BetterHelp vs Grow Therapy
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: NOW WITH INSURANCE BetterHelp makes it easy to connect with a licensed therapist online, whether you use insurance or choose self-pay. With insurance options now 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 35,000 based on your needs, preferences, and location. ------------------------------------------- WHY BETTERHELP? ------------------------------------------- • Insurance options now available • Average copay of $23 per session for eligible members • Over 35,000 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 • Use BetterHelp with or without insurance PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, TAILORED TO YOU Finding the right therapist can make a meaningful difference. BetterHelp matches you with a licensed therapist based on your goals, preferences, and location. You can message your therapist anytime and schedule live sessions from wherever you are, online. 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 a wide variety of insurance options. Your cost may vary based on your plan, provider availability, deductible status, and coverage. Eligible members may 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, and therapist availability. Your membership includes messaging and weekly live sessions and you can cancel at any time for any reason."
Grow Therapy
Access mental health care that's covered by insurance and fits your life. Find a therapist, book sessions, and get support between visits with an AI-powered tool designed to complement your care.
- Therapy covered by insurance
- Find therapists by specialty
- Book and join sessions easily
- AI-powered support between sessions
- Secure messaging with provider
- Access therapy tools and insights
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Welcome to Grow Therapy – mental health care that’s easy to start, covered by insurance, and flexible enough to grow with your life. Whether you're working through anxiety, stress, burnout, relationships, or life’s ups and downs, Grow helps you find the right provider, book quickly, and stay supported before, during, and after your sessions. With over 1 million clients served and 10 million+ sessions delivered, Grow has built trust the old-fashioned way – one session at a time. Now with the Grow Therapy app, your care can move with you. Because life doesn’t pause between sessions, and now, neither does your care. The support you need. The way you need it. * Therapy that fits your schedule: Evenings, weekends, no waitlists * Thousands of therapists who get you: Search by identity, specialty, language, and more * Covered by insurance: 100+ plans accepted—some sessions cost as little as $0 * Clear cost estimates: No subscriptions. No hidden fees * All-in-one care: Therapy and medication support in one place Say hello to coach At the heart of the Grow app is coach, a conversational AI tool built specifically to support your mental health between sessions. With more than one-third* of Americans already comfortable using AI for mental health support, we wanted to build an alternative that keeps a clinician’s expertise and training front and center. Most AI tools aren’t designed for therapy and they don’t integrate with your provider. We built coach to be different. Grow’s coach is an AI-powered, guided support tool built with clinical input, privacy, and safety at its core. It’s designed to help you reflect, build on your sessions, and keep growing between visits. Grow’s coach is fine-tuned to complement your care, not replace it, working in alignment with your provider and care plan, never independently. Do the work with your therapist. Practice it between sessions with coach. The Grow App: Stay connected and supported—anytime, anywhere. Book and join sessions, message your provider, and grow between visits with guided support, reflection, and practice from coach. Here’s what you can do in the app: * Book and join sessions in one tap * Message your provider anytime, securely * Use pre-session check-ins and post-session tools to stay on track * Get guided support between sessions with coach * Access handouts, worksheets, and therapy tools * Track your progress with session insights and reminders * Manage therapy and medication in one place The Grow app brings therapy into real life. Whether you’re prepping for a session, navigating a tough moment, or reflecting on progress, your care stays with you, wherever you are. Feeling better starts easier at Grow. Download Grow Therapy and take the first step. Note: coach is available to eligible clients in select U.S. states. Grow’s coach is AI-powered and designed to support you between sessions. It doesn't replace therapy, isn't monitored in real time, and isn't a crisis tool. Grow’s coach is not a replacement for any medical diagnosis or treatments; likewise, it cannot, and does not intend to, provide medical advice or diagnosis. If you’re in a crisis or emergency, call 988 or 911. CONNECT WITH US! We’re always happy to hear from you! Check out our website: growtherapy.com Follow us on TikTok: tiktok.com/@growtherapy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/growtherapy Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/joingrowtherapy * Bansal, Bhavika. “Can an AI Chatbot Be Your Therapist? A Third of Americans Are Comfortable With the Idea.” YouGov, May 17, 2024.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Grow Therapy at free with in-app purchases against BetterHelp's subscription. Grow Therapy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). BetterHelp's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 44%) and ratings volume (149K vs 9.6K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and chart position 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BetterHelp against 4.8 for Grow Therapy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BetterHelp has 149K ratings behind it against 9.6K, 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 44% of Grow Therapy's.
BetterHelp ships an update monthly, Grow Therapy weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | BetterHelp | Grow Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (149K ratings) | 4.8 (9.6K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 43.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 149K — better | 9.6K |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #79 — better | #94 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 253 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | BetterHelp | Grow Care, Inc. |
Customer experience
BetterHelp
Grow Therapy
User reviews
BetterHelp
From 149K 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
Grow Therapy
From 9.6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great service
- 👍 Really great experience so far
Room to improve
- 🐛 Almost no features
- 🐛 Bugs encountered when opening app
- 🤖 AI chatbot is concerning
- 🤖 AI not necessary, dislike it being the opening page
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
Grow Therapy
Reported bugs
3 issues- Not available due to age or location restrictions
- Login fields not editable
- Can't log in
Requested features
5 requests- Add appointment to calendar
- Join telehealth session and test video/audio
- Google sign-in option in settings
- Dashboard view instead of AI chat
- Option to disable AI completely
In-app purchases
BetterHelp
No in-app purchases
Grow Therapy
No in-app purchases








