Best affordable online therapy

Cost is the number one reason people don't start therapy. The average in-person session costs $175 to $250 out of pocket. Online therapy is cheaper, but "cheaper" still ranges from free to over $400 per month depending on what you choose. Here's how to get real therapy at every budget level.

Free: 7 Cups

7 Cups offers free, anonymous peer support through trained volunteer listeners. These aren't therapists, but they are real people who have completed training and volunteer their time to provide emotional support via text chat. It's available 24/7 and there's no sign-up cost.

If you want professional therapy through 7 Cups, they offer a paid plan at approximately $150 per month for messaging-based therapy with a licensed therapist. No live sessions in the standard plan, but it's one of the cheapest paths to a real therapist.

Under $60/week: Calmerry

Calmerry is the most affordable mainstream online therapy platform, starting at around $50 per week. That's $120 to $160 less per month than BetterHelp or Talkspace at their standard rates. You get text and video sessions with a licensed therapist, no long-term commitment, and the ability to switch therapists if needed.

The trade-off is a smaller therapist network and less brand recognition, but for straightforward anxiety, depression, or stress, Calmerry delivers the fundamentals at a genuinely lower price.

With insurance: Talkspace or Grow Therapy

If you have health insurance with behavioral health coverage, the cheapest option is almost always a platform that accepts your plan. Talkspace works with most major insurers (Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, TRICARE, and Medicare Part B), with average copays of $15 to $30 per session. That's as low as $60 to $120 per month for weekly therapy.

Grow Therapy is another strong insurance option. Instead of being matched by an algorithm, you browse a directory and choose your own therapist. Many accept insurance, and those who don't often offer sliding-scale cash rates. You pay per session rather than a monthly subscription, so you only pay when you actually meet with your therapist.

Brightside Health also accepts broad insurance coverage and offers some of the lowest out-of-pocket psychiatry rates at $95 per month for medication management alone.

Financial aid: BetterHelp

BetterHelp isn't the cheapest platform at sticker price ($65 to $100 per week), but their financial aid program can reduce costs by 10 to 40 percent for those who qualify. That brings the effective price down to as low as $39 to $60 per week, which is competitive with Calmerry. The advantage is you get BetterHelp's massive therapist network and easy switching at a reduced rate.

To check eligibility, start the sign-up process on BetterHelp's site. You'll be asked if you need financial assistance before being charged.

What to watch out for

Some platforms advertise low weekly prices but bill monthly or quarterly upfront. Make sure you understand the billing cycle before committing. Also, "messaging therapy" and "live session therapy" are very different experiences. Messaging plans are usually cheaper but you're exchanging text with your therapist rather than having a real-time conversation. For some people that's ideal; for others it feels incomplete.

Finally, don't assume the cheapest option is the best fit. Paying slightly more for a therapist who specializes in your specific concern can be more cost-effective than months of mediocre therapy at a lower rate.

Find your best option

Our quiz factors in your budget and insurance status to recommend the platforms that make the most sense for your situation.