BetterHelp vs. Grow Therapy: Costs, insurance, and services compared

Choosing an online therapy platform can feel overwhelming when you’re already focused on your mental health. BetterHelp and Grow Therapy are both well-known, but they differ in key ways — insurance coverage, access to providers, and the services they include. These differences affect the care you receive and what you pay.

This guide compares BetterHelp and Grow Therapy across the factors that actually impact your experience. Understanding how these platforms differ will help you make an informed choice about your mental healthcare — one that fits both your needs and your budget.

Rula is another option to consider. It offers therapy and psychiatry services covered by most major insurance plans, with appointments often available within days and a typical copay of just $15 per session.

BetterHelp vs. Grow Therapy: Differences at a glance

BetterHelp and Grow Therapy both offer online mental health services, but they take different approaches to insurance, pricing, and how you connect with care.

Average cost per session:

• BetterHelp: About $19 copay with insurance

• Grow Therapy: $21 copay with insurance (average)

Number of providers:

• BetterHelp: 35,000+ therapists; no psychiatry available

• Grow Therapy: 23,000+ mental health providers

Modes of communication:

• BetterHelp: 24/7 secure messaging; live sessions via video, phone, or chat

• Grow Therapy: Virtual sessions via secure telehealth link, in-person sessions, and secure messaging

Services offered:

• BetterHelp: Individual therapy for adults; teen and couples therapy through separate sister sites; no medication management

• Grow Therapy: Individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, child therapy, and medication management

Insurance acceptance:

• BetterHelp: Partnered with major insurance carriers in 17 states (including Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Texas, Florida, New York, Arkansas, Indiana, and Pennsylvania)

• Grow Therapy: In-network with 80+ plans, including Medicare and Medicaid

States covered:

• BetterHelp: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

• Grow Therapy: All 50 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C.

Number of specialties offered:

• BetterHelp: 20+ clinical specialties

• Grow Therapy: 90+ specialties

Inclusivity and patient focus:

• BetterHelp: Specific inclusivity programs not explicitly described, but patients can indicate identity preferences for providers

• Grow Therapy: Providers speak 35+ languages plus American Sign Language (ASL), with specializations in LGBTQ+ care, women's issues, racism, and military/veteran support

Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:

• BetterHelp: Virtual-only

• Grow Therapy: Both virtual and in-person sessions available

BetterHelp at a glance

Founded in 2013, BetterHelp is widely recognized as the largest online therapy platform. Its model centers on individual therapy for adults 18+ delivered through a subscription that pairs one live session each week with unlimited secure messaging. After completing a short intake about your needs and preferences, you’re typically matched with a therapist within a few hours to a couple of days. You can also switch therapists at any time, for any reason, with no extra fees.

The weekly cost ranges from $70 to $100 and includes access to digital tools like journaling, worksheets, goal tracking, and group webinars. BetterHelp partners with major insurers in 17 states to offer in-network coverage. It does not provide psychiatric services or medication management.

Grow Therapy at a glance

Grow Therapy is a mental health platform founded in 2020 that connects you with licensed therapists and prescribers across all 50 states. Their mission centers on making therapy "easier, covered by insurance." With over 23,000 providers in their network, Grow Therapy offers both talk therapy and medication management in one place, accepting more than 80 insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.

The platform is designed for speed and convenience: you can search for providers, filter by your specific needs, and book an appointment online in about 10 minutes. Most people get their first session within two days, with no waitlists. The average cost with insurance is $21 per session, though out-of-pocket rates range from $75 to $200 with sliding scale options available.

Rula at a glance

Rula is another option worth considering. This mental health platform helps people find in-network therapy and psychiatry through insurance, connecting patients with a network of more than 21,000 licensed therapists and psychiatric providers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. For most patients with insurance, the typical cost is around $15 per session.

“Rula was the only way I was able to find a therapist. Everywhere else I was running into barriers. At a time when I was really struggling, finding help seemed impossible. Rula made it possible,” says a Rula patient.

Rula offers virtual sessions via Zoom as well as in-person therapy options in some locations. The platform supports individual therapy for children ages five and up, teens, and adults, along with couples and family therapy, plus psychiatry services for ages 13 and older. With more than 180 clinical specialties available, patients can filter for providers based on factors like specialty, gender, ethnicity, language, age, and faith.

Getting started with Rula is easy. After verifying insurance and sharing a few preferences, Rula provides a curated list of in-network providers along with an upfront estimate of their per-session cost. From there, they can review profiles, book an appointment, often as soon as the next day, and manage everything through a secure patient portal.

Clinical outcomes and how they compare

Clinical outcomes show whether a platform actually helps people feel better, not just whether it connects you to care.

Grow Therapy reports several important metrics from their clinical data. Their client satisfaction score is 85 on the Net Promoter Score (NPS) scale, which measures how likely patients are to recommend the service. Most importantly, approximately 50% of clients with moderate to severe symptoms experience clinically significant symptom reduction.

BetterHelp reports, based on published 2024 outcomes data, that 72% of clients experience a reduction in symptoms after receiving care; 69% achieve reliable improvement, and 62% reach symptom remission. While methodologies may vary across platforms, these results provide a clearer basis for comparing measurable mental health outcomes.

Rula also publishes outcomes data focused on symptom improvement and provider fit. Across the platform, 93% of patients report feeling better, 94% feel comfortable with their provider, and 98% say they found a provider who met their needs — results that are more than 10% stronger than national benchmarks on average.

Pricing and insurance coverage

The ability to use your existing insurance can make mental healthcare much more affordable and accessible. Grow Therapy operates as an insurance-first platform, accepting over 80 plans including Medicare and Medicaid. BetterHelp offers more limited insurance coverage, as it only works with major insurance carriers in 17 states.

Insurance plans accepted

Grow Therapy accepts a comprehensive range of insurance plans, making it accessible to people with different types of coverage. Major carriers include:

• Aetna (including Medicare plans)

• Ambetter

• Anthem (including Medicare)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Medicaid and Medicare plans)

• Cigna

• CareSource

• Humana (including Medicare and dual-eligible plans)

• Kaiser Permanente (including Medicaid and Medicare)

• Optum

• UnitedHealthcare (including Medicaid and Medicare)

• Oscar

• WellCare

The platform also works with many state-specific Medicaid plans and regional insurers.

BetterHelp partners with major insurance carriers in 17 states; however, specific carriers and plan details aren’t publicly listed. For accurate, up-to-date information, check your coverage with BetterHelp using your insurance details.

You could also consider Rula if using insurance and understanding costs upfront are priorities for you. Rula is in-network with most major insurers, and patients typically pay around $15 per session when using plans like Kaiser Permanente, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, or similar coverage, with benefits verified before the first appointment.

Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)

With Grow Therapy, your average out-of-pocket cost is $21 per session when using in-network insurance. This typically represents your copay after insurance covers its portion. The platform emphasizes transparent pricing with no subscription fees or surprise charges, though your actual cost depends on your specific insurance plan, deductible, and coverage details.

BetterHelp is in-network with major insurance carriers in select states. If your plan is accepted, you typically pay an average copay of approximately $19. Coverage availability and your exact out-of-pocket cost depend on your specific plan and location, so verify your benefits to get an accurate estimate.

HSA/FSA eligibility

Grow Therapy accepts health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). This gives you additional flexibility to use pre-tax dollars for your mental healthcare.

BetterHelp states it accepts HSA and FSA cards for payment and that therapy is recognized as an eligible expense by most HSA/FSA providers.

Self-pay pricing

For Grow Therapy, out-of-pocket sessions range from $75 to $200 without insurance. The platform offers sliding scale options for people paying cash, though specific eligibility criteria weren't detailed in the research. There are no subscription fees or hidden charges.

BetterHelp uses a subscription model costing $70 to $100 per week, billed every four weeks. Each plan includes one live session per week plus unlimited messaging. Financial aid with discounted rates is available for eligible clients, and pricing can vary based on location, preferences, and therapist availability.

Mental health services offered

The range of services a platform offers determines whether it can meet your specific mental health needs as they evolve. Understanding what types of care each platform provides helps ensure you can access comprehensive treatment if your situation changes.

Treatment approaches offered by BetterHelp

BetterHelp therapists have expertise in over 20 clinical specialties and use a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches for individual therapy. The platform does not offer access to psychiatrists or medication management.

Common treatment modalities include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

• Mindfulness-based approaches (e.g., MBCT)

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

• Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)

• Motivational interviewing (MI)

• Exposure-based therapies for anxiety and OCD (e.g., ERP)

• Person-centered/humanistic therapy

• Attachment-based and narrative therapies

Treatment approaches offered by Grow Therapy

Grow Therapy provides a comprehensive range of services through their network of providers who specialize in more than 90 different areas. The platform offers individual talk therapy, medication management through prescribers, couples counseling, family therapy, and child and adolescent therapy.

Their providers address a wide spectrum of mental health needs, including:

• Mood and anxiety conditions: Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders

• Trauma and stress-related issues: PTSD, grief, and anger management

• Behavioral and developmental concerns: ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and addiction

• Relationship and family dynamics: Couples counseling, family conflict, and parenting support

• Life transitions and personal growth: Career counseling, life transitions, and self-esteem work

• Identity-specific care: LGBTQ+ issues, women's issues, men's issues, and support for military veterans

Grow Therapy also utilizes the following treatment modalities:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

• Faith-based therapy

• Internal family systems (IFS)

• Mindfulness-based therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Sex therapy

• Somatic therapy

• Trauma-informed care

Treatment approaches offered by Rula

Rula’s nationwide provider network spans more than 180 clinical specialties and evidence-based treatment approaches, making it easier to find care that aligns with your specific needs, background, and goals.

Common approaches used by providers on Rula include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

• Trauma-focused therapy, including EMDR and prolonged exposure

• Internal family systems (IFS) and attachment-based approaches

• Couples and family therapies, such as the Gottman Method and emotionally focused therapy (EFT)

• Mindfulness-based and somatic therapies

Rula providers treat a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, ADHD, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and more.

In addition to therapy, Rula offers medication management through licensed psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) for people ages 13 and older.

Inclusivity and specialized care

Finding a provider who understands your identity, background, and lived experiences is essential for building the trust needed to make real progress in therapy. Inclusivity goes beyond having a diverse provider directory — it requires language accessibility, specialized expertise, and a commitment to identity-affirming care.

BetterHelp inclusivity and specialization overview

BetterHelp maintains a large and diverse network of providers, and their intake questionnaire allows you to specify preferences for your therapist’s background and characteristics.

Licensure types: BetterHelp’s network includes psychologists (PhD/PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and licensed professional counselors (LPCs).

Specializations offered: Therapists treat a wide range of common mental health concerns and use evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, and exposure-based therapies.

Languages available: Therapy may be available in multiple languages beyond English, but BetterHelp doesn't provide an explicit list.

Inclusivity factors: BetterHelp offers LGBTQIA+ community counseling through a subsidiary and allows you to request therapists from specific backgrounds during the matching process.

Grow Therapy inclusivity and specialization overview

Grow Therapy provides several tools and features to help you find inclusive and specialized care that matches your needs. Their network includes licensed therapists and prescribers who operate independent private practices with platform support.

Licensure types: Grow Therapy's network includes licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners across various licensure types, supporting both talk therapy and medication management.

Specializations offered: With over 90 specialties available, you can find providers with expertise in specific areas like ADHD, trauma, OCD, couples counseling, and family therapy. The platform also offers filtering for providers who focus on different life stages, including children, adolescents, and older adults.

Languages available: Providers in the network speak over 35 languages plus American Sign Language (ASL). You can filter by language during your provider search to find someone who speaks your preferred language.

Inclusivity factors: The provider directory includes searchable specializations for identity-focused care, including LGBTQ+ issues, women's issues, men's issues, racism, military/veteran support, and foster care/adoption.

Platform availability and access

How quickly you can start therapy and how easily you can schedule sessions directly impacts whether you'll get help when you need it most. Platform accessibility, including geographic coverage, the matching process, and scheduling flexibility, determines whether treatment can realistically fit into your life.

With Rula, you can verify your insurance in minutes, match with in‑network providers for therapy or medication management, and schedule your first appointment often as soon as tomorrow. Rula handles provider matching and care coordination so you can focus on getting the support you need.

How access works with BetterHelp

BetterHelp provides broad access to care with a streamlined onboarding process and flexible ways to connect with a therapist.

States served: Available throughout the U.S., with localized markets in the UK, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Matching process: After a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences, you’re matched with a therapist. You may also be able to skip matching and browse therapists by specialization and availability. Matching typically takes a few hours to a couple of days.

Session formats: Your subscription includes one live session per week (video, phone, or chat) plus unlimited asynchronous messaging between sessions. You can switch communication methods based on your preferences.

Scheduling: Therapists set their own hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. You can view a therapist’s calendar and book times that work for you.

App/portal experience: Accessible via iOS and Android apps and web browsers. The platform includes digital tools such as journaling, worksheets, goal tracking, and access to group webinars and classes.

How access works with Grow Therapy

Grow Therapy is designed to provide fast, flexible, and patient-directed access to care across all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. The platform uses a self-serve search model that puts you in control of finding the right provider.

States served: Available nationwide for virtual care, with in-person options in select areas where providers offer face-to-face sessions.

Matching process: You start by entering your needs, insurance information, and preferences. Then you filter the network of 23,000+ providers by specialty, identity, availability, language, and session format. You book directly with your chosen provider's calendar — the entire process takes about 10 minutes.

Session formats: You can choose between virtual telehealth sessions and in-person appointments, filtering for providers who offer your preferred format.

Scheduling: The platform promises appointments within two days on average, with no waitlists. Evening and weekend sessions are available to accommodate different schedules.

App/portal experience: The patient portal includes progress tracking features, secure HIPAA-compliant messaging to communicate with your provider between sessions, and tools for managing your care and appointments.

What each platform does best

By looking at where each platform is strongest, you can make a thoughtful decision grounded in what matters most for your care. Both platforms aim to make mental healthcare more accessible, but they excel in different areas based on their unique approaches and features.

BetterHelp excels when:

• You prefer a predictable subscription model: One live session each week plus unlimited secure messaging, along with digital tools like journaling, worksheets, goal tracking, and group webinars

• You want quick, flexible matching: Get matched in a few hours to a couple of days, and switch anytime at no extra cost

• You need fully virtual care with multiple formats: Live sessions via video, phone, or chat, plus messaging

• You want a streamlined app and web experience: iOS and Android apps plus browser access for scheduling and therapy tools

• You don’t need medication management: Focuses on therapy only and does not offer psychiatry services

• You’re outside the U.S. and prefer virtual therapy: Localized markets available in the UK, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands

Grow Therapy excels when:

• You want to use your insurance: Offers 80+ accepted plans including Medicare and Medicaid

• You need care quickly: Book online in minutes and be seen within two days, with no waitlists

• You want therapy and medication in one place: Integrated talk therapy and medication management available through the same platform

• You prefer in-person sessions: Offers both virtual and in-person options

• You need scheduling flexibility: Evening and weekend appointments available to fit busy schedules

• You need language accessibility: Support for 35+ languages plus ASL across the provider network

Summary: Is BetterHelp or Grow Therapy right for you?

BetterHelp and Grow Therapy both make it easier to access licensed mental health providers, but they’re built for different styles of care. BetterHelp is fully virtual and uses a weekly subscription, while Grow Therapy offers in-person and virtual care and is insurance-first. Grow Therapy offers over 90 specialties along with psychiatric care, while BetterHelp focuses solely on therapy across 20+ specialties.

Deciding which platform is best for you comes down to individual preference. Consider the following questions when making your decision:

• Do you prefer a predictable subscription, or would you rather pay per session (using insurance)?

• Is between-session messaging important to you, or do you mainly want live appointments?

• Do you need medication management alongside therapy, or therapy-only care?

• Do you want the option of in-person sessions, or is virtual-only a better fit?

• Do you need Medicare/Medicaid coverage or broader insurance acceptance, or is limited coverage in select states sufficient?

Another option to keep in mind is Rula. The platform combines therapy and psychiatry in one place, with both virtual and in-person care available through a nationwide provider network and broad insurance acceptance. For many insured patients, sessions typically cost around $15, making Rula a practical choice for coordinated, long-term mental healthcare.

FAQs

How does insurance coverage work on Grow Therapy vs. BetterHelp?

Grow Therapy is in-network with 80+ insurance plans — including Medicare and Medicaid — so eligible members can use benefits and pay a copay or coinsurance (the average in-network copay is about $21 per session). BetterHelp offers more limited in-network coverage through partners in 17 states and does not accept Medicare or Medicaid; if your plan is accepted, your copay averages around $19. Always verify your specific plan to confirm eligibility and out-of-pocket costs.

How does getting started differ between BetterHelp and Grow Therapy?

BetterHelp uses a questionnaire-based matching system: you complete a brief intake online and are matched with a licensed therapist, after which you can begin care via secure messaging and live sessions (video, phone, or chat). Grow Therapy uses a browse-and-book approach: you search for providers based on your preferences, review their profiles, and book directly through their calendars for virtual or in-person appointments.

What are the biggest differences in how sessions and messaging work on Grow Therapy vs. BetterHelp?

Grow Therapy is appointment-based: you book live sessions as needed (virtual or in-person), and you can use secure portal messaging to communicate with your provider between visits; response times and messaging availability typically depend on the clinician. BetterHelp offers four ways to connect — messaging, live chat, phone, and video — with each membership including one live session per week (typically 30 minutes) and messaging available any time between sessions from any device.

Why choose Rula for quality of care?

Rula pairs broad access with consistently strong clinical results, with 93% of patients reporting symptom improvement and outcomes that exceed national benchmarks by more than 10% on average. The platform connects patients to 21,000+ licensed providers across 180+ specialties, offering both therapy and psychiatry through virtual and in-person appointments. With 100+ insurance plans accepted, upfront cost estimates, and typical copays around $15, Rula makes evidence-based care easier to access and plan for.

Find care with Rula

Choosing the right mental health platform is an important decision — one that can shape your entire experience and the progress you make. With Rula, getting started is straightforward: verify your insurance benefits in minutes to see your coverage and estimated costs upfront, then browse providers who match your specific needs and preferences. You can often book your first appointment as soon as tomorrow, with no waitlists or complicated processes standing between you and care. When you're ready to take the next step, Rula is here to guide you to the right provider and support you at every stage of your journey.