7 Best Online Therapy Services of 2023

BetterHelp offers weekly online therapy that costs between $60–$90 per week. You can also attend free 90-minute group therapy sessions to connect with others facing similar struggles as well as online, therapist-led webinars on topics like setting boundaries or understanding different attachment styles. Betterhelp also offers financial aid, which applies to the first three months of your membership. After this period, you can reapply for financial aid for the following three months and continue this process for as long as you need, making it our top pick for the best online therapy with financial aid.

Pros Offers ongoing financial aid Accepts HSA or FSA dollars Includes group therapy sessions that don’t count toward your membership sessions Offers 20% off your first month with the coupon code “NCOA” Cons Doesn’t accept insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare

• Payment options: Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express; Google Pay; HSA/FSA cards
• Accepts insurance: No
• Accepts Medicaid: No
• Accepts Medicare: No
• Offers financial aid: Yes
• Session format options: Live video, phone, or chat; unlimited messaging between appointments
• Session length: 30–45 minutes
• Extras: Group therapy sessions, free webinars on mental health topics, online journal
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-844-518-9559) available 24/7
  • Email (contact@betterhelp.com)
  • Contact form on website (https://www.betterhelp.com/contact/)

BetterHelp offers a monthly subscription with four live therapy sessions per month. You will pay between $240–$360 per month, depending on factors like your location and therapist preferences.

The platform also makes it easy to share preferences for your therapist, including those from the LGBTQ+ community.

Customer service

If you have any questions for BetterHelp, or if you’re a current member with issues related to your account, you can contact customer service by phone, available 24 hours a day, by email at contact@betterhelp.com, or by filling out a contact form online.

Payment options

BetterHelp accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. It also accepts Google Pay and HSA/FSA cards. It does not accept insurance, including both Medicare and Medicaid.

Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, be sure to check your eligibility for financial aid. Betterhelp offers a variety of discounts for veterans, students, and those on limited incomes. You can check to see if you qualify for financial aid during the sign-up process.

For example, we found that a veteran living in Kentucky may pay $260 per month for therapy with BetterHelp. Once you create an account, you can also access BetterHelp’s financial aid eligibility form.

You can also receive 20% off your first month of BetterHelp with the coupon code “NCOA” when you sign up.

Customer reviews

BetterHelp is a BBB accredited business. It has more than 400 reviews with an average rating of 4.08 out of 5 stars. BetterHelp has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars with more than 4,700 reviews on Trustpilot.

BetterHelp also has a phone app. On the Apple App Store, it’s rated 4.8 out of 5 stars based on more than 81,000 reviews. BetterHelp is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on the Google Play Store with more than 31,000 reviews.

Positive reviews mention BetterHelp’s affordability and accessibility. “It seems like they really do a good job of matching you with a therapist,” one participant in our focus group of older adults interested in online therapy told us.⁵ She shared that she was asked a variety of questions to best match her to a therapist during the signup process and that she was presented with flexible options for meeting times. If your therapist is a bad fit, you can quickly switch to a different provider.

Poor reviews, on the other hand, mention negative experiences with certain therapists and issues scheduling appointments.

Read our full BetterHelp review for more information on this service.

Brightside is a full-service mental health care company that can provide both medication management and therapy. It specializes in treatment for anxiety and depression, and also accepts insurance.

Pros Accepts insurance Offers both medication and therapy Can use HSA or FSA dollars Offers $60 off your first month with code “NCOA60” if you do not use insurance Cons Doesn’t accept Medicare or Medicaid May not be able to switch therapists

• Payment options: Visa and Mastercard; HSA/FSA cards
• Accepts insurance: Yes
• Accepts Medicaid: No
• Accepts Medicare: No
• Offers financial aid: No
• Session format options: Live video; unlimited messaging between appointments
• Session length: 45 minutes
• Extras: Mood tracking chart for anxiety and depression symptoms; free self-help videos on self-care
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-415-360-3348) available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday
  • Email (support@brightside.com)
  • Members can get help through their account on Brightside

Psychiatry: $95 per month

• Includes unlimited messaging about your prescriptions, free medication delivery, and an initial video consultation
• Flat $15 charge for all medication if delivered to your home
• Psychiatry sessions are 30 minutes long

Therapy: $299 per month

• Includes four 45-minute video therapy sessions per month and unlimited messaging to your therapist
• Can purchase additional sessions for $59

Psychiatry + Therapy: $349 per month

• Includes four 45-minute video therapy sessions per month, unlimited messaging to your therapist and psychiatric provider, free medication delivery, and an initial video consultation
• Flat $15 charge for all medication if delivered to your home
• Can purchase additional sessions for $59

The total cost for a Brightside subscription will depend on whether you use insurance or not. The prices listed are what you will pay without insurance.

Every Brightside medication costs $15 and is shipped to your door for free. You can also opt for local pharmacy pick up. Medications are prescribed by online psychiatrists based on your individual needs for depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Brightside does not prescribe medications that could lead to addiction, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, like Xanax and Ativan.

All Brightside therapists use a cognitive behavioral approach in therapy. According to the American Psychological Association, this type of therapy has been shown to help with depression, anxiety, substance use issues, and other mental health issues. ^[2] American Psychological Association. What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Found on the internet at https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral

Based on your answers to an initial questionnaire, the app calculates your anxiety and depression scores. As you go through therapy, you can complete check-in assessments to track your progress.

Brightside self-care lessons can be practiced daily to further help reduce your symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Our Reviews Team was able to find an available appointment two days away, which indicated short wait times for therapy.

Customer service

If you have questions about Brightside or are a member with account issues, you can reach customer service by phone, at 1-415-360-3348, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, by email at support@brightside.com, or, if you’re a member, you can navigate to the ‘Help’ section of your account to get in touch with customer service.

Our Reviews Team struggled to get someone on the phone during business hours. While we were on hold, the call ended. You may need to call back the next day or at different times to speak with a customer service representative. Our team did receive prompt responses via email within 48 hours about other questions.

Payment options

Brightside Health accepts insurance and is in-network with carriers that include Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. If you want to use insurance, you can either call your insurance company or use the Brightside coverage checker to determine how much you’re expected to pay.

Brightside Health also accepts Visa, Mastercard, and HSA/FSA cards.

You can also receive $60 off your first month with the coupon code “NCOA60” if you do not use insurance for your Brightside plan.

Customer reviews

Brightside is not BBB accredited. On the BBB site, it’s rated 1.71 out of 5 stars based on seven customer reviews. On Trustpilot, Brightside has 2.2 out of 5 stars based on eight reviews. Brightside Health does have an app for iOS devices, but not for Android devices.

A positive review mentions a good individual experience with a provider and a good experience with the psychiatry-only plan. Poor reviews cite glitchy experiences on Brightside’s patient portal and trouble finding appointment times that fit their schedule.

With Calmerry, you can send unlimited audio and chat messages to your therapist, who will normally reply Monday to Friday, about two to three times per day. You can also ask your therapist to log on at a specific time for a live chat You may see live chat referred to as “synchronous messaging,” where your therapist responds via text in real-time. In contrast, “asynchronous messaging” is more like sending an email or a text message. , where you can quickly message each other back and forth. If you want to meet with your therapist over a video call, you can upgrade your membership to include one to four video sessions per month.

Pros More affordable than other messaging therapy options Can upgrade your membership to include video sessions Can ask your therapist to log on at a certain time for a live session Offers 40% off your first month with code “NCOA” Cons Can’t send video messages Messaging is not in real-time, so there will be delays in therapist response times

• Cost: $228–$360 per month
• Payment options: All debit and credit cards
• Accepts insurance: No
• Accepts Medicaid: No
• Accepts Medicare: No
• Offers financial aid: No
• Session format options: Live video; unlimited messaging
• Session length: 30 minutes (video)
• Extras: Free online journal, free tool to help you reflect and learn from your feelings
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-855-954-5344) available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday
  • Email (team@calmerry.com)
  • 24/7 chat line on website

Chat therapy plan: $227.96 per month

• Includes unlimited messaging to your therapist
• Therapists respond to messages five days a week

Chat therapy and one live session: $297.96 per month

• Includes unlimited messaging and one live video session
• Therapists respond to messages five days a week

Chat therapy and four live sessions: $359.96 per month

• Includes unlimited messaging to your therapist and four live video sessions
• Therapists respond to messages five days a week

Calmerry is the most affordable chat therapy program we could find, and you can also request a receipt for your services to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.

Customer service

You can contact Calmery by phone, at 1-855-954-5344, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, by email at team@calmerry.com, or using the 24/7 chat line found on the Calmerry website. To use this, simply click the blue and white message icon in the bottom right of your screen. Calmerry’s agents are available 24/7, and our Reviews Team received answers to questions within minutes.

Payment options

Calmerry doesn’t accept insurance, but you can ask the company to give you a receipt you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. You can take 40% off your first month when you use the coupon code “NCOA” during sign up.

Calmerry accepts all debit and credit cards.

Customer reviews

Calmerry is rated 3.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on 72 reviews, but does not have a profile with the BBB.

On the Apple App Store, Calmerry has 2.5 out of 5 stars based on 21 reviews. On the Google Play Store, it is rated 2.0 out of 5 stars based on 44 reviews.

Positive reviews mention good individual experiences with therapists, both on chat and on video, and attentive customer service. Negative reviews cite dissatisfaction with the frequency of their therapist’s responses and a poor experience on Calmerry’s app.

ReGain is a BetterHelp specialty site that focuses on relationships. It can be more affordable for weekly relationship therapy than some private providers, especially with its ongoing financial aid program. ReGain also offers three-way calling, so you and your partner can join from different rooms or locations. All of BetterHelp’s therapy platforms, including ReGain, offer appointment times outside of work hours and on weekends.

Pros Therapists have an active interest in couples therapy Can be more affordable than private practice relationship therapy Financial aid offered Cons Doesn’t accept insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare

• Payment options: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit cards; Google Pay; PayPal
• Accepts insurance: No
• Accepts Medicaid: No
• Accepts Medicare: No
• Offers financial aid: Yes
• Session format options: Live video, phone, or chat; unlimited messaging between appointments
• Session length: 30–45 minutes
• Extras: Three-way calling, worksheets for each partner, individual therapy
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-844-518-9559) available 24/7
  • Email (contact@regain.us)
  • Contact form on website (https://www.regain.us/support/

ReGain is a monthly therapy subscription service. You can expect to pay between $240–$360 per month, depending on factors like your therapist preferences and location.

Customer service

If you have questions about ReGain or are a current member with issues, you can reach customer service by phone, at 1-844-518-9559, available 24 hours a day, by emailing them at contact@regain.us, or through the contact form available on the ReGain website.

Payment options

ReGain accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. It also accepts Google Pay and PayPal.

Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, check your eligibility for financial aid. You need a ReGain account to view this page.

Customer reviews

ReGain is not accredited by the BBB, but it is rated 3.29 out of 5 stars based on 17 reviews. On Trustpilot, ReGain has 3.1 out of 5 stars based on 67 reviews.

ReGain also has a mobile app. On the Apple App Store, ReGain is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 6,200 reviews. On the Google Play Store, ReGain is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars based on over 1,900 reviews.

Positive reviews mention good experiences with counselors and the benefits of evening and weekend appointments. Negative reviews cite poor experiences on the ReGain app and trouble scheduling appointments.

Sesame is a telehealth platform that includes care for both mental and physical ailments. You don’t need insurance to use its services. Our Reviews Team was able to find an initial mental health consult for as low as $39. Therapist availability can vary depending on where you live. When we tested the platform as part of our online therapy summit, one of our testers could not find a licensed provider in their state.

Pros Can see a psychiatrist on the platform Offers individual and couples therapy Option for a one-time visit or monthly membership Offers 20% off your first session with code SESAME20 after signing up for a free membership Cons Prices vary depending on your location Doesn’t accept insurance, including or Medicare or Medicaid

• Cost: Varies
• Payment options: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, HSA/FSA cards
• Accepts insurance: No
• Accepts Medicaid: No
• Accepts Medicare: No
• Offers financial aid: No
• Session format options: Live video
• Session length: Varies
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-877-947-6411) available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday
  • Email (support@sesamecare.com)
  • Chat support on the website (https://sesamecare.com/faq) available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

You have a few options with Sesame. You can always sign up for appointments without a membership.

If you create an account, which only asks for your email, you will get a coupon for $10 off your first appointment.

Sesame offers a loyalty program called Sesame Plus. For $10.99 per month, or $99 per year, you will receive:

• $10 off every telehealth and primary care visit
• $40 off every dentist and in-person specialist visit
• 1 free lab or blood test per year

If you find a Sesame therapist you like and see them every two weeks, Sesame Plus may be worth it. If your therapist charges $85 per session, you would ultimately pay $2,210 per year for therapy. With Sesame Plus, you would pay $65 per session, or $1,690 per year. After subtracting the monthly or annual membership fee, you could save between $400–$421 per year.

Sesame offers many appointment slots after 5 p.m. ET and on weekends, too. You can cancel your appointment for free up to three hours before the scheduled time for a full refund. Sesame also offers new prescriptions and prescription refills. To fill a prescription through Sesame, you first need to book an online appointment with a provider who writes prescriptions. Click “I need a prescription refill” on the homepage of Sesame’s website. From here, you can filter by availability, provider specialty, credentials, and more. Alternatively, click “Medication” in the left-hand menu and choose a specific medication. This will generate a list of providers who can write prescriptions. During your appointment, your provider will talk to you about your issue and determine if a prescription is appropriate. If it is, they will write you a prescription to fill at your local pharmacy.

Customer service

If you use Sesame and have issues, or are a potential customer with questions, you can reach customer service by phone, at 1-877-947-6411, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday, or by email at support@sesamecare.com, and the Sesame care team will respond within 24 hours. You can also use the website to contact Sesame chat support between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Payment options

Sesame does not accept insurance, including both Medicare and Medicaid. You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit cards or HSA/FSA cards.

Customer reviews

Sesame is a telehealth platform, so its reviews reflect all experiences using its services, not just visits for mental health.

Sesame has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on over 500 reviews. Sesame is not accredited by the BBB, but it does have an average rating of 2.33 out of 5 stars based on 12 ratings.

Read our complete Sesame Care review for more information.

Zocdoc is not a platform that hosts online therapy, but is instead an online directory for different types of medical providers, including therapists. Zocdoc uses your location and insurance to find reputable therapists who accept your plan. You can use Zocdoc to locate and book online therapy appointments, sometimes on the same day. While our Reviews Team struggled to find therapists who accepted Medicare or Medicaid, they were able to find plenty of providers who worked with other insurance plans.

Pros Can search for a provider who accepts your insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare Can schedule appointments with therapists and psychiatrists Cons Not a platform that hosts online therapy itself Our Reviews Team had trouble finding a therapist who accepts Medicaid or Medicare Does not provide cost estimates for care

• Payment options: Varies
• Accepts insurance: Yes
• Accepts Medicaid: Depends on the provider
• Accepts Medicare: Depends on the provider
• Offers financial aid: Yes, sliding scale payment from select providers
• Session format options: Live video
• Session length: Varies
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-855-962-3621) available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, weekends and holidays
  • Email (service@zocdoc.com)
  • Contact form on the website (https://support.zocdoc.com/patients/s/contactsupport)

Customer service

If you have questions for Zocdoc, you can reach customer service by phone, at 1-855-962-3621, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, weekends and holidays, by email at service@zocdoc.com, or by messaging the Zocdoc service team by filling out its online form.

Payment options

Zocdoc is only responsible for booking your appointment. All billing information will come from your therapist’s office. Your exact cost will depend on your insurance, and your payment options will depend on what the therapist’s office accepts.

Some providers on Zocdoc offer sliding scale payments, meaning your income will determine how much you pay per session.

Customer reviews

Since Zocdoc is a telehealth platform, its reviews are based on all experiences using its services, not just for mental health.

Zocdoc is not accredited by the BBB. It is rated 2.52 out of 5 stars based on 91 reviews. Zocdoc has 4.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 4,000 reviews.

Zocdoc has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on the Apple App Store based on more than 10,000 reviews. On the Google Play Store, Zocdoc is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars based on more than 10,000 reviews.

When we tested Zocdoc, we found that it was easy to book an appointment and quickly connect with a live customer service representative. Receiving multiple confirmation emails from provider networks like Grow Therapy and external platforms that host sessions, such as Doxy.me or Zoom, can be confusing at first. If you decide on Zocdoc, know that this is a normal part of the process.

Monument is an online platform that can help you curb or eliminate your alcohol use. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach ^[3] McHugh et al. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897895/# . Monument can also prescribe naltrexone and disulfiram, two medications used to ^[4] National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. Found on the internet at https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/director . Monument also offers support groups for a variety of different topics related to drinking, including anxiety, chronic pain, and support for the adult children of parents with alcohol use disorder.

Pros Offers both medication and therapy to help curb or stop alcohol use Accepts insurance Free online forum and support group Cons Can’t choose your own therapist Not available in all states

• Payment options: Debit or credit card
• Accepts insurance: Yes
• Accepts Medicaid: Yes, in Virginia and New York
• Accepts Medicare: Yes, depending on the state
• Offers financial aid: No
• Session format options: Live video; unlimited messaging about medication
• Session length: 45 minutes
• Extras: Group therapy sessions, free online alcohol support forum
• Customer service options:
  • Phone (1-646-960-3553) available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
  • Email (support@joinmonument.com)
  • Online form on the website (https://support.joinmonument.com/hc/en-us) available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET

Community Membership: Free

• Includes access to support groups moderated by a licensed therapist and a community forum

Physician Care: $45 startup fee and $9.99 per month

• Includes one introductory appointment (every additional appointment is $45 each)
• Includes access to support groups moderated by a licensed therapist and a community forum
• Can send unlimited messages to your provider if prescribed medication
• Does not include therapy

Total Care (Biweekly): $149 per month

• Two therapy sessions per month with a therapist specialized in helping with problems related to alcohol
• Unlimited appointments with licensed physicians
• Can send unlimited messages to your provider if prescribed medication
• Includes access to support groups moderated by a licensed therapist and a community forum

Total Care (Weekly): $249 per month

• Four therapy sessions per month with a therapist specialized in helping with problems related to alcohol
• Unlimited appointments with licensed physicians
• Can send unlimited messages to your provider if prescribed medication
• Includes access to support groups moderated by a licensed therapist and a community forum

Monument is meant for those comfortable using online therapy and who are seeking help with their alcohol use through weekly talk therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, and online support. It is not meant for those in crisis or who may require more intensive, in-patient forms of treatment.