Provider vs. provider
BetterHelp vs. PlushCare (2026): Therapy Subscription or Therapy Plus a Doctor?
BetterHelp vs. PlushCare compared — weekly subscription vs. $169 per session, insurance coverage, whether you can get medication, ways to talk to your therapist, and who each suits.
Our bottom line
Choose BetterHelp for affordable weekly therapy with messaging if you pay out of pocket; choose PlushCare if you have insurance it accepts and want therapy and prescriptions from the same service.
BetterHelp vs. PlushCare: side by side
| BetterHelp | PlushCare | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | Online therapy | Online therapy and primary care |
| Pricing | $70–$100 per week, billed weekly or every four weeks; cancel anytime. Price varies with location, referral source, preferences and therapist availability. | Therapy $169 per session. Doctor visits $129 without insurance, plus a membership of $19.99/month or $149/year. |
| Insurance | In network with 125+ plans, including select Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum and Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem, CareFirst, Highmark) plans, where available. Average copay $23 per session for eligible members. Not Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE. HSA/FSA accepted. | Accepts many insurance plans. PlushCare says most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less per doctor visit. FSA/HSA receipts provided for therapy. |
| Prescribes medication | No | Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate) |
| Ages served | Adults 18+ (teens through TeenCounseling) | Adults 18+ for therapy |
| Services | Individual therapy (adults); Couples therapy (through Regain); Teen therapy (through TeenCounseling, ages 13–19); Messaging, live chat, phone and video sessions; 150+ digital worksheets and 20+ free weekly group seminars | Individual online therapy (adults); Online primary care and urgent care visits; Mental health medication through PlushCare physicians; Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy |
| Availability | 100% online across the US on phone or computer; therapists work only with clients in the states where they are licensed. | Doctors licensed in all 50 states; you see a therapist licensed in your state. Availability of specific services varies by state. |
| Links | Visit BetterHelp (opens in a new tab)Read our BetterHelp review | Visit PlushCare (opens in a new tab)Read our PlushCare review |
- Type of service
- Online therapy
- Pricing
- $70–$100 per week, billed weekly or every four weeks; cancel anytime. Price varies with location, referral source, preferences and therapist availability.
- Insurance
- In network with 125+ plans, including select Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum and Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem, CareFirst, Highmark) plans, where available. Average copay $23 per session for eligible members. Not Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE. HSA/FSA accepted.
- Prescribes medication
- No
- Ages served
- Adults 18+ (teens through TeenCounseling)
- Services
- Individual therapy (adults); Couples therapy (through Regain); Teen therapy (through TeenCounseling, ages 13–19); Messaging, live chat, phone and video sessions; 150+ digital worksheets and 20+ free weekly group seminars
- Availability
- 100% online across the US on phone or computer; therapists work only with clients in the states where they are licensed.
- Type of service
- Online therapy and primary care
- Pricing
- Therapy $169 per session. Doctor visits $129 without insurance, plus a membership of $19.99/month or $149/year.
- Insurance
- Accepts many insurance plans. PlushCare says most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less per doctor visit. FSA/HSA receipts provided for therapy.
- Prescribes medication
- Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate)
- Ages served
- Adults 18+ for therapy
- Services
- Individual online therapy (adults); Online primary care and urgent care visits; Mental health medication through PlushCare physicians; Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy
- Availability
- Doctors licensed in all 50 states; you see a therapist licensed in your state. Availability of specific services varies by state.
Details last verified September 25, 2026. Prices and coverage change often — confirm current details with each provider. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.Learn more
BetterHelp and PlushCare both offer online therapy with licensed, state-licensed therapists, but they come from different directions. BetterHelp is a therapy-only subscription. PlushCare is a telehealth medical practice that added therapy — so it can also give you a doctor who prescribes.
The short answer
- BetterHelp is better value if you’re paying yourself and want weekly therapy with messaging in between.
- PlushCare is the better fit if you have insurance it accepts, or you want therapy and medication from one service.
Cost and insurance
| BetterHelp | PlushCare | |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy price | $70–$100 per week (messaging + live sessions) | $169 per video session |
| Doctor visits | Not offered | $129 without insurance, plus $19.99/month or $149/year membership |
| Insurance | 125+ plans where available; avg. $23 copay | Many plans accepted; most in-network patients pay $30 or less per doctor visit |
| HSA/FSA | Yes | Yes (receipts provided for therapy) |
Four weekly BetterHelp sessions cost roughly $280–$400; four PlushCare sessions cost $676 without insurance. If you pay yourself, BetterHelp wins on price. If PlushCare is in network for you, the gap can disappear.
Medication
PlushCare physicians can start or refill most non-controlled medications, such as common antidepressants, at their discretion. PlushCare therapists don’t prescribe, but the doctors are on the same platform. It doesn’t prescribe controlled substances such as most ADHD stimulants or benzodiazepines.
BetterHelp can’t diagnose or prescribe. You’d need a separate prescriber.
How therapy works
BetterHelp gives you unlimited messaging with your therapist plus live sessions by chat, phone or video, and you can switch therapists for free. PlushCare therapy is scheduled one-to-one video sessions, paid per session, with no subscription. People who value between-session contact tend to prefer BetterHelp; people who want a traditional appointment model prefer PlushCare.
Who each suits
BetterHelp suits adults with mild to moderate stress, anxiety, low mood or relationship concerns who want flexible weekly support. PlushCare suits insured adults who may need medication, or who want mental and physical health care in one place. Neither offers therapy for under-18s on its own platform.
Our verdict
Paying out of pocket for weekly therapy? Choose BetterHelp. Have insurance PlushCare accepts, or need medication too? Choose PlushCare.
In a crisis, don’t wait for an appointment — call 911, or call or text 988 in the US. See Get Help Now.
Which should you choose?
Choose BetterHelp if…
- You’re paying out of pocket and want weekly therapy — BetterHelp is far cheaper than $169 a session.
- You want to message your therapist between sessions.
- You want live sessions by chat or phone as well as video.
- You want couples or teen therapy through BetterHelp’s sister services.
Choose PlushCare if…
- You have insurance PlushCare accepts and want to use it.
- You want a doctor who can prescribe non-controlled medication, as well as a therapist.
- You prefer paying per session rather than a weekly subscription.
- You have other health needs you’d like handled by the same practice.
Read the full reviews
- BetterHelp ReviewThe largest online talk-therapy network, matching adults with a licensed therapist for $70–$100 a week or an average $23 copay with eligible insurance. It does not diagnose or prescribe.
- PlushCare ReviewA telehealth practice offering video therapy for adults at $169 a session, plus online doctor visits that can prescribe non-controlled medication. Insurance accepted.
More provider comparisons
- Talkspace vs. BetterHelpThe two biggest online therapy services, compared on price, insurance, session length, psychiatry, teens and couples, and privacy — with a clear answer on which to choose.
- BetterHelp vs. SesameA weekly therapy subscription versus a cash-price marketplace for therapy, psychiatry and refills. How BetterHelp and Sesame compare on cost, choice of clinician and medication.
- Talkspace vs. PlushCareBoth take insurance and can prescribe non-controlled medication. Talkspace is a mental-health specialist with messaging therapy and psychiatry; PlushCare is a medical practice with per-session video therapy.
- PlushCare vs. SesameBoth offer online therapy and non-controlled prescriptions by video. PlushCare takes insurance; Sesame shows upfront cash prices and lets you choose your clinician.
- BetterHelp vs. LemonaidBetterHelp provides talk therapy but can’t prescribe; Lemonaid prescribes depression and anxiety medication but doesn’t offer therapy. How to decide — and why many people use both.
- PlushCare vs. LemonaidBoth can prescribe non-controlled depression and anxiety medication online. PlushCare takes insurance and offers therapy; Lemonaid is a flat $95-a-month medication plan with delivery.
When to seek professional help
Consider talking with a doctor or licensed mental health professional if symptomslast for more than two weeks, keep coming back, or make it harder to manage work, school, relationships or daily tasks. You don’t need to wait until things feel severe — getting support early often makes things easier.
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Crisis resources in other countries.
Explore care optionsFrequently asked questions
Is BetterHelp or PlushCare cheaper?
Can PlushCare or BetterHelp prescribe antidepressants?
Does PlushCare offer messaging therapy like BetterHelp?
References
We rely on government health agencies, professional medical organizations, peer-reviewed research and academic institutions. Read our sourcing standards.
About this article
Written by
ExploreMentalHealth Editorial Team
Our editors research and write every article using government health agencies, professional medical organizations and peer-reviewed research, following our published editorial standards.
- First published
- September 27, 2026
- Last updated
- September 27, 2026
- Last medically reviewed
- Review pending