Provider review
Rula Review 2026: Cost, Insurance, Therapists and Our Verdict
Our Rula review, what it costs with and without insurance, which plans it accepts, how matching works, what its psychiatry service can prescribe, who it serves by age, and who it is (and isn’t) right for.
Rula at a glance
Details verified October 22, 2026
- Services
- Individual therapy (children 5+, teens and adults), Couples and family therapy, Psychiatry and medication management (ages 13+), Live video sessions, typically 60 minutes, Browse and choose your own in-network provider
- Conditions treated
- Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Trauma and PTSD, Relationships, Grief, ADHD, Family conflict, Parenting, Life transitions
- Pricing
- With insurance, about $15 per session on average (varies with your benefits and deductible). Self-pay therapy $150 per individual session, $165 for couples or families. Psychiatry $225 initial 60-minute intake, $175 per 30-minute follow-up. No membership or sign-up fees.
- Insurance
- In network with 100+ commercial plans, including Aetna, Anthem, most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Cigna, Kaiser (by referral), Optum, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. Also accepts some Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans, depending on state. HSA and FSA accepted.
- Prescribes medication
- Yes, where clinically appropriate and permitted
- Ages served
- Therapy from age 5; psychiatry ages 13+
- Availability
- Online in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.; you see providers licensed in your state, and insurance acceptance varies by state.
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Rula is an online therapy and psychiatry network built around health insurance. It is in network with more than 100 commercial plans, lets you browse provider profiles and choose your own therapist, and says insured patients pay about $15 a session on average. In this Rula review we checked its prices, insurance, services and scope of care against the company’s own published pages and an independent review. Our verdict: it is a strong choice if your plan is in network and you want live video sessions with a provider you pick, and a weaker value if you would be paying out of pocket.
Our verdict at a glance
| Best for | Insured adults, teens and families who want live video therapy at a low copay |
| Cost with insurance | About $15 per session on average |
| Self-pay cost | $150 per therapy session; psychiatry $225 intake, $175 follow-up |
| Insurance | 100+ commercial plans, plus some Medicare and Medicaid managed care plans |
| Format | Live video sessions, typically 60 minutes |
| Medication | Yes, psychiatry (ages 13+), subject to state controlled-substance rules |
What is Rula?
Rula is an online therapy and online psychiatry company. You share your preferences and insurance details, browse profiles of licensed providers who are in network with your plan, and book live video sessions from a phone or computer.
Its therapists hold a state license in the state where they practice, such as LPC, LCSW, LMFT or LMHC, and psychiatric providers include nurse practitioners. Rula reports more than 23,000 licensed providers. It treats common concerns including anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationships and parenting.
How Rula works
- Share your details. You describe what you want help with and enter your insurance.
- See your cost. Rula checks your coverage and gives an estimate before your first appointment.
- Choose a provider. Browse in-network profiles and filter by specialty and other factors.
- Book a video session. Rula says you can often meet a provider as soon as the next day.
- Switch if needed. If a provider isn’t a good fit, Rula can help you change.
How much does Rula cost?
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy with insurance | About $15 per session on average | Varies with your benefits and deductible |
| Individual therapy, self-pay | $150 per session | No membership fee |
| Couples or family therapy, self-pay | $165 per session | |
| Psychiatry intake, self-pay | $225 | 60-minute evaluation |
| Psychiatry follow-up, self-pay | $175 | 30-minute visit |
Rula does not charge a monthly subscription, and HSA and FSA funds can be used. These prices come from Rula’s own site, and one independent reviewer reported different psychiatry figures, so confirm current prices before you book. If cost is your main concern, see our guide to affordable mental health care.
Does Rula take insurance?
Yes, insurance is Rula’s main advantage. It says it is in network with more than 100 commercial plans, including Aetna, Anthem, most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Cigna, Kaiser (by referral), Optum, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. It also accepts some Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans depending on the state. Traditional state Medicaid is generally not accepted.
The $15 average is a company figure, and your cost depends on your benefits and whether you have met your deductible. Rula shows an estimate before your first visit.
Psychiatry and medication
Rula’s psychiatry service is available for ages 13 and up and covers diagnosis and medication management, including for ADHD. Rula must follow state rules for controlled substances such as stimulants and benzodiazepines, so what a clinician can prescribe depends on where you live. Read more about antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.
Ages and families
Rula offers therapy for children from age 5, teens, adults, couples and families, and psychiatry from age 13. That range makes it practical for households that want one service for several people.
Privacy
Rula says it is HIPAA compliant and uses secure video and a HIPAA-compliant email address for clients. Because it bills insurance, your visits appear on claims with your insurer like any other healthcare visit. As with any health service, read the privacy policy before you sign up.
Who should use Rula?
Rula is a strong fit if you:
- Have commercial insurance that Rula accepts and want a low per-session cost
- Want to read profiles and choose your own therapist
- Prefer scheduled live video sessions of about an hour
- Need therapy for a child, teen, couple or family
It is not the right choice if you are in crisis, want the lowest self-pay price, prefer messaging over video, or need a controlled medication your state restricts.
Rula vs. alternatives
The closest comparison is Talkspace, which also accepts a lot of insurance and adds messaging therapy, while Rula focuses on scheduled live video. BetterHelp is subscription-based and therapy-only, and PlushCare pairs therapy with a prescribing doctor. See all our provider comparisons.
Is Rula worth it?
If your insurance is in network, a low per-session cost with a provider you choose is good value, and having psychiatry on the same platform helps. Without insurance, $150 a session is more than most subscription options, and independent reviewers report some customer service problems and therapist no-shows, so check your coverage first.
Methodology
We checked Rula’s pricing, insurance, services and scope statements against its own website and cost pages and an independent review on October 22, 2026, and assessed it against each criterion in our review methodology: cost transparency, clinician credentials, scope of care, privacy, ease of access and safety guidance. We don’t give star ratings. Some links on this page are affiliate links and may earn us a commission, which never affects our conclusions. Confirm current prices and coverage on Rula’s site before you enroll.
Pros and considerations
Pros
- Built around insurance, with an average $15 session cost for in-network members and a cost estimate before your first visit.
- Therapy and psychiatry on one platform, for children, teens, adults, couples and families.
- You browse provider profiles and choose, rather than being assigned one.
- Appointments are often available as soon as the next day.
- No monthly membership or sign-up fee, and HSA/FSA funds can be used.
Considerations
- Self-pay prices are higher than subscription services, at $150 per therapy session.
- Value depends on your plan being in network, and coverage varies by state, plan and clinician.
- Rula must follow state rules for controlled substances, so stimulants and benzodiazepines may not be available.
- Independent reviewers report customer service problems and occasional therapist no-shows.
- It is not a crisis service, and traditional state Medicaid is generally not accepted.
Is it a good fit?
Who might consider it
- Insured adults, teens and families who want live video therapy at a low copay.
- People who want to choose their own therapist from profiles.
- Families who want one service for a child, a parent and couples or family sessions.
- People who may want a psychiatry referral on the same platform.
Who may need a different level of care
- People in crisis or with severe symptoms, see Get Help Now or seek in-person care.
- People without insurance who want the lowest price, consider a cash-pay or subscription service.
- People who prefer asynchronous messaging with a therapist over scheduled video sessions.
- People who need a controlled medication and live in a state that restricts telehealth prescribing.
Alternatives to consider
- Talkspace ReviewAn online therapy and psychiatry service that is in network with plans covering 100+ million Americans, including Medicare and TRICARE. Self-pay therapy costs $69–$109 a week; psychiatry prescribes non-controlled medication.
- 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.
- Online TherapyTherapy by video, phone or messaging with a licensed professional.
- Affordable CareLow-cost and free ways to get mental health support.
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
How much does Rula cost?
Does Rula take insurance?
Can Rula prescribe medication?
How long are Rula therapy sessions?
Can I choose my own therapist on Rula?
Is Rula available in my state?
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
- October 22, 2026
- Last updated
- October 22, 2026
- Last medically reviewed
- Review pending