Top Talkspace alternatives
In recent years, online therapy has emerged as an increasingly popular option for people seeking accessible and flexible mental health support. The convenience of connecting with licensed professionals through digital platforms has expanded access to care for those who may face barriers to traditional, in-person sessions. According to Forbes Health, the best online therapy platforms of 2025 are highlighted in a list that primarily focuses on patients seeking therapy. While the ranking is designed with patients in mind, it also provides a broad overview of leading apps and valuable insights into the growing field of digital mental health.
Talkspace is one of the most well-known online therapy platforms, offering patients convenient access to licensed therapists through messaging, audio, and video sessions. Founded in 2012, the company quickly gained traction by making mental health care more accessible and affordable, especially for people who may not have the time, resources, or comfort level to attend in-person therapy. With features like flexible communication methods, subscription-based pricing, and a wide range of therapy options, Talkspace has positioned itself as a leader in digital mental health.
However, the company hasn’t been without controversy. Talkspace had to deal with some bad publicity a few years back. In one example, a therapist filed a complaint about some HIPAA violations. Talkspace’s response was to take away her access to her clients. Talkspace then proceeded to send an email to all of her clients to reassure them.
But in the process, they accidentally sent the mass email to all of her patients without using bcc. Every patient was able to see every other patient’s email address. In other words, they followed up one HIPAA violation with a much bigger one.
In its defense, Talkspace was a young company when the incident occurred, and online therapy was still a relatively new concept. All companies have growing pains, but the issues should make providers a little more careful about which service they choose to work with in the future.
Here’s a list of Talkspace alternatives to help you make an informed decision.
For counselors and psychologists
These services are all pretty similar. They provide basic therapy and are most comparable to Talkspace.
1. BetterHelp
BetterHelp is the second biggest therapy app after Talkspace, and its offering is similar. BetterHelp has been around since 2013 and has a wide area of focus, so no matter what area of talk therapy you focus on, they’ll likely have a role for you.
BetterHelp also provides software for several other services mentioned in this list. Those services focus on tighter niches and may be better suited to your practice.
2. Calmerry
Calmerry is another general-purpose therapy app. It’s really new and has only been out since 2020. But sometimes newer is better. They offer the same benefits you’ll get from BetterHelp and Talkspace — like HIPAA compliance features, flexible scheduling, and rapid access to clients.
3. Larkr
This service gives just a little bit more. Their app provides journaling and guidance for patients. And they’re very focused on therapists as well. They have a lot of information about what they provide therapists right on their home page, which is pretty uncommon.
Another benefit of Larkr is its flexibility. You can bring existing clients into their platform and continue charging your patients as much as you see fit. Larkr also provides video chat for multiple people. That flexibility makes it a good choice for couples counseling and group therapy.
General telehealth portals
These services are like virtual urgent care facilities. They provide a variety of services across the healthcare industry, not just mental health.
4. Amwell
Amwell is a general telehealth tool, and it’s an established, publicly traded business. It focuses on everything from pink eye to panic attacks.
If you want the stability of working with a serious corporation that treats you like a doctor and not an employee, Amwell might be your best option. This is also an excellent option for psychiatrists.
5. Doctor on Demand
Doctor on Demand is highly comparable to Amwell. But their behavioral therapy page isn’t quite as comprehensive, so it’s unclear whether the value they provide to patients is as good. There’s also not a lot of information about the benefits to therapists. Also, many of their jobs aren’t remote, so working with them can be more like a traditional job.
6. MDLive
Our third general health provider is MDLive. MDLive has partnered with insurance companies and employers to provide telehealth to individuals. The others probably do as well, but MDLive makes a special note of it. However, they don’t give as much information about their service for providers.
7. HealthSapiens
HealthSapiens seems to be a bit more relaxed than the others in their application process. All you need is a license in good standing and one year of experience. They also offer to supplement your existing caseload rather than only replace it. So it’s a good choice for both new and well-established therapists.
Psychiatry-focused and prescription-based services
Some of the other services here provide psychiatry and medications. These services are specifically focused on those aspects of therapy.
8. Cerebral
Cerebral has only been around since 2020. Users haven’t reviewed them as much, but that’s changing quickly. They offer a well-rounded package of talk therapy and medication, so they need counselors, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners. Their hiring process is less like what you might encounter with Uber and more like a traditional job.
9. Talkiatry
Psychiatrists built Talkiatry for psychiatrists. It’s very tech-centric and uses machine learning algorithms to pair patients with psychiatrists.
Talkiatry puts a lot of focus on the well-being of their psychiatrists. They promise more autonomy and offer a collaborative atmosphere.
10. Brightside
Brightside is another service that’s looking for therapists to fill more traditional job roles. They still give flexible hours, but they’d rather lock you in. However, they’re not actually hiring psychiatrists. They’re looking for therapists and psychologists to handle that side of the business. But for medication, they rely on technology and psychiatric nurse practitioners to help people.
Counseling for the underrepresented
People of color, members of the LGTBQ+ community, and young people with limited resources face unique challenges. These services offer help to those people.
11. 7 Cups
7 Cups is slightly different from most services on this list. While it does still provide therapy, it focuses more on just giving people someone to talk to. They provide volunteer listeners and chat rooms to meet that goal, but they also offer counseling with licensed therapists for a flat monthly fee. They also provide resources to help people better themselves.
Group therapy and couples counseling
These services are built to provide therapy for multiple patients.
12. Circles
Circles helps connect patients to a small group of individuals who are dealing with similar issues. A facilitator leads each Circle. The Circles focus on issues like divorce, grief or loss, and COVID-19 stress management.
13. Regain
Regain provides counseling for both couples and individuals, but the primary focus is on helping people navigate and improve their relationships. This is another service built on the BetterHelp platform.
Other types of specialized therapy
14. Teen Counseling
Teen Counseling also uses the BetterHelp software. It’s focused on helping teens, just like it says on the tin. Beyond that, there’s not a lot of information about what sets them apart, but that’s usually the case with the BetterHelp-based programs.
Other tools and services
These aren’t alternatives to Talkspace, so they’re not counted in the total. But they’re good resources and worth mentioning.
Onlinetherapy.com
Onlinetherapy.com is a directory listing of telehealth therapists and coaches. If you already have an existing practice or you don’t like the idea of being an employee, this could be a good route for you. This is also a good option for therapists outside of the United States. They provide marketing tools, and membership is free.
Jotform
Jotform is a broadly useful form tool with HIPAA compliance features built in to select plans. It’s useful if you have your own practice or are missing certain features from your telehealth portal of choice. You can use it for patient registration, intake questionnaires, progress reports, and much more.
Online therapy has grown into a diverse landscape, and Talkspace is only one piece of it. While it helped pave the way for accessible digital mental health care, it’s far from the only option. Whether you want the stability of a large telehealth provider, the niche focus of a specialized platform, or the flexibility to bring your own clients, there are plenty of alternatives that may be a better fit. The most important step is to weigh your priorities — security, flexibility, cost, or community focus — and choose the platform that aligns with them. With the right choice, both patients and providers can benefit from the convenience and effectiveness of modern online therapy.
This article is ideal for licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors who are evaluating alternatives to Talkspace and want to choose a platform that aligns with both their professional needs and their patients’ privacy.
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