Provider vs. provider
PlushCare vs. Better U (2026): Online Therapy and Prescriptions or At-Home Ketamine?
PlushCare vs. Better U compared — standard therapy and prescriptions vs. at-home ketamine, costs and insurance, eligibility, safety and who each is for.
Featured provider · Affiliate link
BetterHelp
Talk to a licensed therapist from home — by message, chat, phone or video.
- 30,000+ licensed therapists
- From $70–$100/week
- 125+ insurance plans
Featured provider · Affiliate link
Sesame
Book online therapy or psychiatry at an upfront cash price — no insurance needed.
- Visits from about $34
- Same-day appointments
- Therapy, psychiatry & refills
Our bottom line
PlushCare is the appropriate starting point for most people, especially with insurance; Better U is a specialized option only for adults whose symptoms haven’t improved with standard treatment.
PlushCare vs. Better U: side by side
| PlushCare | Better U | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | Online therapy and primary care | At-home ketamine therapy |
| Pricing | Therapy $169 per session. Doctor visits $129 without insurance, plus a membership of $19.99/month or $149/year. | Packages from $500 for 5 sessions ($100 each) to $2,076 for 27 sessions with 6 integration sessions ($76 each). Financing available. |
| 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. | Not covered by insurance. Payment plans offered through third-party financing. |
| Prescribes medication | Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate) | Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate) |
| Ages served | Adults 18+ for therapy | Adults who pass a medical and psychiatric screening |
| Services | Individual online therapy (adults); Online primary care and urgent care visits; Mental health medication through PlushCare physicians; Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy | Online eligibility assessment and free consultation; Psychiatric evaluation by a licensed clinician; Oral ketamine (lozenges) prescribed for at-home sessions, delivered by mail; Treatment preparation and integration coaching sessions; Companion app with guided programs and mood and symptom tracking; Holistic psychiatry, medication tapering support and talk therapy referrals |
| Availability | Doctors licensed in all 50 states; you see a therapist licensed in your state. Availability of specific services varies by state. | About 30 US states (listed on Better U’s site); some in-office options, including Spravato, in select states. |
| Links | Visit PlushCare (opens in a new tab)Read our PlushCare review | Visit Better U (opens in a new tab)Read our Better U review |
- 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.
- Type of service
- At-home ketamine therapy
- Pricing
- Packages from $500 for 5 sessions ($100 each) to $2,076 for 27 sessions with 6 integration sessions ($76 each). Financing available.
- Insurance
- Not covered by insurance. Payment plans offered through third-party financing.
- Prescribes medication
- Yes (non-controlled medications, where clinically appropriate)
- Ages served
- Adults who pass a medical and psychiatric screening
- Services
- Online eligibility assessment and free consultation; Psychiatric evaluation by a licensed clinician; Oral ketamine (lozenges) prescribed for at-home sessions, delivered by mail; Treatment preparation and integration coaching sessions; Companion app with guided programs and mood and symptom tracking; Holistic psychiatry, medication tapering support and talk therapy referrals
- Availability
- About 30 US states (listed on Better U’s site); some in-office options, including Spravato, in select states.
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
PlushCare and Better U both offer online mental health care, but for different stages. PlushCare provides video therapy and online doctors who prescribe standard medications — often covered by insurance. Better U provides at-home ketamine therapy for adults whose symptoms haven’t responded to standard treatment.
The short answer
- Start with PlushCare if you haven’t yet tried standard treatment.
- Consider Better U only if you’re an adult whose symptoms haven’t improved after standard treatment, and after talking it through with a clinician.
How they compare
| PlushCare | Better U | |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Video therapy; doctor visits with non-controlled prescriptions | Oral ketamine at home, with psychiatric evaluation and integration coaching |
| Where it fits | First-line care | After standard treatment hasn’t helped |
| Cost | Therapy $169/session; doctor visits $129 + membership | $500 (5 sessions) to $2,076 (27 sessions + 6 integration) |
| Insurance | Many plans accepted | Not covered; financing available |
| Availability | All 50 states (doctors) | About 30 states |
A note on ketamine
Generic ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic; prescribing it for depression or anxiety is off-label. The related drug esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression, but only under supervision in a certified clinic. At-home ketamine can raise blood pressure and cause dissociation, long-term evidence is still limited, and in 2023 the FDA warned about risks of compounded ketamine used at home for psychiatric conditions. Better U’s screening excludes many people for safety reasons — see our Better U review for the full list.
Using them together
If you pursue ketamine treatment, keep a regular clinician involved in your overall care. PlushCare can provide therapy and general medical oversight alongside a specialized program.
Our verdict
PlushCare is the better first step for most people, particularly with insurance. Better U is a specialized option for treatment-resistant symptoms, to discuss with a clinician.
If you have thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the US or call 911 — see Get Help Now.
Which should you choose?
Choose PlushCare if…
- You want therapy and standard medication, and want to use insurance.
- You haven’t yet tried first-line treatment.
- You’d like a doctor who can also manage your general health.
Choose Better U if…
- You’re an adult whose depression, anxiety or PTSD hasn’t improved with standard medication and therapy.
- You want to discuss ketamine and can’t reach or afford an in-person clinic.
- You pass Better U’s screening and have an adult peer supporter.
Read the full reviews
- 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.
- Better U ReviewA telehealth program that prescribes oral ketamine for use at home, with clinician oversight and integration coaching, for about $76–$100 a session. Off-label, self-pay and not for everyone.
More provider comparisons
- BetterHelp vs. PlushCareBetterHelp is a weekly talk-therapy subscription; PlushCare offers per-session video therapy plus online doctors who can prescribe. Here’s how they compare on price, insurance 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.
- 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.
- Talkspace vs. Better UTalkspace offers first-line care — therapy and psychiatry, often covered by insurance. Better U offers off-label at-home ketamine for treatment-resistant symptoms, self-pay. Here’s who each is for.
- BetterHelp vs. Better UBetterHelp offers first-line talk therapy by subscription; Better U offers off-label at-home ketamine for depression, anxiety or PTSD that hasn’t responded to standard treatment.
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
Does insurance cover PlushCare or Better U?
Can PlushCare prescribe ketamine?
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