Apps and online care
InStride Health vs Headspace
They differ on 9 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
InStride Health
You apply online or call, and if your child fits, a three-person team (therapist, exposure coach and psychiatric clinician) runs video sessions over about 4 to 8 months, with more practice between sessions than standard weekly therapy.
Headspace
You pick short guided meditations, courses on stress, anxiety or sleep, sleepcasts and focus music, and do a few minutes a day on your phone.
Where they differ
- Kind of help
- InStride Health: A therapist
- Headspace: An app I use on my own
- Good for
- InStride Health: Children and teens with moderate to severe anxiety or OCD who need more than weekly therapy; Families who want exposure-based CBT plus medication management from one team
- Headspace: Beginners who want structured, short guided meditations; People dealing with everyday stress or trouble winding down for sleep
- Probably not for
- InStride Health: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Headspace: Anyone in crisis or thinking about suicide: call or text 988
- Cost
- InStride Health: Copay with insurance; self-pay price given by phone
- Headspace: $69.99/year or $12.99/month
- How you pay
- InStride Health: Insurance
- Headspace: I'll pay myself
- Where
- InStride Health: Web
- Headspace: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- InStride Health: Limited research
- Headspace: Strong research support
- Sells your data
- InStride Health: No
- Headspace: Yes
- HIPAA
- InStride Health: Yes
- Headspace: No
The same for both: privacy (grade c).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.