Yes, BetterHelp is legit. It is a real online therapy platform that matches you with licensed therapists, and Teladoc Health, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has owned it since 2015. The honest caveats are a 2023 FTC privacy order over how it used customer data for advertising, a subscription that renews until you cancel, and insurance that covers only select plans, with availability that varies by state.
If you have seen the ads and wondered about the catch, that is a fair question for any company that wants your card number and your health history. Here is what the official record shows, with links so you can check each point yourself.
BetterHelp at a glance
Who owns and runs BetterHelp
Teladoc bought BetterHelp in January 2015, according to its annual report for that year. Today, Teladoc Health’s 2025 annual report lists BetterHelp as one of its two reportable segments and describes BetterHelp’s network of nearly 35,000 licensed clinicians. As a public company, Teladoc Health reports BetterHelp’s results in its filings.
BetterHelp’s terms give its address as 3155 Olsen Drive in San Jose, California. If you see “Compile, Inc.” as the seller on its App Store listing, that is the same company: the FTC’s case file names BetterHelp, Inc. as also doing business under that name.
Are BetterHelp therapists licensed?
Yes, according to BetterHelp’s own rules. Its terms require every US therapist to be a licensed psychologist, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, or professional counselor, or to hold a similar credential recognized in their state. Each must also have a relevant degree, at least 3 years of experience, and at least 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.
BetterHelp’s FAQ says providers must submit documentation and pass a verification process that includes a case study review and background checks.
One thing to understand: the therapists are not BetterHelp employees. The FAQ describes them as independent providers and says the site does not oversee them professionally. Your therapist answers to a state licensing board, which is why checking the license yourself, covered below, is worth two minutes.
What BetterHelp costs and how billing works
BetterHelp says a US subscription costs $70 to $100 a week, billed weekly or monthly, which comes to $280 to $400 for four weeks. That covers one live session a week by video, phone, or live chat, plus messaging with your therapist between sessions.
The part that catches people out is the subscription. The terms say your plan renews automatically until you cancel, that you must cancel before the renewal date to avoid the next billing cycle, and that unused live sessions do not roll over. BetterHelp also says a $15 fee may apply if you miss a session or cancel within 24 hours of it.
You can cancel at any time, for any reason. BetterHelp’s opt-out page gives the path: Menu, then My Account (or Account settings), then Payment settings, then Cancel Membership. The only refund the terms spell out is a 14-day withdrawal right in countries that legally require one. They promise no refund to US customers, so it is safest to cancel before the next charge. Our BetterHelp cost guide has the full breakdown.
The FTC privacy case
This is the most serious item in BetterHelp’s official record.
In March 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced a case alleging that BetterHelp used and disclosed customers’ email addresses, IP addresses, and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo, and Pinterest for advertising, after promising to keep that information private. On July 14, 2023, the FTC finalized its order.
The order requires BetterHelp to:
- stop sharing health data for advertising, and stop sharing personal information for re-targeting
- get your affirmative express consent before disclosing personal information to certain third parties for any purpose
- run a comprehensive privacy program
- direct third parties to delete the data it shared with them
- limit how long it keeps personal and health information
BetterHelp also paid $7.8 million, which the FTC used for partial refunds. The FTC says the people eligible were those who signed up and paid for a BetterHelp service between August 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. About 800,000 people were notified in May 2024. The first payments, in June 2024, came to nearly $5.2 million, and a second round of more than $2.6 million went to more than 534,000 people in April 2025.
BetterHelp’s side: its statement says the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing, that it concerned advertising practices from 2017 to 2020, and that it has never shared members’ names or clinical data from therapy sessions with advertisers.
Today, BetterHelp’s privacy policy, last updated March 17, 2026, says it does not share anything you tell your therapist with third-party advertisers, and that advertising cookies are opt-in. The case happened and the order is binding. How much weight it carries is your call.
BetterHelp reviews and its BBB profile
As of October 10, 2026, BetterHelp’s Better Business Bureau profile shows an A+ rating and BBB accreditation since December 7, 2015. Customer reviews there average 3.97 out of 5 across 313 reviews.
The complaints page lists 336 complaints in the last three years and 92 in the last 12 months. BBB sorts them as product issues (119), service or repair issues (77), billing issues (75), sales and advertising issues (31), order issues (18), and customer service issues (16). It marks 275 as answered and 61 as resolved.
Recent published complaints describe charges that continued after the customer says they cancelled, insurance copays billed later at higher amounts than the estimate shown, and difficulty reaching support. In one reply, BetterHelp wrote that copay estimates are not final because the insurer sets the actual amount.
BBB asks readers to weigh complaint counts against a company’s size, and BetterHelp says it has helped more than 5 million people. Elsewhere, the BetterHelp app shows 4.8 out of 5 from about 150,000 ratings on the App Store. Our own BetterHelp review, based on hands-on use, scores it 8.5 out of 10.
Insurance, financial aid, and free trials
Insurance. BetterHelp’s insurance page says it is in network with 125+ health plans, with availability that varies by state and plan, from carriers including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Members who use insurance pay an average copay of $23 a session, and some pay $0. Insurance covers one live session a week, a deductible may apply, and messaging between sessions is not included. Its therapy providers do not directly accept Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE.
Financial aid. BetterHelp says eligible users who are not using insurance may qualify for a reduced rate based on income and employment status. You can apply during sign-up, or at betterhelp.com/financialaid once you have an account. The pages we checked do not list discount amounts. Our guide to BetterHelp financial aid walks through it.
Free trial. BetterHelp says it does not currently offer a free trial, though it runs occasional promotions. Its terms add that free trials are sometimes offered, and that a paid membership starts, after notice, when one ends. For no-cost options, see is BetterHelp free?
What BetterHelp therapists cannot do
BetterHelp’s FAQ says its therapists cannot make an official diagnosis, fulfill a court order, or prescribe medication. Its terms add that you should not use it if you need official documentation, such as for court-ordered therapy or emotional service dog certification.
Medication is handled separately. BetterHelp offers psychiatry through UpLift, a provider Teladoc Health acquired in April 2025. It serves adults 18 and over, through licensed psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in the states where they are licensed. It does not prescribe controlled substances, a category that covers most stimulant ADHD medications. BetterHelp says eligible members pay an average copay of $26 a session.
BetterHelp is also not a crisis service, and its FAQ says it is not for minors.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
BetterHelp is a reasonable fit if you are an adult who wants to start talk therapy soon, will pay out of pocket or have a plan in its network, and like the idea of messaging between live sessions. BetterHelp says matching takes a few hours to a few days, and you can switch therapists.
Look elsewhere if you:
- rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE for therapy
- need a formal diagnosis, court paperwork, or a controlled medication
- are in crisis, or under 18
- cannot comfortably afford $280 or more every four weeks
Free and low-cost care exists. Community mental health centers often charge on a sliding scale, and SAMHSA’s free, confidential National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) can often refer you to local facilities that do, or that accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have insurance, a platform built around it may cost you less: see our look at whether Rula is legit and our guide to BetterHelp alternatives.
How to protect yourself
Check your therapist’s license. Therapist profiles on BetterHelp show a “License information” line with the state, license type, and number. Look it up on your state licensing board’s website before your first session.
Set your privacy choices. Decline advertising cookies when asked, and on iPhone choose “Ask App Not to Track.” The privacy policy describes both.
Know how erasure works. You can request it under Menu, My Account, Personal Information. The privacy policy says clinical records are still kept for 10 years once you have started therapy.
Put your renewal date in your calendar, and learn the cancellation path above before you need it.
Using insurance? Confirm your copay and deductible with your insurer, and screenshot any estimate you are shown.
Common questions
Is BetterHelp a real company? Yes. It is a Teladoc Health business based in San Jose, California.
Is BetterHelp safe? BetterHelp says messages are encrypted and that its platform is HITRUST certified, and the FTC order bans it from sharing health data for advertising. It is not built for emergencies.
Does BetterHelp have a free trial? Not currently, according to BetterHelp.
Does BetterHelp offer financial aid? Yes, to some eligible users who pay without insurance.
Why is BetterHelp so expensive compared to using insurance? Without insurance, you pay the whole subscription yourself: $70 to $100 a week. With an in-network plan, your insurer shares the cost and you pay a copay, which BetterHelp says averages $23 a session, though a deductible may apply first. The subscription also includes messaging between sessions; the insurance version does not.
The bottom line
BetterHelp is legitimate: a real company with a publicly traded owner, licensed therapists, and published terms. It is also a subscription business with a privacy case in its past and billing complaints on its BBB profile. Go in knowing how to cancel, what you have agreed to share, and what your therapist’s license says. If the price or the history gives you pause, there are other good options, including free ones.
Sources
- BetterHelp FAQ
- BetterHelp terms and conditions
- BetterHelp: how much does BetterHelp cost?
- BetterHelp: is BetterHelp free?
- BetterHelp insurance
- BetterHelp psychiatry through UpLift
- BetterHelp privacy policy
- BetterHelp opt-out and cancellation instructions
- BetterHelp statement on the FTC settlement
- BetterHelp: about
- FTC: proposed order, March 2, 2023
- FTC: final order, July 14, 2023
- FTC: BetterHelp refund notices, May 6, 2024
- FTC: BetterHelp refunds
- FTC: BetterHelp, Inc. case file
- BBB: BetterHelp profile
- BBB: BetterHelp complaints
- Teladoc Health 2025 annual report (Form 10-K)
- Teladoc 2015 annual report (Form 10-K)
- Teladoc Health: UpLift acquisition, April 30, 2025
- App Store: BetterHelp - Therapy
- SAMHSA National Helpline
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.