# Talkspace vs ACT iCoach

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ACT iCoach at 85% against Talkspace's 27%. Talkspace's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (47K vs 187). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ACT iCoach sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Talkspace asks for nothing beyond the download.

Talkspace holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Talkspace has 47K ratings behind it against 187, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of Talkspace's written reviews are positive against 85% of ACT iCoach's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Talkspace ships an update every 6 weeks, ACT iCoach every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Talkspace | ACT iCoach |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkspace-virtual-therapy-app/id661829386/reviews)** | [4.6 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-icoach/id1449444733/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47K** | 187 |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#205** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Groop Internet Platform inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661829389) | [Resiliens Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1295868545) |

## What reviewers say

### Talkspace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkspace-virtual-therapy-app/id661829386)

**Currently charting:** #205 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

Access licensed therapists for online mental health support through text, audio, and video messaging. Receive personalized support and custom podcasts to aid your mental wellness journey. Insurance and employer coverage options are available.

**Highlights:** Licensed therapist matching, Unlimited messaging (text, audio, video), Daily responses from therapists, Personalized Talkcast podcasts, Insurance and employer coverage, HIPAA compliant security

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient online therapy
- 👍 Helpful therapists
- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🔒 Secure platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unresponsive customer service
- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 🕰️ Slow therapist response times
- 🔀 Difficulty switching therapists
- 🚫 Lack of in-network insurance coverage

**Reported bugs**

- Technical issues with app and website
- Glitches in booking and rescheduling appointments
- Inconsistent therapist availability and communication

**Requested features**

- Ability to schedule live sessions
- Option to extend session credits beyond monthly cycle
- Improved user interface and navigation
- More transparency around billing and cancellation policies


### ACT iCoach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-icoach/id1449444733)

Learn and practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills through video lessons, animations, and interactive tools. Track your mood, journal your thoughts, and monitor progress with analytics. Share data with your therapist for real-time engagement and motivation.

**Highlights:** Video lessons and animations, Mood and emotion tracking, Journaling and ACT measures, Progress summaries and analytics, Therapist sharing, Over 100 exercises, 1000+ meditations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Six Month Subscription | $49.99 | per 6 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 📊 Excellent tracking and analytics tools
- 🎓 Comprehensive ACT lessons and educational content
- 🧘 Helpful guided meditations and exercises
- 👥 Ability to share data with therapists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model ($10/month or $50/6 months)
- 🔒 Limited free functionality without premium
- 🐛 App freezes after entries or assessments
- 🐛 Crashes and connection failures
- ❌ Poor onboarding and unclear instructions

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes after every entry or assessment
- Failed to connect to store error
- Login page resets during account creation
- Account existence conflicts (user exists/does not exist)
- Intermittent crashes and connection issues

**Requested features**

- Offline functionality
- Goals section in addition to journal
- Better onboarding tutorial ("ACT & This App 101")
- Clearer password requirements during signup
- Clinician subscription bundling options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Talkspace free?

Talkspace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ACT iCoach free?

ACT iCoach is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Talkspace or ACT iCoach?

Talkspace is rated higher. Talkspace averages 4.8 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while ACT iCoach averages 4.6 from 187 ratings.

### Do Talkspace or ACT iCoach have ads?

Neither Talkspace nor ACT iCoach shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Talkspace or ACT iCoach?

Talkspace ships an update every 6 weeks, and ACT iCoach every 4 weeks. Most recently, Talkspace was updated on October 30, 2026 and ACT iCoach on October 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*