The Fast Facts
- We rounded up the 8 best affordable online therapy options that can help with a range of concerns.
- Crisis Text Line offers free counseling with volunteers trained to respond to texts. Even if you only text a single word, that will cue a text thread to be initiated so you can connect quickly.
- BetterHelp offers online therapy starting at $70 per week out of pocket and $23 average copays via select in-network insurance providers.
* Prices may vary.
Being able to access mental health help from the comfort of your home has never been easier. Reasonable online therapy is now super accessible, especially since all you need is a device and a reliable internet connection.
While some online therapy platforms are more expensive than others, we scoped out the top therapy platforms to find the most affordable online therapy options.
| Teletherapy service | Why we like it | Price | Available via: | Insurance accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetterHelp | best overall | starts at $70 per week | • video • phone/voice • text • chat | yes, varies by state, plan, and provider network |
| Online-Therapy.com | best for CBT | starts at $48 a week (20 percent discount first month) | • video • phone/voice • text | no |
| Talkspace | best for insurance | $69+ a week; $15 copay with insurance | • video • phone/voice • text | yes |
| Open Path Psychotherapy Collective | best for low-cost therapy sessions | starts at $30; one-time membership fee of $65 | • chat • phone/voice | no |
| Crisis Text Line | best for crisis help | free | text | n/a |
| Inclusive Therapists | best for LGBTQ+ experiences | varies with location and therapists | varies per therapist | varies by therapist |
| Therapy for Black Girls | best for people of color | varies with therapist | video | varies by therapist |
| Heads Up Guys | best for men | varies with therapist | varies per therapist | varies by therapist |
When creating our list of the cheap online therapy options, we kept these things in mind:
- Price. This was a biggie for this list. Of course, affordability is relative, since everyone works with different budgets. But every service listed above is less expensive than a typical in-office session.
- Ease of use. How do users access their therapist, and what technical issues (and fixes) may they face?
- User reviews. What are current users saying about the quality of service in therapy reviews or other publications?
- Therapist qualifications. Who are the counselors? What makes them qualified? How do they interact with clients?
- Therapist accessibility. How often can you check in with your therapist and engage with them?
- Vetting. All services have been vetted to ensure they meet PsychCentral’s medical, editorial, and business standards.
Additional resources
If our list doesn’t match what you’re looking for, or if you’re looking for a therapist with a certain cultural background or specialization, consider these tools to find support:
If you still need more affordable therapy without insurance or free online therapy options, you can find support at community centers, through a college or university, and through employee assistance programs.
Note that peer-led groups or volunteers run most free online therapy options, so they are not typically licensed mental health professionals. Resources like Crisis Text Line are available 24/7 to people who feel like they have nowhere else to turn.
Bliss offers a self-management course on depression. If you or someone you know is in a mental health emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also dial 911 or your local emergency services number.
When you do find an affordable therapy platform that fits your budget, keep in mind that the therapist’s quality and offerings shouldn’t change.
It’s totally typical for it to take some time to settle into a routine and relationship with your therapist, just like it does with a new friend. If you still don’t feel comfortable with them, it’s OK to change therapists.
An hour of therapy may range from $65 to $200 or more. If your insurance covers therapy, your copayment may range from $5 to $50 or more.
You can also ask your therapist whether they offer a sliding scale based on income, or if they can recommend someone who does. Still, it’s wise to keep in mind that sliding-scale spots often fill up quickly, so you may need to be patient until you find a therapist with a slot available.
If you’re paying out of pocket, online therapy is often cheaper than in-person therapy. But prices vary, depending on factors such as:
- therapy formats, such as online, in-person, or group
- which services you use
- the credentials of the therapist
- how often you speak with a therapist
Finding affordable therapy can be tricky if you’re on a budget, but there are several alternative ways to help yourself:
- Community resources: Explore low cost or sliding-scale mental health services in your area.
- Self-help resources: Explore books, articles, and online materials focused on mental health and self-improvement.
- Support groups: Join local or online support groups for a sense of community.
- Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity for mood and stress management.
- Mindfulness: Practice relaxation and mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety.
- Reach out: Talk to friends and family about your feelings, and don’t hesitate to seek their emotional support.
If your budget for therapy is small, you can try to access therapy through:
- health insurance coverage
- employee assistance programs
- sliding scale fees based on income
- and government-funded mental health services
Online therapy platforms also offer more affordable options for those seeking help without insurance. Additionally, some nonprofit organizations and community health centers offer accessible, affordable therapy services, ensuring that financial constraints don’t prevent individuals from getting the support they need.
Therapy rates can vary greatly throughout the United States. Location, specialty, therapy formats (in-person, online, group, etc.), and the practice itself can all affect the rates you will pay.
In-person therapy can range from about $100 to $250 an hour. Some therapists may charge more, depending on the type of therapy they offer, such as couples or individual therapy.
You can also ask about sliding scale fees. A sliding scale means you may pay a bit less per hour based on your ability to pay, often tied to your financial situation.
Therapy is not always fully covered by health insurance. Coverage will vary widely between plans, so it is important to carefully review your coverage before signing up for therapy sessions.
You will need to consider some costs you are likely to be responsible for:
- out-of-pocket costs
- copayments
- deductibles
- coinsurance
Be sure to look for an in-network therapist, as they may be more affordable than out-of-network providers.
Online therapy has made it easier to access help from licensed professionals from the comfort of your home, on your schedule.
While there’s no substitute for one-on-one evaluations, online services have opened avenues for healing for people who were previously unable to access a qualified therapist due to cost, geography, or other barriers.
We realize that “affordable online therapy” means something different to each person based on their financial situation. What is affordable to one person may be inaccessible to another.
You can feel empowered to seek help, especially if you cannot find a service that fits your budget at first. Money shouldn’t be the barrier between you and the mental health therapy you need and deserve.
