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Talkspace and BetterHelp are two of the most talked about teletherapy services for accessing remote mental health help. If you’re interested in how these two teletherapy services compare, you’ve come to the right place!
Get more info on what each has to offer so you can choose the right one for your needs.
Talkspace vs. BetterHelp
Talkspace and BetterHelp offer similar remote talk therapy treatment options, but Talkspace also offers telepsychiatry. Each service provides a wide range of rates, with Talkspace being more likely to work with your insurance coverage than BetterHelp.
An online therapy service provides mental health support over the internet, whether that’s over text, video conferencing, online chat, or by phone. It’s just as effective as a traditional therapy appointment, but you get to stay at home.
Especially if it’s hard for you to travel for appointments or you’re committed to physical distancing, online therapy from companies like Talkspace and Betterhelp are a great way to take care of your mental health.
When comparing these two online therapy services we considered the following factors:
- Provider credentials. What are the qualifications of the therapists you could be matched with?
- Company reputation. Is this a service you can trust?
- Customer reviews: How do users feel about their experience with this company?
- Options offered. What types of therapy are available?
- Price range. Is the service budget-friendly or splurge central?
Without further ado, let’s look at some of the key features of these teletherapy services to see how they compare, and which one might be best for you.
| Talkspace | BetterHelp | |
| Price | $208–$396 per month | $200–540 per month |
| # of therapists on staff | 7,000+ | 11,000+ |
| Provider qualifications | Professionals are licensed in their state of practice with at least 3 years of clinical experience. | Choose from psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and board licensed professional counselors. |
| How they match you | You’ll meet with a Matching Agent who will help understand your needs and recommend a list of options. | You’ll answer a questionnaire to be matched automatically with a provider. You can switch therapists at any time. |
| Communication platforms | video, audio, and texting via computer or app | video, audio, and texting via computer or app |
Cost is a major factor when it comes to finding your best therapy option. You want to get the biggest bang for your buck — without compromising on the quality of care.
Talkspace
Talkspace offers three different subscription plans with the option to pay monthly, quarterly, or biannually (and save some dough by bundling):
- Plus: Includes text, video & audio messaging, no live sessions for $208 to $260 per month.
- Premium: Includes text, video & audio messaging, 1 live session for $252–316 per month.
- Ultimate: Includes text, video & audio messaging, 4 live sessions for $316–396 per month.
Talkspace also offers couples and teen counseling plans and might be covered by your insurance. You can call the number on the back of your insurance card to check.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp offers subscription plans from $45 to $120 per week (about $200 to $540 per month), depending on how frequently you pay, your location, and counselor availability.
This subscription includes unlimited messaging and at least one live video chat per week. They also offer financial aid for those who qualify.
Talkspace and BetterHelp have different processes to get you started and to initially assign your therapist.
Talkspace
Talkspace has you chat with a consultation therapist to understand your therapy goals and needs before giving you a list of therapists to choose from. These handpicked options are likely to be a good match, but you still get some choice.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp’s matching process, on the other hand, is automated.
This means you’ll complete a questionnaire explaining what exactly your goals and needs are in terms of mental health support, then you can choose what type of counselor you’d like to work with (as in age, gender, etc), and BetterHelp will match you with a therapist within 24 hours.
Both providers say you can switch therapists at any time.
All therapists on both Talkspace and BetterHelp are licensed professionals.
Many Talkspace reviewers appreciate how, regardless of the plan you have, your therapist will respond to your messages 5 days a week. BetterHelp users, on the other hand, rave about the live chat sessions, emphasizing how quickly the counselors reply.
When it comes to communication platforms, both Talkspace and BetterHelp offer text messaging, video sessions, and live chat, and allow video meetings to take place on both the desktop and app versions. Still, some users seem to prefer BetterHelp for live therapy sessions.
The types of treatment available at Talkspace and BetterHelp are similar. Both of these telehealth services specialize in a variety of issues, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, relationship issues, and substance abuse, among others.
If therapy homework is your thing, you might prefer BetterHelp’s approach. Many of their counselors use worksheets to help you work through specific issues.
However, unlike BetterHelp, Talkspace also offers online psychiatry services. Their psychiatrists can prescribe you with medications to support those with mental health conditions. So, if you’d like to book an appointment with a psychiatrist, Talkspace might be the best option for you.
Both BetterHelp and Talkspace are online therapy platforms that match you with a licensed therapist, and provide therapy services via text, audio, and video sessions.
Talkspace offers telepsychiatry, accepts several insurance plans, and offers student discounts. BetterHelp, on the other hand, will likely be an out-of-pocket expense, but one that comes with awesome live therapy sessions.
