Talkspace and BetterHelp are two of the most popular subscription-based online therapy platforms and offer very similar services in all 50 US states. Talkspace focuses more on working with insurance groups and payers, while BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, exclusively using cash pay for its therapy services. We’ve used both Talkspace and BetterHelp extensively and have found some notable differences to help you decide which platform is best for you.
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 | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | USA & International | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? |  |  |
| Session Options | Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers Medications? |  |  |
| Offers Financial Aid? |  |  |
| 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 | $280–$400 monthly |
| Geographic Availability | |
| USA & International | USA & International |
| Insurance Accepted? | |
 |  |
| Session Options | |
| Video, phone, live messaging | Video, phone, live messaging |
| Offers Medications? | |
 |  |
| Offers Financial Aid? | |
 |  |
| Learn More | |
| Visit Talkspace | Visit BetterHelp |
Talkspace Vs. BetterHelp: What Are the Differences?
When you’re comparing Talkspace and BetterHelp, it’s easy to see that both platforms have a lot in common. They both offer online therapy using a subscription model, in which users pay a monthly fee to use the platforms. As a rule of thumb, Talkspace is better for those who have insurance or are looking for medication management, whereas BetterHelp is better for those who don’t have insurance or simply prefer cash-pay.
Price: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
Age Limitations: 13+
When we tried Talkspace, we found that it works with more insurance plans than any other online therapy platform we’ve seen. Since BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance at all, Talkspace is the better choice for those with insurance coverage for therapy.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Many major health insurance plans are accepted
- Also offers, couples, teen, and medication services
- Provides medication management services
- Accepts Medicare
Cons - Not much control over initial therapist choice
- Therapist-matching process can take a few days
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 more affordable. You can also use your FSA or HSA to pay for therapy with Talkspace.
Talkspace offers three online therapy subscriptions:
- Messaging Therapy: This plan 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: This plan starts at $396 monthly (advertised at $99 weekly) and gives users access to the Messaging plan, as well as four, 45-minute video sessions with your therapist every month.
- Video + Messaging + Workshops: This plan 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.
Talkspace Psychiatry costs $299 for an initial medication evaluation session and $175 for follow-up appointments. All psychiatric costs are in addition to the cost of the therapy subscriptions with Talkspace. They do not offer any bundles for therapy and psychiatry services at this time.
The exact costs for both are dependent on your location and therapist availability, and the specific cost isn’t determined until you sign up. Talkspace is offering a discount to our readers: Save $85 off your first month with code CT85—Get Started Here.
Overview
What Is Talkspace?
Talkspace offers therapy services to people 13 years and older in the US and Canada, with psychiatric care available to those 18+ in the US. Therapy on Talkspace costs $276–$436 monthly ($69–$109 weekly), depending on your location and which plan you choose. Online psychiatry costs $299 for an initial appointment and follow-ups cost $175. Talkspace accepts many insurance plans, which could make your out-of-pocket expenses significantly more affordable.
How to Sign Up for Talkspace
To get started with Talkspace, visit the Talkspace website. After you sign up, you will enter a private chatroom and begin texting with a matching agent (all matching agents are licensed mental health providers). Based on your answers to the assessments they administer, they will match you with three therapists for you to choose from. Afterward, you will be able to select which subscription plan you want.
To learn more about this process, you can read our in-depth Talkspace review.
Talkspace Extra Features
In addition to therapy and psychiatry services, Talkspace offers group webinars, which they call Workshops. All of the workshops are on various mental health topics, and you attend through a Zoom meeting with the option to have your camera off during the webinar. Workshop leaders may ask that you have a pencil or pen and paper to answer some prompts throughout. When I attended a session, 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 offers online psychiatry services and medication management as a stand-alone service, which BetterHelp does not provide. You can connect with a licensed psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who can diagnose and prescribe medication. Medications can be shipped and delivered, or you can pick them up at a pharmacy.
“I think 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 payment method. Overall, Talkspace is an excellent resource for online therapy. It offers a wide selection of therapists and is one of the most accessible platforms out there for individual therapy for adults and teens, couples therapy, and psychiatry. Notably, Talkspace is one of the few online therapy providers that accepts Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, making it very valuable for people with those plans.” —Matthew Church, MS
Price: $280–$400 monthly
Insurance Accepted: No
Medication Management: No
Age Limitations: 18+
While BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, it’s one of the fastest and most affordable options for paying for online therapy entirely out-of-pocket.
Pros & Cons
Pros - 30k+ licensed therapists to choose from
- Offers financial aid
- Same-day appointments often available
Cons - Does not accept any insurance
- Limited choice over your first therapist
Cost
BetterHelp costs range from $280–$400 monthly (advertised at $70–$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.
A few key facts about BetterHelp costs:
- BetterHelp does not accept insurance
- BetterHelp’s standard price is $280–$400 monthly
- 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
- BetterHelp will provide a superbill for out-of-network insurance reimbursement
- Your first month with BetterHelp is due upfront
- A maintenance plan is available for $200 monthly and includes one monthly therapy session, plus unlimited messaging
- You can purchase plans week-to-week at a rate of $110 weekly—this includes one therapy session and unlimited messaging for that week
A great perk to BetterHelp is that, after you pay for your first month, you can access your client settings and explore more options to pay. You can choose to pay monthly or weekly in the app or on the website. BetterHelp also offers a way of making therapy more accessible and affordable through its financial assistance program.
Overview
What Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp offers therapy services to people 18 years and older across the US and internationally. With BetterHelp, you can attend weekly video, phone, or live texting sessions, plus you can message with your therapist between live sessions. BetterHelp costs $280–$400 monthly (advertised as $70–$100 weekly), making it an affordable out-of-pocket therapy option. I used BetterHelp recently and found it to be a great value for the cost for my situation.
How To Sign Up for BetterHelp
To get started with BetterHelp, please visit the BetterHelp website. You will be asked a series of questions before being able to sign up. These questions help them match you with the right therapist. Once you complete the questions, you will be able to create an account and pay for your subscription plan.
To learn more about this sign-up process and what to expect, you can read our comprehensive BetterHelp review.
BetterHelp Extra Features
BetterHelp has a few extra features, including a journal, group webinars, 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 webinars with BetterHelp cover various mental health topics, from relationships and trauma to anxiety and skill building. Each topic provides you with a group session name, date, time, and a description of what each group session will cover. BetterHelp subscriptions include one group webinar per week.
- BetterHelp also includes a handful of other tools such as worksheets that can be assigned by your therapist and a goal-setting tool that can be helpful for guiding the therapy process.
“When I was testing BetterHelp, it struck me as an ideal platform for someone who is looking for a fast and convenient way to get started in therapy and see if it’s right for them. BetterHelp is best suited for people looking for a little bit of help managing stress, burnout, or adjusting to life changes. It’s also a great resource for anyone who doesn’t have viable mental health options covered by insurance, as it’s one of the most affordable cash-pay options out there. Landing on a good therapist fit can be a challenge and might take some trial and error, but if you stick with it, there should be plenty of therapists on BetterHelp who can help you with what you’re going through.” —Matthew Church, MS
Talkspace & BetterHelp: Who Might Need an Alternative?
Talkspace and BetterHelp are 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 substance abuse care should look to these recommended alternatives.
Get Full Psychiatric Care With These Alternatives
BetterHelp doesn’t offer medication management at all, and Talkspace does, but 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 medications. 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. Circle Medical is another good option that offers complete ADHD care.
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.
Get Help for Substance & Alcohol Misuse With These Alternatives
Talkspace and BetterHelp can help with a wide range of mental health symptoms, but they cannot provide substance use disorder treatment. A great alternative for those seeking at-home treatment would be a platform like WorkIt Health. Not only can you receive personalized treatment with WorkIt Health for your substance use issues, but you can also receive therapy for any other co-occurring mental health symptoms you are experiencing. Brightside Health also offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for those looking for help with substance use disorders.
On the lighter side for those looking for a friendly app, Sunnyside provides a set of tools for improving your relationship with alcohol.
So, Which Is Better?
“BetterHelp is more affordable with cash-pay, but Talkspace is much less costly if you’re using your insurance. Both platforms are user-friendly and offer quick therapist matching. BetterHelp is a lower-priced out-of-pocket option than Talkspace, but if you’re able to use insurance with Talkspace, it will likely end up being considerably more affordable. BetterHelp only offers individual therapy, while Talkspace also provides medication management.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Online Therapy Right For?
Online therapy is a great option for people with busy schedules. It provides the opportunity to connect with a licensed provider on your own time. Both Talkspace and BetterHelp have apps that provide the convenience of attending therapy sessions even while you’re away from home.
Online therapy can also be a great alternative for those who live in areas where in-person therapy is unavailable, or for those who are otherwise unable to attend therapy physically. You’re able to conveniently connect with a licensed provider in your state from the comfort of your own home and don’t have to worry about driving hours to attend appointments.
What Credentials Do Talkspace & BetterHelp Therapists Hold?
All of the therapists and counselors on Talkspace and BetterHelp are licensed and accredited in the states in which they practice. Each of BetterHelp’s therapists has at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. Talkspace’s therapists must have over 3,000 hours of experience and undergo additional training in specific therapeutic modalities.
Do BetterHelp & Talkspace Accept Insurance?
Talkspace accepts insurance for therapy, but BetterHelp does not accept insurance. Talkspace accepts plans from 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 medication for anxiety or medication for depression that are classified as non-controlled substances. 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.
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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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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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
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BetterHelp. (November 5, 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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Church, Matthew. (March 14, 2025). Talkspace Review 2025: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. 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
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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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