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    Online therapy services compared: BetterHelp, Talkspace, Cerebral

    As of 11 October 2026, BetterHelp listed $50–$90 a week and was rolling out insurance coverage. Talkspace listed $69–$99 a week self-pay and says most insured members pay a $0 copay.[1][2][3][4] BetterHelp and Cerebral have both settled FTC cases over sharing health data for advertising, and Cerebral no longer prescribes controlled substances.[5][6][7]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated ExplainerMental health, Health and medicine

    This guide compares large US online therapy services using their published prices, insurance information, ownership, and the findings of federal regulators. Figures are as of 11 October 2026. Prices change often, so check the provider before you sign up.

    How this guide works: ContentLora does no hands-on testing. We did not sign up for, use or pay for any of these services. We compare what the companies publish and what regulators and court records say, and cite every figure. We have no affiliate links and receive nothing from any company listed.

    This guide is not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about what kind of care you need. These services are not for emergencies. In a crisis, call or text 988 in the US, call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or see findahelpline.com.[8]

    At a glance

    ServiceOwnerSelf-pay price (as of 11 Oct 2026)InsuranceRegulator actions
    BetterHelpTeladoc Health[2]$50–$90 a week, billed every 4 weeks[1]Nationwide insurance rollout under way in 2026[2]FTC order (2023): $7.8 million; ban on sharing health data for ads[5]
    TalkspaceUniversal Health Services (since 17 Aug 2026)[9]$69 a week (messaging), $99 a week (video + messaging); psychiatry $299 first visit, $175 follow-up[3]Bills plans directly; lists Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, TRICARE, BCBS, Medicare and Medicare Advantage[4]None found in the federal sources we checked
    CerebralCerebral, Inc.Could not be verified: the pricing page blocked automated accessCould not be verifiedFTC order (2024) on data use and cancellation; DOJ non-prosecution agreement (2024)[6][7]

    Not covered: Brightside, and insurers’ own virtual networks. We could not open Brightside’s pricing pages to verify figures. Insurer networks vary by plan, so check your insurer’s directory or member services.

    BetterHelp

    BetterHelp’s FAQ gave a price range of $50 to $90 a week, billed every four weeks, and said the price depends on location, source, preferences and therapist availability.[1] In its July 2026 results, Teladoc said demand for insurance-covered sessions outpaced provider capacity and that it had accelerated the nationwide insurance rollout. BetterHelp segment revenue fell 12% to $212.6 million in the second quarter.[2]

    Regulator findings. The FTC said BetterHelp used and disclosed email addresses, IP addresses and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising, despite privacy promises.[10] Its 2023 order required a $7.8 million payment and bans sharing health data for advertising.[5] The FTC’s administrator sent nearly $5.2 million in refunds in June 2024, then over $2.6 million to more than 534,000 people.[11]

    Talkspace

    Talkspace listed self-pay individual therapy at $69 a week for messaging only and $99 a week for video plus messaging. Out-of-pocket psychiatry was $299 for an initial evaluation and $175 for a follow-up.[3] It says it bills insurance directly and that most insured members have a $0 copay. Its coverage page lists insurers including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Medicare and Medicare Advantage.[4] Universal Health Services (UHS) completed its purchase of Talkspace on 17 August 2026.[9] We found no FTC or DOJ action against Talkspace in the federal sources we reviewed. That is not a finding that none exists.

    Cerebral

    The FTC said Cerebral gave sensitive information of nearly 3.2 million consumers to third parties including LinkedIn, Snapchat and TikTok.[6] It also said Cerebral promised “cancel anytime” but required a complex, multi-step and often multi-day process to cancel.[12] Under the 2024 settlement, Cerebral agreed to pay nearly $5.1 million for partial refunds and a $10 million civil penalty, suspended after $2 million because it could not pay the full amount.[13]

    In a November 2024 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, Cerebral agreed to forfeit $3.652 million over practices that encouraged stimulant prescribing. It stopped prescribing controlled substances on 15 October 2022 and agreed not to prescribe them in future.[7] For ADHD medication and telehealth, see the ADHD medication and telehealth tracker.

    How to compare services yourself

    • Ask NIMH’s questions. Ask about credentials, approach and evidence, goals, whether they can prescribe, confidentiality, fees and insurance.[14]
    • Check the license. The therapist should be licensed in your state or hold a compact privilege that covers it.[15][16]
    • Check insurance first. An in-network service may cost less than self-pay. Parity law still requires many plans to cover mental health on comparable terms.[4][17]
    • Read the privacy terms. Both FTC cases above concerned using health information for advertising.[5][6]

    The evidence that guided internet CBT works comes from structured programmes in trials. It does not automatically apply to any one commercial service.[18] See online therapy explained.

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    How much does BetterHelp cost?

    BetterHelp's FAQ, checked on 11 October 2026, said therapy costs $50 to $90 per week, billed every four weeks, depending on location, preferences and therapist availability.[1]

    Does BetterHelp take insurance?

    Teladoc, BetterHelp's owner, said in July 2026 that it had accelerated BetterHelp's nationwide insurance rollout because demand for insurance-covered sessions outpaced provider capacity.[2]

    How much does Talkspace cost without insurance?

    Talkspace's pricing page listed $69 a week for messaging-only therapy and $99 a week for video plus messaging, plus psychiatry at $299 for an initial evaluation and $175 per follow-up, as of 11 October 2026.[3]

    Who owns Talkspace?

    Universal Health Services completed its acquisition of Talkspace on 17 August 2026 for $5.25 per share in cash.[9]

    Was BetterHelp fined for sharing data?

    In 2023 the FTC finalised an order requiring BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million and banning it from sharing health data for advertising. BetterHelp customers who paid between August 2017 and December 2020 were eligible for refunds.[5][11]

    Can Cerebral prescribe ADHD stimulants?

    No. Cerebral stopped prescribing controlled substances on 15 October 2022 and agreed in a 2024 non-prosecution agreement not to prescribe them in future.[7]

    Sources

    · 18 claims from 14 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      BetterHelp's FAQ, viewed on 11 October 2026, said therapy costs $50 to $90 per week, billed every four weeks, depending on location, source, preferences and therapist availability. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      Teladoc said in July 2026 that it had accelerated BetterHelp's nationwide insurance rollout because demand for insurance-covered sessions outpaced provider capacity, while BetterHelp segment revenue fell 12% year on year to $212.6 million in the second quarter. confirmedas of 2026-07-29

    3. [3]

      Talkspace's pricing page, viewed on 11 October 2026, listed out-of-pocket individual therapy at $69 a week for messaging only and $99 a week for video plus messaging, and psychiatry at $299 for an initial evaluation and $175 per follow-up. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      Talkspace says it bills insurance plans directly, that most insured members have a $0 copay, and lists insurers including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare and Medicare Advantage. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      In July 2023 the FTC finalised an order requiring BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million and banning it from sharing consumers' health data for advertising, resolving allegations that it shared sensitive data with Facebook, Snapchat and others after promising privacy. confirmedas of 2023-07-14

    6. [6]

      In April 2024 Cerebral agreed to an FTC order restricting its use of sensitive data for advertising; the FTC said it had shared sensitive information of nearly 3.2 million consumers with platforms such as LinkedIn, Snapchat and TikTok. confirmedas of 2024-04-15

    7. [7]

      In a November 2024 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, Cerebral agreed to forfeit $3.652 million over practices that encouraged stimulant prescribing from 2019 to 2022; it stopped prescribing controlled substances on 15 October 2022 and agreed not to prescribe them in future. confirmedas of 2024-11-01

    8. [8]

      In the US, people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be called free on 116 123; findahelpline.com lists helplines in other countries. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    9. [9]

      Universal Health Services (UHS) completed its acquisition of Talkspace on 17 August 2026 for $5.25 per share in cash, after Talkspace stockholders approved the deal on 29 May 2026. confirmedas of 2026-08-17

    10. [10]

      The FTC said BetterHelp disclosed consumers' email addresses, IP addresses and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising. confirmedas of 2023-07-14

    11. [11]

      The FTC's refund administrator sent nearly $5.2 million in BetterHelp refunds in June 2024 and a second round of over $2.6 million to more than 534,000 people; eligible customers paid for BetterHelp between 1 August 2017 and 31 December 2020. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    12. [12]

      The FTC alleged that despite promising "cancel anytime", Cerebral made clients go through a complex, multi-step and often multi-day cancellation process. confirmedas of 2024-04-15

    13. [13]

      Under the FTC settlement Cerebral agreed to pay nearly $5.1 million for partial refunds over its cancellation practices and a $10 million civil penalty, suspended after a $2 million payment because of its inability to pay. confirmedas of 2024-04-15

    14. [14]

      NIMH suggests asking a prospective therapist about credentials, approach and its evidence base, goals and expected number of sessions, whether they can prescribe medication, confidentiality, fees, insurance and sliding-scale fees. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Psychotherapies · National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) · 2024-02-01 · How can I find a therapist? (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • Psychotherapies · National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) · 2024-02-01 · What should I look for in a therapist? (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    15. [15]

      Licensed counselors (such as LPCs) need a master's degree; BLS says all states require counselors in private practice to complete supervised clinical hours, pass an exam and do continuing education, with requirements varying by state. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    16. [16]

      As of 1 October 2026 the Counseling Compact was live in ten states (Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming), letting eligible licensed counselors who live there apply for a privilege to practise in the other nine. confirmedas of 2026-10-01

    17. [17]

      The Departments said MHPAEA's statutory obligations, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, continue to apply during the non-enforcement period. confirmedas of 2025-05-15

    18. [18]

      A 2023 meta-analysis of 31 randomised trials across 16 conditions found therapist-supported internet CBT produced effects similar to face-to-face CBT (pooled g=0.02). confirmedas of 2023-06-01

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Online therapy services compared: BetterHelp, Talkspace, Cerebral." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/explain/online-therapy-services-buyers-guide

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