As online therapy gains popularity, the number of platforms providing these services has also increased. Currently, Talkspace is amongst the top names in providing therapy and psychiatric services online. However, the prices may be a turn-off for many.
If you search for Talkspace competitors, the first name to appear is BetterHelp. There are free options as well like 7 Cups that offer confidential community support, or Teen Counseling for 13 to 19 year old’s and ReGain for relationship issues.
Even though they are cheaper than regular in-person therapy, Talkspace can still be out of budget for some. So, if you are looking for more affordable Talkspace alternatives, keep on reading.
Top 10 Competitors Of Talkspace
If Talkspace is not available in your country or the prices are too high for you, here are some Talkspace alternatives you can try out.
1. BetterHelp
BetterHelp is a name that is equally popular and has a large network like Talkspace. The platform also aims at making therapy accessible to all and removing the stigma around it.
They have over 12000 licensed counselors onboard to help you find the best match for you.
The platform helps tackle mental health issues such as anxiety and depression and specializes in areas like parenting, relationships, addiction, grief, eating disorder, life transitions, etc.
USP: It has a huge network of licensed therapists, so you can find the one who is best for your needs.
Prices: $60 to $90 per week.
Available Services: Individual therapy, couple therapy, and family counseling.
Average Ratings: 4.8/ 5 on Appstore, 3.7/ 5 on play store.
2. Online-Therapy.com
If you are looking for therapeutic approaches that are more action based. Their services are provided through video, phone calls, or live chats; just like Talkspace, only their approach to solving issues is different.
The platform helps shift the negative thought process of the patient and helps them think in a more realistic and positive way. Their services are proven to solve issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders.
Moreover, if you ever need to cancel your session, you can notify your provider 24 hours earlier and book another date without losing a penny.
USP: Uses cognitive behavioral approach to solve your problems.
Prices: $50 to $110 per week.
Available Services: worksheets, activity plan, virtual journal, individual and couple sessions.
Average Ratings: They have an average of 4.5/5 ratings on their website.
3. 7 Cups
We often go through emotional lows when all we need is someone to talk to. In such cases, going straight for therapy can be costly, both in terms of money and time.
7 Cups solves that problem by providing a community-based platform where you can connect with users and share your emotions without disclosing your identity. You can enter chat rooms and message boards or get free support from trained listers who volunteer their time to listen to you.
However, trained listeners can only listen to your problems and provide emotional support and can not help you with serious mental health issues. The best they can do is suggest you a licensed therapist available on the platform.
USP: Provides free and confidential community-based emotional support.
Best if you want to anonymously vent difficult or painful emotions, want confidential advice from someone who has experienced a similar situation, or are trying to deal with mild mental health symptoms.
Prices: Free (for community chats), $150 per month (for therapy).
Available Services: Group chats, one-on-one chats, individual therapies that include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal exercises, and mindfulness techniques.
Average Ratings: They have an online rating of 4.6/5.
4. SonderMind
If you are looking for a hybrid option where you can choose between virtual and in-person therapy, then SonderMind can help you with that. The best part, unlike Talkspace or BetterHelp, they take insurance.
You start by answering an in-depth questionnaire on their platform, and based on your answers, they will match you with a licensed therapist in your area. You get to choose whether you want your sessions to be virtual or in-person, making it very flexible.
The time they take to match you with a therapist can be anywhere between 24 to 48 hours.
USP: One-stop solution for both virtual and in-person therapy.
Prices: $75- $175 per session.
Available Services: Video telehealth sessions and in-person sessions for individuals.
Average Ratings: They have a rating of 3.8/5 on Glassdoor and an A- rating with Better Business Bureau.
5. Teen Counseling
Teen Counseling, as the name suggests is an online therapy platform that is specifically for teenagers (13 to 19). Most other options in this list may require the person to be 18 or above, so this platform can be a perfect alternative if the person is underage.
Their therapy and counseling sessions focus on areas like anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and relationship with the caregiver. They provide their services through a secure, HIPAA- approved platform that is convenient yet maintains confidentiality.
Therefore, if you are a parent looking for online therapy and counseling support for their young ones, this is a good option.
USP: Specializes in helping teenagers transition into adulthood by overcoming any sort of childhood trauma.
Prices: $60 to $90 per week (billed every four weeks).
Available Services: Individual counseling and therapy sessions through messaging, live chat, phone sessions, or video calls. Therapies include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT),
- Mindfulness-based approaches,
- Mentalization-based therapy (MBT),
- Psychodynamic therapy,
- Supportive therapy
Average Ratings: 4.7/5 on the App store (based on 3000+ reviews), 4.8/5 on their website.
6. Amwell
Amwell is a telemedicine platform providing a range of healthcare services that also includes mental health. The platform provides counseling sessions for individuals to deal with issues like anxiety, depression, grief, and other mild issues.
The platform offers counsel for a range of issues, such as OCD, LGBTQA+, panic attacks, insomnia, PTSD, stress management, etc.
Moreover, the platform accepts major insurance plans such as Medicare and Medicaid.
USP: Provides a similar experience to Talkspace but is more affordable due to the acceptance of insurance.
Prices: $85 to $129 per session.
Available Services: Counseling sessions and psychiatric care on a range of subjects.
Average Ratings: They claim to have a 4.9/5 rating on their website.
7. Cerebral
Cerebral is primarily a therapy and medication management company that later diversified into providing mental health care.
Their platform is extremely user-friendly and helps people deal with mild to moderate issues like insomnia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
USP: Cerebral mainly provides therapy and medication management. They offer subscription plans that include medication and care plans.
It can be covered by certain insurance policies, but if not, then the monthly membership plans are there too.
Prices: $99/ month (medication + care management), $325/month (medication + therapy), and therapy-only plan for $259/ month.
Available Services: Medication (excluding stimulants and controlled substances), care management services, and therapeutic services.
Average Ratings: 4.0/5 on Trustpilot.
8. ReGain
Maintaining a long-term healthy relationship is difficult but can be made easier with the help of therapy. If you are looking for online therapy for couples, Regain is a platform that specializes in that subject.
It is an online relationship counseling platform that focuses on relationship and marriage therapy along with regular individual therapy. You can book solo or couples appointments and take guidance from accredited therapists and psychologists.
Mostly it is done through text chats, but you can also sign up for video or phone calls.
USP: Specialized counseling and therapy sessions for couples.
Prices: $60 to $90 per week.
Available Services: Individual and couples therapies on subjects like attachment, dating, divorce, domestic violence, intimacy, marriage, parenting, conflict resolution, setting boundaries, etc.
Average Ratings: 4.7/5 on the App store (2900+ reviews)
9. MDLIVE
MDLIVE is a general-purpose medical help platform that also provides psychotherapy and psychiatric care. However, it is for people with mild struggles only.
The only way of communication here is through videoconference, so if you are looking for a chat option, you can skip this platform. However, you can choose to turn off the camera if you want to continue only through audio.
USP: You get a solid 45 mins long call with the therapist without any interruption. They accepts insurance like Regence, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Independence, and AvMed.
Prices: $108- $284 per session.
Available Services: A range of therapies starting from CBT, emotion-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing to dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
Average Ratings: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot, Google Play, and App store.
10. DoMental
On this platform, you can connect with your therapist regularly over text and audio messages.
To get started with DoMental, first, you have to take a mental health survey which will help them understand your requirements. Within 2 hours of signing up and creating an account, they will assign a clinically certified therapist.
Based on the quiz, the platform will make a personalized roadmap for you, which is great if you are an absolute beginner to therapies.
USP: Can be used anonymously. Very affordable and can be covered by insurance. Focuses on evidence-based therapy and uses proven techniques like CBT and mindfulness.
Prices: $29 to $47 per week.
Available Services: An array of therapies to tackle mild mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia, eating disorder, relationship counseling, etc.
Average Ratings: 2.5/5 on Trustpilot (23 ratings)
Some Drawbacks Of Talkspace: Why You Need Alternatives?
If you have not tried Talkspace yet and are looking for alternatives just to draw a comparison, then these are some downsides of the platform you should know about.
Besides, these drawbacks can be the reason for you to consider Talkspace competitors.
High Chances of Miscommunication
Online therapy platforms leave a lot of room for miscommunication. In the case of video sessions, the chances can be comparatively reduced, but if the patient chooses to communicate over chat, it can lead to misunderstandings and wrong diagnoses.
Limited Availability
Even though Talkspace claims to have its chat services open 24*7, the experts still may take their time to respond. It is not ideal for immediate support. Besides, the patient can not schedule sessions outside the platform’s available hours, drafting the purpose of flexibility.
No Insurance Coverage
The cost of therapy on Talkspace may be cheaper than most regular in-person therapies, but it still can be out of budget for some. Unfortunately, they can not take the help of health insurance either since the platform does not accept insurance coverage.
No Scope Of Personalization
Unlike many online therapy platforms, Talkspace won’t let you pick therapists of your choice. The algorithm will review your requirements and match the best available expert.
It kills the scope of getting personalized plans and can be a turn-off as you are the one paying.
Final Thoughts
If you are a beginner to online mental health therapy and have mild symptoms, you can start with free platforms or with insurance coverage. For specific concerns like relationships or transitioning from teen to adult, referring to more specialized platforms is a better choice.
However, choose online therapy only if serious restraints keep you from going for regular therapy. None of these platforms, including Talkspace, is preferable for emergency cases or severe mental health disorders. Especially if you need to take the help of controlled substances, in-person therapy is the only option.
She is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Writer with a decade of expertise in psychology. Skilled in assessment, therapy, and patient care. Committed to helping individuals through clinical practice and mental health writing at Therapyjourney.co. Passionate about promoting mental well-being and awareness. Open to aligned opportunities.