5 Best Affordable Online Therapy Options Of 2023

To determine the best affordable online therapy providers of 2023, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed a wide variety of data points, including:

• Price per session
• Weekly and monthly subscription plans
• Quality of therapists
• Registration process
• Insurance options
• Availability of free initial consultations
• Therapist selection options
• Therapist availability
• Communication modes
• Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot ratings

All star rankings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Read more about our online therapy review methodology.

Online therapy, sometimes called teletherapy or virtual therapy, is a way to receive counseling or psychotherapy without meeting a therapist in person. While it’s often conducted via video, online therapy can also include texting, instant messaging or phone calls with a therapist.

Some clients seek online therapy through integrated platforms like Talkspace and Betterhelp, while others find providers through their insurance networks.

Due to lockdowns and stay-at-home orders during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, many therapists started offering sessions online, allowing researchers an opportunity to further observe the efficacy of virtual therapy.

Findings from various studies support teletherapy as an effective form of mental health care. And according to a survey from the American Psychology Association conducted after the start of the pandemic, most therapists feel moderately positive about teletherapy and are likely to continue offering it in the future.

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What Is Affordable Therapy?

Affordable therapy can provide mental health care without the typical high price that may accompany traditional therapy with a private provider. Seeking any kind of help, even if it’s not your ideal form of therapy, is “definitely better than nothing,” says Ashley Castro, Ph.D., New York-based co-founder and executive director of Therapy4thePeople, an organization that helps people of color and those struggling financially to find mental health care.

Remote and app-based services—which often come at a lower cost than in-person sessions—make therapy more readily available, too, adds Maeve O’Neill, the executive vice president of addiction and recovery at All Sober based in Virginia. “They can help individuals to get started with care that they otherwise would not,” she says.

Pros and Cons of Affordable Therapy

Benefits of online and/or affordable therapy include:

• Lower costs
• Potential relief of finance-triggered anxiety and stress
• Possible convenience and flexibility of online/text sessions
• May have quicker turnaround in seeing a therapist online or via telehealth
• Anonymity for the patient could be offered

Downsides of online and/or affordable therapy include:

• Potential cap on the number of sessions available
• Telehealth or apps may feel impersonal
• May be ill-equipped for long-term treatment
• May not be ideal for treating more complex issues, such as serious depression, longstanding trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia

Virtual mental health care often costs less than traditional in-person therapy sessions. According to Lorandini, the price of online therapy ranges from about $65 to $129 per session out-of-pocket. Compare this to in-person therapy, which typically costs about $100 to $200 per session.

Lorandini also notes that some providers charge flat rate fees for virtual services, while others have tiered pricing based on the type of services provided. “It is important to understand what costs will be incurred before deciding to pursue virtual mental health care,” she says.

In the end, what you pay will largely depend on your insurance coverage and the provider you choose.

How to Save Money on Online Therapy

Several options are available to reduce the cost of online therapy, including insurance, services offered on a sliding scale and community-based resources.

By law, insurance companies are required to offer mental health coverage in the same way as medical health coverage. Still, insurers are not required by law to provide mental health benefits (just that the two services are treated equally). If your health insurance covers mental health services, you may be only required to pay a portion of the total service fee. However, if your mental health provider is out-of-network, you may have to pay the full fee out of pocket.

Health insurance plans provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid include mental health benefits. Before selecting a therapist, check your plan’s description of services covered to find whether it includes mental health coverage and to understand your in-network and out-of-network costs.

Another option for minimizing the cost of online therapy is to find a provider that offers sessions on a sliding scale. The cost of sliding scale therapy is often determined by the individual’s financial resources to make sessions more affordable.

Other avenues for affordable therapy include resources such as chat lines and community support groups. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers free, peer-led support groups nationwide for adults with symptoms of a mental health condition. As a plus, many NAMI support groups offer virtual attendance. Additionally, NAMI offers a HelpLine that can be accessed via telephone, text or virtual chat.

Online therapy offers the following merits:

Accessibility: One of the main advantages of online therapy is that it increases access to mental health care. Many people struggle to find a therapist due to the limited number of providers in their insurance network that are also within driving distance. In fact, as of September 2022, more than 156 million Americans live in a mental health care professional shortage area^[1]Mental health care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Kaiser Family Foundation. Accessed 1/9/2022. .

“Virtual mental health care may be more accessible than traditional in-person therapy due to its location flexibility and convenience,” says Jeanette Lorandini, a licensed clinical social worker and owner and director of Suffolk DBT in New York.

So instead of being limited to therapists in their city or town, teletherapy clients may receive services from any therapist that is licensed in their state.

Finding a better fit: The fact that online therapy widens the net of access to more providers also means clients can be pickier when it comes to selecting their therapist. Research shows that finding a good match in a mental health professional can directly affect therapy outcomes.

This can be especially beneficial for clients of certain demographics. For example, an ex-military service member may wish to receive care from a therapist who specializes in helping veterans. A sexual assault survivor may need to work with a therapist who is trauma-informed.

With online therapy, clients are able to prioritize the attributes they’re looking for in a therapist rather than being limited to providers in their neighborhood and insurance network.

Comfort and privacy: While there is some concern among therapists about building rapport in an online setting, some clients may actually prefer the virtual format because it allows them to open up to someone from the comfort of their own home.

Some clients also enjoy the privacy that online therapy sessions grants. Rather than having to commute to a provider’s office and sit in their waiting room each week, clients can remain confidential with greater certainty.

“Many virtual platforms provide end-to-end encryption for added safety and confidentiality of patient information,” Lorandini adds.

For homebound or mobility-impaired clients, online therapy offers more than comfort. “Those with disabilities or limited mobility may find virtual care more accessible than traditional in- person services,” Lorandini says.

Is Online Therapy Cheaper Than In-Person Therapy?

The median cost of a 60-minute in-person therapy session in the U.S. in 2018 was $130, according to a report by SimplePractice, a management system for mental health practitioners^[2]Psychotherapy session rates by state & city: 2018. SimplePractice. Accessed 5/18/2023. . Meanwhile, online therapy services—including services that made our list—are able to offer therapy sessions ranging as low as $65 to $99.

The question of whether insurance covers teletherapy depends on your provider and the state you live.

“Physician reimbursement for virtual care services vary and are not always covered by insurance plans like traditional medical visits would be,” says Lorandini. “It is important to check with one’s provider or insurer prior to receiving care.”

When the pandemic hit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adjusted their Medicaid policies to cover telehealth.

Medicare has removed many restrictions on its coverage of telemedicine permanently. This means qualifying Medicare patients can receive teletherapy anywhere in the U.S.

Many private employers have followed suit, with more than eight out of 10 expanding their virtual health services during the pandemic and more than half (62%) planning to maintain those changes^[3]2021 Plan Design Survey: Employer perspectives on the health care landscape. Business Group on Health. Accessed 1/9/2023. .

“Chatting with the [online therapy] website’s customer support or contacting your provider to double-check can also be helpful,” says Lorandini.

There are several affordable therapy options for various concerns and financial needs. Here are some commonly accessible outlets:

Telehealth and Mobile Apps

Telehealth, text therapy and mobile app interfaces are becoming increasingly popular forms of mental health care. The offerings are typically less expensive than traditional psychotherapy, but still show “equivalent outcomes to the standard once-a-week therapy appointment,” says Bill Hudenko, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Lyme, New Hampshire, and global head of Mental Health at K Health.

O’Neill recommends Sondermind and Cerebral, which connect individuals to affordable therapists. Other popular telehealth platforms include LiveHealth, Talkspace and BetterHelp, which pair you with a therapist on its platforms to chat via text or video.

Therapy Through Work or School

Castro suggests checking whether your work or school provides discounted therapy options. College students and employees may have access to a counselor through the school; however, there is typically a cap on the number of sessions you can have with that counselor.

Free mental health services are becoming more common in schools even before college, adds Castro. “There’s a lot of barriers that are eliminated when kids can go to a therapist right in their school.”

Training Clinics

Before becoming licensed, mental health providers typically offer services for free or at a reduced cost as part of their licensing training. Castro recommends looking for schools for psychologists and master’s level clinicians in your area to see what they might offer.

Sliding Scale Therapy

There is also the chance of finding a private practice therapist who offers sessions on a sliding scale, which means the cost per session is based on your financial resources. They may even offer some free slots, according to Castro.

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, for example, can help you find a local therapist who offers in-person and online sessions between $30 and $60.

Affordable Therapy Alternatives

“Given that there is a therapist shortage and so much demand for mental health services, I do encourage people to explore non-therapy alternatives,” says Castro. She suggests looking into resources like chat lines, peer support groups and guided self-help apps, which tend to be free or low-cost. You can also try activities like meditation or yoga to cope with minor anxiety.

These alternatives may end up suiting your needs while you wait for a therapy appointment, especially if your symptoms or concerns are on the milder side. But even if they don’t wholly address your worries, Castro still recommends checking them out, as they could serve as a helpful tool. Contact a professional if depression consumes your day-to-day, and if suicidal thoughts develop, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

• EAPs: Some companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), which are usually third-party mental health services accessible through human resources. EAPs help employees resolve personal issues related to health, wellness and productivity through counseling.
• Student health centers: Many colleges and universities offer free or low cost mental health services to students through campus health centers. Some partner with telehealth platforms as well, making services digitally accessible.
• Health nonprofits and community clinics: Some organizations can connect you with therapists who volunteer their time. Search for “health non-profits” and the name of your location.
• Support groups: Online support groups are often free and provide a supportive environment for people experiencing various life challenges. These top online support group platforms can help you find an appropriate group.

“While many forms of traditional counseling can be adapted to an online setting, not all therapies are suitable for a virtual environment,” says Lorandini. “It is important to research whether or not the type of therapy being offered through virtual services is appropriate for you or your family member’s individual needs.”

For instance, the experiences of clients and efficacy of online therapy when it comes to relational therapy (such as marriage therapy) is not as well known. So, some clients may find in-person interactions more valuable in this scenario.

However, cognitive behavioral therapy, a popular modality that is effective for depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, and other forms of mental illness, is e a good modality for teletherapy.

It’s also important to research a provider’s credentials. “Not all counselors on these websites are licensed therapists, but it is usually indicated if they are and what their level of education is,” says Lorandini. “You may choose from counselors, licensed therapists, psychologists with master’s degrees, psychologists with doctorates and psychiatrists.”

“It may be helpful to interview potential providers and ask questions about their qualifications before committing to a particular therapist or practice,” she adds.

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