Apps and online care
Within Health vs BetterHelp
They differ on 8 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Within Health
This is intensive treatment, not weekly therapy: in the IOP you join therapy, groups and supported meals by video at least 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, and the partial hospitalization program is more.
BetterHelp
You fill in a questionnaire, get matched with a licensed therapist, and meet by video, phone or live chat, with messaging in between.
Where they differ
- Good for
- Within Health: Teens (13+) and adults with an eating disorder who need more than weekly therapy but not 24/7 care; People stepping down from residential or inpatient eating disorder treatment
- BetterHelp: Adults with mild to moderate depression, anxiety or stress who want weekly talk therapy from home; People who want to message a therapist between live sessions
- Probably not for
- Within Health: Anyone in crisis or medically unstable: call 911, or call or text 988
- BetterHelp: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Within Health: Insurance (many plans accepted); payment plans or financing if not covered
- BetterHelp: $70–$100/week, billed weekly or every 4 weeks
- How you pay
- Within Health: Insurance
- BetterHelp: I'll pay myself
- Where
- Within Health: Web
- BetterHelp: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Within Health: Early research
- BetterHelp: Limited research
- Privacy
- Within Health: Not graded
- BetterHelp: Grade D
- Sells your data
- Within Health: No
- BetterHelp: Yes
The same for both: kind of help (a therapist), hipaa (yes).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.