8 Online Text Therapy Companies We Tested and Recommend in 2024

We asked 12 people to test Talkspace’s services from a variety of different states, including Iowa, North Carolina, Missouri, and New York, in order to see how useful this therapy was for people with different backgrounds and careers. And overall, we were impressed. Every plan we tried at Talkspace—including the couples therapy plan—includes text-based therapy. In fact, when we signed up as an adult or teen, we had the option of selecting a plan that only includes text therapy (no live sessions) for as little as $69 a week.

In all these plans, we could message our therapist anytime, and we were guaranteed to receive at least one response a day five days a week—though some therapists responded more than once. Usually, it only took a couple of hours to hear back unless we messaged late on a Friday. This form of therapy was particularly convenient when we were busy: We could write to our therapist during our commute to work or on our coffee break, for example, without worrying about having to carve out 30 to 45 minutes for a live therapy session during the workday.

It is worth noting, though, that we found the quality of our therapists’ responses to vary quite a bit based on who we were working with. For example, a few responses from therapists were somewhat phoned in and even boilerplate, while other therapists seemed to take the time to read our messages and respond with thoughtful, engaging responses that prompted us to do some reflection.

At Talkspace, you also have the option of signing up for a plan with live chat sessions. This method of communication works pretty much the same way as the asynchronous messaging except that you and your therapist pick a time to be in the chat portal at the same time. Rather than wait hours for a response, your therapist responds in real time. However, this form of chat isn’t for everyone. At times, we found it difficult to get our thoughts across quickly enough in a live chat because we wanted to rush to finish typing so our therapist could respond.

• Insurance Accepted: Yes, accepts Aetna, Optum, Cigna, Carelon, and Regence health insurance plans; accepts FSA/HSA payments
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Messaging-only plans start at $69 per week; video and messaging therapy starts at $99 per week; video, messaging, and workshops start at $109 per week; adults can also add on psychiatry sessions ($299 for an initial evaluation, then $175 for follow-up visits)

We surveyed 100 users of Talkspace:

• 92% rated Talkspace as very good or excellent overall
• 89% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 100% said that most or all of their needs were met at Talkspace
• 97% are likely or very likely to recommend Talkspace to a friend or someone like them
• 14% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text
  

We had four people, including one therapist, from New York, North Carolina, and California test Brightside’s services in order to determine if its specializations in anxiety and depression allowed it to deliver the quality of care we were looking for. And we’re pleased to report that it did: We found Brightside’s therapists offered useful, comforting support for anxiety and depression via messaging, in virtual therapy sessions, and with its weekly check-in quizzes. We appreciated that unlimited messaging comes with every plan available, making it an ingrained aspect of Brightside’s approach to care.

We also found that the text-based therapy services at Brightside worked better than most of the 79 other services we reviewed. Our therapists were typically prompt when responding, and never sent canned answers. They would also routinely assess our progress along the way, providing two-way feedback via message to make any necessary changes to our treatment plan. The text therapy was also supplemented with online self-care resources, such as self-paced lessons, skill-building exercises, and worksheets.

However, it's worth noting that in at least one case the person who conducted our intake appointment seemed dismissive, brushing off our issues with a cold and off-putting tone. Thankfully, this was not the case with the actual therapist—we found her warm and kind and she put us at ease.

• Insurance Accepted: Cigna (all states except Minnesota); Aetna, Allegiance, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter (all states except Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin), Anthem CA; Blue Shield of CA; Blue Cross Blue Shield (of Montana, Illinois, and Texas only); PEHP (Utah only); Florida Blue; Meritain; Medicare and Medicaid in some states; accepts HSA/FSA payments
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Varies by plan; medication-only plan is $95 per month; therapy-only plan is $299 per month, which includes one session per week; additional therapy sessions can be purchased for $59 each; medication and therapy plan is $349 per month
  

We surveyed 100 users of Brightside:

• 88% rated Brightside as very good or excellent overall
• 94% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 93% said that most or all of their needs were met at Brightside
• 99% are likely or very likely to recommend Brightside to a friend or someone like them
• 15% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text

We had two people test Circles—one was a therapist herself and the other was someone who had recently experienced a loss—and overall, we had positive experiences. We liked that, at the time, we were able to chat via text with both our group facilitators and the other group members. Since we tested Circles, however, the way it operates has changed. When we tried it, there were both paid audio groups and free chat-based groups available; Circles now only offers subscription-based audio groups focused on divorce/breakups and narcissistic relationships. However, it still offers unlimited messaging with its mental health experts at any time, meaning that if we tried its groups again, we could access chat-based support between group sessions.  

We found our groups (or "Circles") to be highly effective; our facilitators, who were all licensed mental health professionals, were able to deftly lead our groups, checking in with each member and allowing us to share on our own terms. The atmosphere was non-judgmental and supportive, and we appreciated that we could chime in via text even if we did not feel like speaking. We also liked how professional yet warm the group facilitators were. After setting the ground rules, one facilitator even shared their own experience with the topic (childhood trauma), which helped establish a sense of trust with us and among the group members.

Circles now promises a customized healing plan to each member (an improvement from when we tested it), although when we tried it, groups on a variety of topics were available, rather than just divorce and relationships. In addition, one thing that sets Circles apart from other online services is that you can remain completely anonymous: this makes for a group support service that is completely on your own terms.

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Monthly subscriptions for $29 per month, 6-month subscriptions for $129 ($21.50 per month), or yearly subscriptions for $179 ($14.9 per month)

We surveyed 102 users of Circles:

• 87% rated Circles as very good or excellent overall
• 87% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 92% said that most or all of their needs were met at Circles
• 93% are likely or very likely to recommend Circles to a friend or someone like them
• 17% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text

We had four people test E-Therapy Cafe’s services in Colorado, Michigan, and California to see how well the company delivered therapy across the country. We were impressed with the sheer number of therapy communication options it offered. We could schedule live video sessions and live e-chats, or use an “e-journaling” option, where we could write up to a 700-word journal entry, to which our therapist would respond within 24 hours with a more elaborate answer than what we got in the basic chat.

While the chat function is designed more for quick questions and replies, we really liked how easy it was to use via our patient portal and how quickly therapists responded to our messages. That said, while our therapist responded within 24 hours, we couldn’t access her response via the portal due to technical difficulties. The therapist reached out to customer service on our behalf, and the company was able to correct the error within three days. And while e-journaling wasn’t our preferred method of communication—it felt long to have to write out our feelings in 700 words and then tedious to wait for a response—we appreciated the flexibility, because this method might work well if we were traveling and didn’t have time for a live session.

The biggest drawback of E-Therapy Cafe is that its live sessions (both over video call and live chat) are only 30 minutes long. This is on the shorter side compared to the other companies we tested, but the price of therapy at E-Therapy Cafe offsets this downside in our opinion: E-Therapy Cafe offers the least expensive subscription therapy service out of the 80 companies we reviewed. It’s also one of the most flexible in terms of scheduling—therapists were able to meet early in the morning and late into the evening to accommodate us. 

• Insurance Accepted: No, but E-Therapy Cafe will provide superbills that you can submit to insurance for partial reimbursement
• Subscription Required: Both pay-as-you-go and subscription options available
• Out-of-pocket costs: ETCTrial, $55 (one trial session, valid for 30 days after purchase); ETCStraight, $65 per session (extendable half-hour video, phone, email/chat session); ETCFlex, $470 (eight sessions per month, non-renewing); ETC90, $440 (90-day pack of 24 sessions); ETCReflect, $65 for between session support (e-journal); ETCPet, $170 (emotional support animal prescription for those who qualify)

We surveyed 100 E-Therapy Cafe users:

• 85% rated E-Therapy Cafe as very good or excellent overall
• 88% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 96% said that most or all of their needs were met at E-Therapy Cafe
• 95% are likely or very likely to recommend Circles to a friend or someone like them
• 22% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text

We asked six people to test Online-Therapy.com from California, New York, and South Dakota. Two of our testers were also therapists well acquainted with CBT as a therapy technique, so we could really assess how well the Online-Therapy.com therapists were using this approach with their patients. And of all the companies that use CBT, Online-Therapy.com stood out: Most therapists are knowledgeable and supportive (in our experience) and the platform offers live video sessions, live chat sessions, e-journaling, and asynchronous messaging with therapists.

Online-Therapy.com's online therapy program consists of eight sections of CBT exercises, resources, and hands-on tools, as well as unlimited messaging with a provider. One thing to note: A major aspect of CBT is homework outside of therapy sessions. As such, our therapists regularly sent us numerous worksheets to complement our treatment in conjunction with the CBT resources available through our subscription. We appreciated what this aspect of therapy is designed to do, but at times, the amount of paperwork could feel overwhelming and like we were back in school. Additionally, in one case, a therapist seemed to forget what homework they'd assigned us, which gave us a sense that it was a bit generic and unhelpful.

We appreciated the multitude of text-based communication methods available, and for the most part, they worked well. However, while we could message our therapist at any time, we didn’t always receive a response. In addition, we had some trouble with the live chat function. When it came time for our session, our therapist didn’t appear to be present, so we messaged her in our patient portal, and she said she was having technical difficulties. We tried to have the chat session, but it was filled with long lags between responses. Our therapist was very understanding, though, and offered us a free video session to make up for the technical issues.

• Insurance Accepted: No, but therapists can provide superbills for you to seek at least partial out-of-network coverage; HSA/FSA accepted
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Basic plan is $200 per month for the self-guided CBT program, unlimited messaging with a therapist, and access to worksheets, yoga videos, an online journal, and an activity plan; Standard plan is $320 per month for one 45-minute session per week via live video, text, or voice, plus everything included in Basic; Premium is $440 per month for two sessions per week, plus the benefits of Standard plan; Couples is $440 per month for one 45-minute couples therapy session per week conducted via video, text, or voice, plus access to everything in the Basic plan for both of you; there's a 20% discount for the first month for all plans
  

We surveyed 100 users of Online-Therapy.com:

• 89% rated Online-Therapy.com as very good or excellent overall
• 88% rated their therapist’s qualifications as good, very good, or excellent
• 95% said that most or all of their needs were met at Online-Therapy.com
• 99% are likely or very likely to recommend Online-Therapy.com to a friend or someone like them
• 18% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text

When it comes to free mental health resources—especially those available 24/7 or to people in crisis—most are phone lines where you have to call in. But this is not the case with the Crisis Text Line, which offers free, 24/7, confidential emotional support via text from trained volunteers across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. And while we did not test this service (because we did not think it would be ethical to try the service if we were not actually in crisis or to have someone actually in crisis test it for a review), we did speak with staff editors who have used it as well as licensed mental health professionals—all of whom recommend it.

All you have to do to reach the Crisis Text Line is text HOME to 741741 or reach out on WhatsApp. When you do so, you’ll immediately receive a response back letting you know that you have been connected and the service is looking for a volunteer to message you, which generally takes about five minutes (but can be longer). Text conversations at the Crisis Text Line have no set time limit, though most last 15 to 45 minutes. If you stop messaging for any reason or step away, they will ask you if you’re still there and wish to continue before disconnecting. They will also help wind the conversation to a close to help you transition out of the chat.

One caveat: If your crisis counselor suspects you are an imminent threat to yourself, they have an obligation to call local law enforcement. This is often the case with crisis hotlines, but is something you should be aware of. While the volunteers at Crisis Text Line aren’t necessarily medical providers or licensed mental healthcare professionals, they all must pass a multi-stage application process, background check, and training program. They’re also guided by a group of supervisors with relevant master’s degrees or crisis intervention experience. As such, they can provide key support, advice, and information about resources in your area.

• Insurance Accepted: N/A
• Subscription Required: N/A
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: The Crisis Text Line is free to use anytime and as often as you need. 

We did not survey users of the Crisis Text Line, but we did speak with editors who shared they had used the service and with three licensed therapists about the service’s value to people in need of emotional support as soon as possible. 

“Sometimes, in moments of crisis, a connection of any kind—even through text—is enough to keep someone from hurting themselves,” explains Owens. “Texting is also a great option for someone who does not have the privacy you’d need for a phone call or who does not feel comfortable talking on the phone, especially about something as personal and serious as self-harm.”

To test Teen Counseling, we asked five parents and their teenagers to sign up from different states, including Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. We and our teens were pleased with our experiences: the therapists were adept at working with and connecting with adolescents and handling issues many teens face, such as bullying, depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, body image, issues with school and relationships, and eating disorders. We felt our therapists were good listeners and validating (they often repeated what we said to make sure they understood), and the text-based therapy was easy to use (and popular with our teens). 

We could message our therapists asynchronously through the app or our portal anytime, day or night, and we heard back from our therapists at least once a day, five days a week. We found that the therapists's responses were engaged and thoughtful. The text-based format also seemed to be appealing to our teens, who preferred to message about their feelings as needed rather than at a scheduled time. We could schedule live chat sessions, too, which again seemed to be a good format for teens who don’t like speaking on the phone, though we did find that the flow of conversation was disjointed in this format because we were constantly waiting for our therapists to type a response. This meant that, in the end, we covered less ground in a session. 

However, we especially appreciated the way the service handled parental involvement in the process. When we signed up with our teen, we both got our own online “room” to message our therapist. This meant that neither we nor our teens could see what the other person said to our therapists, which built trust in the process (especially for our teens) pretty quickly.

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Ranges from $260 to $360 per month, depending on your location and therapist availability, and includes four live sessions (typically one $65 to $90 session per week) in the format of your choice, plus 24/7 messaging with your teen’s therapist

We surveyed 100 users of Teen Counseling:

• 86% rated Teen Counseling as very good or excellent overall
• 87% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 93% said that most or all of their needs were met at Teen Counseling
• 93% are likely or very likely to recommend Teen Counseling to a friend or someone like them
• 20% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text

We tested 7 Cups' peer support services from Missouri, and found both its peer support and text-based therapy services to be affordable and accessible. We appreciated that if we needed support right away, we could message one of 7 Cups’ trained “active listeners” for free at any time to discuss any problems we were having. We found that, along with the listener chats available, the company also has a wide variety of free peer-based group chats. Common chat room topics include grief, loneliness, breakups, chronic illness, and caregiving.

Our listeners were warm and empathetic; and although one of them shared more about her own personal experiences than we were comfortable hearing, we could still see how that might benefit others who were specifically looking to relate to someone who had faced similar challenges. And while we appreciated the number of chat rooms available, going in and out of chat rooms felt overwhelming and impersonal at times. Still, we couldn't overlook the convenience and assistance that comes with being able to connect with peers going through similar experiences and challenges as you at any time through 7 Cups.

If you’re looking for text-assisted therapy services from a qualified mental health provider, you can sign up for a monthly text-based subscription for $150 per month, which provides chat-based therapy sessions. But remember, 7 Cups offers only text-based therapy rather than live chat, video, or audio sessions.

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: No
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Free for group chat rooms, private peer chats, and access to “active listeners”; $150 for a monthly subscription that gives you access to a therapist you can live-chat with in scheduled sessions 

We surveyed 100 users of 7 Cups:

• 91% rated 7 Cups as very good or excellent overall
• 91% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 93% said that most or all of their needs were met at 7 Cups
• 94% are likely or very likely to recommend 7 Cups to a friend or someone like them
• 18% said that when choosing a therapist, they based their decision on whether the therapist was available by text