Best Online Therapy Services

The top online therapy service should provide quality, affordable care to the widest range of people possible, and Talkspace does just that. It offers therapy and psychiatry services for individuals, couples, and teens aged 13 and up. Therapy seekers can choose from an extensive network of practitioners who use everything from trauma-focused therapy to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to somatic therapy, and who specialize in a range of issues, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression. 

Talkspace is easy to enroll in and will get you into sessions fairly quickly. You’ll be matched to a therapist within 48 hours after answering a series of questions determining your needs, issues, and insurance information, if applicable.

Talkspace has a large pool of clinicians with varied treatment approaches such as Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy, which means you’ll have a better shot at finding the right fit. If the issues you’re hoping to address evolve or prove to be more complex than you realized, you’ll have more clinicians to choose from than a service specializing in CBT for anxiety, for example. 

Talkspace offers live sessions via video, audio, or live chat, and text therapy which includes audio messaging. The ability to message a therapist regularly without having to wait for a weekly appointment can be a lifesaver for some. The live chat feature can be helpful for those who need to protect their privacy.

Talkspace offers three subscription tiers:

• Unlimited messaging therapy plus includes text, video, and audio messaging 5 days per week for $276 per month
• Unlimited messaging therapy premium includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging 5 days per week and one live 30-minute session per month for $396 a month
• Unlimited messaging therapy ultimate includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging 5 days a week and four live 30-minute sessions a month for $436 a month
  

Overall, the users we surveyed had a very favorable opinion of Talkspace: 90% rated it as good, very good, or excellent. Eighty-two percent of users said they’d recommend Talkspace to a friend, while 95% of users said they would also recommend Talkspace’s psychiatric and medication management services.

A diagnosis of cancer can be earth-shattering and cancer patients can face depression and anxiety related to their disease, yet studies have shown psychotherapy can help. For example, a 2021 study found that psychotherapy improved cancer patients' levels of happiness, sense of pleasure, and feelings of emotional strength, while another 2021 study found it reduced depression and anxiety. However, not all therapists are equipped to treat the unique mental health needs of patients struggling with this disease. 

That’s not the case at Doctor on Demand, a telehealth company that offers therapy, psychiatry, and other medical services. Filtering its pool of therapists for those specializing in chronic pain and illness brings up plenty of clinicians who are ready to help those with chronic diseases. Sessions are conducted over live video and last 25 to 50 minutes (you choose). You’ll have the option to choose your own therapist or get matched. As it’s a pay-as-you-go system, you won’t be locked into a subscription.

Doctor on Demand is also helpful for those with high medical bills. The high cost of medical treatment means finding a therapist who accepts insurance is essential. That said, without insurance, Doctor on Demand’s pricing is pretty steep, so it won’t be for everyone.

If you do not have insurance, a session with a psychologist at Doctor on Demand costs $129 for a 25-minute consultation and $179 for a 50-minute consultation. A psychiatrist visit costs $229 for an initial 45-minute consultation and $129 for a 15-minute follow-up.

However, the company does accept insurance, so depending on your provider, you could pay less per session.

Overall, 94% of the users we surveyed rated Doctor on Demand positively, making it one of the most highly rated services we reviewed. Of users surveyed, 92% said Doctor on Demand was better than similar services they’d received in the past, and 70% would start their search for a therapist there again if needed. Only 10% of users surveyed didn’t have insurance.

Brightside Health makes it easy to get both therapy and psychiatric care from anxiety specialists. The platform began as a specialty service for anxiety and depression and has now expanded to offer treatment for insomnia, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety among other conditions. It offers psychotherapy, psychiatry, or a combination of both. Those open to medication who are seeking to reduce symptoms quickly will benefit from both services, which Brightside claims will improve symptoms 60% more quickly.

A detailed intake questionnaire helps match you to the right provider, and you can choose to have stand-alone therapy, psychiatry or medication management, or a combination of both. One thing that really stands out is the evidence-based interactive lessons and symptom tracker. These simple therapy adjuncts can enhance the therapy experience and encourage a proactive approach to mental wellness.

In our full review, we reported that Brightside’s therapists primarily use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to treat anxiety, and will assign homework for patients regularly, which may speed up the recovery process. Live sessions are 30 minutes long and held over the video, and you can message your therapist anytime.

There are three therapy plans at Brightside:

• Therapy: $299 per month for unlimited messaging and four monthly 30-minute video sessions, with additional video appointments at $59 per session.
• Medication: $95 per month plus your pharmacy copay or $15 per medication for comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, ongoing provider support, and monitoring of your care, including medication adjustments.
• Combination: $349 per month plus your pharmacy copay or $15 per medication. 

Includes benefits of the medication plan plus unlimited messaging and a weekly video session with a licensed therapist. 

Overall, people are happy with Brightside’s services: 90% of users surveyed rated the company as good, very good, or excellent, and 78% said it was better than other services they’d used in the past. Of users surveyed, 38% said Brightside’s therapists had better expertise and specialized training than previous services. Its practitioners score well above average when it comes to medication management: 60% said psychiatrists were available when they needed them, and 38% said their psychiatrists were responsive to their needs.

A severe eating disorder can be life-threatening, so it’s important to have the help of specialists who understand the risks of escalating symptoms. Eating Recovery Center provides support at multiple levels for both adults and adolescents (ages 10 - 17) who are at different stages in their recovery. They can easily move from a less restrictive to a more restrictive level of care based on their needs.

Their inpatient program, based in Denver, Colorado, is the most intensive, requiring 24/7 supervision, and is for those whose disorder is endangering their life. The inpatient option offers 24/7 nursing supervision and may include medical stabilization via partners at Acute Center for Eating Disorders and Severe Malnutrition. Patients aren’t confined to their rooms and are free to engage in therapy and community building to the extent that they are physically able.

Partial hospitalization and residential treatment are less intensive options that include a combination of therapy and nutritional support, plus supervision. Patients and their families, if applicable, will need to travel to facilities to obtain these treatments, sometimes out of state.

The most accessible options are the intensive outpatient (which may still require travel) and virtual outpatient programs, which can be done at home but are limited to certain states. These programs also include therapy and nutritional support.

Residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and virtual outpatient options include individual, group, and family therapy if applicable using modalities like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Art, psychodrama, yoga, and mindfulness are also used. Patients learn to deconstruct harmful behaviors, prevent relapse, and identify recovery challenges.

Eating Recovery Center takes all major insurers, though what’s covered will vary. It will work with you to establish self-pay rates if your insurance doesn’t cover treatment or has high co-pays or deductibles.

While it accepts insurance, the Eating Recovery Center may still be expensive for some, especially if they need to travel and stay at a center. Yet Eating Recovery Center’s virtual offering can make treatment more accessible.

E-Therapy Cafe offers individual, relationship, marriage, and trauma-focused therapy. Additionally, it offers bridal counseling, life coaching, and wedding counseling. You can pay as you go for your therapy sessions or sign-up for session bundles, which means site visitors can move quickly into the therapy process without worrying about making a commitment. While it doesn’t accept insurance, rates are reasonable, and it offers a discount for military veterans who are known to have high rates of depression. 

Sessions are 30 minutes long via live chat or live video. There’s also the option to write in a virtual journal (you’ll write an entry of 700 words and get a detailed response from your therapist).  

Therapists at E-Therapy Cafe use a range of techniques that have been shown to effectively treat depression, including CBT, trauma-focused treatments, positive-psychology, relational psychotherapy, and solution-focused therapy, and can provide assessments for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).

E-Therapy Cafe has a great payment structure that won’t lock you into a costly plan. Therapy seekers can choose from the following options:

• E-Therapy Shot: $55/session of instant chat, video, or virtual journal
• E-Therapy Four: Four E-Sessions (instant chat, video, or virtual journal) at $49 a session or $196 a month
• E-Therapy Eight: Eight E-sessions (instant chat, video, or virtual journal) at $45 a session, or $360 a month
  

Of all the services we evaluated, E-Therapy Cafe received one of the highest scores in overall satisfaction: 94% of users rated it good, very good, or excellent overall. What’s more, 58% said they’d still be seeing the same therapist in six months and 51% said the same for 12 months, both well above average. When it came to whether users would choose E-Therapy Cafe if they needed to start their therapist search again, 77% said they would—one of the highest scores of all services surveyed.

It can be hard to find a provider who truly understands and can effectively treat OCD. Not all symptoms are visible, as is the case with Pure Obsessional OCD (Pure-O), and certain types of OCD presentations such as perfectionism, checking, symmetry, and rumination aren’t always easy to spot. 

NOCD is here to change all of that. Its therapists treat OCD and its many subtypes using  Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that many consider to be the gold standard in OCD treatment. Providers on the platform receive ongoing specialized training and mentorship in treating the disorder.

Patients can request a therapist or get matched, depending on availability. Since ERP works well with frequent sessions, some therapists can see patients multiple times per week.  NOCD leaders also understand the biggest challenges and triggers that occur outside of therapy, so patients can message their therapist anytime and have access to peer communities, support groups, and self-help tools throughout the week.

Beyond the care it provides, NOCD makes the condition easy to understand through its website, blog, and community. Overall, NOCD offers patients much-needed understanding and evidence-based treatment.

Cost varies according to insurance. By joining NOCD, you’ll get 30 to 60-minute live video sessions plus a Peer Support Counselor who understands OCD, virtual support groups, peer communities, and self-help tools. You can also message your therapist in between sessions.

While NOCD has demonstrated expertise in OCD treatment, there is room for improvement: 71% of users surveyed rated it positively overall,  26% described it as average, and only 29% of users said they’d still be seeing the same therapist six months later (which is lower than average). Still, 46% said therapists at NOCD have better training and expertise than therapists they’ve tried in the past.

Thriveworks is a convenient, flexible way to get quality online via live video or in-person therapy (depending on your location). Besides individual, couples, and children’s therapy, Thriveworks is unusual in that it offers addiction counseling specifically. It also offers psychiatry and medication management.

Its main draw is convenience: therapy seekers can sign up quickly and search for therapists offering immediate appointments. This can be vital for those struggling with addiction, who may experience strong triggers to use substances or emotional crises that require urgent, timely support.

The sign-up process is straightforward and quick as is selecting a therapist. Therapy seekers can filter for location, treatment issues (in this case, they’d select addiction), availability of teletherapy, and insurance. There’s no questionnaire or matching process, which might deter those who need more help finding the right fit, but those who know they need help with substance issues can get started quickly. 

Thriveworks has great content throughout the site, including information on addiction, which can make those with substance issues feel welcome. It also offers supplementary services like an “Ask a Therapist Q & A '' (you can submit a question and get a response typically within 24 hours) and educational videos.

Prices vary based on location and therapist, as well as by insurance plan, so in some ways, it’s more like a directory than an online therapy site. However, the Thriveworks website indicates that out-of-pocket costs start at $99 per session.

Of users surveyed, 10% sought out Thriveworks for addiction issues, one of the highest rates among all the online therapy services we reviewed. Overall, 90% of users rated Thriveworks positively, and it seems most were satisfied enough to stick with their clinicians: 52% said they would still be seeing the same therapist in six months, and 50% in twelve months.

Patients seeking psychiatry often face a few common challenges including finding a psychiatrist who accepts their insurance and meets their needs, or they may find an impersonal clinician who hands out medication, but doesn’t take the time to understand them and the roots of their symptoms.

Talkiatry is changing all of that. With a growing number of clinicians across the country, it offers personalized psychiatry and medication management, complemented with therapy when appropriate. Patients choose their own therapist and stick with them, receiving 60-minute first visits and 30-minute visits thereafter. If you’re unhappy, it’s easy to switch providers.

Talkiatry will only work with you if you have insurance it accepts, which is why it’s in-network with most major insurers. This does leave some people without treatment, but without insurance, the average cost of a psychiatry appointment might be out of range for most people.

Pricing varies according to your insurance.

Talkiatry is among our highest-rated services in terms of user satisfaction: 96% rated Talkiatry as good, very good, or excellent overall, 87% would recommend it to a friend or loved one, and 70% would start their provider search at Talkiatry again if needed. Further, 38% of users said their provider’s bedside manner was excellent, 58% said their prescriber really took the time to listen to them, 44% said they didn’t feel rushed, and 35% said providers were empathetic and caring. These scores are well above average compared to other providers of psychiatric care, making Talkiatry a unique and valuable service.

It’s no secret that finding an available, affordable therapist is a challenge, with or without insurance. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that four in 10 adults have medical debt, and 20% of those said the debt was for mental health services. 

Open Path Collective aims to address this problem. The company is unique in that every therapist in its directory accepts a sliding-scale fee. This is invaluable since finding affordable practitioners who also have the necessary qualifications and background can be time-consuming and stressful.

Every therapist on Open Path has the same pricing model, which can truly save therapy seekers time and energy sifting through practitioners they can afford. They’re then free to focus on searching by treatment orientation, specialty, and modality, among many other factors. Therapists are diverse in their approaches and backgrounds and you can find therapists that provide individual, group, and couples counseling and treat children, teens, and adults. Once you’ve found someone you like, you’ll email them directly from the website. 

Survey results indicate that finding the right practitioner may take a little longer than with other sites, but that satisfaction with clinicians is high. With such low costs, however, it is worth the effort, especially when you can end up with an experienced, qualified therapist.

Therapists accept sliding scale rates from $30 to $60 for individual therapy, and $30 to $80 for couples and family sessions. There is a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $39.

Overall, Open Path Collective scores high in terms of user satisfaction, with 90% rating it positively. Survey results did indicate that finding the right fit takes a little longer: 64% had to reach out to multiple therapists to confirm availability, with 28% having to reach out to four therapists. But 81% (higher than average) said they were still with the therapist they found.

Open Path also does well in terms of inclusivity. Of the users who said Open Path outperformed past therapy providers, 30% said that therapists were more experienced working with LGBTQ patients, 29% said they were more experienced at working with people who are BIPOC, and 24% they were better at serving those with experiences of racism and discrimination. Between the great pricing, quality care, and inclusivity, Open Path is an excellent directory.

Teladoc is a telehealth company where you can visit doctors ranging from primary care to mental health for individuals and couples to pediatrics. To obtain therapy, you must sign up and fill out an intake questionnaire. You’ll then be given a list of providers to choose from. This combines the best of both worlds: help with finding the right match, but freedom to make the final choice.

A few things make Teladoc great for those with chronic pain. The most obvious is that there are numerous clinicians who can treat people with chronic pain, which isn’t always the case. Also, online therapy through Teladoc can help people with chronic conditions receive mental health care services that were otherwise inaccessible to them. If someone is in pain, has mobility issues, or feels overwhelmed, hopping on a 45-minute video or audio call (as Teladoc offers) may be all they have the energy for.

Additionally, those with pain likely have a condition that requires medical care. So, pricing will be important to them. Luckily, Teladoc accepts insurance. Plus, since it’s not specifically a mental health site, those who have chronic conditions could potentially make use of other services such as "Expert Medical Opinion" or primary care.

Visits are $99 per therapy session, $209 for the initial psychiatry session, and $109 for follow-ups. All visits are live video visits, and frequency and duration will be determined by the provider.

Teladoc has high scores overall: 97% of users rated it good, very good, or excellent, our highest scores across all companies. Additionally, cost and insurance acceptance were important to those seeking treatment at Teladoc: 50% of those surveyed cited accepting insurance as an important factor in their search and 66% found Teladoc affordable, which is higher than average. What’s more, 46% of users (higher than average) said they could filter therapists by insurance providers during their search. 82% of users with insurance said Teledoc accepted it, compared to the 54% average.