They’re closer than most comparisons suggest. Both let you see a licensed private-practice therapist for your normal copay, with no subscription. Choose Alma if you want a free 15-minute consultation first (most Alma therapists offer one), sliding-scale options if you go out-of-network, or flexibility with EAPs and HSA or FSA cards. Choose Headway if you want the biggest network or may need a prescriber who handles controlled medications. Many people check both.
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Alma and Headway solved the same problem: great therapists in private practice often didn’t take insurance because the paperwork was brutal. Both now handle that paperwork, so you get an experienced clinician for your copay. The differences are in the details.
| App | Best for | Price (annual) | Rating | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | Free consult, out-of-network options | Your copay | 8.0 | Web + in-person |
| Headway | Largest network, copay only | Typically $20-$50/session | 8.2 | Web + in-person |
See therapists who take your insurance and, with many major plans, your estimated cost before you book. Most also offer a free 15-minute consultation. Find an Alma therapist
How each one works
Alma is a membership network: therapists pay Alma for insurance billing and practice tools, and you search its directory for free. It has more than 26,000 clinicians and, since 2026, has been part of Spring Health.
Headway doesn’t charge therapists a membership; it earns money through its arrangements with insurers. That has helped it grow a very large network, with more than 70,000 credentialed providers reported in 2026.
For you, the experience is similar: search by insurance and need, book, and pay your share after each session.
Cost
With insurance, both cost your normal copay or coinsurance. Headway says most clients pay $20 to $50 a session. With many major plans, Alma can show you an estimate before you book. Our guide to how much Alma costs explains how those estimates, deductibles, and self-pay rates work.
Out-of-network, Alma has the edge. Many Alma therapists offer sliding-scale rates, while Headway only handles in-network care.
Payment flexibility: Alma works with Employee Assistance Programs and HSA, FSA, and HRA cards.
Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid
Headway accepts select Medicare Advantage plans nationally and select Medicaid managed care plans in some states. Since July 2026, your therapist must be licensed in the state where you are when a telehealth session happens.
Alma’s Medicare and Medicaid coverage is more limited, so check your specific plan during signup.
If you have Original Medicare, Rula and Talkspace are stronger options than either.
Finding the right therapist
Alma lets you request a free 15-minute consultation from most of its therapists, so trying someone usually costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Its filters cover specialty, identity, language, and availability.
Headway’s larger network means more choice, though many popular therapists aren’t taking new clients, so message several at once. Many Headway therapists also offer a free consultation.
Billing and support
Alma: billing is a recurring theme in its Better Business Bureau complaints, such as copays that changed after the fact, and it has no general support phone line, though clients can request a call through the Help button on its Support Center. Our Alma review explains how to protect yourself.
Headway cancellation fees are set by each therapist and shown in reminder emails, and Headway says it can’t waive them.
Medication
Both list psychiatric prescribers. Headway notes that some of its prescribers can handle controlled medications, such as ADHD stimulants, where state law allows. If that matters to you, confirm with the prescriber before booking on either platform.
Which should you choose?
Choose Alma if you want to try a therapist free before committing, you may go out-of-network, or you want to use an EAP or HSA.
Choose Headway if you want the largest choice of therapists, have a Medicare Advantage or Medicaid managed care plan Headway accepts, or may need a prescriber for controlled medications.
Or check both. The same therapist sometimes appears on both platforms, and whichever has the right person for you, in your state, with openings, is the right choice.
See Alma therapists who take your insurance, check your estimated cost if your plan is supported, and book a free 15-minute consultation where one is offered. Find an Alma therapist
Common questions
Is Alma or Headway cheaper? With insurance, both cost your copay. Out-of-network, Alma is usually cheaper because many of its therapists offer sliding-scale rates.
Which has more therapists? Headway, with more than 70,000 providers reported in 2026, versus Alma’s 26,000-plus.
Do they offer free consultations? Most Alma therapists do, and you can request one from the therapist’s profile. Many Headway therapists offer one too.
Can I use Alma or Headway without insurance? Alma, often through sliding-scale therapists. Headway is built for in-network insurance care.
The bottom line
Alma and Headway are both excellent ways to see an experienced therapist for your copay. Alma wins on flexibility and on free consultations; Headway wins on sheer network size. For more detail, see our Alma review, is Alma legit, and Headway review.
One important note: if you are in crisis or considering harming yourself, please reach out now. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Immediate human support is available.