Every platform accepts insurance, but cost varies widely. Rula patients pay $15 on average with insurance; Grow Therapy averages ~$21; Talkspace averages $15; SonderMind copays reach up to $45. Headway shows your copay before booking.
Only some platforms accept Medicaid or Medicare, leaving government-insured readers fewer options. Rula and Grow Therapy accept both in many states; Alma and BetterHelp accept neither.
If you need medication with talk therapy, platform choice matters. Rula, SonderMind, Talkspace, and Grow Therapy offer psychiatry; Rula also adds 24/7 crisis support. BetterHelp has no psychiatry.
Network size and availability vary across platforms. Headway has the largest network (80,000+ providers) but requires insurance. Rula's 22,000 providers are available for coordinated therapy and medication. Alma has 24,000+ providers; Grow Therapy has 26,000+; SonderMind has 12,500+.
The best Grow Therapy alternatives are Rula, Headway, and Alma. Rula offers the lowest average copay ($15 with insurance), plus therapy, psychiatry, 24/7 crisis support, and Medicaid/Medicare in many states. Headway has the largest network; Alma suits commercial-insurance users who want a free consult first.
Looking for Grow Therapy alternatives that fit your insurance, budget, or care needs? You're not alone. Many people search for different platforms because of cost barriers, insurance confusion, or limited provider availability.
These obstacles are widespread: a national survey by SAMHSA found that in 2023, 22.8% of U.S. adults (58.7 million people) had any mental illness, yet only 53.9% received treatment. That gap between need and access is exactly why platform choice matters; the right one removes barriers instead of adding them.
Below, we compare six Grow therapy alternatives on price, coverage, services, and speed so you can find the right fit.
Why do people look for a Grow Therapy alternative?
Grow Therapy has a solid reputation as an insurance-based marketplace with 26,000+ providers across all 50 states. It offers appointments in about two days and both therapy and psychiatry (virtual or in-person). But several friction points send people searching for alternatives.
First, Grow Therapy's insurance coverage has gaps that matter. While it accepts 100+ commercial plans, Medicaid and Medicare are available only in select states, leaving government-insured patients with limited or no access. If your state isn't covered, you'll need to pay out of pocket or find another platform.
Second, no-show and late-cancellation fees are steep. Grow charges up to $200 for missed or last-minute cancellations, and insurance won't cover those fees. That's significantly higher than many alternatives, where fees typically range from $50 to $100.
Third, Grow Therapy doesn't offer certain types of care that patients may need, and there's no coordinated care team to help therapists and psychiatrists work together on your treatment plan.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
What are the best alternatives to Grow Therapy?
Rula, Headway, Alma, SonderMind, Talkspace, and BetterHelp are the strongest alternatives. Each fits a different need. The table below compares them on insurance, pricing, services, network size, availability, and format.
Rula — Best for comprehensive, insurance-based care at the lowest out-of-pocket cost
Services offered: Individual, couples, family, and teen therapy; psychiatry; 24/7 crisis support
Insurance acceptance: Yes, 170 commercial plans, plus Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid in many states
Pricing: Average $15 copay with insurance; self-pay $150–$225 per session
Rula puts therapy, psychiatry, and 24/7 crisis support in one platform, which means you don't have to juggle multiple apps, providers, or billing systems to get comprehensive care. Most alternatives cover only pieces of that puzzle, leaving you to coordinate care across multiple providers or systems on your own.
Rula matches you with a provider based on your insurance, preferences (like gender, language, or specialty) and availability, then verifies your coverage and shows you an estimated session cost upfront so there are no billing surprises later. The platform's network includes therapists and psychiatrists who can work together on your treatment plan if you need both talk therapy and medication.
Appointments are often available as soon as tomorrow, which removes the typical weeks-long wait that many people face when trying to access mental healthcare.
Rula patients pay an average of $15 per session, and 93% of them experienced improvement in their symptoms, with Rula's clinical results exceeding those of comparable platforms by more than 10% on average.
If you want online therapy through insurance paired with psychiatry and medication management under one roof, Rula is built for that.
Headway — Best for the largest in-network provider network
Services offered: Individual therapy; psychiatry
Insurance acceptance: Yes, insurance required; 100+ plans; limited Medicaid/Medicare
Pricing: In-network copay only; no self-pay option
Headway has the largest network in the space, with 80,000+ providers across all 50 states. That size gives you more options when filtering by specialty, location, or availability. If finding an in-network match quickly is your priority, those numbers work in your favor.
You need accepted insurance to use Headway, as there's no self-pay path. The platform shows your estimated per-session cost before you book, which helps avoid billing surprises down the line. Headway also handles insurance verification upfront, so you know whether your plan is accepted and what you'll owe per session before your first appointment.
The trade-off: if you're uninsured or between plans, Headway isn't an option. Medicaid and Medicare acceptance is still limited and depends on your specific plan and state.
Alma — Best for commercial-insurance users who want a free consult first
Services offered: Individual, couples, family, and child therapy; psychiatry
Insurance acceptance: Yes for major commercial plans; no Medicaid or Medicare
Pricing: Self-pay $130–$380 per session; free 15-minute consultation
Alma offers a free 15-minute consultation before you commit to ongoing sessions. That lets you test the fit with a therapist, including ask questions, share what you're looking for, and see if their approach feels right, without paying for a full session upfront.
The process is straightforward: you browse Alma's network of in-network therapists, filter by specialty or insurance, and book a consult directly through the platform. If the consultation goes well and you want to move forward, you schedule your first full session. If not, you can try another provider at no cost.
One thing to note: therapists on Alma set their own rates, so pricing varies widely depending on the provider, their credentials, and your location. That flexibility can work in your favor if you're comparing options, but it also means you'll want to confirm session costs upfront.
Alma helps insured members save on covered sessions, but it doesn't accept Medicaid or Medicare. Self-pay rates run high compared to other platforms. If you're looking for online couples therapy, Alma is one option, though Rula also covers couples under insurance.
SonderMind — Best for Medicare enrollees who want therapy plus psychiatry
Services offered: Individual, couples, family, and group therapy; psychiatry
Insurance acceptance: Yes, most major plans and Medicare; no Medicaid
Pricing: Copay up to $55; self-pay $45–$183 per session
SonderMind has strong Medicare acceptance, including Medicare Advantage, which makes it a solid choice if you're enrolled in either program and want both therapy and psychiatry covered. It's also one of the few platforms offering group therapy alongside individual, couples, and family sessions, so if you're interested in peer support or shared treatment, SonderMind gives you that option.
The process is straightforward: you complete an intake questionnaire, and SonderMind's matching team connects you with a provider within 48 hours based on your insurance, preferences, and clinical needs. Most patients are seen within 10 days, which is faster than many traditional practices but slower than platforms like Rula or Headway.
The trade-off: SonderMind doesn't accept Medicaid, and psychiatry availability varies by state. If you're on Medicare and want Medicare-covered mental health care, SonderMind or Rula are your strongest options.
Talkspace — Best for people who want messaging-based therapy
Services offered: Individual, couples, and teen therapy; psychiatry; asynchronous messaging
Insurance acceptance: Yes for most major plans; Medicare (therapy only); no Medicaid
Pricing: Average $15 copay with insurance; self-pay $69–$109 per week; psychiatry $175–$299
Talkspace combines asynchronous messaging with live sessions, which sets it apart from most platforms that only offer scheduled appointments. If you process your thoughts better between visits or want ongoing support throughout the week, being able to message your therapist on your own schedule can help you work through issues as they come up rather than waiting until your next session.
The setup is straightforward: you pick a plan or use insurance, then communicate with your therapist via text, audio, or video. Psychiatry is available as a separate service with its own pricing structure, so if you need medication management alongside therapy, you'll pay for both services independently.
The platform has a low average insured copay ($15), similar to Rula, which makes it affordable if your insurance is accepted.
The trade-offs: Talkspace is virtual only, so there's no in-person option if you prefer face-to-face sessions. It doesn't accept Medicaid, which limits access for government-insured patients. And while messaging offers flexibility, therapist replies can take a day or two, so it's not real-time support during a crisis.
BetterHelp — Best for self-pay users who want fast, subscription therapy
Services offered: Individual, couples (via Regain), and teen (via Teen Counseling) therapy; no psychiatry
Insurance acceptance: Select plans available nationwide; no Medicaid or Medicare
Pricing: Self-pay $70–$100 per week (subscription)
BetterHelp has a large therapy pool (35,000+) and near-instant matching, which makes it appealing if you want to start therapy quickly without navigating insurance verification. It runs entirely on a subscription model, so you pay a flat weekly rate regardless of how many sessions you use. That structure works well if you plan to use multiple sessions per week, but it can feel expensive if you only need occasional check-ins.
The process is simple: you answer a questionnaire about your preferences and concerns, get matched with a therapist within hours, and communicate by message, chat, phone, or video. The flexibility appeals to people who want quick access without insurance paperwork or who prefer asynchronous communication between live sessions. You can also switch therapists at any time if the first match doesn't feel right.
The trade-offs: BetterHelp offers no psychiatry or medication management, and insurance acceptance is still limited — only select plans are accepted nationwide.
How much do Grow Therapy alternatives cost?
Your copay is the fixed amount you owe per visit after insurance kicks in. It's almost always lower than the full session rate. For more detail, see Rula's guide on what therapy actually costs.
Here's what you'll actually pay per session:
Rula: Average $15 copay; self-pay $150–$225 per session
Grow Therapy: Average ~$21 copay; self-pay $100–$200+ per session
Headway: In-network copay only; no self-pay option
Alma: In-network copay varies by plan; self-pay $130–$380 per session
SonderMind: Average copay up to $55; self-pay $45–$183 per session
Talkspace: Average $15 copay; self-pay $69–$109 per week
BetterHelp: No insurance accepted; self-pay $70–$100 per week (subscription)
If you haven't met your deductible, you may pay the full session rate until you do.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Which Grow Therapy alternatives accept Medicaid or Medicare?
Medicaid and Medicare cover tens of millions of Americans, but most online therapy platforms don't accept them. Commercial-only and cash-pay platforms leave government-insured patients with far fewer options.
Here's where each platform stands:
Rula: Medicaid and Medicare (many states)
Grow Therapy: Medicaid and Medicare (select states)
SonderMind: Medicare only
Talkspace: Medicare (therapy only)
Headway: Limited (select plans/states)
Alma: Neither
BetterHelp: Neither
Acceptance is state- and plan-specific, so verify your exact coverage before booking.
How do you choose the right Grow Therapy alternative?
The best platform depends on your insurance, budget, and what kind of care you need. Here's a quick guide:
Lowest cost + comprehensive care: Rula ($15 average copay, therapy + psychiatry + crisis support)
Largest network: Headway (80,000+ providers)
Commercial insurance + free consult: Alma
Medicare enrollees: SonderMind or Rula
Medicaid enrollees: Rula or Grow Therapy
Messaging-based therapy: Talkspace
Self-pay, therapy only: BetterHelp
Couples: Rula or Alma
Teens: Rula (therapy for teens), Talkspace, or BetterHelp
Frequently asked questions about Grow Therapy alternatives
What are the best alternatives to Grow Therapy?
The best alternatives are Rula, Headway, Alma, SonderMind, Talkspace, and BetterHelp. Rula stands out for its low copay, coordinated therapy and psychiatry, and Medicaid/Medicare acceptance in many states.
Is Grow Therapy better than BetterHelp?
It depends on your needs. Grow Therapy accepts insurance and offers psychiatry, so it's a better fit if you have coverage or need medication. BetterHelp is subscription-only with no psychiatry but matches you faster if you're paying out of pocket.
Does Grow Therapy accept Medicaid and Medicare?
Yes, Grow Therapy accepts Medicaid and Medicare in select states. Coverage varies by plan and location, so be sure to verify your specific plan on Grow Therapy's website.
Which Grow Therapy alternatives accept Medicaid?
Rula and Grow Therapy accept Medicaid in many states. SonderMind, Talkspace, Alma, and BetterHelp do not accept Medicaid.
How do I switch from Grow Therapy to another platform?
First, verify your new platform is in-network for your insurance. Book an intake appointment, then confirm any outstanding balance or cancellation terms with Grow Therapy before your last session there.
Find care with Rula
Choosing a mental health platform comes down to fit: your insurance, budget, and care needs. Rula lets you confirm coverage in minutes, match with a provider based on your concerns and preferences, and see an estimated session cost before you book. Appointments are available as soon as tomorrow, with virtual sessions and expanding in-person options.
Rula combines therapy, psychiatry, and 24/7 crisis support in one platform. If you're ready to take the next step, you can get started today.
Rula Health
Rula’s editorial process
Rula’s editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
