Our 10 Picks of Most Affordable Online Therapy Services

LiveHealth Online is an online health platform offering therapy and psychiatry services. It’s equipped to help individuals with a variety of needs, from reducing anxiety to healing PTSD to managing depression with or without medication. It’s simple and straightforward to use — there are no subscription or sign-up fees, and you can pay as you go. 

For those without insurance, LiveHealth Online is a great deal. At $80 to $95 per 45-minute session, it offers some of the lowest rates in the industry, and you get the low session fee even if you pay as you go. In contrast, some competitors offer comparable rates, but only if you buy a large bundle, such as half a year or a year’s worth of sessions. In other cases, low rates mean shorter sessions. At LiveHealth Online, you can count on a low price for the full 45 minutes without having to commit to sessions at a platform you may or may not get value from. 

Sessions are held over live video, and you won’t have messaging therapy outside of sessions, but this is common practice for most therapists. It also features Spanish-speaking clinicians.

This company accepts a variety of insurance carriers. Out-of-pocket rates are as follows:

• $80 to $95 per 45-minute session
• $175 for an initial psychiatry visit and $75 per follow-up

The user survey indicated that users are largely satisfied with LiveHealth Online in many ways, including affordability and value. 

• 93 percent rated its value for money positively, compared to a 78 percent average
• 70 percent said it was affordable or very affordable, compared to a 54 percent average
• 91 percent rated their therapist qualifications positively, compared to an 84 percent average

Testers who signed up for LiveHealth Online had great things to say: “My therapist was easy to talk to and clearly had experience in delivering online care,” she said. “From a technical standpoint, the format was more user-friendly and consistent than that of some of [its] competitors.” 

Open Path Collective is a mission-driven therapy directory that places inclusivity, including price inclusivity, as one of its most important values. All providers offer the same low rate: $40 to $70 for individual therapy, and $40 to $80 per family or couples’ session. You can also get care from student interns for $30 per session.

Having set, low rates makes the process of finding a therapist much easier. Finding a practitioner you connect with and who has the specializations you want is hard enough. Add financial constraints to that and it can make finding the right fit frustrating and tedious. But if you know you can afford Open Path’s rates, you’ve cut down on one important criterion, making the process faster and easier.

Open Path Collective is a directory, so you’ll find practitioners who offer varying formats like in-person, video, and phone therapy. They each set their own policies. You will find some inexperienced therapists, though, including recently licensed or pre-licensed (supervised) therapists. There are even student interns if you’re open to it, which may be hit or miss. While not ideal, working with a student therapist could still be beneficial if you find the right fit.

To use Open Path, you’ll need to pay a one-time fee of $65 for a lifetime membership. It doesn’t accept insurance because it’s designed for those without it. Per-session rates are as follows:

• Individual therapy: $40 to $70
• Couples or family therapy: $40 to $80
• Therapy with a student intern: $30

Users found Open Path to be affordable without sacrificing quality:

• 77 percent rated the number of therapists who offer flexible payment options as good or very good, compared to a 76 percent average
• 83 percent said they’d still be seeing the same therapist in six months, compared to a 74 percent average
• 83 percent said they would start their search for a therapist there again if needed, compared to an 80 percent average

“Open Path is specifically designed for people who are uninsured or underinsured and for whom the cost of mental health services is a serious barrier to care,” explains Hannah Owens, a licensed social worker and subject matter expert. “No other company we reviewed — including both online therapy platforms and online therapy directories — offers such low session prices. In addition, because of the wide range of specialties and expertise of the providers listed on Open Path, it performed extremely well when we tested 37 different scenarios in which someone might be looking for therapy across 18 ZIP codes. There was an appropriate provider for almost every scenario, making Open Path valuable not just as a low-cost option, but also for meeting a wide range of client needs.”

Talkiatry is an online psychiatry platform that offers stand-alone psychiatry/medication management and a combination of psychiatry and therapy. It’s suited for those needing medications: It doesn’t offer stand-alone therapy. Also, Talkiatry won’t take you on as a patient if it doesn’t accept your insurance. This helps ensure those who get treatment from this company find it affordable.

Its board-certified practitioners are committed to providing high-level service, making it a great value for those who have insurance coverage. Some online psychiatry services can feel like merely a medication dispensary. But Talkiatry offers a more elevated experience. In our user survey, 58 percent said they liked how their prescriber really took their time with them (compared to a 53 percent average), 44 percent said they never made them feel rushed (compared to a 32 percent average), and 35 percent said their prescriber was empathetic and caring (compared to a 28 percent average).

If you need therapy in addition to psychiatry services, your prescriber will make a referral, and you’ll be able to get both at Talkiatry. Psychiatrists use varied approaches like lifestyle intervention and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Some speak multiple languages.

Talkiatry accepts many major insurance plans, and will only take you on as a patient if it accepts yours. Fees for sessions and medication will vary based on your coverage.

Our user survey indicates that users find Talkiatry services to be both affordable and effective:

• 92 percent rated its value for money positively overall, compared to a 78 percent average
• 77 percent found it affordable or very affordable, compared to a 54 percent average
• 95 percent rated it positively overall, compared to an 84 percent on time average

A Talkiatry tester noted that “my appointment began on time and my psychiatrist was very welcoming and created an environment that felt very conversational. ... the initial appointment was sixty minutes long — double how long initial appointments at other companies I’d tried before.”

Amwell is a large online health platform that offers family, couples, kids, and individual therapy at reasonable out-of-pocket rates, plus it accepts most major insurance plans. There’s no subscription involved. You won’t need to prepay for sessions or pay a recurring fee, and you can switch therapists easily if needed. This makes it an affordable, flexible way to get a feel for what works best for the whole family.

At Amwell, you’ll find providers with a variety of backgrounds who can help improve family dynamics. This might look like practicing techniques to communicate without hostility, examining power dynamics, and establishing boundaries. All sessions are 45 minutes long and held over live video. Amwell providers are trained in a variety of techniques, including common ones like cognitive behavioral therapy  (CBT), which helps people identify and replace negative thought patterns, and emotionally focused therapy (EFT), which is often used in family therapy and places emotional awareness and processing front and center in the healing process.

Amwell isn’t subscription based — it’s a pay-as-you-go system. Out-of-pocket costs vary based on the therapist's education levels and the type of session:

• Therapist with master’s degree: $109 per session
• Therapist with doctorate: $129 per session
• Initial psychiatric visit: $279 
• Follow-up psychiatric sessions: $109 per session

It accepts a wide range of insurance plans.

Amwell performed well both in terms of affordability and in quality of care:

• 66 percent said it was affordable or very affordable, compared to a 54 percent average
• 88 percent rated it positively overall, compared to an 84 percent average
• 91 percent rated their therapist’s qualifications positively, compared to an 84 percent average 

One Amwell tester, who signed up for couples therapy, noted: “Our couples therapist was absolutely wonderful. ... We felt very heard and validated by her. She was solution-focused, providing us with ideas and tools we could use to enhance our communication.” 

Mindful Care is an online platform offering group and individual therapy plus psychiatry and medication management at accessible prices. It’s convenient and flexible, offering a choice of full-length individual sessions, short “microtherapy” (20-minute) individual sessions, and nine “MindFit” therapy groups that help with common mental health conditions like PTSD and substance use.

One of the appeals of group therapy is that it’s typically cheaper than individual therapy. Yet It’s not always easy to find good, affordable group therapy online. Many budget options function more as support groups with therapist facilitators or even peer support groups with no therapist present. In certain cases, such groups may be all you need, but other situations require the guidance and expertise of a licensed therapist.

MindFit groups are legitimate therapy groups (based on American Psychological Association standards) with a therapist facilitator who guides participants through evidence-based modalities like CBT and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which is designed to help those who struggle with overwhelming emotions. Having a therapist guiding the group means you’ll learn valuable, transformational tools from a professional while still reaping the benefits of peer support. 

Mindful Care accepts most insurance providers, but self-pay for group therapy is $35 per session. Groups meet once a week for an hour between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. At present, MindFit Groups consist of: 

• CALM (for anxiety)
• RISE (for navigating challenging times)
• HOPE (for depression)
• SHINE (for the LGBTQIA+ community)
• CONNECT (for relationships)
• RECOVER (for substance use)
• WISE (for handling tough emotions)
• BALANCE (for bipolar disorder)
• SAFE (for those with trauma)

Additional services are priced as follows:

• Psychiatry: $175 for an initial evaluation; $75 per 20-minute follow-up
• Individual therapy: $50 for 20-minute sessions; $100 for 40-minute sessions
• Addiction and substance use treatment: $49 per month; includes weekly recovery support, monitoring, group and/or individual therapy, and medication management

Mindful Care has solid ratings among users, who found quality of care to be especially positive:

• 95 percent rated their therapist qualifications positively, compared to an 84 percent average
• 83 percent would recommend it to a friend, compared to a 71 percent average
• 92 percent rated it generally positive, compared to an 84 percent average

One tester said of their group therapy experience at Mindful Care: “I appreciated how there was an opportunity for each participant to check in and give an update on how they were feeling in that present moment at the beginning of each Zoom session. Other participants then had a chance to validate their feelings or share similar experiences.”.

It’s no secret that couples therapy is expensive. There’s typically less insurance coverage for it, and session fees can be steep. Ours is helping to bridge the gap for those who want to proactively work on their relationship, but don’t have hundreds of dollars to spare each week.

With this service, $500 gets you two live sessions with a guide (a couples therapist) and four self-guided sessions to complete together, which consist of presentations, games, exercises, and text boxes where you can answer questions. Your guide will receive those answers and will be available to discuss them between sessions via email.

The program is based on CBT and the Gottman Method, one of the most highly researched couples’ counseling techniques. It involves addressing communication, creating shared meaning, and finding alternatives to criticism and contempt. Ours isn’t just for engaged couples: It’s appropriate for couples at any stage in a relationship. However, its focus on evidence-based tools, practicality, efficiency, and fun make it great for those preparing for marriage. 

The Ours experience will cost you $500 for a four-week program consisting of two live therapist-guided sessions and four self-guided ones.

You can test things out for $50, which gets you the first two sessions. However, if you continue, you’ll need to pay $450, making it a $500 program.

Ours doesn’t accept insurance, but it’s rare for insurance to pay for couples therapy. The company does offer a money-back guarantee, however.

Users found Ours was sufficient at meeting their needs, especially for the price:

• 79 percent rated its value for money positively, compared to a 78 percent average
• 78 percent said its providers met all or most of their needs, compared to a 77 percent average
• 86 percent said it was better than services used on the past, which is exactly average

A tester noted: “From the simple intake form that thoughtfully inquired into my relationship to meeting my guide to completing the Loveware session, I felt seen by this company and confident that my guide would still be at Ours if we decided to continue after the four-week program.” 

ReGain is a platform that’s designed specifically for relationships. Couples can choose from a pool of over 12,000 therapists across the country who offer live video, phone, or chat sessions, plus messaging between sessions, which can help you make the most of your money. To get started, you’ll fill out a questionnaire and get matched with a therapist. And while you can’t pick your initial therapist, you can easily switch and pick a new provider if you need to. 

For couples who want affordable, ongoing couples therapy that goes deep, ReGain is an excellent choice. With such a large pool of providers, you’ll have practitioners with a wide variety of skills, experience, and specialties to choose from. Therapists use tools like psychodynamic therapy (which explores the deeper reasons for thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) and trauma-focused therapy (which can address how past experiences are influencing the present). Finding the right match can make a big difference in getting value from therapy.

ReGain doesn’t have a set pricing structure. Cost varies by factors like availability, demand, and location. This might frustrate some, but keep in mind that even at $360 per month ($90 per session plus messaging), it’s more affordable than many other options. 

ReGain costs between $240 and $360+ per month, depending on location, availability, and demand. This gets you four live sessions plus messaging between sessions. It doesn’t accept insurance.

Users found ReGain to be a great resource for finding experienced, effective counseling at an affordable price:

• 80 percent rated its value for money positively, compared to a 78 percent average
• 88 percent rated their therapist’s qualifications positively, compared to an 84 percent average
• 49 percent said they would still be seeing the same therapist in six months, compared to a 42 percent average

One tester said: “The therapist we ended up meeting with was professional, listened to us, and was able to meet our needs. She worked with us to create goals based on our experiences and provided us with worksheets and activities that fit in with those needs.”

Talkspace is one of the oldest and most well-known online therapy platforms. It has a huge network of clinicians across the country who treat individuals, couples, and teens. It’s equipped to serve people with diverse needs and preferences and who respond to different modalities. Overall, it’s a solid platform with a broad appeal.

Its most cost-effective plan is messaging only. This starts at $69 per week without insurance and gets you unlimited, 24/7 messaging with guaranteed therapist responses five days a week. While messaging therapy isn’t sufficient to treat complex issues, it can be enough to support you until you can afford live sessions. Plus, if you’re someone who has social anxiety or who is unable to have privacy in a live session, messaging therapy might actually be a better choice for you.

Plans with live sessions cost more, and without insurance, they can be pretty pricey. In terms of affordability, Talkspace works best with the messaging plan. That said, you can always start there and upgrade your plan later or try the higher tiers and downgrade when money gets tight.

You have your pick of three plans with Talkspace:

• Messaging therapy: Includes unlimited messaging with guaranteed therapist responses five days a week and starts at $69 per week
• Live therapy: Includes four live therapy sessions a month via live chat, phone, or video call and starts at $99 per week
• Live + messaging therapy: Includes both messaging and four live sessions and starts at $129 per week

Psychiatry/medication management is an add-on service you sign up for separately. The initial 20- to 90-minute evaluation costs $249. Follow-up appointments are $125 each. 

Talkspace accepts a variety of insurance plans.

Users found Talkspace to provide quality care overall and were largely satisfied with the services provided:

• 90 percent rated it positively overall, compared to an 84 percent average
• 92 percent rated their therapist’s qualifications positively, compared to an 84 percent average
• 82 percent would recommend it to a friend, compared to a 71 percent average

A tester noted that: “Talkspace stands out among its competitors in providing personalized and affordable talk therapy and psychiatry services.”

Teladoc is a telemedicine platform that offers mental health services in addition to primary care, dermatology, pediatrics, nutrition counseling, and more. It makes taking care of yourself and your family easier by offering a variety of virtual services and accepting a large range of insurance providers to keep things accessible.

Whether you need psychiatry and medication management services, couples counseling, or therapy for your teen, Teladoc delivers. Therapists are trained in a variety of modalities, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which emphasizes responding to challenges more functionally, and accelerated resolution therapy (ART), which is a rapid technique for healing trauma. Sessions are held over the phone or live video and last a full hour, which is longer than at many competitors. 

In our survey, 82 percent of users said Teladoc accepted their insurance, which is more than any other therapy company reviewed. It’s rare to have such high rates because, for a lot of reasons, the majority of therapists don’t accept insurance. 

As noted, Teladoc is best for those with insurance. However, if you pay out of pocket, you’ll still have reasonable rates:

• $99 per therapy session
• $299 for initial psychiatry consultation; $119 per session for follow-ups

Teladoc was one of our highest-performing platforms overall in the user satisfaction survey:

• 97 percent rated it positively overall, the highest rating of all companies surveyed
• 87 percent rated its value for money positively, compared to a 78 percent average
• 82 percent of users with insurance said Teladoc accepted it, versus a 54 percent average

A tester noted: “While the therapists I tried were different from one another in their individual styles and approaches, they both felt qualified, warm, caring, and attentive to my needs. They were available at times that suited my busy schedule, responded to my messages quickly, and worked to accommodate my needs.”

Inclusive Therapists is a directory that offers culturally inclusive practitioners who treat adults, kids, families, couples, and groups, and both therapy and psychiatry/medication management. Therapy seekers have all sorts of search filters to use when looking for a therapist, including sexual identity, cultural knowledge, immigration background, therapeutic approaches, and much more, which makes finding someone you’re comfortable with easier. You can even search by the therapist’s racial, cultural, religious, and gender identity or by focus. The list of focuses includes disability justice, fat liberation, neurodivergence, racial justice, trans justice, polyamorous-positive, gender-affirming care, and indigenous healing. 

This directory has a range of financial search options too. You can search for clinicians who offer sliding scale rates and select the dollar range you’re looking for. It’s also easy to search by the insurance you have. This, combined with the cultural inclusivity aspect, makes it an accessible option for budget-minded therapy-goers seeking a therapist who understands them — because a therapist who isn’t sensitive to your culture or identity may be worse than no therapist at all.

Therapy format, length, and frequency will depend on the provider you choose. As a directory, its function is to help you find a practitioner. Once you’ve connected with them, you’ll handle all logistical arrangements with them directly. 

Since Inclusive Therapists is a directory, each provider will have their own plans, policies, and rates. To find affordable therapists, use the Sliding-Scale/Low-Cost Options or Insurance filters. You can narrow the sliding scale options down to exact amounts using the additional search filters.

User reviews indicate that Inclusive Therapists is a solid directory:

• 79 percent said they were satisfied with the number of therapists who offered payment options like sliding scale and low rates, compared to a 76 percent average
• 81 percent were satisfied or very satisfied with the therapist options, versus an 80 percent average
• 73 percent said it was better than services used in the past, compared to a 70 percent average

One tester noted: “Based on my own experience as a Black woman who was once a therapy novice trying to find a biracial Black clinician, I see the value in this directory. Having a directory that allowed me to narrow my search to the very specific needs I had at that time would have saved me hours and minimized the stress I was already experiencing.”