The 6 best Amwell alternatives for therapy and psychiatry in 2026

The best Amwell alternatives depend on your coverage and the care you need. Rula pairs in-network therapy, psychiatry, and 24/7 crisis support with Medicare and Medicaid, and Teladoc offers broad telehealth with Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care. Grow Therapy lets you browse in-network providers and book fast.

If you've used Amwell for therapy or psychiatry, you may be weighing Amwell alternatives that fit your coverage and care needs more closely. Health plans and employers mostly sell Amwell as a broad, virtual-only telehealth platform, and it doesn't accept Medicare or Medicaid. Many people want mental-health-focused care, faster psychiatry, in-person options, or crisis support instead.

The need is widespread. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 59.3 million U.S. adults (23.1%) had any mental illness in 2022. Only about half received treatment that year.

This guide compares seven platforms on insurance, cost, services, access, and fit, so you can find the right match.

Why do people look for an Amwell alternative?

Amwell has real strengths. It's an established nationwide telehealth service that has offered care since 2006, with therapy and psychiatry in all 50 states. It also reports that 97% of patients feel very or extremely satisfied with their therapist.

Amwell holds accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It schedules day, night, and weekend appointments and accepts flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) funds.

Still, Amwell doesn't accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you rely on either, you're effectively shut out and left paying the self-pay rate.

Access can also lag. Amwell psychiatry appointments can take up to about 14 days, and therapy wait times depend on each provider's availability.

Amwell is a broad telehealth brand, not a mental health specialist. It offers no crisis support and no in-person visits, so every session happens by video or phone.

Amwell also doesn't publish its provider network size. That makes it harder to judge availability or find a provider who matches your specialty or identity needs. Together, these gaps send many people looking for Amwell alternatives that fit more closely.

At-a-glance comparison

This table shows how six Amwell alternatives compare with Amwell on insurance, pricing, services, network size, access, and format.

What are the best alternatives to Amwell?

Rula leads this list for insured patients. The other Amwell alternatives are grouped around what tends to matter most when you leave Amwell:

• Government insurance, like Medicare and Medicaid

• Coordinated therapy and psychiatry

• Faster access to a first appointment

• Self-pay flexibility

The best choice depends on your coverage, the care you need, your budget, and whether you want virtual or in-person visits.

Rula — best for therapy, psychiatry, and crisis support in one network

Services offered: Individual, couples, family, child (5+), and teen therapy; psychiatry and medication management (13+); and 24/7 crisis support.
Insurance acceptance: 170 major plans, plus Medicare in all 50 states and Medicaid in select states.
Pricing: About $15 average copay with insurance; self-pay from $150 per session.

Rula is a coordinated, in-network behavioral health network, not a broad telehealth brand. Therapy, psychiatry, and crisis support work together in one place.

You verify your insurance and see an estimated copay before you book. Then you match with a provider based on preferences like gender, language, specialty, and faith. Many patients book a first session as soon as tomorrow, and Rula patients pay an average of $15 per session with insurance.

Rula's network includes 22,000 licensed providers, and 91% of patients report feeling better about their symptoms after care. Therapy and psychiatry and medication management stay coordinated, though care runs through a web portal rather than a mobile app.

Rula fits insured people, including those on Medicare or Medicaid in eligible states, who want therapy, psychiatry, and crisis support together, virtual or in person.

For a direct side-by-side breakdown, see the full Rula versus BetterHelp comparison.

Teladoc — best for broad telehealth with Medicare Advantage or Medicaid

Services offered: Adult therapy, psychiatry and medication management, and mental health coaching (adults 18 and older).
Insurance acceptance: Many health plans and employers, plus many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed-care plans (not fee-for-service).
Pricing: Copay varies by plan; self-pay $119 per mental health visit.

Teladoc is the closest match to Amwell: a large national telehealth platform where mental health is one service among many.

You answer a few questions, choose a therapist or psychiatrist, and keep the same provider over time. Appointments run seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Teladoc reports that 60% of members with moderate to severe depression reached remission or meaningful improvement. Its mental health services are adults only and virtual, with no crisis service.

Teladoc suits adults who like Amwell's all-in-one telehealth model but need Medicare Advantage or Medicaid managed-care coverage.

Grow Therapy — best for browsing providers with in-person options

Services offered: Talk therapy and medication support, plus couples, family, and child or adolescent care.
Insurance acceptance: 80+ plans, including Medicaid and Medicare in select states.
Pricing: About $21 average copay with insurance; self-pay $75 to $200; sliding scale options.

Grow Therapy is an insurance-based provider marketplace that shows transparent, in-network pricing before you book.

You filter by insurance, specialty, identity, and real-time availability, then book with no waitlists. Most people see a provider in two days or less and can choose virtual or in-person visits, including nights and weekends.

Grow Therapy lists 23,000+ providers and one of the broader government-insurance footprints here. Availability and specialty depth vary by location, and there's no mobile app.

It fits insured people who want to compare providers themselves and value in-person options. For a closer look, see the Rula versus Grow Therapy comparison.

Talkspace — best for messaging-based therapy plus psychiatry

Services offered: Individual (18 and older), teen (13 to 17), and couples therapy; psychiatry and medication management.
Insurance acceptance: Major plans and Medicare; no Medicaid.
Pricing: Copay varies; self-pay from $69 per week for messaging, up to $109 per week; psychiatry initial evaluation $299.

Talkspace is messaging-forward online therapy with optional live sessions and prescribing.

Talkspace matches you in about 48 hours. You can message your provider anytime, with responses five days a week, plus scheduled live sessions.

Talkspace has 6,000+ providers and reports that 70% of users show significant improvement on anxiety and depression measures. It's virtual only, with no in-person visits and no Medicaid.

It suits people who prefer writing to their therapist between sessions and want psychiatry on the same platform.

Brightside — best for measurement-based depression and anxiety care

Services offered: Psychiatry and therapy focused on depression, anxiety, and related conditions; a Crisis Care program; teen care (13 and older).
Insurance acceptance: Major plans, plus some Medicare and some Medicaid.
Pricing: Copay varies; self-pay $95 per month for psychiatry, $299 per month for therapy, or $349 per month for both.

Brightside is a structured, precision program that tracks symptoms with standardized check-ins.

You start with a free clinical assessment, then use insurance or self-pay. Many people connect in as little as two days, with unlimited messaging plus scheduled video sessions.

Brightside reports 86% clinically significant improvement within 12 weeks and 71% remission, and it earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal. Its condition focus is narrower, and care is virtual only.

It fits adults with depression or anxiety, including higher-acuity needs, who want data-informed therapy and medication with a crisis track.

BetterHelp — best for flexible, out-of-pocket messaging therapy

Services offered: Individual therapy only (couples through Regain, teens through Teen Counseling); no psychiatry or medication.
Insurance acceptance: Select plans where available (about $23 copay); no Medicare or Medicaid.
Pricing: Subscription $70 to $100 per week; about $23 copay where insurance applies.

BetterHelp is the largest therapist network, built around subscription access and several ways to connect.

A brief questionnaire matches you in roughly 24 to 48 hours. You get unlimited messaging plus one weekly live session by video, phone, or chat, and can switch therapists anytime.

BetterHelp has 35,000 therapists and a 4.9 out of 5 average live-session rating. It offers no prescribing, no diagnosis, no crisis support, and limited insurance.

It fits uninsured people new to therapy who want flexible scheduling and don't need medication.

How much do these platforms cost with and without insurance?

Cost comes in two forms: the copay you pay with insurance, and the self-pay price without it. Your copay usually matters more, because it reflects what you'll actually pay.

All of these Amwell alternatives take insurance, and with coverage the dedicated in-network platforms tend to cost less than Amwell's self-pay rates.

• Amwell: self-pay $99 or less for therapy; $199 for initial psychiatry (no copay published).

• Rula: about $15 average copay; self-pay from $150.

• Grow Therapy: about $21 average copay; self-pay $75 to $200.

• Teladoc: copay varies; self-pay $119 per visit.

• Talkspace: copay varies; self-pay from $69 per week.

• Brightside: copay varies; self-pay $95 to $349 per month.

• BetterHelp: about $23 copay where eligible; self-pay $70 to $100 per week.

Some platforms charge a weekly or monthly subscription (Talkspace, BetterHelp, and Brightside) rather than a per-session rate. A deductible may also apply, so get a copay estimate before you book.

Which Amwell alternatives take Medicare and Medicaid?

Amwell accepts neither Medicare nor Medicaid, and government coverage is where your choices narrow fastest. Most Amwell alternatives accept at least one of these programs in some states.

According to KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation), more than 137 million people lived in designated mental health provider shortage areas as of December 31, 2025. In these areas, providers meet only about 27% of the need for psychiatrists.

Medicare mainly covers people 65 and older, plus some younger people with disabilities. Medicaid covers many low-income adults and families.

• Rula: Medicare in all 50 states and Medicaid in select states; see Medicare-covered psychiatry.

• Teladoc: many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed-care plans.

• Grow Therapy: Medicare and Medicaid in select states.

• Brightside: some Medicare and some Medicaid plans.

• Talkspace: Medicare, but no Medicaid.

• BetterHelp: neither.

• Amwell: neither.

Acceptance varies by state and plan. Confirm your specific plan is in-network before you book.

Which platforms offer therapy, psychiatry, and crisis support together?

Coordinated therapy and medication, with a clear path during a crisis, keeps your care connected. Amwell offers therapy and psychiatry but no crisis service, a common reason people weigh Amwell alternatives.

Only a few platforms pair all three.

• Rula: therapy, psychiatry, and 24/7 crisis support.

• Brightside: therapy, psychiatry, and a Crisis Care program.

• Amwell: therapy and psychiatry; no crisis service.

• Teladoc: therapy and psychiatry (adults); no crisis service.

• Grow Therapy: therapy and medication support; refers crises to 988.

• Talkspace: therapy and psychiatry; refers crises to 988.

• BetterHelp: therapy only; refers crises to 988.

No platform replaces emergency care — call or text 988 during a crisis. If you may need medication or crisis support, choose a platform that offers both.

How do you choose the right Amwell alternative?

Any of these Amwell alternatives can work well, and the best choice depends on your coverage, the care you need, and how you want to receive it.

• On Medicare or Medicaid: Rula, Teladoc, or Grow Therapy accept Medicare and Medicaid in eligible states, unlike Amwell.

• Want therapy and psychiatry coordinated: Rula and Brightside add crisis support; Teladoc and Talkspace offer both without a crisis track.

• Paying out of pocket: BetterHelp and Talkspace have lower entry subscriptions; Grow Therapy shows per-session pricing upfront.

• Couples or family care: Rula, Grow Therapy, and Talkspace support relationship and family work, including couples therapy.

• Want in-person as well as virtual: Rula and Grow Therapy offer in-person visits; the others are virtual only.

Before you commit, confirm the platform is in-network for your plan, check appointment availability, and see whether you can switch providers. You can verify your insurance coverage first.

Frequently asked questions

Does online therapy work as well as in-person therapy?

Yes, research suggests it can for many common conditions. A 2021 review in the journal Psychology and Psychotherapy found videoconferencing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) not inferior to in-person care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, though severe and complex conditions have been studied less.

Can I get therapy and psychiatry from the same platform?

Yes. Several platforms, including Rula, Teladoc, Grow Therapy, Talkspace, and Brightside, offer both so your care stays coordinated, while therapy-only services like BetterHelp don't prescribe.

How much does online therapy cost with insurance?

With in-network coverage, you usually pay a copay, which is often far below the self-pay price. A deductible may apply first, so get a copay estimate before your first session.

What should you look for in an online therapy platform?

Match the platform to your coverage, including Medicare or Medicaid, and the care you need, whether that's therapy, psychiatry, or crisis support. Also weigh appointment speed and format, virtual or in person.

Find care with Rula

With Rula, you can confirm your insurance in minutes and see an estimated copay before you book. You match with a provider based on your preferences, then choose virtual or in-person care, often with next-day availability.

At Rula, we bring therapy, psychiatry and medication management, and 24/7 crisis support together in one network. We accept Medicare and Medicaid in eligible states. Match with a provider and start care when you're ready.