and psychiatry services at this time.
To help offset the cost, Talkspace is offering a discount to our readers: Save $85 off your first month with code CT85—Get Started Here.
Overview
I recently signed up for Talkspace and had video sessions with two different therapists. In general, I had a positive experience, and my overall take is that Talkspace can be a good option for people with insurance who want to get started with online therapy quickly and easily. That said, it took me a couple tries to find a therapist I really liked, likely because the intake questionnaire gathers very limited information before matching you with a provider. Still, if Talkspace is in-network with your insurance company, you could pay as little as $0 in a copay for both therapy and medication management, all from the convenience of your phone.
In addition to therapy and psychiatry services, Talkspace offers group Workshops (part of the Video + Messaging + Workshops plan). The workshops cover a variety of mental health topics, which you attend through a Zoom meeting with the option to have your camera off during the session. Workshop leaders may ask that you have a pencil or pen and paper to answer some prompts throughout. When I attended a session covering coping skills for depression, each writing prompt was timed and took between two to four minutes, which was a nice way to stay engaged with the topic.
Talkspace also has a separate app, Talkspace Go, full of self-service mental health features, including specific courses on a variety of topics, daily reflection prompts, guided meditations, and classes with themes such as, “How to cope with failure,” “Understanding your attachment style,” “How to thrive as a parent,” and more. This is a separate $29.99 monthly subscription.
“I personally used Talkspace for my personal therapy for a couple of years after originally signing up to review it for ChoosingTherapy.com. I found it seamless to use my insurance, got a good therapist match right away, and liked the messaging feature to send quick notes or questions to my therapist between sessions. Cash-pay prices are high, so I only recommend it to people with in-network insurance, but it takes hundreds of plans, including Medicare and Medicare Advantage.” –Matthew Church, MS
Price: $260–$400 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Extremely limited
Medication Management: No
Age Limitations: 18+
While BetterHelp offers extremely limited insurance coverage, it’s one of the most affordable options for paying for online therapy out-of-pocket. It also offers a seamless way to get started for those new to therapy, as there are multiple mental health resources in the app to support your progress and the therapist matching algorithm is more comprehensive than with Talkspace, meaning you may be more likely to get a better fit right away.
Pros & Cons
Pros - More affordable cash-pay therapy option
- Offers financial aid & discounts for students & veterans
- Same-day appointments often available
- Comprehensive algorithm allows for a better therapist match
Cons - Does not accept insurance in most cases
- No medication management
- Only one subscription option
Cost
BetterHelp costs range from $260–$400 monthly (advertised at $65–$100 weekly), with the ultimate cost depending on your location and therapist availability. BetterHelp does not accept insurance but will accept FSA or HSA funds to pay for therapy.
Here are a few key facts about BetterHelp costs:
- BetterHelp has just started accepting incredibly limited insurance plans, but expect to pay with cash for now
- BetterHelp’s standard price is $260–$400 monthly
- Users can pay weekly or monthly, with monthly prices slightly more affordable
- Financial aid is available from BetterHelp for people in times of financial hardship, potentially lowering the price by 10%–40%
- You can use an FSA or HSA to pay for BetterHelp
- You can use our BetterHelp discount code for 20% off your first month: choosingtherapy
Overview
After recently re-using and testing BetterHelp, I still think it can be a good option for people new to therapy who don’t have insurance. It’s one of the most affordable cash-pay options, and offers financial aid, plus discounts for students and veterans. I like that it has more “extras” compared to Talkspace, including journaling, group sessions, and a goal-setting tool. However, it doesn’t offer medication management, so if you’re looking for a platform that offers both, BetterHelp won’t be your best option.
When our team member used BetterHelp, they found it to be a great value for the cost, though BetterHelp has had some controversies, such as accusations of therapists using AI in their messages to clients. Overall, if you’re playing to pay out-of-pocket for therapy costs, BetterHelp could be worth considering.
A BetterHelp subscription includes a few extra features, including a journal, group sessions, a goal-setting tool, and worksheets:
- The journal section in the BetterHelp app gives you a writing prompt suggestion, with options to see more. There are several journal prompts to choose from in categories like depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and general suggestions. One cool feature of these journals is you can choose to share them with your therapist or keep them private.
- Group sessions with BetterHelp cover various mental health topics, from relationships and parenting to anxiety and skill building. Each topic provides you with a group session name, date, time, and a description of what each session will cover. BetterHelp subscriptions include one group session per week.
- BetterHelp also includes a handful of other tools, such as worksheets, that can be assigned by your therapist to support your work in therapy, and a goal-setting tool for guiding what you discuss in therapy sessions.
“I just tested BetterHelp for the first time, and I was pretty impressed with its current therapist matching algorithm. The intake form was a bit long, but this felt worth it to me, as I got matched with a really good therapist right away (this was not my experience when I re-tested Talkspace recently). I would recommend it to people who don’t have insurance or who just want a bit of extra support but don’t have any diagnosable mental health concerns.” –Abigail Rueger, MA
Who Might Need an Alternative to Talkspace & BetterHelp?
Talkspace and BetterHelp are both great options for those seeking online therapy, but some people will need an alternative. Those looking for in-depth psychiatric care, in-person services, comprehensive ADHD care, or a more affordable option should look to these recommended alternatives.
Get More In-Depth Psychiatric Care With These Alternatives
BetterHelp doesn’t offer medication management at all, and while Talkspace does, the cash-pay prices are high if you aren’t using insurance. Brightside Health, on the other hand, has some of the most affordable cash-pay prices we’ve seen for medication management. Talkiatry is another alternative that offers highly personalized psychiatric care. Both were featured on our list of the best online psychiatry platforms.
Get Help for ADHD With These Alternatives
Both BetterHelp and Talkspace can help treat the symptoms of ADHD, but if you’re looking for in-depth diagnostics and treatment, there are better options out there. Talkiatry is one of our favorite providers that offers ADHD care with its comprehensive approach. Klarity is another good option that offers ADHD care at an affordable price point. Learn more in our list of the best options for online ADHD treatment.
Get In-Person Therapy With These Alternatives
Neither BetterHelp nor Talkspace offer in-person therapy. Thriveworks is a great alternative that offers in-person treatment in select cities. Meanwhile, Grow Therapy is a therapy directory full of providers who offer both online and in-person services.
More Affordable Online Therapy Options
If you don’t have insurance coverage and your family makes under a certain income threshold per year, you could qualify for $40–$70 therapy sessions through Open Path Collective. Pay a $65 one-time fee, then have access to Open Path’s directory to find a therapist offering these low rates, plus other resources and wellness courses.
So, Which Is Better, Talkspace or Betterhelp?
“Both BetterHelp and Talkspace are user-friendly and offer quick therapist matching. BetterHelp is a lower-priced cash pay option compared to Talkspace, but if you’re able to use insurance with Talkspace, it will likely end up being considerably more affordable. BetterHelp only offers talk therapy, while Talkspace also provides medication management.
I just re-tested both services and found BetterHelp to be more comprehensive and user-friendly, but regardless of which you choose, the most important factor for improving your mental health is the client-therapist fit. I think most people can find a good therapist on either platform, but BetterHelp’s more in-depth intake questionnaire makes it a bit easier to get matched with the right therapist sooner. However, if you plan on using your insurance, I still think it’s worth going through the process with Talkspace until you find a therapist you really jive with.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, BetterHelp or Talkspace?
BetterHelp is going to be a better fit for people who are paying out-of-pocket for therapy, as it’s one of the more affordable options available. Plus, its more comprehensive matching algorithm means you’re slightly more likely to find a better therapist fit sooner than with Talkspace. However, if you have insurance, Talkspace will likely be the more affordable option—you just might have to try out a few more therapists until you land on someone who fits your needs.
Is BetterHelp cheaper than Talkspace?
Yes, if you’re paying with cash, BetterHelp is cheaper than Talkspace, and it even offers financial aid and discounts for students and veterans. However, if you have insurance that’s in-network, Talkspace will likely be cheaper. Be sure to check with your insurance company about what’s covered, though, as coverage and copays can vary.
Do BetterHelp & Talkspace Accept Insurance?
BetterHelp has just started accepting a few insurance plans in limited states, while Talkspace has much more robust insurance coverage. Talkspace accepts plans from insurance providers like Cigna, Magellan Health, and more. Talkspace also partners with many employers, employee assistance programs (EAP), and educational organizations to make therapy available and affordable.
Can BetterHelp & Talkspace Prescribe Medication?
BetterHelp cannot prescribe medication and does not have any psychiatric providers available. Talkspace can prescribe medications that are classified as non-controlled substances, such as most common medications for depression and anxiety. Examples of these medications would be sertraline (Zoloft), Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), and Prozac (fluoxetine). Psychiatric providers with Talkspace are generally psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
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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Rueger, Abigail. (December 2025). BetterHelp Review: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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BetterHelp. (May 2025). How Much Does Online Therapy Cost? BetterHelp Pricing Explained. https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/betterhelp-pricing-what-you-can-expect-to-pay-for-therapy/
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Rueger, Abigail. (December 2025). Talkspace Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/talkspace-review/
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Talkspace. (2025). Talkspace Services + Out-of-Pocket Pricing. Retrieved from https://help.talkspace.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041531131-Talkspace-Services-Out-of-Pocket-Pricing
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: Abigail Rueger (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated Talkspace psychiatry pricing; Added new user experience; added information about Talkspace Go; updated FAQ section; thoroughly fact-checked and edited for readability and clarity.
Author: Abigail Rueger (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Rewrote much of article for readability. Fact-checked entire article.
Author: Abigail Rueger (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited entire article for readability and clarity. Added Editor’s Note.
Author: Abigail Rueger (New author)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added Brightside Health as an alternative for substance use disorders. Fact-checked and updated for readability and clarity.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and updated for readability and clarity. Updated BetterHelp’s pricing throughout.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Reformatted article to new visual format, added “When to Choose Talkspace or BetterHelp” section, updated pricing plans for BetterHelp, reviewed and revised entire article for factual accuracy, clarity, and enhanced readability.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated new images and logos, updated language about Talkspace accepting Medicare clients, updated intro paragraph, updated pricing for Talkspace psychiatry, added links for BetterHelp financial aid program.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated costs for BetterHelp throughout; updated all images.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated cost language throughout for BetterHelp; Adjusted language surrounding texting with a therapist
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (New medical reviewer)
Primary Changes: Updated all costs, offerings, and images; sections moved for reading clarity
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA
Medical Reviewer: Naveed Saleh MD, MS
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