Compare Provider Platforms
Thinking about joining Headway, Grow, Alma, or another platform? These aren't software tools—they're "where to work" decisions that affect your income, autonomy, and practice ownership.
How these platforms work
With platforms like Headway, Grow, Alma, and Rula, you work as a contractor using their insurance credentials. If you leave, those credentials and client relationships typically stay with the platform. This is different from building your own independent practice with your own panels.
Want to build your own practice instead?
Practice Architect™
Compare EHRs, billing, and telehealth tools with transparent fit scores to build an independent practice where you own your credentials and client relationships.
Therapist Contractor Platforms
Join as a 1099 contractor. They handle credentialing and billing; you see clients. Trade a percentage fee for convenience.
Alma
PopularInsurance credentialing + AI notes + EHR for therapists at $125/month with higher negotiated reimbursement rates and weekly payments.
Best for
- +Independent therapists wanting predictable flat monthly fee ($125/month) over revenue sharing
- +Telehealth-focused clinicians who can use AI notes (video sessions only)
Not ideal for
- -Therapists wanting a completely free platform (use Headway or Grow Therapy)
- -Clinicians doing primarily in-person sessions (AI notes only work for video)
Grow Therapy
PopularFree insurance credentialing in 5-7 days with 26,000+ providers nationwide, guaranteed claims, and weekly payments through revenue sharing. $3B valuation (March 2026).
Best for
- +New clinicians seeking fastest path to seeing insured clients (5-7 day credentialing)
- +Therapists wanting insurance work without credentialing or billing hassle
Not ideal for
- -Clinicians building their own independent practice (credentials stay with Grow)
- -Therapists wanting to own their panels and client relationships long-term
Headway
PopularNation's largest mental health provider network (70,000+ therapists). Clinicians reportedly keep ~90-95% (Headway takes ~5-10%). Free credentialing + clawback protection.
Best for
- +Therapists wanting free insurance credentialing (no membership fees)
- +Providers who want protection from billing clawbacks
Not ideal for
- -Clinicians building their own independent practice (credentials stay with Headway)
- -Providers wanting full transparency on rate negotiations
Rula
PopularFlat per-session pay ($70-90) with e-prescribing for prescribers, fast credentialing, and weekly payments across all 50 states.
Best for
- +Therapists wanting predictable flat per-session pay (vs. variable revenue sharing)
- +Psychiatric prescribers (PMHNPs, psychiatrists) who need integrated e-prescribing
Not ideal for
- -Clinicians building their own independent practice (credentials belong to Rula)
- -Therapists wanting to maximize per-session earnings (direct credentialing pays more)
SonderMind
PopularFree therapist network with VA partnership (100% covered for veterans), AI matching, measurement-based care, and no-show reimbursement.
Best for
- +Therapists wanting to serve veterans (VA partnership with 100% coverage)
- +Providers seeking no-show reimbursement protection
Not ideal for
- -Clinicians building their own independent practice (credentials belong to SonderMind)
- -Therapists prioritizing highest compensation (2.3/5 pay rating on Comparably)
Thriveworks
Popular✓ Clinician-founded W2 employer with 340+ locations, no-show protection, and benefits. 2.3/5 compensation rating—PTO limited to 8 hrs/month.
Best for
- +Licensed therapists wanting W2 employment with benefits
- +Clinicians seeking no-show protection and guaranteed pay
Not ideal for
- -Therapists seeking competitive compensation (2.3/5 rating on Comparably)
- -Clinicians wanting substantial PTO (8 hrs/month = ~12 days/year, industry average is 15-20)
W2 Employer Platforms
Work as a W2 employee with benefits. Different tradeoff: stability and support, but less autonomy and typically productivity-based compensation.
LifeStance Health
PopularPublicly traded W2 employer with 7,400+ clinicians. 62% fee split (they keep 38%). 2.5/5 comp rating—fee-for-service means unpaid time off despite W2 status.
Best for
- +Clinicians seeking W2 employment with health insurance and 401(k)
- +Therapists wanting hybrid in-person and telehealth flexibility
Not ideal for
- -Clinicians seeking competitive compensation (2.5/5 Glassdoor rating)
- -Therapists wanting paid time off (fee-for-service = no pay when not seeing patients)
Talkiatry
Popular✓ Clinician co-founded telepsychiatry with 800+ W2 psychiatrists, 90%+ retention. ~47-50% effective split (vs 62% at contractor platforms), but W2 benefits add significant value.
Best for
- +Psychiatrists seeking W2 employment with benefits and admin support
- +Clinicians wanting telepsychiatry-only practice (100% virtual)
Not ideal for
- -Psychiatrists seeking high base salary (base reportedly $120-150k before incentives)
- -Providers uncomfortable with 6+ new patient minimum daily + follow-ups
Direct-to-Consumer Platforms
Consumer-facing platforms with provider networks. Often subscription-based for clients with provider payment per session.
BetterHelp
PopularWorld's largest online therapy platform (30,000+ therapists). Self-pay only. 17% pay fairness rating—tiered engagement-based compensation.
Best for
- +Therapists seeking high client volume without marketing or billing hassles
- +Licensed counselors wanting flexible part-time or full-time telehealth work
Not ideal for
- -Therapists seeking competitive per-session compensation (17% pay fairness rating)
- -Clinicians concerned about 2023 FTC data-sharing settlement ($7.8M fine)
Talkspace
PopularText, video, and audio therapy platform with psychiatry services. 11% pay fairness rating—major April 2025 bonus cuts reported.
Best for
- +Therapists comfortable with asynchronous text-based therapeutic communication
- +Clinicians seeking part-time flexible work alongside other positions
Not ideal for
- -Therapists seeking competitive compensation (11% pay fairness rating on Comparably)
- -Providers affected by April 2025 bonus structure changes ($700-1000/month income drops reported)
Looking for B2B / Employer Platforms?
Platforms like Lyra Health, Spring Health, and Modern Health are enterprise mental health benefits—they contract with employers, not individual clinicians looking to build a practice.
If you're a clinician wanting to work with these, they typically recruit through their own channels rather than open signup.