BetterHelp vs Open
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BetterHelp
Access professional mental health support from licensed therapists. Connect via messaging or live sessions, and join educational webinars. Find personalized guidance for various challenges.
- 30,000+ licensed therapists
- Therapist matching
- Unlimited messaging
- Live video/phone sessions
- Group webinars
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BETTERHELP: INSURANCE OPTIONS MAY BE AVAILABLE BetterHelp makes it easy to connect with a licensed therapist online, whether you choose self-pay or explore insurance options that may be available. Where insurance options are available, eligible members may access therapy with an average copay of $23 per session.* Answer a few questions and get matched with a licensed therapist from our community of over 30,000 based on your needs, preferences, and location. ------------------------------------------- WHY BETTERHELP? ------------------------------------------- • Insurance options now available • Average copay of $23 per session for eligible members • Over 30,000 licensed, accredited, and experienced therapists • Match with a therapist based on your needs, preferences, and location • Message your therapist anytime • Schedule weekly live video or phone sessions • Access educational group webinars • Choose self-pay or explore insurance options that may be available PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, TAILORED TO YOU Finding the right therapist can make a meaningful difference. BetterHelp matches you with a licensed therapist who understands where you are and where you want to go. You can message your therapist anytime and schedule live sessions from wherever you are, online. (Please note: when using insurance, certain BetterHelp features may be limited or unavailable, including chat-based sessions, groups/classes, and select self-help tools.) LICENSED AND TRAINED THERAPISTS BetterHelp therapists are licensed professionals with at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. Our network includes psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and other similarly credentialed providers. All of our therapists hold a Master’s Degree or a Doctoral Degree in their respective fields and have been qualified and certified by their state professional board, having completed the necessary education, exams, training, and practice. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? BetterHelp now offers more payment options, including insurance options that may be available. Insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status. Eligible members have an average copay of $23 per session. Not using insurance? Individual self-pay plans typically range from $70 to $100 per week, billed every 4 weeks, and may vary based on location, preferences, therapist availability, and available discounts. Self-pay memberships include in-app messaging and a weekly live session, and you can cancel at any time."
Open
This app offers guided breathwork, meditation, and movement classes designed by neurobiology experts. It aims to help users regulate their nervous system, reduce stress, and foster personal growth through a blend of science and spirituality. Practice anytime, anywhere with daily new classes and progress tracking.
- Guided breathwork techniques
- Daily meditation sessions
- Mindfulness-based movement classes
- Progress tracking and reminders
- Expert-designed curriculum
- On-demand class library
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“We believe that mindfulness is more than a form of stress relief — it can be a tool for personal growth, deeper understanding, vibrancy. More than a way to disconnect — it can be a way to feel a part of something bigger. More than simply silence — it can be immersive, beautiful, moving.” –Raed Khawaja, Open Co-founder & CEO Regulate your nervous system with Open. Bridge science and spirituality to cleanse your body and mind. Learn breathwork, meditation, and movement techniques designed by experts in neurobiology. Practice on the app and in-person at our flagship studio in Los Angeles. CLASSES BREATHE: Since the dawn of civilization, humans have developed techniques for manipulating our breath to induce desired states of consciousness. Now peer-reviewed studies in neuroscience and psychology confirm that breathwork is a powerful toolkit for regulating your nervous system, optimizing your health and well-being, and catalyzing personal transformation. Breathwork is an umbrella term for myriad practices, both ancient and modern. While many techniques are deeply rooted in spiritual traditions like Yoga, Qi Gong, and Buddhism, contemporary applications integrate ancient wisdom with modern science.This synthesis of ancient and modern has given rise to transformational breathwork, designed to induce profound experiences of catharsis, insight, and breakthrough. Experience a mental reset with just a few minutes of conscious breathing. MEDITATE: Train your awareness and contemplate wisdom – with techniques that span generations, cultures, and traditions – with our daily meditations and monthly programs. Learn how to enhance your focus, reduce your stress and anxiety, and regulate your emotions with simple mindfulness techniques you can incorporate into your daily life. MOVE: Our methodology is designed through the intelligence of fitness – blending endurance, strength, mobility, and recovery – with the wisdom of mindfulness. A ritual for resilience, strengthening the body and mind. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: Practice on your time with our endless library, with fresh classes added daily. From simple 5-minute breathwork techniques, to 60-minute strength and conditioning classes, build your practice to fit your schedule and meet your goals. Whether you’re starting your journey or seeking a new challenge, there are classes for every level and mood. PROGRESS TRACKING: Create a daily habit that sticks with progress tracking, push reminders, streaks, and badges. A consistent breathwork and meditation practice has proven to reduce cortisol levels and regulate the nervous system–decreasing stress, supporting emotional well-being, and enhancing mental clarity. These techniques can also improve physical health by increasing heart rate variability, promoting cardiovascular health, and boosting immune function. CONNECT WITH US Questions? Email us: support@o-p-e-n.com. Follow along on Instagram: @op_e___n. NOTES Data: Open reads and writes data to the Apple Health App to help you track your Mindful minutes. No data is being sent outside of your device. This is optional. Pricing info: This pricing is for our customers in the United States. Pricing in other countries may vary. Your subscription to Open will automatically renew, unless you disable auto-renew at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can turn off auto-renew or manage your subscription from your Apple account settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple account. You can read more about our terms of service here: https://o-p-e-n.com/terms and our privacy policy here: https://o-p-e-n.com/privacy. GooGhywoiu9839t543j0s7543uw1 - please add peter@o-p-e-n.com to GA account of property 199812543 - date 08/06/2026.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BetterHelp at none against Open's 2. BetterHelp also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 60%) and chart position (#68 vs unranked). Open's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating 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
Both are free to download. Open sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. BetterHelp asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BetterHelp against 4.9 for Open. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BetterHelp has 150K ratings behind it against 18K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of BetterHelp's written reviews are positive against 60% of Open's.
BetterHelp ships an update monthly, Open weekly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.
| Parameter | BetterHelp | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (150K ratings) | 4.9 (18K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 60.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 150K — better | 18K |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #68 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 306 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BetterHelp | Open Inc. |
Customer experience
BetterHelp
Open
User reviews
BetterHelp
From 150K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Convenient and accessible therapy
- 🚀 Quick matching with therapists
- 💬 Ability to message therapist anytime
- 📝 Helpful journaling and worksheets
- 🤗 Supportive and understanding therapists
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive for some users
- 🕰️ Incompatible time zones for some users
- 🔄 Difficulty switching therapists at times
- 🔌 Technical issues with app and video calls
- 🤷♀️ Inconsistent quality of therapists
Open
From 18K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Life changing
- 🤗 Transformative experience
- 🌟 High-quality classes
- 💫 Beautiful app design
- 🙌 Supportive community
Room to improve
- 🤯 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 💰 Expensive subscription cost
- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 🤔 Limited free content
- 📞 Poor customer service
Bugs and requests
BetterHelp
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes and freezes
- Video call disconnections
- Billing and subscription issues
Requested features
5 requests- More affordable pricing options
- Availability of therapists in different time zones
- Easier process for switching therapists
- Improved video call and app stability
- Better screening and training for therapists
Open
Reported bugs
3 issues- Subscription not showing in Apple account
- Inability to cancel subscription
- Unexpected charges after cancellation
Requested features
5 requests- Offline mode for classes
- More free content options
- Apple Watch app integration
- Better search and discovery
- Progress tracking and analytics
In-app purchases
BetterHelp
No in-app purchases
Open
- Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Annual Subscription14 Days trial$149.991 Year









