Key Takeaways
Rula and Alma both have large provider networks, with more than 21,000 therapists and psychiatric providers. Rula’s provider profiles offer a more detailed overview of each provider’s experience, expertise, and approach so you can find the right fit.
Rula is in network with more than 100 insurance plans, including some that Alma doesn't accept. This includes Medicare and Medicaid plans.
Both platforms are excellent options for finding high-quality mental healthcare. However, Rula’s clinical outcomes are approximately 10% better than other national telehealth platforms — including Alma.
Finding a therapist or psychiatric provider can be a time-consuming process, so it’s important to make sure you’re looking in the right place. Whether you’re navigating a major life event or trying to manage mental health symptoms, you want a provider who’s available, in network, and qualified to help you reach your goals.
Here, we review Rula vs Alma, including the differences and similarities, so you can choose an online therapy platform to begin your treatment journey.
Differences at a glance
Rula at a glance
Rula (formerly known as Path Mental Health) believes that everyone deserves access to high-quality mental healthcare. Founded in 2019, Rula has helped hundreds of thousands of people find affordable mental health treatment that’s in network with their insurance plans. The company has a large network of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers with more than 180 specialties.
With Rula’s provider platform, you can book an online appointment as soon as the next day. To get started, you’ll be asked to select your state and insurance. From there, you can filter providers by:
Speciality
Treatment approach
Availability
Gender
Race
Language
“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.
Alma at a glance
Like Rula, Alma’s goal is to increase access to affordable mental healthcare for anyone who needs it. Through a large network of mental health providers, patients can find online or in-person mental health services for their unique preferences and goals.
To start your provider search, Alma requests information like insurance, location, and specific therapy needs. You can also narrow your search by answering a series of questions about your preferences and goals.
Rula clinical outcomes vs. Alma
Rula prides itself on delivering care that patients can rely on for healing and growth. According to recent company data, 93% of people felt better about their symptoms after receiving care through Rula.
Each person’s mental health journey is unique, but most patients see improvement after three sessions with their provider. “I’ve found my entire experience with Rula to be helpful and positive. It’s changed my life for the better,” claims one Rula patient.
Alma also connects people with effective mental healthcare. According to its website, 80% of people with anxiety and depression see improvement in symptoms within 6 months of seeing an Alma therapist.
Cost and insurance coverage
Rula is in network with more than 100 insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Alma also accepts most major insurance plans, but it’s worth noting that Alma doesn’t work with Medicare or Medicaid plans.
Insurance accepted by therapists on Rula
Top insurance accepted by therapists on Alma
Out-of-pocket cost
The cost of mental healthcare isn’t always straightforward, but both companies can help patients understand their out-of-pocket costs for therapy and psychiatry services. Clients using Rula can request a personalized cost estimate here.
On average, Rula clients pay $15 per therapy session.* Alma doesn’t share exact rates, but the company estimates that using insurance can reduce a patient’s cost per session by approximately 77%.
*Actual cost may vary based on your insurance benefits and deductible. Rula will provide you with a personalized cost estimate prior to your first appointment.
HSA/ FSA
Rula and Alma both accept funds from health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) to cover the cost of sessions. You can pay for sessions with your HSA/ FSA card or submit a receipt to your HSA/FSA provider for reimbursement.
Insurance vs. self-pay
Rula offers self-pay rates for clients without insurance:
$150 for an individual therapy session
$165 for a couples therapy session
$150 for an initial psychiatry session
$150 for a follow-up psychiatry session
Therapists at Alma can set their own rates, so the exact cost will depend on the provider. If a provider doesn’t accept insurance, they’ll list their self-pay rate on their provider profile.
Mental health services offered
Rula works with mental health providers who specialize in individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy for people ages 5 years and older. Providers are experts in more than 180 clinical specialties, including anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, substance use disorders (SUDs), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder. Some of the most common therapeutic approaches include:
Treatment approaches offered by therapists on Rula
Most common approaches:
Behavioral therapy:
Insight oriented:
Relationship based:
Experiential therapy:
Humanistic therapy:
Rula also works with psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) who can provide medication management for people ages 13 years and older.
“The platform is easy to use in that I can see what each therapist specializes in and make my choice accordingly. I am not just simply given a provider; I get to choose one,” says someone who found success with Rula.
Alma offers similar services in terms of the type of providers, therapeutic approaches, and specialities.
Treatment approaches offered by Alma
Body-focused therapy:
Biofeedback and neurofeedback training
Hypnotherapy
Neuro linguistic programming therapy
Somatic experiencing/sensorimotor therapy
Cognitive and behavioral therapy:
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
Motivational interviewing
Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
Solution-focused therapy
Couples/marital/relationship therapy:
Insight-oriented therapy:
Mindfulness-based therapy:
Trauma-focused therapy:
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Prolonged exposure therapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
Other types of therapy:
Attachment-focused psychotherapy
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
Internal family systems (IFS)
Multicultural/culturally informed therapy (CIT)
Narrative therapy
Structural family therapy
Inclusivity and specialized care
When it comes to therapy, it’s important to find a provider you can trust. At Rula, 94% of clients find a provider they feel comfortable with and who listens to them with respect.
Rula has providers who specialize in certain populations, such as LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergence, and older adults. When looking at provider profiles on Rula, you can search for providers with experience in specific identity and culture-based treatment, including:
Rula works with providers who speak more than 40 different languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, and Russian. If you find a great provider but they don’t speak your language, Rula will offer interpreter services at no charge.
Alma has similar patient satisfaction ratings, with the majority of patients claiming that their therapist made them feel seen and heard. Like Rula, Alma has a diverse provider network that can help you find a provider who’s a good match for your clinical and cultural needs.
Alma’s website prompts people to choose what they’d like to focus on with their provider. For example, you can find someone who understands women's mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, or learning and development challenges.
Provider access and flexibility
Rula and Alma were both created to help people access mental healthcare when and where it works best for them. As a result, they make finding and meeting your provider as straightforward as possible.
With Rula, you can find a provider, schedule your first session, and handle all payments within the Rula platform. You can find a local provider for in-person mental health services, but many people connect with their provider via a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform.
Once you book your appointment, you'll receive email reminders 48 hours, 24 hours, and 1 hour before your appointment. You can access your appointment by:
Patients can access Rula appointments via their computer or phone, but providers are required to log on with a computer for a better patient experience.
Alma’s platform allows you to manage your experience, from finding and meeting with a provider to submitting payment. One of the main differences is that Alma has HIPAA-compliant video capabilities built into its platform. Patients can join appointments from a computer or phone, although Alma suggests that people join from a desktop device for the best experience.
Both companies have a customer support team to answer questions and troubleshoot any issues. Rula has a dedicated support line, while Alma directs clients to complete a support request form.
Summary: Is Rula or Alma right for you?
Choosing a mental health provider is a personal decision, so it’s important to feel comfortable with the process. Rula and Alma both have extensive provider networks that make it easier to find a mental health provider who’s in network and has the right experience and expertise for your needs.
Rula may be a good fit if you’re looking for a platform that lets you search for a provider who checks all of your boxes. Each provider profile has information about their focus, approach, communication style, and what you can expect from your first session. Alma’s provider profiles are less detailed, but you can request a free consultation to learn more about them prior to making a decision.
Here are a few questions to consider when choosing between Rula and Alma:
What insurance do you have? Rula and Alma both accept insurance, but you’ll need to confirm which has providers who are in network with your plan.
Do you prefer online or in-person services? You can find both on either platform, though many of Rula’s providers specialize in telehealth.
Rula FAQs
Question 1: What type of care does Rula offer?
Answer: Rula works with therapists, psychologists, counselors, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). Through Rula’s network of more than 21,000 licensed providers, you’ll have access to individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and medication management. Rula offers virtual and in-person services, though availability varies based on location.
Question 2: What conditions do providers treat?
Answer: Providers who work with Rula treat a wide range of mental health conditions and challenges, including:
Question 3: Is there a fee to use Rula?
Answer: There’s no fee to use Rula’s platform. Patients are only responsible for the cost of their therapy or psychiatry sessions. If you have insurance, there’s typically a $15-20 copay per session.
Question 4: Does Rula provide high-quality care?
Answer: Rula believes that everyone deserves high-quality mental healthcare. Rula providers have regular clinical reviews and ongoing professional development. This is one of the reasons why Rula’s clinical outcomes are approximately 10% better than other national groups.
Finding care
Choosing an online therapy platform is an important part of your mental health journey. And while it’s great to have options, we know it can be tough to decide which is the right fit for your unique needs.
Rula and Alma both focus on increasing access to affordable mental healthcare. Rula has helped hundreds of thousands of people find a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatric provider to support their mental health goals. With experts in more than 180 specialties, Rula has a provider for everyone.
Alma also helps people find virtual and in-person mental health services. Although Rula has better clinical outcomes, Alma has also been shown to help people effectively manage their symptoms and concerns. Deciding between the two telehealth platforms may depend on your insurance coverage and availability of virtual versus in-person services.
