BetterHelp Review — Online Talk Therapy by Message, Chat, Phone or Video

Overview

BetterHelp is a subscription talk-therapy service delivered entirely online. You answer a short questionnaire, are matched with one licensed therapist from a network of more than 31,000, and keep working with that therapist week to week. It is not a clinic and not a prescriber: BetterHelp says its providers cannot make an official diagnosis, fulfil a court order or prescribe medication.

Individual therapy is for adults. Couples therapy is offered through Regain, and therapy for 13- to 19-year-olds through TeenCounseling, both run by the same company.

How it works

1. Answer a few questions about what you want help with and your preferences. You sign up under a nickname rather than your full name.
2. Get matched with an available therapist. BetterHelp says this takes a few hours to a few days.
3. Talk in the format you prefer — message your therapist anytime, or book live chat, phone or video sessions.
4. Switch or stop when you want. You can request a different therapist from within the platform and cancel the subscription at any time.

Members also get access to digital worksheets and free weekly group seminars.

Provider credentials

BetterHelp says every therapist holds a US clinical license — a psychologist (PhD or PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) — and has at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. Your therapist’s profile shows their state of licensure and license number, so you can check it with the state licensing board yourself.

Therapists on the platform are independent providers, not BetterHelp employees.

Medication availability

None. BetterHelp is talk therapy only. For moderate to severe depression or anxiety, medication combined with therapy often works better than either alone. If you may need medication, see our online psychiatry guide or a prescribing service such as Lemonaid Health, or talk to your own doctor.

Privacy

BetterHelp says messages are encrypted and that you can remove messages you have sent. It also asks for emergency contact information when therapy begins.

In 2023 the Federal Trade Commission alleged that BetterHelp had shared consumers’ health information with advertising platforms. As part of the settlement, BetterHelp paid $7.8 million to consumers and was banned from sharing health data for advertising. Read the current privacy policy and cookie settings before you sign up.

Customer support

Support is available through the BetterHelp website and app. BetterHelp is clear that it is not a crisis service: if you are in an urgent crisis or emergency, it directs you away from the platform. In the US, call or text 988 or call 911 — see Get Help Now.

Methodology

We checked BetterHelp’s pricing, insurance, credential and scope statements against its own website and FAQ on September 25, 2026, and assessed it against each criterion in our review methodology. Prices and coverage change often, so confirm the details on BetterHelp’s site before you enroll.