At first glance, and even through the sign-up process, these two online therapy apps are mostly the same. However, there are a few features and services that set Talkspace and Betterhelp apart, along with some specific nuances that really only become clear when trying them out. As someone who’s had a traditional therapist for years, I decided to test Talkspace and Betterhelp to see which one is better. Find out whether I think these apps are good alternatives to traditional therapy, plus how they compare to each other in my Talkspace vs. Betterhelp review, ahead.

What Customers Say: With 4.7 stars on Apple from around 17,000 app users, Talkspace receives praise for how easy it is to navigate and the insurance coverage options. That said, some patients are frustrated by it not being in network with their insurance plan. Overall, people rave about the quality of the therapists, with plenty of reviews about how convenient the app itself is.

What Customers Say: Betterhelp has 4.8 stars from over 101,000 app users and is ranked number 41 on Apple’s health and wellness charts. While the app doesn’t accept insurance, one patient reviewer says Betterhelp offered 40 percent off after learning they had tried Talkspace and didn’t qualify for the Betterhelp financial support. Overwhelmingly, users are pleased with the app’s functionality, the providers available, and the wide range of options in terms of how to access your therapist.

In addition to talk therapy, Talkspace offers psychiatry for those seeking a diagnosis or prescription. This service is separate from the talk therapy plans and has an additional cost, with an equally simple enrollment process. You can either select psychiatry services upon your initial sign-up, or add these services to your existing plan through the private chat room.

What sets Betterhelp apart from Talkspace is its subscription plan. Rather than offering three plans with various modes of communication and support, Betterhelp provides all users access to phone, messaging, and video therapy, with monthly rates based on your location, frequency, and additional needs.

Betterhelp and Talkspace have very similar sign-up processes, with user-friendly interfaces and plans that make online therapy extremely accessible. What sets them apart from each other are the types of subscriptions offered, as well as the types of therapy. Talkspace offers both talk therapy and psychiatry, allowing patients access to a diagnosis and prescription treatment, whereas Betterhelp focuses on talk therapy only. However, Betterhelp offers more modes of communication to all subscribers and has phone therapy, which Talkspace doesn’t have.

At its core, Talkspace is a talk therapy platform for individuals, with messaging and video communication options. The online therapy app also offers workshops to individuals in the top-tier plan for further mental health support—and the additional services don’t end there. Separate from the subscription plan, Talkspace offers couples therapy and psychiatry, each for an additional cost per session. With access to psychiatry, individuals can not only receive support through talk therapy on Talkspace, but those with more extensive mental health concerns can also receive a diagnosis and/or prescription medication, which is not as common in the online therapy space. 

Betterhelp offers talk therapy services through its online subscription platform, which includes messaging, video, and phone session options for all users. The company also has a platform specifically for the LGBTQ community called Pride Counseling, and offers online therapy for teens through its sister site, Teen Counseling, as well as couples therapy through the Regain platform (read our full regain review here).

Betterhelp only offers talk therapy services through its online platform, but has additional resources and services for the LGBTQ community, teens, and relationships through sister sites, Pride Counseling, Teen Counseling, and Regain. Talkspace, on the other hand, has talk therapy (for individuals and couples) and psychiatry services, which means you can get a diagnosis or prescription through the online therapy app. Depending on your needs, both are excellent choices.

When you sign up for Talkspace, you’re asked to fill out a questionnaire to provide the app with insight on your mental health history, preferences, what you’re looking to gain from therapy, and more. From there, the app’s algorithm puts the pieces together and matches you with a therapist based on your location, preferences, and the support you seek, as well as therapist availability. Some Talkspace therapists are experts in certain aspects of mental health, such as anxiety, addiction, and PTSD, which the app takes into account when matching you. Once you’re paired with a therapist, you’ll gain access to a private chat room which you can use to communicate and set up video calls, if your plan covers that.

Similar to Talkspace, Betterhelp utilizes insight from a questionnaire to find the right therapist for you. Through this, the app gains useful information, background, and history, which it uses to find a therapist that can provide the best support based on where you live, your mental health history, and your preferences. Once matched, you’ll gain access to a chat room where you can message your therapist and review their schedule to set up a phone or video session.

Both Talkspace and Betterhelp use similar practices to connect you with a therapist, and in terms of the signup process or ease of use, one doesn’t quite stand out over the other. Both utilize a questionnaire that asks you a set of basic questions, as well as questions about your mental health history and what you wish to get out of therapy to find the right therapist for you. While I didn’t need to use this function, I especially appreciated that Talkspace and Betterhelp make it possible to change therapists with ease. On Betterhelp, there is a “change therapist” button located directly on your homepage. If you’re using Talkspace, you’ll need to click the dropdown on your home page and select “change provider” to make the switch, which (if we’re splitting hairs) doesn’t feel quite as intuitive as Betterhelp’s option.

As far as savings are concerned, Talkspace offers between 10 to 20% off plans if you pay on a quarterly or bi-annual basis, which helps drive the cost down. Additionally, Talkspace accepts some insurance providers, which could help significantly.

Although Betterhelp doesn’t accept insurance, there is a bit of a workaround to this downside through the Mental Health Parity Act, which requires employers to offer medical and mental health coverage equally. This means some insurance companies cover “online behavioral health,” which Betterhelp could qualify as. To find out whether or not your insurance will reimburse some of your Betterhelp subscription fees, we recommend contacting your provider.

One thing that really stood out to me about the quality of care was that my appointed therapist made me feel like a long-time patient, and ensured I didn’t get lost in the shuffle. She was highly accommodating and, even though we went over the time limit on one of our sessions, she waited for the best stopping point and reminded me to set up a call for our next session before ending the call. This felt very similar to my experience with my long-time therapist.

The one thing I don’t love about Betterhelp is that the company does not accept insurance. While the out-of-pocket fees are significantly less than more traditional therapy providers, Betterhelp isn’t a great option for someone with insurance, since, chances are, your co-pay with another platform will be less than one session on Betterhelp. That said, it does cost less than Talkspace. So, if you are going the out-of-pocket route, the price is definitely right.

Talkspace also features a clinical progress section that allows you to track your progress over time and set both long-term goals and short-term objectives. And, there are also lots of amazing exercises to try between therapy sessions, which take only a few minutes and can teach you how to focus on a single task, how to navigate negativity, and how to overcome worry. There are even some great mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing sequences. 

When accessing Betterhelp from a web browser, you can review the advice column, an online magazine with insightful articles that support a variety of mental health concerns and cover a variety of topics, such as how to overcome social anxiety and how to find the right psychiatrist for you. 

If you wish to complete your therapy sessions over the phone, or to have more options depending on how you feel, Betterhelp might be the better option, since every user has access to messaging, phone, and video calls.

Additionally, Talkspace offers more resources than Betterhelp, which provides additional support between therapy sessions. I loved that my Betterhelp therapist provided me with worksheets related to what I focused on in our sessions, but the workshops and exercises on Talkspace’s app took things to a different level and allowed me to feel supported and informed on how I can grow in my mental health journey. If you’re ready to continue or embark on your own therapy exploration, check out our deep dive on the best online therapy platforms.