Key Takeaways
Rula and Talkspace are telehealth platforms that focus on increasing access to high-quality mental health services. Rula’s network has more than 21,000 providers, while Talkspace has closer to 5,000.
Both telehealth platforms are in network with most major insurance plans, accept HSA/ FSA, and offer cash-pay options.
Rula connects people with virtual therapy and in-person services, while Talkspace’s platform focuses on text, audio, picture, and video messages.
Over the last decade, online therapy has emerged as an effective solution for helping more people access high-quality, affordable mental health services. You’re probably familiar with some of the leading telehealth providers, but you might be unsure which is the best fit for your needs.
If you’re debating Rula vs Talkspace, this article can help you understand which platform makes sense for your mental health journey.
Differences at a glance
Rula at a glance
Rula has been connecting people with high-quality mental healthcare since 2019. Formerly known as Path Mental Health, Rula’s network of more than 21,000 therapists and psychiatric providers makes it easier to find the right provider for your unique needs. Over time, Rula has continued to focus on increasing its quality of care while it grows — something uncommon among other large therapy networks.
"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 one patient.
With Rula’s platform, you can find a provider who accepts your insurance and schedule an online appointment as soon as the next day. The process is designed to be as simple as possible, so all you need to do is select your state and insurance to get started. From there, you can filter providers by:
Speciality
Treatment approach
Availability
Gender
Race
Language
Talkspace at a glance
Talkspace is an online telehealth platform that increases access to therapy, psychiatry, and self-guided support. Its network of more than 5,000 providers includes therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers with a wide range of specialities.
Talkspace specializes in virtual care, and 98% of its patients claim that telehealth services are more convenient than face-to-face therapy. You can connect with a provider via text, audio, photo, and video messages, so the experience may look different for everyone.
Rula clinical outcomes vs. Talkspace
The goal of therapy is to help people improve their mental health. When considering therapy platforms, it’s important to choose one that has successfully supported people in making meaningful change in their lives.
Data show that 93% of people felt better about their symptoms after receiving care through Rula. When looking at anxiety and depression scores, 74% of Rula patients showed significant improvement versus 68% of Talkspace patients. Rula’s clinical outcomes are greater than 10% better than similar competitors, on average.*
"It was easy to find the right therapist for my needs, and I love seeing my therapist each week. I've seen a lot of growth in myself,” says a Rula client.
Talkspace prides itself on being a quality alternative to traditional in-person therapy. According to its website, 80% of people who used Talkspace thought it was as effective or more effective than in-person therapy.
*Based on Rula’s clinical quality research
Cost and insurance coverage
Rula increases access to mental healthcare for more than 170 million people. The company is in network with more than 100 commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, and United Healthcare. Rula accepts many employer-sponsored plans — plus Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid — in multiple states.
“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 one Rula patient.
Insurance accepted by therapists on Rula
Insurances accepted by Talkspace
Aetna
Anthem
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Tricare
Optum
Cigna
Carelon
Regence
Medicare
+ many more
Out-of-pocket cost
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your insurance coverage. With Rula, people typically pay $15 per session using insurance.* Talkspace’s rates are similar, with its website stating that most people with insurance pay $15 or less per session.
*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 Talkspace both accept health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) funds for out-of-pocket expenses. You can pay for sessions with a HSA/FSA card or submit a receipt to your HSA/FSA provider for reimbursement.
Insurance vs self-pay
Rula offers self-pay rates for people without insurance. These include:
$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
Talkspace also offers self-pay rates via its recurring subscription plans. These are billed automatically on a monthly, quarterly, or biannual basis.
Messaging therapy: From $69 per week
Video and messaging therapy: From $99 per week
Video and messaging therapy and workshops: From $109 per week
Talkspace’s psychiatry rates are a bit more expensive, ranging from $299 for a single evaluation to $175 for a single follow-up session. Depending on your needs, you can choose from several discounted bundle packages.
Mental health services offered
Rula’s network of providers offers individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and medication management. People as young as 5 years old can be seen for therapy, and Rula provides psychiatric care to people 13 years and older.
Rula works with therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) who are experts in more than 180 clinical specialties and therapeutic approaches. These include anxiety disorders, 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:
Talkspace works with individuals, couples, and teens. You must be 13 years or older for therapy and 18 years or older for medication management. Like Rula, Talkspace’s network includes providers who are trained in multiple areas of expertise.
However, it's important to note that Talkspace providers don't treat unhealthy substance use or psychosis. They also don’t conduct formal autism assessments.
Treatment approaches offered by Talkspace
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Humanistic therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Mentalization therapy
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
Psychodynamic therapy
Exposure therapy
Somatic therapy
Grief counseling
Talk therapy
Inclusivity and specialized care
Rula understands the importance of finding a therapist who specializes in your concerns and can meet your unique needs. According to company data, 94% of people using Rula have found a provider they feel comfortable with and who respects their needs.
When choosing a provider with Rula, you can search for specific specialities. For example, you might want someone who has experience working with the LGBTQ+ community or understands neurodivergence.
Rula works with providers who speak more than 40 different languages and offers interpretation services at no charge. Talkspace also has a diverse provider network, accounting for more than 32 different languages. According to the company’s website, it also has providers who specialize in veterans and LGBTQ+ issues.
Provider access and flexibility
A leading difference between the two platforms is how you select and meet with providers. With Rula, the process begins with sharing your location and insurance plan. You can filter your provider search based on key information, like their speciality, gender, and treatment approach. This generates a list of provider profiles so you can browse and select someone who seems right for you.
If you’re doing telehealth, you’ll meet with your provider for a live video session over a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform. Patients can access appointments via their computer or mobile device, but providers are required to use a computer for a better patient experience.
Finding a provider with Talkspace looks a little different. To get started, you'll complete a short questionnaire about why you're seeking help and what you're looking for in a provider. You can also search the provider directory to find someone who aligns with your needs.
Once you receive a personalized match, you can communicate with your licensed therapist through a web browser or the Talkspace app. Depending on your subscription plan, this might be through texts, audio messages, video-based therapy, or live chat.
Summary: Is Rula or Talkspace right for you?
Rula is a great fit if you want access to a large network of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers. The company’s provider network is more than four times the size of Talkspace’s network, which may increase your chances of finding someone who understands your clinical and cultural needs.
On the flip side, Talkspace may be the right choice if you want to connect with your therapist via text or communicate on a more regular basis (like texting throughout the week between sessions).
If you’re still on the fence, here are a few questions to consider.
Do you prefer virtual or in-person services? Talkspace focuses on virtual therapy, while Rula connects people with virtual and in-person services.
What’s your insurance plan? Rula and Talkspace are both in network with most major insurers. If you find a provider on either platform, remember to check that they accept your insurance.
Rula FAQs
Question 1: What type of care does Rula offer?
Answer: Rula works with therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers who provide individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and medication management. Virtual and in-person services are available, though availability may vary based on your location.
Question 2: What conditions do providers treat?
Answer: Providers who work with Rula are qualified to treat a broad range of mental health conditions and challenges. These include:
Question 3: Is there a fee to use Rula?
Answer: There's no fee to use Rula’s platform, so clients are only responsible for the cost of therapy sessions. If you choose a provider who’s in network with your insurance plan, you only pay your copay, which is typically $15-20 per session.
Question 4: Does Rula provide high-quality care?
Answer: Rula believes that everyone deserves access to high-quality mental health services and has a clinical quality team that conducts regular clinical reviews while providing ongoing professional development for all providers in its network. This is one of the reasons why Rula’s clinical outcomes are approximately 10% better than other national groups.
Find care
Starting (or restarting) therapy can feel a bit overwhelming, so it’s important to partner with a telehealth platform that supports you each step of the way. Rula and Talkspace both offer a comprehensive solution for everything from finding a provider to understanding the cost of care.
Providers who work with Rula are available for virtual and in-person services, and they see patients 5 years and older. And with Rula’s large network of mental health providers, you can meet with someone who’s an expert in your clinical and cultural needs as soon as tomorrow. Talkspace has a smaller provider network but offers additional modes of communication — like text and audio messages.
Regardless of the telehealth platform you choose, deciding to seek professional support is an important step in your mental health and healing journey.
