Network size and specialties: Headway offers a larger provider network (60,000+ vs. 21,000+), while Rula provides significantly more clinical specialties (180+ vs. 20+) for specialized care needs.
Session availability and formats: Rula focuses on telehealth with faster scheduling (appointments within three days vs. five days), while Headway offers greater flexibility with virtual and in-person sessions.
Cost transparency: Rula provides upfront cost estimates before booking, with typical $15 copays, while Headway advertises sessions as low as $0, but costs can vary after insurance processing.
Clinical outcomes: Rula reports higher symptom improvement rates than Headway (93% over three months vs. 71% over one month) and emphasizes measurement-informed care with regular progress tracking using standardized clinical tools.
Provider diversity: Headway features 40% BIPOC providers representing 57+ languages, while Rula's network features 51% BIPOC providers and over 40 languages.
Finding the right mental health platform shouldn't feel like another barrier to getting care. When you're ready to start therapy or psychiatry, you need a service that accepts your insurance, connects you with qualified providers quickly, and delivers the support you actually need without surprise costs or endless searching. Both Rula and Headway promise to make mental healthcare more accessible by connecting you with licensed therapists and psychiatrists who take insurance, but they differ significantly in how they deliver on that promise.
This guide breaks down the key differences between these two platforms — from provider networks and cost transparency to clinical outcomes and appointment availability — so you can make an informed decision about which service best fits your needs, your budget, and your timeline for getting started.
Rula vs Headway: Differences at a glance
Rula and Headway are mental health platforms that connect you with licensed providers who accept insurance, making therapy and psychiatric care more accessible and affordable. While they share similar goals, they differ in key areas like cost transparency, provider network size, and the types of support they offer.
Average cost per session:
Rula: $15 per session with insurance (typical copay; actual costs vary based on your insurance benefits and deductible)
Headway: As low as $0 per session with insurance (costs vary by insurance plan, provider training, location, and session length)
Number of providers:
Rula: 21,000+ licensed providers
Headway: 60,000+ licensed providers
Modes of communication:
Rula: Live video sessions via Zoom, phone sessions with some providers, between-session messaging through patient portal, limited in-person therapy for select insurance members
Headway: In-person and virtual sessions, between-session messaging through the platform portal
Services offered:
Rula: Individual, couples, and family therapy, psychiatric care, and medication management for ages 13+
Headway: Talk therapy and medication management (standalone or combined)
Insurance acceptance:
Rula: In-network with 100+ insurance plans, including major carriers, Medicare, and select Medicaid plans
Headway: Accepts 70+ major plans like Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and select Medicare and Medicaid plans
States covered:
Rula: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Headway: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Number of specialties offered:
Rula: 180+ clinical specialties and modalities
Headway: 25+ clinical specialties
Inclusivity and patient focus:
Rula: 51% of providers in Rula's network are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), and the providers in Rula's network speak over 40 different languages
Headway: 40% of the provider network identifies as BIPOC; represents over 57 languages
Virtual-only or in-person availability:
Rula: Primarily virtual with in-person therapy available
Headway: Both virtual and in-person care available
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Rula at a glance
Rula is a comprehensive behavioral health solution founded in 2019 with a mission to make mental healthcare work for everyone. The platform connects you with a nationwide network of over 21,000 licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers across 180+ specialties. Their approach focuses on making care simple and effective by handling complex details like insurance verification and providing upfront cost estimates before your first session.
"Rula was the only way I was able to find a therapist. Everywhere else I was running into barriers," says a Rula patient.
With therapy available for ages five and up and psychiatry for ages 13 and up, most clients schedule their first appointment within three days. You can browse a curated list of in-network providers and filter by specialty, background, and availability. Sessions are primarily conducted via secure video calls, with a typical copay of just $15 per session.
Getting started with Rula is straightforward: verify your insurance coverage online, browse providers who match your needs and preferences, and book your first appointment (often available within days). Rula handles the insurance verification and provides your estimated cost upfront, so you know exactly what to expect before your first session.
Headway at a glance
Headway is a mental health marketplace founded in 2019 with a mission of building a new mental healthcare system. The platform operates as a network that helps people find therapists and psychiatrists who accept their insurance while handling billing and administrative tasks for providers. Headway offers access to over 60,000 providers across all 50 states, with services available both in-person and via telehealth.
To find a provider on Headway, you enter your insurance information, location, and care preferences to browse their directory. The platform requires new clients to have active, accepted insurance to book appointments, though private pay may be available for existing clients, depending on the provider. Sessions can cost as low as $0 depending on your plan, but final prices can vary. Headway uses clinical assessments such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 to track your progress over time.
Clinical outcomes and how we compare
Clinical outcomes and evidence-based approaches are crucial indicators of whether a mental health platform truly helps people make progress. Measurable improvements in symptoms and patient satisfaction reflect the quality of both the provider network and the platform's support systems.
Rula's clinical outcomes:
93% of patients report feeling better about their symptoms after receiving care
98% find a provider who meets their unique preferences
94% find a provider they feel comfortable with
Headway also uses measurement to track progress, with assessments to help clients and providers monitor symptoms. Like Rula, they're committed to data-driven care, though Rula's outcomes reflect a focus not just on symptom reduction but on the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Headway's clinical outcomes:
71% of patients show measurable improvement within 30 days
32% average reduction in depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) in the first month
Cost and insurance coverage
Both Rula and Headway prioritize making mental healthcare affordable by working with insurance, but they differ in how they handle coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and payment options. Understanding these differences helps you avoid financial surprises and choose the platform that works best with your insurance plan.
Insurance plans accepted
Rula is in-network with more than 100 insurance plans, including most major carriers. They also accept Medicare and select Medicaid plans to make care accessible to more people.
"Finding mental healthcare through insurance can be a daunting task, but Rula made it easy to find a therapist who meets my needs and takes my insurance," says a Rula patient.
Headway accepts most major insurance plans but requires new clients to have active, accepted insurance to sign up. Their accepted plans include Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and select Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid plans.
Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)
Rula verifies your insurance benefits and provides an estimated cost per session before you book your first appointment. Their instant cost estimator tool gives you a clear picture of your out-of-pocket responsibility. For most clients with insurance, the typical copay is $15 per session, and they never charge platform fees beyond what your insurance requires.
Headway advertises sessions as low as $0 with insurance, but your final cost can vary depending on your plan, provider, and location. Benefits verification can take two to seven business days, during which you may book with a temporary cost while details are confirmed.
HSA/FSA eligibility
Both platforms accept pre-tax health funds. Rula accepts health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) cards for all out-of-pocket costs, and you can also submit receipts for reimbursement. Headway accepts HSA/FSA cards, though it notes that only some cards are eligible for online transactions.
Self-pay pricing
For those without insurance or who prefer to pay directly, Rula offers clear, upfront self-pay rates:
Individual therapy (60 minutes): $150
Couples/family therapy (60 minutes): $165
Initial psychiatry (60 minutes): $225
Psychiatry follow-up (30 minutes): $175
Headway doesn't offer a standard self-pay option for new clients. Private pay is only available in limited cases for existing clients if their provider chooses to offer it, with rates set by individual providers.
Mental health services offered
The range of mental health services a platform offers determines whether you can access the specific type of care you need, from individual therapy to medication management. Both Rula and Headway provide therapy and psychiatric services, but they differ in the breadth of specialties and treatment approaches available.
Treatment approaches offered by Rula
With 180+ specialties and modalities, Rula's network handles a wide range of needs using evidence-based approaches:
Most common approaches
Behavioral therapy
Insight-oriented
Relationship-based
Internal family systems (IFS)
Experiential therapy
Humanistic therapy
They offer several types of therapy to meet different needs:
Individual therapy: For children (ages 5+), teens, and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and other concerns
Couples therapy: To help partners improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships
Family therapy: To address family dynamics, parenting challenges, and support for children and teens
Rula also provides psychiatric care and medication management through psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) for people ages 13 and older. These services are delivered exclusively via telehealth, making expert psychiatric care convenient and accessible.
Treatment approaches offered by Headway
Headway's network offers talk therapy and medication management, with providers specializing in 25+ clinical areas. The specific therapeutic approaches vary by provider and include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Strength-based therapy
Trauma-focused CBT
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Attachment-based family therapy
Behavioral couples therapy
Bowen family systems
Cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD
Cognitive behavioral family therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
Family-focused therapy (FFT)
Family-based treatment for eating disorders
Gottman Method / Gottman couples counseling
Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT)
Milan systemic therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
Motivational interviewing
Multi-systemic therapy (MST)
Multidimensional family therapy
Narrative therapy
Parent management training (PMT)
Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychoeducational family therapy
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
Solution-focused couples therapy
Strategic family therapy
Structural family therapy
Headway's services cover talk therapy for individuals, couples, and families, with specialized care areas including ADHD, trauma and PTSD, maternal mental health, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care. Medication management is available through psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other qualified prescribers, offered both virtually and in-person, depending on the provider.
Inclusivity and specialized care
Finding a provider who understands your identity, culture, and life experiences is fundamental to building trust and making progress in therapy. Both Rula and Headway prioritize inclusivity and specialized care, but they differ in provider network diversity and focus areas.
Rula's inclusivity and specialization
Licensure types: Rula's network includes licensed therapists (LCSW, LMFT, LPC), psychologists (PhD, PsyD), and psychiatric providers (PMHNP, MD).
Specializations offered: Rula offers 180+ specialties covering everything from anxiety and trauma to culturally sensitive care and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy.
Languages available: Rula's diverse network represents more than 40 languages, with filtering options to help you find providers who speak your preferred language.
Inclusivity factors: 51% of Rula's provider network identifies as BIPOC. You can filter providers by specialty, background, and identity to find the right personal match.
Headway's inclusivity and specialization
Licensure types: Headway's network includes therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other prescribing providers.
Specializations offered: Headway offers 25+ specialties, with 73% of providers specializing in high-need areas like PTSD and child/adolescent care.
Languages available: Over 57 languages are represented across Headway's network.
Inclusivity factors: 40% of Headway's providers identify as BIPOC, with LGBTQIA+ affirming care featured as a searchable specialty.
Platform availability and access
Access to mental healthcare depends not only on finding the right provider but also on how quickly you can schedule appointments and navigate the platform. Both Rula and Headway offer nationwide coverage, but they differ in wait times, scheduling flexibility, and platform features.
How access works with Rula
Rula handles the complicated details like verifying insurance coverage so you can focus on feeling better.
States served: Rula offers therapy and psychiatry services in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Matching process: Rula's guided process helps you find an in-network provider who fits your needs, with upfront cost estimates and support for switching providers if needed.
Session formats: Rula delivers care primarily through secure video sessions, with psychiatry available telehealth-only and limited in-person therapy for certain members.
Scheduling: Rula offers appointments as soon as tomorrow, with most clients having their first session within three days, and automatically books your next four therapy sessions weekly.
App/portal experience: Rula provides a web-based patient portal for managing appointments, messaging providers, and accessing the 24/7 crisis hotline.
How access works with Headway
Headway's platform connects you with providers in your area who accept your insurance.
States served: Headway is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Matching process: You search by insurance, location, and specialty to find providers, though benefits verification can take several days.
Session formats: Headway offers both virtual and in-person sessions for flexibility in how you receive care.
Scheduling: Appointments are typically available within five days, with online booking for first appointments, though follow-up scheduling may require messaging providers directly.
App/portal experience: Headway provides a web portal without a mobile app for messaging providers and managing appointments, and their emergency resources page links to external crisis supports.
What each platform does best
Every platform has strengths, and the best choice depends on what you value most in your mental healthcare journey.
Rula may be the best fit if you value:
Speed and convenience: Get matched and see a provider within three days
Cost transparency: Know your estimated session cost before booking
Comprehensive clinical support: Access 180+ specialties with outstanding clinical outcomes
Dedicated support: 24/7 crisis line and care team help with provider switches
Seamless scheduling: Automatically booked recurring appointments maintain care momentum
Headway may be the best fit if you value:
In-person sessions: Find providers in your area for face-to-face appointments
Large network: Browse a directory of 60,000+ providers
Flexible policies: Individual providers set their own cancellation and scheduling policies
Independent search: Explore the full directory on your own to compare providers and make your selection
Summary: Is Rula or Headway right for you?
Choosing between Rula and Headway depends on what you need from your mental healthcare experience. Headway offers a large network with strong in-person care options and provider diversity, making it a solid choice if you want to browse a wide directory and prefer face-to-face sessions.
Rula focuses on removing common barriers to mental healthcare through practical features like fast appointment scheduling, transparent pricing before you book, and a network of providers across 180+ specialties. The platform handles insurance verification upfront and provides support if you need to switch providers or have questions about your care.
Consider these questions when deciding:
Do you need an appointment quickly?
Is cost transparency important?
Do you prefer virtual or in-person care?
How important are proven outcomes?
Rula FAQs
1. How quickly can I get an appointment through Rula?
Most people who use Rula are able to schedule their first appointment within three days, often as soon as tomorrow.
2. How much does care usually cost with Rula?
With Rula, most people with insurance pay around $15 per session, and you’ll see an estimated cost before you book your first appointment.
3. Can I see someone in person, or is Rula virtual-only?
Rula is primarily telehealth, offering secure video sessions for therapy and psychiatry, with limited in-person therapy available for certain members and locations.
4. Does Rula accept insurance?
Yes! Rula partners with most major insurance carriers. The specific plans accepted may vary by state and network. Rula’s team will help you verify your coverage before your first visit so you understand your out-of-pocket costs.
Find care with Rula
Rula makes mental healthcare more straightforward. You can find an in-network provider quickly, see your estimated costs before booking, and track your progress with measurement-informed care throughout your treatment.
Rula handles the complicated details — insurance verification, provider matching, scheduling coordination, and ongoing support — so you can focus on what actually matters: feeling better.
Whether you're starting therapy for the first time or you've been searching for care that actually works, Rula is here to guide you through every step.
Liz Talago
Liz Talago, M.ed. is a mental health professional turned content writer and strategist based in the Detroit metro area. As an independent consultant for mental health organizations, Liz creates meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through strategic storytelling. Liz is known for championing diverse perspectives within the mental health industry and translating bold ideas into inspiring, affirming digital experiences.
In her free time, you can find her hiking with her two German Shepherds, puttering around her dahlia garden, or spending time with her family.
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.
