How Much Is BetterHelp?
2026 pricing, and where Stella fits
Updated
BetterHelp's FAQ says therapy starts at $70 to $100 a week without insurance, as of October 2026. Stella is your emotional wellness AI: tell her what happened, by voice or text.
Stella is not therapy and is not a substitute for professional care.
At a glance
Stella
Your emotional wellness AI, by voice or text. Not therapy.
$9.99 a month or $59.99 a year in the US
BetterHelp
A licensed therapist online, in its own words.
$70 to $100 per week without insurance, per its FAQ, as of October 2026
How much is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp's FAQ gives a starting price of $70 to $100 per week for therapy without insurance, as of October 2026. You are billed weekly or monthly, which its cost article puts at about $260 to $400 per month. The FAQ calls that range the typical cost of sign-up over the last six months.
Your location and therapist availability also affect it. BetterHelp's cost article says it offers financial aid to some people who pay without insurance, based on income and employment status, and you can apply during sign-up. Aid isn't guaranteed: if you're approved, a weekly or monthly rate may be lowered.
The US App Store listing shows no subscription price. The app costs nothing to download and the listing shows no in-app purchases, so read the price you are offered at sign-up before you agree to it.
What is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp is a service that connects you with a licensed therapist online, in its own words. Its US App Store listing says members can message their therapist anytime and schedule live sessions online, and it leads with insurance options and a network of 30,000 therapists. Its home page title reads "Professional Therapy With A Licensed Therapist".
Does BetterHelp take insurance?
Yes, for eligible members. BetterHelp says those who use insurance pay an average copay of $23 per session.
- Its insurance page says copays can be as low as $15, with an Aetna example at $21 per session. Its cost article says many insured members pay $15 or less, and some pay $0.
- Discount offers do not apply when insurance is used.
- The FAQ says BetterHelp accepts HSA and FSA cards, adding that most HSA and FSA providers treat it as an eligible expense. Check with your own provider before you rely on that.
Coverage, deductible status and the provider network vary by plan and state, so use the coverage check BetterHelp describes on its home page to find out what you would pay.
BetterHelp vs Talkspace
Both describe themselves as online therapy with licensed therapists, and both say they work with insurance. Without insurance, BetterHelp lists a starting price of $70 to $100 per week. Talkspace's pricing page lists three out-of-pocket plans, per week, as of October 2026:
- $69 for messaging only
- $99 for video and messaging only
- $109 for video, messaging and workshops
The two are not measured the same way: BetterHelp's range is the typical cost of sign-up over the last six months, per its FAQ, and Talkspace's figures are plan prices. From Talkspace's own pages:
- Its US App Store listing describes online therapy for adults and teens aged 13 and up, with licensed therapists in their state for text, audio and video sessions.
- Out-of-pocket plans are billed monthly, quarterly or biannually, and members can pause or cancel at any time. Paying quarterly or biannually can save 10 to 20 percent, and discount codes are sometimes offered for a first month.
- It bills insurance plans directly, most insured members have a $0 copay, and it is in network with most major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Carelon, Cigna, Optum, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare Advantage.
The key difference
BetterHelp is therapy. In its own words, it connects you with a licensed therapist online, with messaging and live sessions.
Stella is your emotional wellness AI. Tell Stella what happened, or what you keep putting off, by voice or text. She keeps what you've told her in mind, tells you straight but kindly, and helps you find the words or choose a small step when you're ready. No streaks, nothing to log.
So their prices are not a like-for-like comparison. Stella is not therapy and is not a substitute for professional care. You can use both.
When to choose a therapist, and where Stella fits
If you want therapy with a licensed therapist, choose a service or a therapist that offers it, such as BetterHelp or Talkspace, which each describe themselves that way.
I want therapy with a licensed therapist
Stella
Not therapy, and not a substitute for professional care.
BetterHelp (fits better)
Says that is what it offers, online. Talkspace describes itself the same way.
I want to use my insurance
Stella
Stella does not take insurance.
BetterHelp (fits better)
Says eligible members can use it, with an average copay of $23 per session.
I want to say what happened, by voice or text, and hear a reply
Stella (fits better)
Tell Stella what happened, or what you keep putting off. She tells you straight but kindly.
BetterHelp
Message a licensed therapist anytime, and schedule live sessions.
I'm in crisis
Stella
Stella is for adults and is not a crisis service. If you're in danger, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.
Not sure which to pick? Get a second take by text
BetterHelp vs Stella, feature by feature
| Feature | Stella | BetterHelp |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your emotional wellness AI | Online therapy with a licensed therapist |
| Who replies | Stella, an AI | A licensed therapist (fits better) |
| Therapy | No. Stella is not therapy. | Yes, therapy online (fits better) |
| How you talk | Voice or text | Messaging and live sessions |
| Appointments | None. Start when you are ready. | Message anytime; live sessions are scheduled |
| Price | $9.99/month or $59.99/year (US) | $70 to $100 a week without insurance |
| Insurance | No | Yes, for eligible members |
| Best for | Talking something through, by voice or text | Wanting a licensed therapist online |
Other online therapy services, and where Stella fits
If you are weighing BetterHelp against other options, here are four to look at: Talkspace, Headspace, Wysa and Stella. The order is not a ranking.
Stella
Your emotional wellness AI, by voice or text. In the US she is $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year. She does not take insurance, and she is not therapy.
Talkspace
Compared with BetterHelp above. Its pricing page lists out-of-pocket plans from $69 per week and says most insured members have a $0 copay, as of October 2026.
Compare: Headspace cost and Ebb AIHeadspace
Its US App Store listing describes an expert-led guide to mental health, mindfulness and meditation, with access to licensed therapists, mental health coaches and Ebb, its AI companion.
Compare: Wysa app cost and apps like WysaWysa
Its homepage says all of its care pathways include human oversight, and its US App Store listing shows in-app purchases named Guided Support and 1:1 Life Coaching Sessions.
The honest take
BetterHelp is the one to look at if you want a licensed therapist, professional care or to use insurance. Stella offers none of those. She is for talking something through, by voice or text. She is for adults, not for romance or roleplay, and not for someone in crisis.
You can use both. Not sure whether it is time to talk to a therapist? Read Do I need therapy? Signs it's time to talk to someone.
How we made this comparison
StellaLabs makes Stella. Every statement here about another app comes from that company's own App Store listing, website or help pages (or an archived copy), or a regulator's public release, or, where the page says so, Apple's search results or whether a site loads, as of . Prices change, so check the listing before you buy; we did not test the other apps.
Sources (8)
- BetterHelp FAQ (opens in a new tab)
- BetterHelp cost article (opens in a new tab)
- BetterHelp insurance page (opens in a new tab)
- BetterHelp home page (opens in a new tab)
- BetterHelp on the US App Store (opens in a new tab)
- Talkspace pricing page (opens in a new tab)
- Talkspace on the US App Store (opens in a new tab)
- Wysa homepage (opens in a new tab)
Questions about BetterHelp and Stella
How much does BetterHelp cost per week?
BetterHelp's FAQ gives a starting price of $70 to $100 per week for therapy without insurance, as of October 2026. It calls that the typical cost of sign-up over the last six months. Financial aid, discounts, location and therapist availability can change it.
Does BetterHelp take insurance?
Yes, for eligible members. BetterHelp says those who use insurance pay an average copay of $23 per session, and its insurance page says copays can be as low as $15. Coverage depends on your plan, provider and state.
Does BetterHelp offer financial aid?
BetterHelp's cost article says it offers financial aid to some people who pay without insurance, based on income and employment status, and you can apply during sign-up. If you're approved, your weekly or monthly rate may be lowered.
Is BetterHelp worth it?
That depends on what you need and what you can pay. In its own words, BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist online, with messaging and live sessions, and its FAQ gives a starting price of $70 to $100 per week without insurance as of October 2026.
How does BetterHelp compare with Talkspace on price?
BetterHelp lists a starting price of $70 to $100 per week without insurance. Talkspace's pricing page lists out-of-pocket plans at $69, $99 and $109 per week, depending on the plan, as of October 2026. The two measure price differently, so read each page.
Is Stella a replacement for therapy?
No. Stella is not therapy and is not a substitute for professional care. If you want therapy with a licensed therapist, look to a service or a therapist that offers it; BetterHelp says that is what it provides.
What is Stella?
Stella is your emotional wellness AI. Tell Stella what happened, or what you keep putting off, by voice or text. She keeps what you've told her in mind, tells you straight but kindly, and helps you find the words or choose a small step when you're ready. No streaks, nothing to log.
How much does Stella cost?
In the US, Stella is $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year. The App Store shows your local price and renewal terms before you buy.
Is Stella therapy?
No. Stella is not therapy and is not a substitute for professional care.
Tell Stella what happened.
Even the part you're still figuring out. Download the app or send her a text. The app is free to download; a subscription is required to keep using it.
Stella is not therapy and is not a substitute for professional care.
Keep comparing
Other tools people weigh against Stella when they are deciding the same thing.
- Wysa app cost and apps like WysaWhat the Wysa app is and what its in-app purchases cost on the US App Store as of Oct 2026, plus apps like Wysa and how Stella compares.
- Headspace cost and Ebb AIHeadspace's AI, Ebb, launched in October 2024, per its press page. What Headspace costs, whether it fits, and apps like Headspace.
- What happened to the Sanvello appSanvello's old homepage said "Sanvello is now AbleTo." As of Oct 2026 the app is not on the US App Store. Where to go next.
- Stella vs. Ash AIAsh calls itself "AI for Mental Health". Who makes the Ash app, what its in-app purchases cost as of Oct 2026, and how it compares with Stella.
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