Comparison

Talkspace vs EMDR Tappers

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Talkspace

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
Read full description

Talkspace is an online therapy app that connects adults and teens (13+) with licensed therapists in their state for text, audio, and video therapy — covered by many U.S. insurance plans and employers. More than 1 million people have used Talkspace for online therapy. Read member reviews at www.talkspace.com/reviews. Talkspace uses clinician-informed, responsible AI tools to support care that always stays human-first: every member is treated by a licensed therapist. HOW DOES TALKSPACE WORK? Tell us your preferences and get matched with a licensed therapist in your state, often the same day. Send unlimited text, audio, picture, or video messages anytime and receive responses at least once a day, 5 days a week — so you can process things as they happen instead of waiting for a weekly appointment. WHAT CAN TALKSPACE HELP WITH? Talkspace therapists treat a wide range of mental health needs, including anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, relationship challenges, trauma and PTSD, substance use, and grief. Whatever brings you to therapy, you'll be matched with a therapist experienced in your area of need. IS TALKSPACE FOR TEENS? Yes. Talkspace offers online therapy for teens ages 13–17 with therapists specialized in adolescent mental health — including school stress, anxiety, and self-esteem. Parental or guardian consent is required to get started. DOES TALKSPACE OFFER PSYCHIATRY OR COUPLES THERAPY? Yes. In addition to individual therapy, Talkspace offers psychiatry (evaluation and medication management with licensed prescribers) and couples therapy — all online, in the same app. IS TALKSPACE COVERED BY INSURANCE? Yes. Talkspace is in-network with leading U.S. health plans and partners with many employers, so most covered members pay a copay similar to an in-person visit. Enter your insurance or employer details at checkout to check eligibility in seconds. HOW MUCH DOES TALKSPACE COST? Many members pay only a copay through insurance. Without insurance, choose a subscription plan that fits your needs and budget. Visit our Help Center for pricing details. IS TALKSPACE EFFECTIVE? Talkspace has been shown to be as effective as face-to-face therapy: in one study, 81% of participants found Talkspace as effective or better than in-person therapy, and users showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms within 2 months. Talkspace has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Business Insider. Research: research.talkspace.com | Press: talkspace.com/press WHO ARE THE TALKSPACE THERAPISTS? The Talkspace network includes thousands of licensed therapists across all 50 states, all vetted and credentialed according to NCQA standards. If your first match isn't the right fit, you can switch therapists anytime. IS TALKSPACE SECURE? Your safety and security are our #1 priorities. Talkspace is protected with banking-grade encryption and externally audited for HIPAA compliance. Full Privacy Policy: talkspace.com/public/privacy-policy WHAT IS TALKCAST? To help you stay engaged between sessions, your therapist can create Talkcast personalized podcasts: after your therapist reviews a script based on your therapy goals, our AI engine generates a custom recording you can listen to anytime. WHO IS TALKSPACE BEST FOR? Talkspace is ideal for anyone who wants therapy that fits a busy schedule, prefers messaging a therapist over weekly appointments, wants to use insurance for mental health care, or is starting therapy for the first time and wants a low-pressure way to begin. CONNECT WITH US Questions or feedback? Email support@talkspace.com or visit talkspace.com. Follow Talkspace on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

About

EMDR Tappers

This app provides bilateral stimulation therapy to help manage stress and anxiety. It replicates EMDR therapy using on-screen animations, vibrations, and sounds, accessible with just a phone or smartwatch. Users can customize stimuli and access positive affirmations for mental well-being.

Highlights
  • Bilateral stimulation replication
  • Customizable animations, vibrations, and sounds
  • Positive affirmations integration
  • Use with iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Single or dual phone operation
  • Preset and custom settings (premium)
Features
Read full description

The EMDR Tappers app was designed by researchers, veterans, and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) professionals to replicate EMDR therapy with only an iPhone and Apple Watch. Users can set the pace of animations, vibrations, and sounds. These stimuli are synchronized to replicate the benefits of EMDR therapy in any setting without the expensive, bulky equipment. Users can also use the app with just a single phone or two phones. All of this for free. No external, annoying ads. The core of EMDR therapy is bilateral stimulation—alternatively stimulating each side of the brain with sounds, lights, and vibrations. EMDR is a scientifically proven method of dealing with stress, anxiety, and other negative psychological conditions. The EMDR Tappers app combines the benefits of bilateral stimulation with positive affirmations. These affirmations are delivered bilaterally to help re-program your brain with healthy thoughts and beliefs. EMDR is a “strongly recommended” technique by the leading veterans' organizations, and the American Psychiatric Association has noted that EMDR is effective for treating PTSD symptoms. The premium version of the app allows users to set the color of the animation, choose the sound, and save custom settings as well as access preset settings. Download the app today to experience the power of bilateral stimulation. Terms of service: https://www.inspirehopecounseling.com/emdr-tappers-terms-of-service

Screenshots

Talkspace4 screens
EMDR Tappers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Talkspace at none against EMDR Tappers's 3. Talkspace also leads on ratings volume (47K vs 1.7K) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). EMDR Tappers's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (51% vs 27%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. EMDR Tappers sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Talkspace asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Talkspace against 4.8 for EMDR Tappers. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Talkspace has 47K ratings behind it against 1.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Talkspace's written reviews are positive against 51% of EMDR Tappers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Talkspace ships an update every 6 weeks, EMDR Tappers weekly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Talkspace versus EMDR Tappers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTalkspaceEMDR Tappers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (47K ratings) — better4.8 (1.7K ratings)
Positive reviews26.5% of reviews50.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings47K — better1.7K
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.013.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB229 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperGroop Internet Platform inc.Bilateral Mind

Customer experience

Talkspace

All ratings46,721 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews490 reviews
Positive26.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative69.2%

EMDR Tappers

All ratings1,678 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive50.7%
Neutral12.7%
Negative36.6%

Bugs and requests

Talkspace

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

EMDR Tappers

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Talkspace

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

EMDR Tappers

Subscriptions2
  • Guided Bilateral Stimulation3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Guided Bilateral Stimulation14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Bilateral Stimulation$9.99

Questions

Is Talkspace free?
Talkspace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EMDR Tappers free?
EMDR Tappers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Talkspace or EMDR Tappers?
Talkspace is rated higher. Talkspace averages 4.8 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while EMDR Tappers averages 4.8 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Talkspace or EMDR Tappers have ads?
Neither Talkspace nor EMDR Tappers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Talkspace or EMDR Tappers?
Talkspace ships an update every 6 weeks, and EMDR Tappers weekly. Most recently, Talkspace was updated on November 5, 2026 and EMDR Tappers on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons