11 Best Online Therapy Services for 2024
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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:We chose the best online therapy platforms through hands-on testing, extensive research, expert insights, customer surveys, and more. See which services made our list.
A quick look at the best online therapy services
Online therapy isn’t for emergencies
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 911 or local emergency services.
If therapy on your time and in your own space sounds appealing, you’re not alone.
While not the right solution for everyone, online therapy — also known as telehealth — has become one of the top ways people seek mental health services.
Whether you’re new to therapy or curious about how online counseling works, you’ll want to take some time to research what’s available. We did the brunt of the work for you, testing a few different platforms so you can get a more encompassing view of the best online therapy services.
Throughout the article, we also reference a 2022 Healthline consumer survey on different mental health platforms. Based on respondents’ results, the four most used online therapy services were Doctor on Demand, MDLive, BetterHelp, and Talkspace.
Follow along for a more concise summary of each of these services.
How we chose the best online therapy platforms
We considered many criteria when selecting the best online therapy platforms, including:
We also took into consideration our Consumer Insights team’s 2022 study on online therapy. It measured what online therapy users value most when looking for a service. Some of the key components we got from the results of this study were:
We kept all of these factors in mind when deciding on our list of the top 11.
Healthline’s picks for the best online therapy services
*Some names have been changed at the request of testers.
Best overall
Online-Therapy.com
4.8 (3.2k+) from online-therapy.comHealthline visitors get 20% off the first month. Discount is applied automatically.
GET STARTED WITH ONLINE-THERAPY.COMHealthline's review
Cost: starts at $40 per week
Online-Therapy.com bases its entire operation on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This approach is a top pick when treating a variety of mental health conditions. CBT helps you identify, challenge, and overcome negative or unhelpful thinking and develop behavior modifications that help you think and interact more positively.
What makes Online-Therapy.com stand out from other online therapy platforms is its multifaceted approach to counseling. The platform uses a toolbox of resources, including worksheets, an online journal, a 30-minute weekly live chat with your therapist, and messaging to help you find the healing you need.
These additional resources are not typical of virtual therapy platforms and can help people continue their work apart from speaking with a therapist directly. Some users express concern about therapists only being available Monday through Friday for 8 hours per day, compared with other sites that offer 24/7 support.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for 24/7 access
BetterHelp
4.8 (374k+) from BetterHelpHealthline visitors get 20% off the first month. Discount is applied automatically.
GET STARTED WITH BETTERHELPHealthline's review
Cost: $65-$90 per week, billed every 4 weeks
BetterHelp has access to more than 31,000 licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors and offers individual, couples, and family counseling.
Sessions with your therapist take place via video conferencing, exchanging messages, chatting live, and speaking over the phone. Users rave about the live sessions, with many saying it’s the reason they chose BetterHelp.
About 70% of our survey’s respondents also loved how messaging was an option for BetterHelp, and 44% loved how the platform also has journal prompts to help guide them on their therapy journey.
After completing a questionnaire and setting up your account, a computer program will match you with a therapist for your specific needs. Typically, this takes about 24 hours. You always have the option of requesting a different counselor.
Read our full review of BetterHelp.
BetterHelp now offers a feature that allows you to pause your subscription for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. During this time, you won’t be charged or meet with your therapist. You can only pause your subscription once every 3 months.
As of the most recent update of this article in July 2023, BetterHelp allegedly released confidential information from its users to third-party advertising platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok from 2017 through 2020.
In March 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ordered the service to pay $7.8 million for partial refunds to its customers. In an official statement, BetterHelp clarified that it didn’t share any information, such as patient names or clinical data, from therapy sessions. The company has also stopped sharing data.
What our tester says
Two of Healthline’s employees tried out BetterHelp and had great experiences overall.
Laramy Applekamp loved the selection process of finding a therapist. “I appreciated the questionnaire that went into matching me with a therapist (trying to research an in-person therapist felt very overwhelming, so I appreciated the guesswork being taken out of it).” Applekamp was matched with 18 hours of submitting her responses.
Parisa Syed found the questionnaire “a bit tedious because it was pretty detailed, but it helped match me with a pretty good therapist.” Even though BetterHelp says its matching process takes 24–48 hours, Syed was matched within 2 hours and didn’t switch her initial therapist for the 3 months she used BetterHelp.
Applekamp loved how easy it was to switch therapists through BetterHelp’s website. “Being able to switch therapists quickly and easily was very convenient and reduced any anxiety that surrounded having to ‘fire’ my first therapist.” Applekamp found that the first therapist didn’t click with her on a personal level, but her current therapist is better in that regard.
Syed, though the therapist fit her needs, found that there was “an underlying feeling of being rushed … there were times where my therapist definitely was not 100% present. She seemed distracted, though she chimed in and said insightful things when it felt right.”
All in all, both Applekamp and Syed recommend BetterHelp as a online therapy platform.
Two of Healthline’s employees tried out BetterHelp and had great experiences overall.
Laramy Applekamp loved the selection process of finding a therapist. “I appreciated the questionnaire that went into matching me with a therapist (trying to research an in-person therapist felt very overwhelming, so I appreciated the guesswork being taken out of it).” Applekamp was matched with 18 hours of submitting her responses.
Parisa Syed found the questionnaire “a bit tedious because it was pretty detailed, but it helped match me with a pretty good therapist.” Even though BetterHelp says its matching process takes 24–48 hours, Syed was matched within 2 hours and didn’t switch her initial therapist for the 3 months she used BetterHelp.
Applekamp loved how easy it was to switch therapists through BetterHelp’s website. “Being able to switch therapists quickly and easily was very convenient and reduced any anxiety that surrounded having to ‘fire’ my first therapist.” Applekamp found that the first therapist didn’t click with her on a personal level, but her current therapist is better in that regard.
Syed, though the therapist fit her needs, found that there was “an underlying feeling of being rushed … there were times where my therapist definitely was not 100% present. She seemed distracted, though she chimed in and said insightful things when it felt right.”
All in all, both Applekamp and Syed recommend BetterHelp as a online therapy platform.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for couples
Regain Online Therapy
4.6 (2.3k+) from Google Play StoreHealthline visitors get 20% off the first month.
GET STARTED WITH REGAINHealthline's review
Cost: $65-$90 per week, billed every 4 weeks
Regain is a virtual therapy platform for couples through BetterHelp. The platform allows people to book solo or couples appointments to talk with therapists, all of whom have a master’s degree or doctoral degree in their respective fields.
While many people use Regain for couples counseling, the platform is designed to help people in any relationship, including platonic, familial, and romantic relationships. Regain therapists can help you with addressing conflict resolution, setting boundaries, and resolving intimacy or parenting disagreements.
Most communication on Regain is done through text, but you can also sign up for video or phone calls with your therapist as well. It’s important to note that three-way calls aren’t an option, so both you and your partner (or family member) will need to be in the same location if you want to use the video or phone feature.
Read our full review of Regain.
What our tester says
Our tester Lea* tried Regain with her husband for online couples therapy. She found the platform easy to navigate and register for. While she and her husband eventually settled on a therapist, Lea mentioned it took a while for them to find the right one. “We actually had to switch [therapists] several times until we landed on a culturally competent therapist who was the right fit for us.”
Lea found the process of changing therapists as “smooth and guiltless.” She and her husband used text messaging and live video streams to communicate with their therapist, and Lea loved how she was able to mark messages as urgent and that she would get responses any time of day or night. She could also add attachments to the messages and send voice notes if she wanted to.
Lea did wish, however, that she could filter therapist options by time zone, as one of her therapists had only Eastern time options available, while she is on the West Coast.
Our tester Lea* tried Regain with her husband for online couples therapy. She found the platform easy to navigate and register for. While she and her husband eventually settled on a therapist, Lea mentioned it took a while for them to find the right one. “We actually had to switch [therapists] several times until we landed on a culturally competent therapist who was the right fit for us.”
Lea found the process of changing therapists as “smooth and guiltless.” She and her husband used text messaging and live video streams to communicate with their therapist, and Lea loved how she was able to mark messages as urgent and that she would get responses any time of day or night. She could also add attachments to the messages and send voice notes if she wanted to.
Lea did wish, however, that she could filter therapist options by time zone, as one of her therapists had only Eastern time options available, while she is on the West Coast.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best appointment variety
Talkspace
4.8 (29.2k+) from App Store
Use code "HEALTHLINE85" for $85 off.
GET STARTED WITH TALKSPACEHealthline's review
Cost: $25 copay or less; starts at $69 per week for messaging; $99 per week for video and messaging; and $109 for video, messaging, and workshops
With more than 3,000 licensed therapists and multiple subscription plans, Talkspace takes the spot for the best appointment variety. About 69% of our survey respondents mentioned they could choose another therapist if their original one was not available.
After signing up, you’ll complete an assessment and choose your payment plan. Then, a consultation therapist will match you with several therapists. You’ll choose the one that fits your needs, and you can begin working with them within a few days.
In addition to individual counseling, it also offers specific services for couples and teens. Plus, Talkspace Psychiatry offers personalized psychiatric treatment and prescription management from a licensed prescriber.
Available plans include text, video, audio messaging, and live sessions. There are also breathing exercises that 48% Talkspace users used and enjoyed.
In addition, Talkspace offers journaling features, relaxing sounds, and an option to talk with a psychiatrist. Some subscribers express frustration about having to sign up for an entire month of services, which means you’ll still be billed for the month if you cancel early.
Read our full review of Talkspace.
What our tester says
“This was the first online mental health platform that I tried, other than telehealth with my traditional therapist. [The] signup [process] was quick and easy, and I felt that the survey asked the right questions about my mental health history and current status without getting long-winded.
“The therapist I was matched with was in touch pretty quickly. I found her helpful in discussing the situation at hand, but I will say that I got a lot of automated/copied and pasted messages from her that I presumed she may have sent to all of her clients, like when she’d be unavailable.
“With Talkspace, you do have scheduling freedom, but you pay weekly for the services. It’s not my preference (since it adds up quickly), though it’s great that you can have weekly sessions or daily messaging for when a deeper level of support is needed.
“Overall, I liked the flexibility of Talkspace.”
— Christy Snyder, Healthline editor
“This was the first online mental health platform that I tried, other than telehealth with my traditional therapist. [The] signup [process] was quick and easy, and I felt that the survey asked the right questions about my mental health history and current status without getting long-winded.
“The therapist I was matched with was in touch pretty quickly. I found her helpful in discussing the situation at hand, but I will say that I got a lot of automated/copied and pasted messages from her that I presumed she may have sent to all of her clients, like when she’d be unavailable.
“With Talkspace, you do have scheduling freedom, but you pay weekly for the services. It’s not my preference (since it adds up quickly), though it’s great that you can have weekly sessions or daily messaging for when a deeper level of support is needed.
“Overall, I liked the flexibility of Talkspace.”
— Christy Snyder, Healthline editor
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for in-person and online therapy
Grow Therapy
4.1 (1.7k+) from TrustpilotHealthline's review
Cost: starts at $24 with insurance
Grow Therapy is a comprehensive mental health platform offering a wide array of services. The platform features a user-friendly interface, allowing users to easily search for therapists based on criteria such as state, insurance provider, and specialty.
The platform’s unique feature is the option to search for in-person therapy, which is ideal for those who prefer traditional face-to-face sessions. This feature allows users to select a therapist based on specific criteria and learn about them before the first session.
Grow Therapy has rapidly expanded its coverage and services, starting with just 5 states and now serving 47 states and Washington, D.C., with plans for further expansion.
The service accepts most major health insurances, so many users can access quality therapy for a copay as low as $24. Out-of-pocket costs vary by therapist, with an average of $100–$150 per session.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for crisis care
Brightside Health
4.4 (1.8k+) from Brightside Health
Healthline's review
Cost: $95-$349 per month for membership
This online therapy service specializes in treating anxiety and depression, as well as a range of mental health conditions, including bipolar 2, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Brightside offers four treatment approaches for depression: therapy, psychiatry, therapy and psychiatry, and its new service, Crisis Care.
Read our full review of Brightside.
Crisis Care is a national telehealth program that was designed specifically for people with elevated suicide risk. (The company states that it is not for people who are at imminent risk of self-harm and in need of emergency services.) The purpose of the platform is to fill the gap between routine services and emergency room visits.
Brightside offers remote care only, and its therapy and medication plans are currently available in all 50 states, except for Crisis Care, which is only available in select states.
Coverage and costs vary because Brightside plans can be paid monthly without insurance, except for Crisis Care, which can only be paid for through insurance.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for messaging
Calmerry Online Therapy
4.2 (5+) from App Store
Healthline's review
Cost: from $50 per week
Calmerry can be a great option for people interested in trying online counseling for the first time. It offers two subscription models:
Calmerry matches you with a licensed mental health professional based on your goals or concerns. It offers guidance on a wide variety of needs, from anxiety and depression to grief or family topics such as pregnancy (prenatal or postpartum), adoption, and marriage.
Read our full review of Calmerry.
With either subscription, you also receive access to an online mood tracker and journal. You have the option to share these entries with your therapist, but you can also use it to keep track of your progress or simply learn how to regulate your emotions or thoughts.
Calmerry also offers a library of resources that include courses, worksheets, and journal prompts.
What our tester says
“Compared to Lyra and SimplePractice (my only other online therapy experiences), Calmerry was similar. The user interface was a tad clunky and took a couple more clicks than I’d like to navigate to what I wanted.
“However, I really liked the option to keep a therapy journal and choose to share each entry with my therapist (or not). I found that useful for tracking my progress and completing therapist-assigned ‘homework.’ I also liked the additional resources/handouts available. There seemed to be wide availability of therapists for specific needs.”
— Crystal Hoshaw, Healthline Media editor
“Compared to Lyra and SimplePractice (my only other online therapy experiences), Calmerry was similar. The user interface was a tad clunky and took a couple more clicks than I’d like to navigate to what I wanted.
“However, I really liked the option to keep a therapy journal and choose to share each entry with my therapist (or not). I found that useful for tracking my progress and completing therapist-assigned ‘homework.’ I also liked the additional resources/handouts available. There seemed to be wide availability of therapists for specific needs.”
— Crystal Hoshaw, Healthline Media editor
Pros & cons
Product details
Most affordable
7 Cups
4.5 (6.1k+) from App Store
Healthline's review
Cost: free online chats with trained volunteers; $150 per month for online therapy
Affordable online therapy, free 24/7 emotional support, and chat rooms with people who understand what you’re going through make 7 Cups one of the largest emotional support systems.
Plus, 7 Cups offers emotional support and access to speak with a trained volunteer (not a licensed counselor) at no charge. This option is appropriate for support and to help connect you with services.
Read our full review of 7 Cups.
If you need more in-depth treatment, opt for the paid subscription plan with a licensed therapist.
After creating an account, you’ll choose the free version or paid subscription. If you go with the trained volunteer option, which is free, you’ll have access immediately. The subscription option requires more information to help match you with the right therapist.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best comprehensive online therapy platform
Amwell Online Therapy
4.9 (43.1k+) from App Store
Healthline's review
Cost: starts at $99 for therapy; starts at $199 for psychiatry, plus $95 for follow-up visits
If you’re looking for an online telemedicine platform that offers care for physical and psychological health, consider Amwell.
With online doctor or therapist visits available 24/7, Amwell is a great site for one-stop shopping. Here’s how it works: Create an account, choose the doctor or therapist that works best for you, and then schedule a visit via the web-based or mobile app program.
Sessions last about 45 minutes. Your therapist will have either a master’s degree or a doctorate in their field. It also offers online psychiatrists who can prescribe medications.
Read our full review of Amwell.
Pros & cons
Product details
Best for comprehensive care
Doctor on Demand Online Therapy
4.9 (105+) from Doctor on Demand
Healthline's review
Cost: $89 for a 15-minute consultation with a board certified clinician; $134 for a 25-minute video chat with a psychologist; $184 for a 50-minute video chat with a psychologist; $299 for an initial 45-minute assessment for medication management with a psychiatrist with follow-up visits at $129
Based on a 2022 Healthline survey on readers’ attitudes toward online therapy services, Doctor on Demand was one of the highest performers.
About 55% of respondents who used Doctor on Demand were satisfied that their needs were being met with their therapist. This was the highest satisfaction rate among the other three services listed. In addition, 57% mentioned they would recommend their particular therapist to others.
Doctor on Demand is a comprehensive online telehealth platform, offering medical and mental health services. In our 2022 survey, 47% of respondents used Doctor on Demand’s option to see other medical professionals in addition to their therapist. The service offered them a more holistic approach to their care.
Doctor on Demand offers single video chat ses
Posted : 2024-05-28 14:16
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