We Tested Over 65 Online Therapy Companies — Here’s Our Top 10 Picks for Best Online Anxiety Therapy Platforms

Talkspace is a great place to start if you’re new to therapy and looking for a service that makes using your insurance seamless. It accepts Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Optum (United Healthcare), Cigna, Carelon, Regence, and Medicare. On the site’s insurance page, you can select your insurance and see what services are likely covered and what the average copays are.

You can access individual, couples, or teen therapy through Talkspace. Psychiatric services are also available, which is important since your mental health professional may decide that medication is appropriate to help manage your anxiety.

Health journalist Erin Heger tried Talkspace’s individual therapy to see if it could help her manage the anxiety and depression she’d been struggling with. She had a good overall experience, and she connected better with her second therapist. So, like most large online therapy platforms, it may take a few tries to find a good therapist fit. Heger liked that she could send her therapist messages between sessions to make note of things she wanted to discuss when they next met.

We found Talkspace to be very user-friendly, from its simple-to-use platform and app to its subscription model and insurance coverage. We also appreciate that it has a nationwide network of licensed professionals. Plus, it offers a variety of therapy formats, including the option to speak with a therapist via text, audio, or video. Be aware that you can’t choose your therapist, but this may be good for people who feel overwhelmed by a long list of choices. Read our full review here.

In our experience with Teen Counseling, the text messaging therapy stood out the most. We found that our teen tester felt most comfortable using this form of communication, which makes sense considering how much time young people spend on their phones. Getting matched with a therapist has benefits, but our tester was pleased they could switch therapists easily since their first match wasn’t the best fit. We also liked the separate portals for caregivers and teens, ensuring that caregivers have a space to communicate with the therapist as needed, without infringing on your teen’s privacy. We wish the platform accepted insurance, but we think the services are worth the penny.

Teen Counseling varies based on location and therapist availability, but you can expect to spend anywhere between $70 and $100 per week on a subscription. The subscription includes weekly therapy sessions that are 30 to 45 minutes long, unlimited messaging with a therapist, and a digital journal that you can share with your therapist. Learn more about our experience with Teen Counseling here.

When I personally tested Brightside Health, I appreciated the platform’s emphasis on coping tools outside of sessions. While I enjoyed my sessions with my therapist and found her to be both empathetic and action-oriented, what I liked the most was having access to the guided CBT program between sessions. It held me accountable for amplifying my roster of coping tools and offered guidance on how to reframe troublesome thoughts.

Something especially impressive about Brightside Health is its crisis-care program. When someone discloses suicidal thoughts when seeking online therapy, they are often directed to emergency services. However, Brightside Health has a program that is specifically designed to provide targeted support to those either recovering from a recent suicide attempt or who are suffering from suicidal thoughts. This program takes a collaborative approach to recovery by having the clinician and client collaborate on treatment and safety planning. We also like that Brightside Health offers affordable psychiatry services that start at $95 monthly. Plus, regardless of your chosen subscription plan, you can expect access to a guided CBT program to help you build up your coping tools between sessions. These subscription plans range from $95 per month for psychiatry or crisis care to $299 for talk therapy to $349 for a combo of talk therapy and psychiatry.

At Rula, each family member can take part in individual therapy, as well as in family therapy when needed. That means the whole family can get support in one place. Family therapy may help you identify stressors that might be affecting the entire family or adding to anxiety in one of your children.

Writer Jen Sinclair had a fabulous experience trying individual and family therapy at Rula. The therapists were experienced, thoughtful, and easy to connect with, she says. They took copious notes during sessions, asked intuitive follow-up questions, and were skilled at validating multiple perspectives during family therapy. That helped everyone feel heard and understood.

Rula accepts most major insurance plans. But be aware that not all mental health professionals may accept all insurances. Service is available nationwide, and appointments may be available as soon as two days after signing up. Read our full review here.

When I tested Innerwell, I was impressed with the care I received. My therapist was sensitive, empathetic, and attuned to my experience. She truly met me where I was, orienting me to how my anxiety was related to natural shifts in my relationships as a result of my current pregnancy. I also liked how easy the platform made it to add on additional modalities; you can work with an individual therapist, see a psychiatrist, and even utilize ketamine therapy rather seamlessly. My biggest gripe was that customer service was slow to respond when I requested a superbill. I would have liked to see more insurance coverage since only four states accept a handful of plans.

Keep in mind that out-of-pocket prices at Innerwell vary based on what service you use. Costs range from $100 to $375 per session. Read more about our experience with Innerwell here.

Finding an affordable provider is difficult business. Add in suffering from symptoms of anxiety while in the depths of your search, and it may feel impossible. Alma is here to make things easier. Alma is an online directory dedicated specifically to therapists who accept insurance. Should you stumble across a provider that feels aligned but doesn’t accept your insurance, you may find they also offer a sliding scale. A sliding scale is an out-of-pocket fee compared to a therapist’s full rate and is offered at the therapist’s discretion. If you’re having trouble finding a therapist in your price range, Alma also offers a client-matching service. The company encourages you to send an email describing what you’re looking for, and it can match you with a provider.

Alma is very easy to use. Our tester was asked what type of therapy they were looking for and was pleased to find various options, including individual therapy for adults and children, couples therapy, and family therapy. There is also the option to find some psychiatry services. While not all therapists accept new clients and have yet to update that on the platform, that isn’t an issue exclusive to Alma. We’re confident you can find excellent care here, even if there is a bit of trial and error.

While Calm is a mindfulness app and doesn’t offer therapy, we believe it has resources powerful enough to be included in this roundup. For example, you can throw on a sleep story when anxiety-induced sleeplessness creeps in. You can also put on some soothing sounds to help you focus on a challenging task. There’s even a library of content specifically for children and teens. We appreciate its affordable price tag and the fact that the company is constantly updating the content, ensuring that you never get bored. While we know mindfulness isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there’s enough variety that we’re confident you’ll find something that resonates with you.

We also like that a seven-day free trial is available to test out Calm and see if it works for you. After the trial, you can pay $16.99 monthly, $79.99 annually, or $499.99 once for lifetime access.

Our tester was pleased with the provider they matched with. Within two days of signing up, our tester met with the provider for a first appointment. Our clinician had an impressive résumé, and it was evident that she was highly adept at prescribing medications. She was also attuned to client autonomy: When our tester wasn’t on board with one of her medication recommendations, she was very receptive and worked collaboratively. She let them know she couldn’t continue treatment if we weren’t seeking medication management, which is a nod to her ethical commitment to not providing care outside her scope of being a psychiatrist. However, she did help our tester find a different solution by recommending a particular therapist to support her healing journey. Note, however, that Talkiatry is only for people who have insurance. If you don’t have insurance, check out Brightside Health’s psychiatry services for support.

Our testers tried out both individual and couples therapy on this platform. They liked the ability to use messaging, audio, and video for sessions, finding the flexibility a nice detail. It is worth noting that they didn’t click with their first individual therapist but were able to switch to someone new quickly. They didn’t love using the messaging function for couples therapy sessions either, but found live sessions much more helpful. While this platform doesn’t accept insurance, it does offer financial aid if you’re struggling, so don’t hesitate to reach out for support if needed. Read about our experience with Online-therapy.com here.