Insurance coverage: Rula accepts 100+ plans including Medicare nationwide and select Medicaid plans, while Grow Therapy's Medicare is limited to 21 states and Medicaid to just seven states.
Cost transparency: Rula provides upfront cost estimates with a typical $15 copay, while Grow Therapy's costs vary significantly by provider, region, and insurance plan.
Clinical outcomes: Rula uses measurement-informed care with validated surveys (PHQ-9, GAD-7) and publicly reports clinical outcomes data, while Grow Therapy's comprehensive outcomes data is less publicly available.
Session formats: Grow Therapy and Rula both offer virtual and in-person therapy nationwide.
Provider networks: Both platforms offer large networks; Rula with 21,000+ providers across 180+ specialties, and Grow Therapy with 23,000+ therapists. Rula includes dedicated senior psychiatry and therapy for children as young as 5.
When comparing Rula vs. Grow Therapy, the biggest differences come down to insurance coverage, cost transparency, and clinical outcomes. As you prepare to start therapy or psychiatry, you need clear answers about those factors, and whether you'll actually be able to find a provider who fits your needs. With Rula and Grow Therapy both offering access to thousands of licensed providers, the choice isn't always obvious.
In this guide, we'll compare both platforms across the factors that matter most: insurance acceptance, out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, clinical outcomes, and platform features. Understanding how these platforms differ can help you make an informed decision about where to begin your mental health journey.
Rula vs. Grow Therapy: Differences at a glance
Both Rula and Grow Therapy are online mental health platforms that connect you with licensed mental health providers, but they vary significantly when it comes to insurance coverage, clinical outcomes transparency, and platform features. Here are some of the most important differences:
Average cost per session:
Rula: $15 per session with insurance (typical copay)
Grow Therapy: Varies by provider, insurance plan, and region; specific average not publicly disclosed
Number of providers:
Rula: 21,000+ licensed providers (therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and PMHNPs)
Grow Therapy: 23,000+ providers
Modes of communication:
Rula: Video (via Zoom), phone, secure between-session messaging, in-person sessions
Grow Therapy: Video (via Grow Therapy Telehealth platform), in-person sessions, secure messaging, in-session chat and screen sharing
Services offered:
Rula: Individual therapy (ages 5+), couples therapy, family therapy, psychiatry and medication management (ages 13+), senior psychiatry
Grow Therapy: Talk therapy (age requirements vary by provider), medication management, couples and family therapy
Insurance acceptance:
Rula: 100+ insurance plans including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Kaiser, Medicare, and select Medicaid plans
Grow Therapy: 125+ insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield entities; Medicare in 21 states; Medicaid in 7 states
States covered:
Rula: Therapy and psychiatry available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Grow Therapy: Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Number of specialties offered:
Rula: 180+ clinical specialties and modalities
Grow Therapy: 135+ specialties and modalities
Inclusivity and patient focus:
Rula: 51% of providers in Rula's network are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ and culturally sensitive providers available, 40+ languages spoken by providers in the network
Grow Therapy: Interpreter services in 35+ languages including Spanish and ASL at no cost, marketplace filters for gender/age/identities, teen services with parent/guardian enrollment
Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:
Rula: Virtual + in-person
Grow Therapy: Virtual + in-person
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Rula at a glance
Rula is a mental health platform founded in 2019 with a mission to make mental healthcare work for everyone. The platform focuses on providing insurance-covered online care through a network of over 21,000 licensed providers, including therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). Rula offers more than 180 clinical specialties across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., emphasizing matching patients with the right provider while providing clear insurance cost estimates before the first appointment.
"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.
With a typical copay of just $15 per session with insurance, Rula makes care affordable and transparent. The patient-driven matching process allows you to filter providers by specialty, background, and availability to find the right fit. Most patients have their first appointment within three days, and you can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes.
Grow Therapy at a glance
Grow Therapy was founded in 2020 as a mental health platform that connects you with mental health providers through technology. The platform features a network of over 23,000 therapists offering both talk therapy and medication management. Grow Therapy is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The platform focuses on making care accessible through its self-directed marketplace, where you can find providers available within 72 hours and access flexible scheduling that includes nights and weekends. Costs vary by provider and insurance plan, but self-pay rates are listed on individual provider profiles, and some providers offer sliding scale pricing. Grow Therapy also offers between-session tools through its client portal, including a therapy toolkit and AI-powered journaling designed to support reflection between appointments.
Clinical outcomes and how we compare
Clinical outcomes and evidence-based approaches matter because they provide measurable proof that you're making real progress toward feeling better.
At Rula, 93% of patients report feeling better about their symptoms, and clinical outcomes are more than 10% better than those of other national groups. Patients typically report improvement after just three sessions, demonstrating the effectiveness of Rula's care. Rula tracks progress through measurement-informed care (MIC), using validated surveys like the PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety.
Grow Therapy reports that clients with moderate-to-severe depression see about a 50% symptom reduction and maintains an 85 net promoter score (NPS). The platform also tracks progress through MIC, using standardized clinical assessments like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7.
Cost and insurance coverage
Understanding insurance coverage is essential when choosing a mental health platform; it affects both accessibility and cost. Rula accepts more than 100 insurance plans, including Medicare nationwide and select Medicaid plans, while Grow Therapy accepts 125+ plans but with more limited government insurance coverage. Below, learn which specific plans each platform accepts, what you can expect to pay out-of-pocket, and how self-pay pricing compares.
Insurance plans accepted
A key difference is Rula's broad acceptance of government-sponsored plans: Rula accepts Medicare nationwide, while Grow Therapy's Medicare coverage is limited to 21 states. Similarly, Rula works with select Medicaid plans in multiple states, whereas Grow Therapy accepts Medicaid in just 7 states.
Therapists on Rula accept:
Therapists on Grow Therapy accept:
Aetna (national contract)
Cigna (national contract)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum (national contract)
Humana
Blue Cross Blue Shield entities (varies by region)
*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.
Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)
With Rula, patients with insurance typically pay a copay of $15 per session. Before your first appointment, Rula verifies your insurance and provides a personalized cost estimate, so you know exactly what to expect. There are no additional platform fees, and you're only responsible for the out-of-pocket costs determined by your insurance plan, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Grow Therapy's out-of-pocket costs depend on your specific insurance plan, your provider's qualifications, your location, and the length of your session. It estimates an average of $21 per session, though costs may vary. The platform offers a cost estimate tool to help you calculate what you'll pay.
HSA/FSA eligibility
Both Rula and Grow Therapy accept health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) to help cover out-of-pocket expenses. You can typically use your HSA/FSA card as your primary payment method or submit receipts for reimbursement, making it easier to use your pre-tax health funds.
Self-pay pricing
For those paying without insurance, Rula offers clear, fixed self-pay rates:
$150 for an individual therapy session
$165 for a couples therapy session
$225 for an initial psychiatry session
$175 for a follow-up psychiatry session
Grow Therapy's self-pay rates vary by provider and are listed on their individual profiles, so there's no universal pricing. While some providers on Grow Therapy may offer a sliding scale, this must be verified with each provider individually. If cost is a concern, explore options for affording therapy.
Mental health services offered
The range of services offered matters because different people need different kinds of support, from individual therapy to medication management to specialized family or couples work. Having access to multiple service types through one platform can make it easier to get comprehensive, coordinated care.
Treatment approaches offered by Rula
Rula's licensed providers offer over 180 clinical specialties and undergo a thorough vetting process. They treat a broad range of concerns, from anxiety and depression to trauma and relationship challenges, and use evidence-based modalities tailored to your needs, goals, and preferences.
Most common approaches:
Behavioral therapy:
Insight-oriented:
Complicated grief therapy) (CGT)
Relationship-based:
Internal family systems) (IFS)
Experiential therapy:
Humanistic therapy:
Rula also provides psychiatric care and medication management through psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) for people ages 13 and older. If you're unsure which service is right for you, learn more about therapy and psychiatry here.
Treatment approaches offered by Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy's providers offer over 135 treatment approaches. The platform's service types include individual talk therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and teen services.
Common therapy modalities available:
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral family therapy (CBFT)
Person-centered therapy (Rogerian / client-centered therapy)
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
Imago relationship therapy
Exposure therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Medication management is available through psychiatrists and PMHNPs and can be accessed with or without therapy.
Inclusivity and specialized care
When it comes to therapy, it's important to find a provider you can trust and who understands your unique background, identity, and experiences. Both platforms offer ways to connect with providers who match your specific needs, but they differ in how they support inclusivity and specialized expertise.
Rula inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Rula's network includes marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), clinical social workers (LCSWs), clinical psychologists (LCPs), professional clinical counselors (LPCCs), psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs, APRNs, or PMHNPs), and psychiatrists across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Specializations offered: With 180+ clinical specialties, you can find experts in anxiety, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorder (SUD), schizophrenia, and many more conditions.
Languages available: Providers in Rula's network speak over 40 languages. You can search and filter providers by language capabilities to find someone who speaks your preferred language.
Inclusivity factors: LGBTQ+ providers are available and listed as a focus area on individual provider profiles. Culturally sensitive providers offer specialized approaches, and 51% of Rula's provider network identifies as BIPOC. Teen services include therapy for ages 5+ and psychiatry for ages 13+.
Grow Therapy inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Grow Therapy's network includes over 23,000 therapists, along with psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), with multiple license types supported across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Specializations offered: Grow Therapy offers over 135 specialties and modalities. The marketplace includes specialty filters for provider search, and individual providers list specific focus areas on their profiles.
Languages available: The platform offers interpreter services in over 35 languages, including Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) at no extra cost. It also includes language filters for finding providers by language.
Inclusivity factors: About 44% of Grow Therapy's providers identify as BIPOC, and patients can filter by gender, age, and identities. Teen services are available with parent/guardian enrollment, and parents can manage minor accounts with transition at age 18.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Platform availability and access
Getting mental healthcare shouldn't require navigating complex systems or waiting weeks for an appointment. The ease of finding a provider, scheduling sessions, and accessing care can make the difference between getting help and giving up.
How access works with Rula
States served: Rula offers therapy and psychiatry in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Matching process: The patient-driven matching process lets you provide preferences and insurance information, then browse profiles of licensed in-network providers who match your needs. You can filter by specialty, background, availability, treatment approach, and more.
Session formats: Live video sessions use Zoom with secure links sent before appointments. Phone sessions are available with some providers, and between-session messaging is available through the patient portal.
Scheduling: Appointments are available as soon as tomorrow, with most clients having their first appointment within three days. You can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes through the online patient portal. Rula automatically books recurring therapy appointments for the following four weeks after your initial session.
App/portal experience: The web-based patient portal is accessed through a browser and includes secure messaging, Zoom integration for video sessions, online scheduling, and measurement-informed care surveys to track your progress.
How access works with Grow Therapy
States served: Grow Therapy is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., offering both virtual and in-person sessions nationwide.
Matching process: The self-directed marketplace search lets you select talk therapy vs. medication management, choose your state and insurance, and apply filters for specialty, language, gender, age, identities, and availability within 72 hours.
Session formats: Virtual sessions use the Grow Therapy telehealth platform, while in-person sessions are available nationwide. Secure between-session messaging is also available.
Scheduling: Flexible scheduling includes nights and weekends, with booking based on provider availability shown in the marketplace. You can typically find an appointment within 72 hours.
App/portal experience: The client portal is accessible via web browser for secure messaging, file sharing, session links, calendar integration, and optional AI-enabled session summaries.
What each platform does best
Understanding what each platform does best can help you choose the option that aligns with your priorities and supports your mental health journey.
Rula excels when you need:
Comprehensive insurance coverage: Accepts over 100 plans, including Medicare nationwide and Medicaid in more states than Grow Therapy.
Transparent pricing: Get a cost estimate before your first appointment, with a typical copay of $15.
Fast access to care: Most patients are seen within three days, with appointments available as soon as tomorrow.
Large, diverse provider network: Find the right fit among 21,000+ licensed providers across 180+ specialties.
Systematic approach to care: Uses measurement-informed care to track your progress and ensure treatment is working.
Specialized services: Offers dedicated senior psychiatry and therapy for children as young as 5.
Grow Therapy excels when you need:
Broad insurance acceptance: Accepts 125+ insurance plans with national contracts across major insurers.
Between-session digital tools: Access a therapy toolkit and AI-powered journaling to support progress between appointments.
Flexible session formats: The platform's telehealth tool includes in-session chat and screen-sharing features.
Nights and weekends availability: Find appointments that fit a busy or non-traditional schedule.
Sliding scale options: Some individual providers on the platform offer sliding scale pricing.
Summary: Is Rula or Grow Therapy right for you?
The biggest differences between Rula and Grow Therapy come down to insurance coverage breadth, clinical outcomes transparency, and platform features. Rula accepts Medicare nationwide and offers more comprehensive Medicaid coverage, while Grow Therapy's Medicare is limited to 21 states and Medicaid to just 7 states.
Rula offers a typical $15 copay with cost estimates before the first appointment, while Grow Therapy's costs vary significantly by provider and region. Both platforms offer large provider networks and nationwide coverage, though Rula's strength lies in its systematic approach to care with transparent outcomes and consistent pricing.
Consider these questions when deciding:
Do you want a platform that verifies your insurance upfront and provides a clear cost estimate before you book?
Is systematic outcomes tracking and clinical quality oversight important to you?
Do you prefer a self-directed provider search with extensive language options and interpreter services?
Are you looking for tightly coordinated therapy and psychiatry in one place?
Do you need care for young children or multi-specialty family support?
Rula FAQs
Are therapists on Rula in-network with insurance, and how much do patients typically pay per session?
Yes, therapists on the Rula platform are in-network with most major insurance plans. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session, although your individual cost may vary based on your insurance benefits and deductible.
Will Rula estimate my session cost before my first appointment?
Yes, Rula will contact your insurance carrier and provide you with an estimate of your per session cost before your first appointment.
What are Rula's cash rates for therapy and psychiatry sessions if I'm not using insurance?
Rula offers a cash rate of $150 per session for individual therapy and $165 per session for families or couples. The cash rate for psychiatry sessions is $225 for an initial 60-minute intake session and $175 for 30-minute follow-up sessions.
Does Rula offer in-person therapy appointments?
Yes. Rula offers in-person therapy appointments with providers all over the country.
Which is better, Rula or Grow Therapy?
The best platform depends on what matters most for your care. Rula stands out for its broad insurance acceptance (100+ plans including Medicare nationwide), upfront cost transparency with a typical $15 copay, and commitment to tracking clinical outcomes through measurement-informed care. Consider which factors, insurance coverage, cost clarity, clinical accountability, or session format, are most important for your needs when choosing between Rula and Grow Therapy.
Find care with Rula
Choosing between mental health platforms is an important decision — one that can shape how quickly you find the right provider and how supported you feel throughout your journey. With Rula, getting started is straightforward: verify your insurance in minutes, browse providers who match your specific needs and preferences, and see your estimated costs upfront before booking. Most patients schedule their first appointment within three days, often as soon as tomorrow.
When you're ready to take the next step, Rula is here to help you find care that works.
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.
