10 best online therapy services for anxiety in 2024

Cost: $95-$349 per month depending on plan | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: One to two days | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, psychiatry and crisis care

Brightside Health is an online mental health platform that specializes in treating anxiety, depression and related conditions, such as panic disorder, phobias, PTSD, bipolar, insomnia, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression and OCD. It offers talk therapy and medication management to adults 18 and older and offers competitive out-of-pocket rates in addition to accepting insurance.

Providers at Brightside are licensed therapists, psychiatrists or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) who participate in subscription-based care. There are three plans that are available nationwide and can be paid out-of-pocket or with insurance:

Psychiatry: $95 per month for an initial evaluation with a licensed provider, weekly check-ins and follow-up appointments as needed; if medication is recommended, a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice

Therapy: $299 per month for four 45-minute live video therapy sessions and unlimited messaging; additional therapy sessions can be purchased for $59 each

Psychiatry + Therapy: $349 per month for access to both talk-therapy and psychiatry with medication management

The company also offers a new crisis intervention program called, Crisis Care. The short-term program is for patients who are at an elevated risk of suicide and are often turned away from inpatient treatment. To participate in the program, you must have insurance coverage with a participating carrier and meet the eligibility requirements. If you meet all requirements, you'll fill out the free intake assessment and can expect to start treatment within 48 hours.

Cost: $50-$110 per week | Insurance accepted: No | Time until first appointment: Not listed | States available: 39 states, Canada, Ireland, Australia and the U.K. (Not available in AK, AR, HI, MT, NE, NH, ND, OR, RI, UT and WY) | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples

When it comes to anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered one of the most effective and empirically supported treatment interventions. Research suggests that CBT is especially beneficial for those with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and PTSD.

Online-Therapy.com is a CBT-based platform that offers individual therapy, couples therapy and virtual resources designed to help anyone struggling with stress and anxiety. All providers are licensed therapists who are trained in CBT and have experience with a variety of conditions, including agoraphobia, insomnia, social anxiety, panic attacks and more.

With Online-Therapy.com, users can access talk therapy and an online CBT program. The online CBT program is an 8-part, self-guided course aimed at providing educational and hands-on tools to improve mental health. Not only is it educational, it’s interactive. Each section includes worksheets that your therapist reads and provides feedback on. Other tools include a daily journal, an activity plan and yoga classes. The program is available in video, audio and text format.

The platform is a subscription-based therapy service that includes the online CBT program along with unlimited messaging with a licensed therapist. Live therapy sessions are also available depending on which of the four plans you choose:

Basic Plan: $50 per week for the online CBT program and unlimited messaging

Standard Plan: $80 per week for everything in the basic plan plus one live, 45-minute therapy session each week

Premium Plan: $110 per week for everything in the basic plan plus two live, 45-minute therapy sessions each week

Couples Therapy: $110 per week for the online CBT program, unlimited messaging and one live couples therapy session each week.

Insurance is not accepted, but Online-Therapy.com offers a 20% discount on all plans for the first month.

Cost: $69-$109 a week for therapy, billed monthly; $65 for additional sessions | Insurance Accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: One week | States available: All 50 | Types of Therapy Available: Individual talk therapy, couples therapy, individual teen therapy, medication management for adults

If the thought of talking face-to-face with a therapist, even via a video session, gives you anxiety, Talkspace may be the solution. It specializes in live chat and text message-based therapy, in addition to its live video therapy sessions. Best of all, you're not limited to just talk therapy — if you need medication in addition to talk therapy, Talkspace offers psychiatric services with medication management. 

The service treats individuals 13 and older and offers specialized care for veterans and members of the LGBTQ community. After signing up, you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours. You will then have the option to message your therapist 24/7 outside of your live session. Your therapist will get back to you within 24 hours, five days a week (Monday to Friday).

Talkspace offers a few plans and styles of therapy. You have the option to text your therapist, record a live audio or video message, meet in a secure chat room on Talkspace's platform or take part in traditional online live video therapy sessions in addition to having the option for unlimited messaging. Depending on the type of therapy you choose, the rates range from $69-$109 a week for therapy (billed monthly upfront). Psychiatry services cost $249 for the initial evaluation and $125 for follow-up appointments. Insurance is accepted as well as the option to pay out of pocket.

Cost: $160–$240 per session | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until the first appointment: Same-day appointments available | States available: District of Columbia and all states except Vermont | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, teen, children, family, groups, psychiatry 

For those looking for same-day and next-day therapy appointments, Thriveworks is a great option. The online provider is available in all states except Vermont and offers treatment to individuals, couples, children (10 and older), teens, families and groups. It also offers psychiatry with medication management. In addition to anxiety treatment, its licensed therapists and psychiatrists treat depression, grief, PTSD, eating disorders, addiction and ADHD. 

Something that sets Thriveworks apart from many online therapy providers on this list is that it also offers in-person therapy for adults in all states except Vermont. For children, Thriveworks's TherapyLand centers, located in select states, offer in-person visits. When selecting a therapist available in your states, you'll have access to their bios that include their name, specialization, rates and ages treated. 

Thriveworks does accept insurance, but our tester found that since many of its therapists are outsourced, the therapist's credentials were the driving factor in whether or not your insurance provider would cover the costs. You can either call your insurance to find out what type of licensed therapists are covered, or call Thriveworks and ask for assistance in finding a therapist that works with your insurance provider. 

Cost: Varies by provider and co-pay | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Two days or fewer | States available: 48 states (not available in ND and SD) | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, children and teens, family and medication management

Founded in 2020, Grow Therapy is a relatively new platform in the mental health space, but the company has managed to make a big impact in that time. Founders Jake Cooper, Manoj Kanagaraj and Alan Ni, wanted to help self-employed therapists start, run and grow their private practices by helping therapists manage administrative duties including insurance paperwork, ultimately making therapy more affordable for those seeking care by minimizing administrative costs.

The result is an easy-to-use platform that connects clients, therapy providers and insurance companies. The directory includes more than 8,000 therapists in 48 states (not available in North Dakota or South Dakota) that can accommodate more than 50 insurance providers. Therapy prices vary by provider and insurance copay, but typically range from $60-$200 per session for out-of-pocket services. You can opt for talk therapy with or without medication management, either in-person (where available) or live online appointments. Additional search filters allow you to narrow your search based on specialties, gender, racial and religious identities and therapist availability.

Once you’ve entered your search parameters, Grow Therapy provides you with a curated list of available providers along with specifics including name, licensing information, price per session, years of experience and next available appointment date. You can view therapists' profiles to learn even more, such as the age groups they treat, their specialties and their therapy modalities.

Unlike many competitors, Grow Therapy operates on a pay-per-session model, so there are no subscription plan options and canceling is as easy as not booking another appointment.

Cost per session: $30-$80 per session plus one time membership fee of $65 | Insurance accepted: No | Time until first appointment: Varies by therapist and location | States available: All 50 states and Canada | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, family, children and teens

According to Mental Health America, nearly 11% of adults with mental illness are uninsured. Even for those with insurance, treatment isn’t always affordable. In fact, the same report found that 42% of respondents were unable to afford mental health care. That’s where Open Path Collective comes in.

Open Path Collective, a nonprofit therapy directive, was created to provide accessible, low-cost therapy to those in need. The platform is specifically geared toward those who are underserved — uninsured, lack mental health coverage or can’t afford market rates for therapy. Insurance isn't accepted, but therapy sessions are incredibly affordable. Therapists are available in all 50 states for in-person or online therapy for adults, couples, children and teens. The providers cater to a wide range of needs, including anxiety, stress and phobias.

There is a one-time membership fee of $65 to join; after that, users pay out-of-pocket for each session. Therapy rates vary depending on the provider and the type of therapy. Individual therapy is priced at $40-$70 per session while family and couples therapy is priced at $40-$80 per session. There’s also the option of therapy with a student intern provider for a reduced rate of $30 per session.

Cost: Varies by provider | Insurance accepted: No, but reimbursement may be available | Time until first appointment: Within one day | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples, psychiatry, medication management and mental health consult

As a telehealth platform, Sesame offers a variety of services in addition to mental health care: urgent care, dermatology and weight management, among others. For those struggling with anxiety, Sesame makes it easy to find same-day, high-quality talk therapy, psychiatry and medication management at affordable rates. 

This service is a great option for those who need immediate care — appointments are available in as little as two hours. Sesame's mental health primary care providers specialize in family medicine or psychiatry and offer guidance on mental health treatments, medication management and prescription refills. While this may not be the right fit for someone who is looking for a consistent therapist since you choose your doctor and appointment from a list showing only same-day availability, it’s helpful to those who need care quickly — especially those living in therapy deserts who have to drive more than an hour to find mental health care. 

When it comes to price, therapy rates vary by provider. Insurance isn't accepted, but Sesame is incredibly affordable, with doctor appointments as low as $29.

Sesame also offers a membership plan called Sesame Plus which costs $10.99 per month or $99 per year. With Sesame Plus, members save $10 on all telehealth visits, so it’s a great deal for those who plan to pursue ongoing therapy through the platform.

Cost: $110-210 per session | Insurance accepted: Yes | Time until first appointment: Not listed | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual

NOCD is an online therapy platform that focuses on treating OCD. While OCD is not classified as an anxiety disorder, studies show 75% of those with OCD also experience anxiety. As such, providers are all licensed therapists specializing in OCD and related conditions, including anxiety and depression. 

What sets NOCD apart is its comprehensive training program and continuing education. Therapists are trained in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy — a research-backed approach that is considered the most effective form of therapy for those with OCD. Therapists are also thoroughly vetted before they begin working with clients.

Along with ERP, many providers have specialized training in treatments for PTSD, hoarding disorders and body-focused repetitive behaviors, such as hair-pulling and skin-picking disorders.

Therapy is available in all 50 states and insurance coverage is available. The cost of therapy depends on the session length. A 60-minute live video therapy session is priced at $210 and a 30-minute session is priced at $110. Unlimited messaging is included between sessions.

It’s worth noting that the rates aren't readily available on the website. However, we reached out to the customer care team over email and found them to be quick to respond. They answered all my questions in a timely manner and offered additional information. What’s more, they weren’t pushy. Instead of prompting us to sign up for treatment, they simply asked if there was anything else they could help us with, which we appreciated.

Cost: $185-$250 per session | Insurance accepted: Only for those in CA, NY and DC | Time until first appointment: Two to three days | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Individual, couples

According to a national survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, LGBTQ adults are significantly more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to non-LGBTQ adults. Gay Therapy Center offers individual and couples therapy from highly qualified therapists who are all members of the LGBTQ community, and have an average of 10 years experience providing therapy services. The therapists also have expertise in treating a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessions, polygamy and more through a variety of modalities, such as psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness-based therapy and affirmative therapy.

Like many other online therapy platforms, Gay Therapy Center matches you with a therapist based on your needs and location. But, unlike most platforms which use an online form and an algorithm to match you, the process is highly personalized. To find your match, you first engage in a free, 15-minute consultation with the company's founder or the client intake coordinator where you discuss your therapy needs and what you’re looking for in a provider. Then, once you receive your match, you can schedule your first appointment, which is generally available within two to three days.

Therapy is available online in all 50 states and in-person in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Insurance isn't accepted, but if you live in any of those cities, you may be able to receive reimbursement. One downside is that Gay Therapy Center is on the pricier side with sessions ranging between $185-$250.

Cost: $17-$33 per month with a 14-day money-back guarantee | Insurance accepted: N/A | Time until first appointment: Same day | States available: All 50 states | Types of therapy offered: Emotional support groups for a wide range of topics including divorce, grief, codependency and depression

Circles is an organization offering very low-cost 24/7 support groups or "circles" for a wide range of topics in addition to anxiety: addiction, grief, divorce, depression, trauma, codependency and many others. Best of all, you have the option to remain anonymous, chime in when you feel comfortable and pop in and out of circles according to your needs at the time.

You can also access educational seminars to learn actionable tools to help support your mental health goals. We especially love that you can join a circle 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so if you can't sleep, you can join a circle and talk through your anxieties with those who are likely experiencing the same feelings or fears.

The cost for joining circles varies between $17 and $33 per month depending on whether you opt for a three- ($33 per month) or six-month ($27 per month) plan or an annual ($17 per month) billed upfront for the year. There's a 14-day money-back guarantee so you have time to make sure Circles is right for you before being locked into the financial commitment.