Youper describes itself as a teletherapy and behavioral coaching app that uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help manage anxiety and depression. Therapy through this app, however, is only currently available in Texas. The app also offers A.I. bot-guided activities like journals and meditations, as well as medication management (in California and Texas). Subscription plans are $24 to $55 per week, with subscriptions billed monthly.
Pros & Cons of Youper
Youper is a really great option for those looking for behavior coaching. While Youper accepts many insurance plans, their cash-pay option is fairly affordable. Therapy and medication management are also quite limited at this time, so if you need more than coaching, you may want to find a different online therapy option. Unfortunately, there is no free version that lets you try the app out; you have to select a subscription plan.
Youper Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Therapists and behavior coaches work together to create individual treatment plans to help you manage anxiety and depression symptoms | There is no free version of the app |
| Weekly sessions with your behavior coach keep you accountable and really help you stay on track with treatment | Therapy is extremely limited (only offered in Texas) and even then, therapists may just be prescribers at this time; they also only attend the initial session to determine whether medication should be part of your treatment plan |
| Youper accepts many insurance plans but is reasonably priced on its own without insurance | The app can be a little buggy (certain screens get stuck and you cannot scroll up or down) |
| Youper, the AI bot, is a great guide in all the in-app CBT activities | |
| The app is really easy to navigate and it doesn’t take very long to become familiar with |
Where to Download Youper
For those with Android, you can download Youper in the Google Play Store.
If you use Apple, you can download Youper in the Apple App Store.
You can sign up for Youper on their website, but you must ultimately download one of the apps.
What Is Youper?
Youper describes itself as a teletherapy and behavioral coaching app that uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help users struggling with anxiety and depression. Youper currently has three different subscriptions available: medication management only, therapy & coaching only, or medication, therapy & coaching.
It’s important to note that therapy is only currently available in Texas (rolling out to California next), and medication management is only available in Texas and California. Behavior coaching is available in all 50 states. For this reason, I think Youper is more accurately described as a live behavioral coaching app at this time.
Youper uses all of the in-app CBT journals, therapy, and behavior coaching in tandem to help you set and achieve your treatment goals. All sessions with therapists and behavior coaches are via Zoom and you can easily set up your appointments in the app.
Youper AI Bot
The Youper A.I. chatbot acts as your guide for all the CBT activities, which are mainly journals on topics like self-care, depression, anxiety, productivity, and more. There are also simple meditations on breathwork and body scans, as well as soundscapes to help with sleep and focus.
Who Is Youper Right For?
Youper may be a good fit for those who suffer from anxiety and depression symptoms, and who are interested in live, one-on-one coaching at an affordable price.
Anxiety and Depression
People who struggle with depression and anxiety symptoms, can sign up for therapy and behavior coaching with an option for medication management. It is important to note, however, that therapy is only available in Texas and medication management is only available in Texas and California. Youper also has A.I. guided CBT activities, like journals and meditations, to help with low moods, stress, and poor sleep.
Therapy or Coaching But No Insurance
Those who want to seek therapy or coaching, but do not have insurance may find Youper to be a very affordable option for mental health care. New patients may find their first week of therapy to be as low as $11.
Medication Management
Those with existing diagnoses’ may find Youper’s medication subscription a good fit. There is a solo medication subscription, which is $24 per week and billed monthly, that allows you to meet with a prescriber, do a quick assessment of your symptoms and then receive your medication. Please note, this is only available in California and Texas at this time.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Youper?
Youper may be a great fit for many, but there are some groups of people that may need to find an alternative.
Self-Guided Help
Youper is, at its core, a therapy and coaching app and those who do not wish to attend therapy or coaching will want to find an alternative. If your goal is to focus on your mental wellness in a self-guided manner an app like Happify may be a better fit.
Medication Is only In Select States
Youper’s medication management is only available in California and Texas at this time. If you are seeking medication management as well as therapy, but the package is not available to you, an app like TalkSpace would be a good alternative.
Bigger Library of Meditations & Mindfulness Excersises
Youper has some meditation and mindfulness exercises, but the library is very small. If you are looking for a dedicated meditation app that’s great for beginners and intermediate meditators, Headspace would be a better option.
Age Restrictions
Youper has age restrictions to be aware of and is only for those 18 years and older. Children younger than 13 may need to find an in-person therapist and those 13-18 may benefit from looking at an online therapist directory, or attending teen counseling on BetterHelp.
What are Youper Users Saying
Overall, Youper has high star ratings and great reviews in both app stores. Youper currently has a 4.8-star rating from 14,000+ reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4.2-star rating from 49,000+ reviews in the Google Play Store.
Users are generally very positive and satisfied with the Youper app. They explain how the AI bot was helpful to them, how they like the check-ins and mood tracking, and how it has really helped them manage their anxiety and depression symptoms.
There were not any reviews written about what the coaching, therapy, or medication management were like, however. I suspect this is due to the fact these are fairly new programs, and because medication management is only available in Texas and California, and therapy only available in Texas. Since I live in Texas, I was fortunate enough to see how all these things work together and I hope they roll out to other states soon.
The biggest complaint of Youper is the paywall. Youper had a free version of the app back when it was just a CBT AI chatbot app, but it no longer has a free version. While this app is listed as “free” in the app stores, this only means it’s free to download. You cannot get into the app without paying for a subscription of some kind.
According to the responses from the app developers, Youper is working on creating free features and plans to push out a new update soon.
Youper Cost
The Youper app is listed as a free app in the app stores, but you must pay for one of the subscription plans to gain access to everything in the app. There are three different plans available, a medication plan for $24 per week, a therapy and behavior coaching plan for $45 per week, and a therapy, behavior coaching and medication plan for $55 per week. All plans are billed monthly.
Is Youper Free?
No, Youper is not free. While the app is listed as free in the app stores, you must sign up for a subscription plan to get into the app.
Medication Plan
The medication plan cost is $24 per week and billed monthly. However, new users can sign up for $4 a week, which is a $20 savings! It is very important to note that medications are only available in California and Texas. This plan will give you access to all of the A.I. guide CBT activities, as well as some mood check-ins.
Digital Therapy + Behavior Coaching Plan
The digital therapy + behavior coaching plan is $45 per week, billed monthly. New users can sign up for only $9 per week, which is a $36 savings. If you live in Texas, you will meet with your new therapist via Zoom for a symptom assessment and discussion about medication. Afterward, you will select your behavior coach and set up a separate appointment to meet.
If you do not live in Texas, you will set up an appointment with your behavior coach. You will also have immediate access to all of the CBT activities in the app.
Digital Therapy + Behavior Coaching + Medication Plan
Youper’s largest plan is their digital therapy + behavior coaching + medication plan and costs $55 per week, billed monthly. Right now, new users can sign up for only $11 per week for a savings of $44! It is important to note, however, that medication management is only available in Texas and California at this time, and therapy is only available in Texas. This plan will bundle everything from the other two plans.
Does Youper Take Insurance?
Yes, the Youper app accepts many health insurance plans that cover the cost of therapy. Some of the big names are UnitedHealth Group, Medicaid, Medicare, Molina, Kaiser Permanente, Humana, and many more.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes, you can use your FSA or HSA to pay for Youper and must do so when you sign up.
What If I Want To Cancel Youper?
You can cancel your Youper subscription at any time. All you have to do is go to the “History” hub in the app, select the gear in the top right corner, and choose “Manage Subscriptions”. You will be directed to the Youper website and be asked to sign in, from there you can change your subscription or cancel your account.
Does Youper Offer Refunds?
Sometimes Youper can issue refunds to users. However, you must email Youper’s customer service at [email protected]. If you have already used the therapy or behavior coaching, Youper will not issue you a refund. They also are unable to process refund requests for those who use Apple products. All Apple users must make refund requests through the Apple store.
For more information, please visit Youper’s Terms of Use.
Is Youper HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Youper is HIPAA compliant. For more information, please review Youper’s Telehealth Informed Consent page.
How to Get Started with Youper
Youper is available through the Apple or Google Play stores, or you can create an account on the Youper website. It is important to note that even if you sign up on the website, you will ultimately have to download the app.
Step 1
To download the Youper app, visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Step 2
When you first download the app, you enter in your email address, create a password, and then you will take a mental health assessment. The mental health assessment is only about eight questions long and does not take an extensive amount of time to complete. You are mainly sharing what is currently bothering you, your anxiety and depression levels, and how long you have felt this way.
Step 3
You will share the state you are located in to see if teletherapy is available to you. If you are in Texas, you will then select what is most important to you in a therapist and any preferences you may have. (i.e. female, male, LGBTQA+, etc.)
Step 4
Before choosing which subscription plan you want, you will have the option of using your insurance to pay. If you do not see your insurance, you can click “My insurance is not listed” or “I don’t have insurance” to advance to the signup section.
Step 5
There are three different subscription plans available and you will choose which one is best for you. After you choose, you will be charged for the month and then be taken into the app. You can schedule your first therapy or behavior coaching appointment right away with the aid of the Youper AI bot.
Youper Medication Plan: Detailed Review
Youper’s medication plan offers video visits with a prescriber for diagnosis and prescription, medication delivered to your home, and all the A.I. guided CBT activities in the app. This plan is only available in Texas and California and costs $24 per week and is billed monthly.
Who Is Eligible For Medication?
Anyone 18-years and older and those living in Texas or California may receive medication.
What Medications Are Available?
Youper offers Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) medications, to help those with anxiety and depression symptoms.
In What States Are Medications Available?
Medication is only available in California and Texas.
Are There Shipping Costs?
No, shipping is included in the cost of your subscription.
Who Provides The Medication?
Youper uses LegitScript to provide medication.
CBT Activities With AI Bot Youper
In the Youper app, you will find all the CBT activities in the “Therapy” hub. There are several categories to explore like, self-care, depression, work, and stress. After you select an activity, either a journal or a mediation, the A.I. chatbot Youper will act as your guide through the activity.
Youper will start the conversation and you will be given a few phrases to select. After a couple of back-and-forth interactions, you will be allowed to journal. In the “Embracing Anxiety” journal, for example, you will journal about how you will practice acceptance to give yourself the space to feel your anxiety rather than change it.
It is interesting and engaging to have the AI bot guide you through the journals, and it was helpful to have something spark your ideas before having to write.
Behavior Coaching + Therapy Plan: Detailed Review
Youper’s behavior coaching + therapy plan offers an initial assessment appointment with a therapist and weekly sessions with a coach of your choice. You also have access to all of the in-app, A.I. guided CBT activities. The behavior coaching + therapy plan is $45 per week to be billed monthly. It is important to note that therapy is only available in Texas at this time.
What Is Therapy & Behavior Coaching On Youper?
Connecting with a therapist is very quick and all done through the app. You will click “Schedule an appointment” and the Youper AI bot will walk you through all the steps. After entering your name, date of birth, and gender, you will be asked to upload your photo ID, enter your mailing address and put a phone number on file. It is exactly like going to the doctor in real life, just all virtual!
You will be automatically placed with a therapist and the option to select a behavior coach becomes available after your first therapy session. All therapy and behavior coaching happens via Zoom meetings. Prior to your first therapy appointment, you will check-in via the app 24 hours before and answer some additional assessment questions.
My therapist is a PMHNP and has been working in healthcare for over 25 years. Her bio lists degrees and credentials, as well as her patient philosophy, which I really liked to see. Our first session took place via Zoom and we discussed what I already do to manage my anxiety. She did not recommend medication for me but said that if down the road it was something I needed we could talk about it again.
An interesting thing I discovered during the meeting with her was that I actually wouldn’t meet with her again unless I needed medication. My weekly sessions would actually be with the behavior coach. After the initial therapy session, I was able to look through a list of behavior coaches and select one I liked best. Being able to have a choice over who I was going to spend my time with was really awesome.
Behavior coaching sessions are about 25 minutes long and you meet weekly. Your behavior coach meets with your therapist and they discuss your care plan and work as a team to provide you with care. The coaches also have access to the activities you do in the app and make suggestions about which journals to do.
How Are Therapists & Behavior Coaches Vetted and Credentialed?
All therapists on Youper are licensed mental health professionals and all therapists list credentials and education in their bios.
Behavior coaches are certified through a rigorous vetting and training process, and they are supported by therapists who provide quality control to ensure coaches deliver the highest quality care.
How Do You Match With A Therapist & Coach?
Matching with a therapist on Youper is an automatic placement, but you can choose which behavior coach you want to see weekly.
In What States Is Therapy Available?
Therapy is only available in Texas at this time.
Can You Choose A New Therapist Or Change Coaches?
Yes, you can change by going to the “Care Team” hub and then selecting “Reschedule My Appointment.” You will see the calendar, you’ll see “I want to change my provider” at the bottom of the screen. Once you choose this, you will be able to change providers.
Medication + Behavior Coaching + Therapy Plan: Detailed Review
Youper’s medication, behavior coaching, and therapy plan includes medication management, teletherapy, behavior coaching, and all of the A.I. guided CBT activities. The cost for this plan is $55 per week and it is billed monthly. If you and your therapist decide medication is not right for you at the time you sign up, but later you decide you do need medication, you can get a prescription then.
This plan does not offer anything new or different from the other two plans and you can think of it more like a bundle.
Youper vs Talkspace
Youper and Talkspace both offer similar products but have a couple of key differences. One big difference between the two is in the cost, with Youper being as little as $55 per week and Talkspace being up to $129 per week. Another is that Youper can only provide medication management in two states, Texas and California. As we detail in our review of Talkspace, they have many more therapists and psychiatric care is available nationwide.
If you are in Texas or California, Youper is by far the most cost-effective option for medication management and therapy. However, if you are not in one of those states, Talkspace would be a better option, even with its higher costs.
How Has Youper Changed Over the Years?
Youper was co-founded in 2016 by Dr. Jose Hamilton, Diego Couto, and Thiago Marafon. (FN1) According to Youper, they re-launched as a comprehensive mental health platform in July 2021, and they now offer behavior coaching, digital therapy, and medication management for anxiety and depression.
A recent study found that Youper is a good, low-cost treatment option for those who may not otherwise have access to mental health care. The study showed that interacting with the Youper A.I. bot was effective in helping reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in those who used it daily over a four week period. (FN2)
Youper plans to expand their medication management and therapy into other states, but no timeline has been provided.
Final Verdict on Youper
Overall, Youper is a really great teletherapy, medication management and behavior coaching app, if it is available in your state. With therapy only being available in Texas and medication management only being available in California and Texas, it makes who Youper can truly help seem very limited. Luckily, behavior coaching is available in all 50 states and it is really nice to be able to talk with someone face-to-face.
Youper’s A.I. chatbot is fine and works well as a tool to guide you through the CBT activities in the app. However, it does not allow you to freely interact with it like other chatbots and that can feel limiting. To get the maximum benefit from Youper, I’d honestly recommend only those in Texas or California sign up for it at this time.
