Talkspace vs BetterHelp vs Cerebral
Talkspace vs BetterHelp vs Cerebral compared on price, insurance, therapy and psychiatry. Here's which online mental health platform fits your needs.
Quick answer
Talkspace (4.1/5) is our overall pick over BetterHelp (3.9/5) and Cerebral (3.6/5), though the best choice depends on your insurance and needs.
All three offer online mental health care, but they are built differently. Talkspace does therapy and psychiatry and takes the widest range of insurance. BetterHelp is therapy only, with the largest therapist network and now 125+ insurance plans. Cerebral bundles therapy with non-controlled medication on a subscription.
Side by side
| Talkspace | BetterHelp | Cerebral | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69/wk or copay | $70 to $100/wk or copay | About $60/mo (meds) or copay |
| Verdict: Cerebral is cheapest for medication alone. For therapy, Talkspace's cash floor is lowest, and all three take insurance. | |||
| Takes insurance | Yes (incl. Medicare Advantage, TRICARE) | Yes (125+ plans) | Some plans (Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Optum, UHC) |
| Verdict: Talkspace wins on the broadest coverage. | |||
| Controlled substances (stimulants, benzos) | No | No | No |
| Verdict: None of the three prescribes stimulants or benzodiazepines. For ADHD stimulants, see Talkiatry. | |||
| Psychiatry / meds | Yes (non-controlled) | No | Yes (non-controlled) |
| Verdict: Talkspace and Cerebral win. BetterHelp has no medication. | |||
| Best for | Insurance + meds | Largest therapist network | Therapy + meds bundle |
| Verdict: Talkspace for insurance plus meds, BetterHelp for the largest therapist pool, Cerebral for a bundle. | |||
Our verdict
Talkspace is the most well-rounded thanks to broad insurance coverage and psychiatry. Choose BetterHelp for the largest pool of therapists, and consider Cerebral if you want therapy and medication in one subscription, knowing it permanently stopped prescribing controlled substances under a 2024 DOJ agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Which is best for medication?+
Talkspace and Cerebral both offer psychiatry and medication management; BetterHelp does not. Neither Talkspace nor Cerebral prescribes controlled substances such as ADHD stimulants or benzodiazepines. Talkspace has the broadest insurance coverage.
Which is cheapest?+
For medication alone, Cerebral is cheapest at about $60 a month. For therapy, Talkspace starts at $69 a week and BetterHelp at $70 a week. All three take some insurance, and Talkspace has the broadest coverage.
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