Best Online Therapy Platforms in 2024 Therapy on your time, in your space
We’ve all heard it echoed consistently over the past several years especially: it’s time to pay more attention to mental health. While we’re fully on board with de-stigmatizing and highlighting this vital aspect of overall wellbeing, choosing an online therapy platform for the first time can be very daunting with all the options out there. That’s why we’re rolling out our list of the 10 best online therapy platforms in 2024.
We applied several key metrics (specifics below) to narrow down and rank the online therapy services we believe benefit the largest and most diverse selection of people. The first step is getting over the stigma and doing something about it - why not now?
How We Rank Online Therapy Platforms
Here’s a closer look at the metrics we use to rank online therapy platforms. Keep in mind that most of these categories are partially subjective, but in the majority of cases, we side with the option that best fulfills the following requirements.
Provider Quality and Variety
How many providers does the online therapy platform employ, what are their qualifications, and can they accommodate requests for therapists of a certain gender or religious belief, etc.?
Does the online therapy platform in question offer services for individuals, couples, and families?
Can people using the platform be prescribed medication directly? If not, will the platform quickly refer them to a psychiatrist who can?
Flexibility
Can users of the online therapy platform find scheduling opportunities that work around their own schedules? Are therapists available via high-quality video and audio calls as well as messaging services?
Do therapists respond quickly to messages, and can you switch therapists without hassle and/or added expense?
Platform Usability and Interface
Is the online platform and/or mobile app easy to use, sign up for, and navigate various settings? Do users have to click (or tap) around a lot to check their schedules? Are there any aesthetic or functional issues within the interface that make the experience clunky or unattractive?
Privacy and Security
Does the online therapy platform sell personal information to third-party advertisers? Do they only use cookies for retargeting ads, or personal information?
Are communications with therapists protected by patient-clinician confidentiality?
Value
Finally, how much does the online therapy platform charge, and is the value of the program worth that price?
Do they accept insurance, offer first-month discounts, or provide payment plans?
Online Therapy Platform FAQs
Is online therapy credible?
Though researchers are still exploring the efficacy of telehealth services as compared to conventional care, the early consensus is that telehealth is often just as effective as face-to-face counseling. This UCLA Health article goes into detail about a 60-study review that supports this claim.
Who should not use online therapy?
Several of the online therapy platforms we researched and reviewed disclaimed that people experiencing suicidal ideation or other potentially life-threatening issues should not seek online therapy, but more immediate sources of support. Also, those with more severe mental health and/or intellectual disabilities, like paranoid schizophrenia, are better suited for in-person care than online therapy.
What is the best online platform for therapy?
While we’ve made our statement above, the right online therapy platform for you will vary on your circumstances and preferences. That said, we trust all of the providers on this list to deliver accommodating, effective care at fair prices.
What are the drawbacks to online therapy?
Many online therapy platforms are not covered by insurance, and cannot provide medication. Technical issues can also affect the quality and consistency of care. Even though online therapy has been proven highly effective for many patients, others may find the lack of personal interaction to be less effective.
Our Top 3 Picks
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Though Calmerry doesn’t offer teen or group therapy, the platform makes up for these deficits with a solid value, a wide range of services, and a very easy-to-use interface.
After taking a quick online survey, users will then be matched with a therapist and can choose the plan they want. Matching takes an hour or less, and the therapists are equipped to handle many issues (ADHD, depression, identity issues, anxiety, etc.)
Sessions are held via video calls or asynchronous messaging, and therapists encourage users to set goals at the outset so it’s easier to track progress.
The system is easy to use, costs stay low at around $50-80
Pros
- User-friendly app
- Therapists specialize in a wide range of relationship issues
- Discount available to those in need
Cons
- User-friendly app
- Therapists specialize in a wide range of relationship issues
- Discount available to those in need
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A robust therapy platform centered on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Online-Therapy.com (est. 2009) targets depression, addiction, anxiety, and other highly common issues with an eight-section CBT program.
Though the program requires users to fill out worksheets and perform other self-motivated tasks, each person is still matched with a licensed therapist who will connect over live video, voice calls, or text chat for therapy sessions.
The setup process is made simple with a one-page setup, though it takes a bit of digging to find some information (like cost).
Speaking of, the four plans offered by Online-Therapy.com (including couples therapy) range in price from $50 to $110 a week, landing near the middle range for most online therapy platforms.
Pros
- Niche pool of Christian singles
- Streamlined mobile site for all devices
- In-depth profile questions for a great first impression
Cons
- Niche pool of Christian singles
- Streamlined mobile site for all devices
- In-depth profile questions for a great first impression
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Founded in 2012, Talkspace has been in the online therapy world for a minute. The platform is staffed exclusively by licensed counselors, who collectively cover a broad range of online therapy services, including:
- Standard 1-to-1 therapy sessions
- Couples therapy
- Psychiatry
- Teen therapy
- LGBTQIA+ community therapy
- Therapy for veterans
Talkspace connects users who may need a prescription with psychiatrists within one week.
They offer live video therapy sessions and messaging, and several of their plans combine the two.
Setting up an account is simple, and users are then connected with a mental health professional who will show them how the system works.
Talkspace doesn’t sell user information, and their services range from $69 to $109 per week, which is a decent, but not remarkable value.