Therapy isn’t cheap, even from some of the most affordable online services. However, for those who qualify, BetterHelp financial aid can result in a 10%–40% discount on a monthly subscription. Students can combine it with other offers, as our guide to BetterHelp for students shows. That could bring the cost of therapy down to as low as $168 per month. Anyone can apply for BetterHelp’s financial assistance program during the signup process or at any point during services and receive a decision within minutes, but only those who meet certain income thresholds and financial hardship standards will qualify.
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Regardless of whether or not you qualify for financial aid, ChoosingTherapy.com readers can get 20% off their first month of BetterHelp. Read our thorough BetterHelp review to see if its services are right for you.
Editor’s Notes
We regularly review and update our content to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information. As of October 2026, BetterHelp costs $70 to $100 a week, or $280 to $400 a month, depending on your location and therapist availability. BetterHelp now also accepts some commercial insurance plans, and its financial aid applies only if you pay out of pocket.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
Does BetterHelp Offer Financial Aid?
Yes, BetterHelp offers financial aid to people with a low income or who are out of work, and for those who qualify it takes 10% to 40% off the subscription. BetterHelp costs $70 to $100 a week, or $280 to $400 a month, as of October 2026, so depending on what you’re eligible for, financial aid could save you anywhere from $28 to $160 a month and bring the cost of therapy down to as low as $168 a month. BetterHelp offers this financial assistance in order to further its mission of making mental healthcare more accessible and affordable for all, including low-income individuals. When I used BetterHelp, I didn’t think I would be eligible for financial aid, but I still got 10% off.
BetterHelp Financial Assistance Summary
| Discount | 10%–40% off base subscription cost |
| Time to Decision | Within minutes, or up to 2–3 days after intake & application |
| What is the Sliding Scale Discount Based On? | Household income Overall financial situation Recent financial hardship |
| How to Apply | During the final stage of initial intake, select “I can’t afford therapy” and complete BetterHelp’s financial aid application. |
BetterHelp also offers financial aid through its couples counseling brand, Regain, and its brand for adolescents, Teen Counseling. You can read our review of Regain and our review of Teen Counseling for more details on those programs.
Does BetterHelp Have a Sliding Scale?
Yes, BetterHelp’s financial aid works as its sliding scale. BetterHelp sets a reduced rate for each person who qualifies based on their income and employment status, and it says discount amounts vary from person to person (checked October 19, 2026). The discounts we have seen range from 10% to 40% off the standard price of $280 to $400 a month.
BetterHelp does not publish the income limits behind the scale, and financial aid is only for members who pay out of pocket. If you use insurance, you pay your plan’s copay instead, and BetterHelp’s sign-up says discount offers do not apply when you choose insurance.
Who Is Eligible for BetterHelp Financial Aid?
BetterHelp does not disclose the exact details of how it determines eligibility for financial aid. We don’t know how it sets income thresholds or if those thresholds vary based on things like family size, cost of living in an area, etc. All BetterHelp discloses is that household income, current financial stressors, and unemployment are the key factors that help determine eligibility.
When we signed up for BetterHelp financial aid, the company did not ask us for verification of our financial information (paystubs, tax forms, etc.) which makes things convenient because you don’t have to dig up a bunch of paperwork to get started.
People that might qualify for BetterHelp financial aid include:
- Individuals with low income
- People or households experiencing temporary financial hardship
- Those facing unemployment
- Students
How to Apply
Applying for BetterHelp financial aid is very simple and is built right into the sign-up process. While you’re signing up for BetterHelp, you’ll be asked a few questions about income and finances. Answer these questions honestly, and BetterHelp will be able to determine whether you qualify for financial assistance.
After you finish the intake questionnaire you’ll need to set up an account by providing a name, email, and password. You will not be asked for payment information at this time. In order to continue, you’ll need to verify your email by entering a code that BetterHelp sends you, so you can’t use a fake email just to see if you’ll get a discount.
BetterHelp financial aid lasts for three months at a time, but can be extended if needed. You’ll receive an email about a week before your financial aid expires that will allow you to fill out another form.
Here are steps to apply for BetterHelp low-income financial aid:
- Navigate to BetterHelp’s website and click “Get Started.”
- Complete the therapy intake questionnaire, and take special note of the questions that ask about finances.
- After you complete the sign-up and arrive at the checkout screen, click “I can’t afford therapy.”
- Complete the BetterHelp financial aid eligibility form
- Wait up to three days for BetterHelp to determine your eligibility
You’ll be asked around 40 questions as part of the intake questionnaire. Most of those questions are about your mental health, physical health, and preferences concerning therapy and your therapist. However, there are three questions within the intake questionnaire related to your income and financial situation. Those questions are:
- Are you currently employed? (Yes / No)
- How would you rate your current financial status? (Good / Fair / Poor)
- Please mark all that apply: (I’m a student / I’m a veteran / I’m disabled / I’m unemployed / I’m employed but my income is low)
If BetterHelp determines you’re eligible for financial aid for therapy, you’ll receive notification of your ongoing monthly cost. Even if you are not eligible for financial assistance, you can still reach out to BetterHelp customer service to see about further discounts.
The questions asked during BetterHelp’s financial aid application are:
- What is your current employment status? (Unemployed / Student / Hourly worker / Employed part-time / Employed full-time)
- What is the current employment status of your spouse? (I don’t have a spouse / Unemployed / Student / Hourly worker / Employed part-time / Employed full-time)
- How much do you and your spouse (combined) earn from working on a monthly basis? (USD per month)
- Please enter the monthly income of you and your spouse (combined) from the following sources: (Social security / Disability / Unemployment benefits / Support or alimony / Public assistance or veteran’s payments / Survivor benefits / Pension or retirement income / Interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates or trusts)
- Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? (Yes / No)
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? (Yes / No)
- How many children do you have who receive more than half of their support from you? (0-9)
- How many dependents (other than your children or spouse) live with you and receive more than half of their support from you? (0-9)
- In the last 2 years, did you or anyone in your household receive benefits from any of the federal programs listed? (Supplemental Security Income [SSI] / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] / Free or Reduced Price Lunch / Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF] / Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC])
- Do you live in a rural area defined as having a population of less than 50,000 in the surrounding 25 miles? (Yes / No)
- Are you a person of color? (Yes / No)
What If I’m Already Using BetterHelp But My Income Has Changed?
If your income changes while you are using BetterHelp, you can still apply for financial aid from your account or ask BetterHelp’s customer service team for a lower rate. BetterHelp’s customer service guide tells members who need a lower rate because of financial barriers to contact the team. To apply from your account, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your BetterHelp account settings page and select “Payment Settings.”
- Select the option labeled “Change membership,” and select the button to cancel your membership.
- The website will ask you a question, “If you don’t mind sharing, why are you ending therapy?” Answer this with the option labeled “I can’t afford it.”
- The website should open a pop-up that will take you to the BetterHelp financial aid application.
BetterHelp – Affordable, convenient, online therapy – Get 20% off your first month!
BetterHelp can be an affordable solution for convenient virtual therapy. However, there are other low-cost options available. Open Path Collective is a unique therapist directory designed for people who need financial aid for therapy. If you have insurance, check whether BetterHelp covers your plan during sign-up, and compare it with Brightside Health and Headspace Care, which are both in-network with many plans. Price: ~ $30–$70 per session Open Path Collective is a unique therapist directory designed for those faced with difficult financial situations. All therapists on this directory must offer discounted rates, and all clients must meet eligibility criteria to join. Open Path Collective is structured differently than BetterHelp. Rather than pay a set monthly fee, therapists on Open Path Collective are independent and sessions are charged one at a time. Depending on your financial situation, Open Path Collective offers a sliding scale rate between $30 per session (for pre-licensure student therapists still under supervision) up to $70 per session. Meanwhile, BetterHelp costs $280–$400 monthly, before factoring in any discounts. For more information, read our Open Path Collective review. Price: $45–$349 monthly Brightside Health offers a variety of care plans to best suit its patients’ needs, including just therapy, just medication, a bundled plan at a discounted rate, or a psychiatric maintenance plan for those who establish care with a prescriber for at least 90 days and are stable on their medication. You can start with a free assessment to ensure Brightside Health is a good fit for your needs, plus it’s in-network with lots of insurance plans, including some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Learn more in our full Brightside Health review. Price: $149 per session (for cash-pay) You’ve probably heard of Headspace. It’s one of the most popular apps for meditation and mindfulness exercises, as well as sleep scapes and yoga and fitness content. However, it also offers therapy nationwide from the same app. It’s in-network with a wide variety of insurance plans, or you can pay a flat rate of $149 per session. Signing up and joining session from the app is incredibly simple. With all these offerings in one clean, easy-to-use app, Headspace could become your main hub for all your mental health needs. Learn more in our full Headspace Care review.Other Affordable Therapy Options
Open Path Collective
Insurance Accepted? NoPros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brightside Health
Insurance Accepted? YesPros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Headspace Care
Insurance Accepted? YesPros & Cons
Pros
Cons
In My Experience
“Searching for therapy can be a daunting task for anyone, and financial constraints certainly don’t help matters. Remember that there may be frequent roadblocks on your journey to finding care, but with a bit of resiliency, high-quality virtual mental healthcare can be found for anyone in any financial situation. In my years working with companies like BetterHelp, it has occurred to me many times that determination is one of your most valuable assets in finding care.
Overall, I believe BetterHelp’s low-income assistance program can be helpful for those who have difficulties accessing care or need financial aid for therapy.
If you find a provider is too expensive, try reaching out to the customer service team to see if they have any discounts to offer. While these businesses are run for profit, many of them will offer assistance in order to help those who need it most.
For even more guidance, consider looking into our guides to the best online therapy providers that take insurance, and our full breakdown of the overall best online therapy providers.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does BetterHelp Financial Aid Last?
BetterHelp financial assistance lasts for three months, however, BetterHelp will send you an email about a week before the financial aid expires. If you need to continue financial aid, you’ll be able to fill out another application to extend your financial aid by another three months.
Does BetterHelp Verify My Income?
When we signed up for BetterHelp, the company did not reach out to verify our income or other responses to the financial aid application.
Does BetterHelp Have a Student Discount?
BetterHelp does not advertise a student or senior discount on its own site, but students and seniors can still pay less (checked October 19, 2026). Students can get 30% off three months through Student Beans, and anyone on a limited income can apply for BetterHelp’s financial aid, which asks about student status and income such as Social Security and pensions and saves those who qualify 10% to 40%.
BetterHelp does not take Medicare, so seniors cannot use Medicare to pay for it.
Does BetterHelp Have a Senior Discount?
BetterHelp does not advertise a student or senior discount on its own site, but students and seniors can still pay less (checked October 19, 2026). Students can get 30% off three months through Student Beans, and anyone on a limited income can apply for BetterHelp’s financial aid, which asks about student status and income such as Social Security and pensions and saves those who qualify 10% to 40%.
BetterHelp does not take Medicare, so seniors cannot use Medicare to pay for it.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for Veterans?
BetterHelp offers veterans one free month of online therapy, but it has no separate discount for active-duty service members or military families (checked October 19, 2026). The free month needs a payment method on file, and BetterHelp says you will not be charged if you cancel within the month.
Veterans, service members and their families can also apply for BetterHelp’s financial aid, which asks about military service and veterans’ benefits and saves those who qualify 10% to 40%. BetterHelp does not accept TRICARE.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for Active Duty Military Members and Their Families?
BetterHelp offers veterans one free month of online therapy, but it has no separate discount for active-duty service members or military families (checked October 19, 2026). The free month needs a payment method on file, and BetterHelp says you will not be charged if you cancel within the month.
Veterans, service members and their families can also apply for BetterHelp’s financial aid, which asks about military service and veterans’ benefits and saves those who qualify 10% to 40%. BetterHelp does not accept TRICARE.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for BIPOC Folks?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a discount specifically for BIPOC folks. However, BetterHelp does ask if you’re a person of color. Depending on their income and financial situation, someone who is BIPOC may qualify for BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Does BetterHelp Have a Discount for People with Disabilities?
No, BetterHelp does not offer a discount specifically for people with disabilities. However, BetterHelp does ask if you or your spouse has a disability. Depending on their income and financial situation, people with disabilities may qualify for a discounted therapy subscription through BetterHelp’s financial aid and save between 10%–40%.
Can I Use My Insurance for BetterHelp?
Yes, you can use insurance for BetterHelp if you have an eligible commercial plan. BetterHelp confirmed to ChoosingTherapy.com in September 2026 that its insurance option is live in all 50 states and DC, with more than 125 plans, though coverage depends on your state, plan, network and therapist availability, so most members still pay out of pocket. BetterHelp does not take Medicaid, Medicare or TRICARE, and eligible members pay an average copay of about $23 a session.
Financial aid and discount offers apply only if you pay out of pocket. BetterHelp does not issue superbills for out-of-network claims, but you can download invoices from your account settings. You can also use HSA or FSA funds for mental health services at checkout, just as you would a credit or debit card.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Church, Matthew. (August 2025). BetterHelp Review: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Church, Matthew. (August 2025). How Much Does BetterHelp Cost? ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-much-does-betterhelp-cost/
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BetterHelp. (2025). About Us. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/about/
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BetterHelp. (2025). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from: https://www.betterhelp.com/faq/
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated prices, insurance details, and the student, senior, veteran and military answers to match BetterHelp’s current pages, and added a section on BetterHelp’s sliding scale. Expanded the financial aid answer for readers on a low income.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Switched OnlineTherapy.com and Talkspace recommendations for Brightside Health and Headspace Care in the Alternatives section. Edited and rewrote all content for readability.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited article for clarity and readability. Adjusted the pricing information from $260–$400 to $280–$400 throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and edited article for clarity and readability. Adjusted the pricing information throughout.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Fact-checked and reviewed entire article and revised where necessary to improve factual accuracy, clarity, and enhanced readability. Revised statement about financial aid decisions timeline for better clarity.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated content to reflect questions asked on financial aid application; included responses from BetterHelp about various aspects of financial aid program; updated style.
Author: Matthew Church, MS
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
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