BetterHelp vs Talkspace
· Facts checked October 29, 2026
If you have health insurance, check Talkspace first: it is in-network with many major plans and Medicare, and says most insured members pay a $0 copay. Without insurance, Talkspace's self-pay plans start at $69 a week, and BetterHelp's FAQ gives $50 to $90 a week. For a teenager aged 13 to 17, choose Talkspace; BetterHelp itself is not for minors.
What we checked, on October 29, 2026: BetterHelp's homepage, FAQ, insurance and psychiatry pages; Talkspace's homepage and FAQ; both US App Store listings, including price lists, privacy labels and ratings; and the Federal Trade Commission's 2023 announcement about BetterHelp. What we did not do: we did not sign up, get matched or have a session with either service. How fast matching was, how good the therapists were and how often they replied are all outside this page, and on both services they depend on the therapist you get.
The comparison table
| BetterHelp | Talkspace | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-pay price | $50 to $90 a week, billed every 4 weeks (FAQ); $70 to $100 a week (insurance page) | From $69 a week |
| Insurance | In-network with select plans in many states; average copays $0 to $26 by insurer | In-network with many major plans; "most insured members have a $0 copay" |
| Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE | Not accepted for therapy; its psychiatry page lists Medicare | Medicare, Medicare Advantage and TRICARE listed |
| Who you see | Counselors, psychologists, social workers or therapists with 3+ years of experience | A therapist licensed in your state |
| Ways to talk | Messages, live chat, phone, video, free group seminars | Live sessions by video, voice or chat; unlimited text, audio and video messages |
| Medication | Separate psychiatry service; no controlled substances | Psychiatry and medication management |
| Teens | Not for minors | Ages 13 to 17 |
| App Store label: data "used to track you" | Location, usage data | None listed |
| App Store rating | 4.8 (150,182 ratings) | 4.8 (47,293 ratings) |
Every cell comes from the two companies' own pages and US App Store listings on October 29, 2026, linked under Sources. Where you live moves the price, and prices change often. Joyful, which is ours, is not a therapy service and is not in this table.
- BetterHelp may suit you better if: you're paying yourself and want free live group seminars alongside therapy.
- Talkspace may suit you better if: you want to use insurance or Medicare, or the person needing help is 13 to 17.
Cost and insurance
With insurance, start with Talkspace. Paying yourself, the two are close enough that the quote for your state decides it.
BetterHelp gives two ranges on two pages. Its FAQ says therapy costs $50 to $90 a week, billed every 4 weeks, based on the typical sign-up price in the last 6 months.1 The comparison chart on its insurance page says $70 to $100 a week for a subscription.2
Both are probably right, for different people.
It now takes insurance too, with select Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and other plans, state by state, and lists average copays from $0 to $26 a session depending on the insurer.2 Two catches. With insurance, chat sessions, groups and some self-help tools may be limited, and its therapists do not accept Medicaid, Medicare or TRICARE.2
Talkspace's network includes Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and TRICARE among many major plans, and Medicare as well, and it says most insured members pay a $0 copay; self-pay plans begin at $69 a week.3
Who you'll talk to
Both use licensed professionals. The difference is in how each describes its relationship with them.
BetterHelp says every therapist is a counselor, psychologist, social worker or therapist with a relevant degree, at least 3 years of experience and professional credentials.1 They are independent providers rather than employees, and BetterHelp says it does not oversee them professionally.1 Talkspace's line is shorter: your provider is credentialed and licensed in your state.3
Whichever you pick, look your therapist up with your state's licensing board. If the fit is wrong, ask to switch; both say you can.1,3
How sessions work
Messaging isn't live on either one. For a real-time conversation, book a session.
BetterHelp offers four ways to talk, messages, live chat, phone and video,1 and its homepage also lists free access to 20+ weekly live group seminars led by therapists.4
Talkspace has live sessions by video, voice or chat, plus unlimited text, video and audio messages, and your therapist replies "within a day or two, five days per week."3
Medication and psychiatry
Both offer medication support now.
If you take, or might need, a controlled medicine, ask before you sign up, because BetterHelp's psychiatry service rules them out.
A BetterHelp therapist can't prescribe.1 Its separate psychiatry page connects you with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, who prescribe from a list of common medications and do not prescribe controlled substances; the average copay with insurance is $26.5 Talkspace says it connects you with a psychiatric provider within a week, for an evaluation, prescription and ongoing care.3
Teens
For a teenager, it's Talkspace, the one of these two that offers therapy for ages 13 to 17.3
BetterHelp's FAQ says it is not the right service if you are a minor.1
Privacy, and the FTC's 2023 order
If privacy is your top concern, read both privacy policies before you answer the intake questions, because those answers are exactly what the FTC case was about.
The Federal Trade Commission charged that BetterHelp shared people's email addresses, IP addresses and health questionnaire answers with Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising.6 Its order, finalized in July 2023, bans BetterHelp from sharing health data for advertising, and BetterHelp paid $7.8 million toward partial refunds.6
Today BetterHelp says messages are encrypted and its platform is HITRUST r2 certified,1 but its App Store label still lists location and usage data as data that may be used to track you across other companies' apps and websites.7
Talkspace's label lists nothing used to track you, though it lists data linked to you for its own marketing.8 Developers report these labels themselves, and Apple doesn't verify them.
Where Joyful fits
Joyful is ours, and it is not therapy. No therapist reads what you say, and it can't prescribe or treat anything. If you need a therapist, use one of these two, or the free and low-cost routes in BetterHelp alternatives.
It's for the week between sessions. You talk with Joy or write, and guided CBT entries such as the thought record take one thought at a time. A meta-analysis of 17 studies tied more between-session practice in CBT to better results,9 and you can bring an entry summary to your next session.
How to switch
Inside either service, you can change therapists.1,3 If you move between the two, we'd add one step: ask your current therapist for a short summary of your work together, and bring it to your first session on the new service so you don't start from nothing.
Before your first session, write down three things: what has been hardest lately, when it started, and what you'd like to be different in two months.
Answer this with JoyQuestions people ask
Which is better, Talkspace or BetterHelp?
Ask how you'll pay first. Insurance, Medicare, a teenager, or medication alongside therapy points to Talkspace. Paying yourself and wanting free group seminars points to BetterHelp.
Is BetterHelp a shady company?
We can't answer "shady," but we can say what's on the record. The FTC's 2023 order is real, and so are its therapists' licenses.6,1 What we couldn't check, on either service, is how good your particular therapist will be.
Is there a better option than BetterHelp?
It depends on what "better" means for you. Possibly cheaper: an in-network therapist if you're insured, or a sliding-scale clinic if you're not. Covered by Medicare: Talkspace.3 Free or low-cost: see BetterHelp alternatives, which lists EAPs, health centers and training clinics.
How reputable is Talkspace?
Its providers are licensed in your state, it says, and it is in-network with major insurers and Medicare; its site also tells you not to use it in a life-threatening situation, and to call 988 instead.3
Can BetterHelp or Talkspace help in a crisis?
No. BetterHelp says it is not for urgent crises or emergencies, and Talkspace says to call 988 instead.1,3 In the US, call or text 988, any time.
The verdict
Choose Talkspace if you have insurance or Medicare, or are looking for a teen. Choose BetterHelp if you're paying yourself and want free group seminars, or its quote for your state is lower. Both now offer medication support, so ask each one about the medicine you take. Use Joyful, which is ours, between sessions, not instead of them.