BetterHelp — Best Overall
BetterHelp was a pioneer in online counseling services and is currently the largest in the world. It offers access to 12,000 licensed therapists with experience and expertise in a broad range of issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction and grief. BetterHelp is available to patients nationwide and 24 hours a day, year-round. Three types of counseling are provided: Individual, couples and teens.
Once patients sign up, they have to answer a few questions about their needs so the platform can match them with a therapist. Patients also have the option of requesting a new therapist if they’re not satisfied with the one assigned to them. According to BetterHelp, all their therapists have at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. In addition to English, treatment is available in French, Hebrew, Igbo, and Spanish.
Clients can use their computer or download the BetterHelp app to have their sessions and chat with counselors. Disabled individuals can enable and launch the accessibility preferences on Better Help’s website or use their device’s native accessibility features.
A study conducted by the Berkeley Well-Being Institute showed that 94% of patients prefer BetterHelp over face-to-face counseling. The study also found that the online therapy service provided by BetterHelp is as effective as face-to-face therapy.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$80 to $100 per week (billed monthly)Phone call
Video chat
Text messagingNo12,000
What Patients Are Saying
Many BetterHelp customers praise the quality of its online therapy services and claim to have noticed improvements after a few sessions. “I can confidently say that I am a lot less anxious about my career path now than when I first signed up,” says one user after working with a BetterHelp therapist for four weeks.
Talkspace — Best for Insurance Coverage
Talkspace makes online anxiety therapy even more accessible by accepting insurance coverage. The company partners with over 60 health plans to provide treatment services through employee assistance programs (EAP) and behavioral health benefits.
With thousands of licensed therapists, Talkspace helps patients with issues such as anxiety, addiction, depression, eating disorders, and more. There are four types of counseling available: Individual, couples, family, and senior.
The company’s online therapy services are convenient for customers because Talkspace offers on-demand care with therapists who are available 24/7, including holidays.
After joining Talkspace, patients are asked to chat with a consultation therapist and answer a few questions to better determine their needs. Then, patients are able to choose a therapist from a list of recommended matches. If at some point, they feel their therapist isn’t a good fit, they can request another provider through their account page and select a new one from another list. Patients who aren’t happy with these options may also ask to be matched again.
On Talkspace’s website, it’s possible to take an Anxiety Test — a short online test that may help people determine whether they’re living with anxiety.
In addition to English speakers, Talkspace’s licensed therapists can assist speakers of the following languages: Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian Bokmål, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$49 to $79 per weekPhone call
Video chat
Text messagingYesThousands (number not specified)
What Patients Are Saying
Talkspace customers highlight the convenience of having support 24/7. “It’s 9:48 at night, and because of Talkspace, I’m talking to a therapist,” says one user. “Being able to talk to your therapist instantly at a moment’s notice is wonderful,” another user writes.
Online-Therapy.com —Best Membership Plan
Online-Therapy.com services are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify, question, and overcome dysfunctional thoughts, behavior, and emotions. The company’s team of 67 therapists is available eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, whereas the rest of the staff is available around the clock on weekdays.
The platform’s therapists are ready to help people with anxiety disorders, including health, social, and speech anxiety. The company also has therapists who can assist with other issues, such as addiction, depression, insomnia, and PTSD.
By signing up for Online-Therapy.com, patients get full access to the online therapy program, which is divided into eight sections with worksheets. The available resources also include simple yoga videos to help individuals cope with depression, anxiety, or stress.
Online-Therapy.com offers four membership plans, including a free trial of the program that provides access to resources. All members with a paid subscription get daily feedback on their worksheets, while Standard and Premium members also have weekly 30-minute live sessions with their therapist and can message them at any time.
A therapist is assigned to a member based on their profile. However, if the patient isn’t satisfied with a provider, they can request a new one.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$0 per week – Trial
$31.96 per week – Basic
$47.96 per week – Standard
$63.96 per week – PremiumPhone call
Video chat
Text messagingNo67
What Patients Are Saying
Patients often compliment the resources provided by Online-Therapy.com. According to one customer, the company offers many helpful techniques and tools to assist with any issues the person may have. “The videos and worksheets help me to be organized with my thoughts and help me see where I am at,” another customer says.
ReGain — Best for Couples
ReGain is an online relationship counseling platform that can be used by individuals or couples seeking professional help with relationship or marital issues.
Over 5,000 counselors are available to assist either by phone, video chat or messaging. ReGain therapists are located nationwide, have at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience and specialize in relationship counseling.
For couples counseling, both partners share a joint account through which they communicate with the counselor. Both partners need to be in the same location for the sessions because the system currently doesn’t support three-way live sessions. Individual live sessions can also be scheduled if one of the partners needs private counseling.
Clients get access to a dedicated chat room, which is accessible 24/7 from any device. In the case of couples counseling, all messages are visible to both partners and their counselor.
After signing up, clients are matched with a licensed counselor based on their issues and preferences. However, should the person feel their therapist isn’t a good fit, it’s possible to request a new match.
Along with English-speakers, Spanish, Japanese, and Persian speakers can find a therapist who speaks their language on ReGain.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$80 per weekPhone call
Video chat
MessagingNoOver 5,000
What Patients Are Saying
Many ReGain customers say they can see the results in their relationship. One patient wrote, “(Our therapist) has given us tools to help us communicate more effectively and worked with us to understand how to apply these tools in everyday life.”
Faithful Counseling — Best for a Christian Perspective
Faithful Counseling is an online therapy service designed to help people seeking treatment from a Christian perspective. Team members are licensed therapists and practicing Christians who specialize in a wide range of issues, including anxiety, stress, depression, LGBTQ issues, parenting, and family conflicts.
When users sign up, they’re matched with a therapist based on their profile and the types of issues they have. Clients are free to choose a new therapist if they’re not happy with their treatment.
As with most online therapy services, it’s possible to sign up with Faithful Counseling and remain anonymous. When joining, individuals aren’t asked for their full name or contact information; they can simply pick a nickname to identify them in the system. Once a person starts the counseling process, they’re asked to provide emergency contact information in case their therapist believes the individual or someone else might be in danger.
While Faithful Counseling therapists might offer spiritual insight based on their personal beliefs, it’s not their job to provide counseling on strictly spiritual matters. For these issues, Faithful Counseling recommends seeking traditional pastoral counseling.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$65/week (billed monthly)Phone call
Video chat
MessagingNoNot mentioned
What Patients Are Saying
Clients are satisfied with their therapists’ availability and quick responses. One user says that her therapist is “very understanding” of her needs and schedule. Another user compliments a counselor by saying, “She responds in a timely manner and also checks in weekly.”
Pride Counseling — Best for LGBTQ Community
Pride Counseling provides online therapy services to the LGBTQ community and is accepting of people of every gender, orientation, and identity. Their service came as a response to the perception that members of the LGBTQ community struggle with mental health issues at a disproportionately high rate.
All counselors at Pride Counseling are licensed therapists with at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. They specialize in the LGBTQ community but might have different approaches and areas of focus. Pride Counseling also has counselors who specialize in specific issues, such as anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and religion.
Help is available 24/7 for people who struggle with mental health or LGBTQ issues. While users can exchange messages with their counselors at any time, live sessions need to be scheduled with the therapist.
Pride Counseling also assures users that they can get help discreetly, as they don’t have to provide their full name when signing up. A nickname can be picked to identify the user in the system.
As with other online therapy platforms, Pride Counseling matches users with a therapist based on their profile and specific issues. Patients can ask for a new therapist if they don’t feel comfortable with the one assigned to them.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$60 to $80 per weekPhone call
Video chatNoNot mentioned
What Patients Are Saying
Pride Counseling customers are thankful for the support they’ve received from their therapists. One user says that their counselor is “understanding and open-minded.” Another patient says that their therapist is “tremendously supportive” and has helped them overcome their “skepticism about accessing therapy through an app.”
TeenCounseling — Best for Teens
TeenCounseling is a platform where teenagers aged 13-19 have access to online therapy services to help them cope with many mental health issues, including anxiety, bullying, depression, and anger.
Parents or legal guardians sign up at TeenCounseling first. Once they get matched with a licensed therapist, parents can invite their teens to the platform, and TeenCounseling sends teens an invite code by email or text message to join.
The platform has over 5,000 licensed therapists located across the United States. While live sessions need to be scheduled in advance, parents and teens have access to private rooms — one for the parent, one for the teen — where they can message their counselor at any time.
Parents don’t have access to the counseling room to ensure teens’ privacy and make them feel comfortable discussing any issue. However, if a teen shares the intention of severely harming themselves or others, or if they report abuse or neglect, counselors have to break confidentiality for the protection of the people involved.
TeenCounseling is also accessible by disabled users. Those using a desktop browser can enable the accessibility preferences on their account, whereas mobile users can use their device’s native accessibility features.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$60 to $80 per weekPhone call
Video chatNoOver 5,000
What Patients Are Saying
Many parents are happy to see how online anxiety therapy has helped their children. “Our teen was experiencing panic attacks and heavy anxiety that was almost crippling … . I have watched my teen grow and become more confident and self-aware using the tools (his therapist) has given him. He no longer feels helpless or like a victim of his anxiety – he feels empowered and in control,” a customer says.
Wellnite — Best for Prescription Medication
Wellnite pairs patients with board-certified physicians who are licensed in their state and regularly treat patients for anxiety and depression. Wellnite doctors don’t treat any other mental health conditions.
When signing up, users are asked to fill out a medical assessment questionnaire. Following this assessment, patients talk to a U.S. board-certified doctor who recommends a personal treatment plan that may include therapy and optional medication.
Users can start with cognitive behavioral therapy, and Wellnite Doctors may recommend medication if they judge this type of treatment can help. However, if the patient isn’t comfortable taking medication, they may continue with CBT as their only form of treatment. It’s important to note that Wellnite doctors don’t prescribe controlled medications, such as narcotics and benzodiazepines.
Patients receive 24/7 support via text through the platform’s confidential nurse line, plus monthly follow-up calls with their doctor. All information provided by the patient is kept private; Wellnite’s team of doctors, nurses, therapists and support staff is HIPAA-certified.
Wellnite membership plans cover doctor calls, cognitive behavioral therapy, nurse support, and prescribed medication and shipping fees. Members who start treatment with medication get a 30-day supply of one type each month. Both plans include four chat-based mental health coaching sessions, while the Mindfulness plan also provides biweekly video calls with a mental health therapist.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$45 – Basic
$100 – MindfulnessPhone call
Text messagingNoNot mentioned
What Patients Are Saying
Many patients are pleased with the quality care they’re getting for an affordable price. According to a customer, Wellnite is “one of the only mental health treatment subscription services that actually includes the cost of the medicine (shipped to your door). You don’t have to go through insurance (which we all know can be a headache sometimes), and yet the treatment is still very affordable.”
Doctor on Demand — Best for Non-English Speakers
Doctor on Demand is an online platform providing various types of medical care, including mental health care. The platform has therapists and psychiatrists from across the country who are available to assist 24/7.
Unlike other online therapy platforms, Doctor on Demand provides subscribers with a list of available licensed therapists in their state, along with their biographies. Members can pick any counselor from the list. Should they feel happy with their choice, they may meet with the same therapist for future visits.
Psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe meditation if they judge it necessary, as well as order electronic prescriptions to the pharmacy of the client’s choice. However, there are limitations on the type of medication they can prescribe. If a patient needs any controlled substance, Doctor on Demand suggests they schedule an in-person visit with a local psychiatrist or health facility.
Sessions are conducted via phone calls or video chats. Before seeing a therapist, patients must schedule an appointment via the mobile app or the platform’s website. Patients’ information is secure and protected by encrypted servers, and the system is also HIPAA-compliant.
The Doctor on Demand team is comprised of U.S.-based psychiatrists and therapists, and treatment is available in English and 35 other languages. It’s also one of the few online therapy platforms in the United States that offers insurance coverage to employers.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$129 for a 25-minute session
$179 for a 50-minute sessionPhone call
Video chatYesNot mentioned
What Patients Are Saying
Doctor on Demand customers are satisfied with the convenience of the service, and how it’s made more affordable by insurance coverage. “Between struggling (to be) able to physically make it to appointments and (to be) consistent, the Doctor on Demand app helped (…) With my current health insurance, I’m actually SAVING money,” says a patient.
Larkr — Best for Groups
Larkr is an online therapy platform that gathers a large pool of licensed therapists with multiple areas of expertise, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD.
When signing up, clients answer a few intake questions that allow the platform’s algorithm to preselect a few therapists. Then, the individual can choose the counselor that best suits their needs and goals.
With Larkr’s mobile app, more than one person can join a live session from their own devices — there’s no need to be in the same location, which makes couples or family counseling more convenient. Individual counseling patients can also invite family members or other people to their sessions to discuss specific issues.
On-demand care is also available: Larkr’s app can connect patients to a therapist for live 50-minute sessions at any time. Users don’t have to sign up for monthly subscriptions. Instead, they can pay for a single session and get assistance whenever they need it.
Patients can access several resources through the Larkr mobile app, such as free guided meditation, mood journals, and daily suggestions to improve emotional health. The “Be the Change” section offers suggestions for acts of good to help patients improve their self-worth, and it also allows them to keep track of their progress.
PriceAppointment TypesAccepts InsuranceTherapists on Staff$85 for a 50-minute session
$170 per monthVideo callNoNot mentioned
What Patients Are Saying
Larkr customers highlight the benefit of not having to pay for a monthly subscription. “The video calls that actually last as long as a regular session make a huge difference, and the fact that you don’t have to sign up for a subscription is something I really appreciate,” said one user.
