BetterHelp Review
An online therapy platform that connects users with licensed therapists through messaging, live chat, phone, and video sessions.
Is BetterHelp Worth It?
BetterHelp is worth it for adults who want flexible therapy by messaging, phone, or video. It connects each user to one licensed therapist with at least 3 years of experience and charges from $70 to $100 per week, including unlimited messaging between sessions. The financial aid discount lowers the cost for users who meet income criteria.
About BetterHelp
BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects users with licensed therapists through messaging, live chat, phone, and video sessions. BetterHelp, Inc. operates the platform from Mountain View, California. Alon Matas and Danny Bragonier co-founded BetterHelp in 2013. Teladoc Health acquired BetterHelp in 2015 and runs it as a subsidiary.
BetterHelp links each member to one credentialed therapist. The therapists hold licenses as psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional counselors. Every therapist carries at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of clinical experience. BetterHelp approves around 15 percent of therapist applicants.
BetterHelp serves three main groups. Adults use BetterHelp for individual therapy. Couples use the sister platform Regain for relationship counseling. Teenagers use the sister platform TeenCounseling with parental consent. BetterHelp charges from $70 to $100 per week, billed every 4 weeks.
Is BetterHelp safe, private & secure?
BetterHelp is a legitimate platform that pairs users with licensed therapists, though it settled an FTC charge over data sharing in 2023. BetterHelp encrypts session data in transit and stores records under a documented privacy policy. BetterHelp, Inc. operates the platform as a Teladoc Health subsidiary.
Data privacy and the 2023 FTC settlement
BetterHelp settled a Federal Trade Commission charge in 2023 over its data practices. The FTC found that BetterHelp shared user data with Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Criteo for advertising between 2017 and 2020. BetterHelp paid $7.8 million in partial refunds to affected users without admitting wrongdoing. The FTC order bars BetterHelp from sharing health data for advertising and requires affirmative consent. BetterHelp now states that it does not sell or share session data for marketing.
✅ Worth it if you
- Want flexible therapy by messaging, phone, or video
- Cannot attend in-person sessions
- Want unlimited messaging between weekly live sessions
- Meet income criteria for the financial aid discount
🤔 Look elsewhere if you
- Need psychiatry or medication management
- Need every insurer accepted
- Want a session priced below the $70 weekly floor
- Need instant, real-time crisis support
Our Verdict
Pros
- Licensed therapists with vetted experience
- Messaging, phone, and video session formats
- Financial aid discount for eligible users
- Therapist switching at no extra cost
- Unlimited messaging between live sessions
Cons
- Subscription cost from $70 per week
- No psychiatry or medication management
- Settled a 2023 FTC data-sharing charge
- Limited insurance acceptance until 2026
- Asynchronous replies, not instant support
How It Works
Complete intake
Visit betterhelp.com and complete the intake questionnaire.
State goals
State your therapy goals, concerns, and therapist preferences.
Apply for aid
Apply for financial aid if you meet the income criteria.
Choose plan
Choose a subscription and enter payment details.
Get matched
Wait for BetterHelp to match you with a licensed therapist.
Book session
Book the first live session through the in-app calendar.
Message anytime
Message the therapist between sessions inside the therapy room.
BetterHelp Features
Therapist Matching
Pairs a user with a licensed therapist from an intake questionnaire.
Messaging
Sends written notes to the therapist between live sessions.
Live Chat
Runs a real-time text session at a booked time.
Phone Sessions
Connects user and therapist by voice call.
Video Therapy
Runs a face-to-face session inside the app.
Group Webinars
Streams therapist-led classes on anxiety, stress, and grief.
Journaling
Records private notes the therapist reviews.
Therapist Switching
Reassigns the account to a new therapist on request.
BetterHelp Pricing
- Weekly individual therapy
- One live session per week
- Unlimited messaging between sessions
- Group webinars and worksheet library
- For users who meet income criteria
- 10 to 40 percent sliding-scale discount
- Decision within minutes at signup
- Same features as Standard
- Relationship counseling
- Joint sessions for partners
- Sister platform to BetterHelp
- Teens aged 13 to 19
- Licensed therapist with parental consent
- Sister platform to BetterHelp
Who Is BetterHelp Best For?
Prefer sessions from home; the intake questionnaire matches them to a licensed therapist and video or phone formats replace in-person appointments.
Fit therapy around a schedule; message the therapist after hours and book live sessions across different time zones with no commute.
Couples use the sister platform Regain for joint sessions; teens aged 13 to 19 use TeenCounseling with a licensed therapist and parental consent.
BetterHelp Alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Price | Notes | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talkspace | Therapy plus psychiatry | from $69/week | Insurance accepted | vs → |
| Cerebral | Therapy plus medication | from $85/month | Insurance accepted | vs → |
| Traditional Therapy — this review | In-person sessions | from $100/session | Insurance varies | |
| BetterHelp — this review | Subscription messaging and video therapy | from $70/week | Select insurance plans |
BetterHelp vs Talkspace
Talkspace bills through major insurers and adds psychiatry with medication management, while BetterHelp focuses on talk therapy. BetterHelp matches users to one therapist through an intake questionnaire; Talkspace lets users pick a therapist from a shortlist. Talkspace plans start from $69 per week with insurance acceptance, and BetterHelp plans start from $70 per week with select insurance from 2026.
BetterHelp FAQ
Is BetterHelp free?
BetterHelp is not free, because every membership requires a paid subscription. BetterHelp charges from $70 to $100 per week, billed every 4 weeks. Eligible users qualify for a financial aid discount of 10 to 40 percent.
How much does BetterHelp cost?
BetterHelp costs from $70 to $100 per week, billed every 4 weeks. The price reflects location, therapist availability, and stated preferences. Financial aid lowers the rate for users who meet the income criteria.
Who owns BetterHelp?
BetterHelp, Inc. operates the platform from Mountain View, California. Alon Matas and Danny Bragonier founded BetterHelp in 2013. Teladoc Health acquired BetterHelp in 2015 and runs it as a subsidiary.
Is BetterHelp safe?
BetterHelp pairs users with licensed therapists and encrypts session data in transit. BetterHelp settled a 2023 FTC charge over sharing user data for advertising and paid $7.8 million. The FTC order now bars BetterHelp from sharing health data for marketing without consent.
Is BetterHelp legit?
BetterHelp is a legitimate platform and the largest online therapy provider by user count. Every therapist holds a state license and at least 3 years of clinical experience. BetterHelp approves around 15 percent of therapist applicants.
Is BetterHelp worth it?
BetterHelp is worth it for adults who want flexible therapy by messaging, phone, or video. The weekly subscription includes one live session and unlimited messaging. Users who need psychiatry or medication choose a platform such as Cerebral instead.
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