# BetterHelp vs Grow Therapy

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.

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. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BetterHelp | Grow Therapy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (149K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betterhelp-therapy/id995252384/reviews) | [4.8 (9.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grow-therapy/id6744416231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **149K** | 9.6K |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 43.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#86** | #100 |
| Size | 34 MB | 253 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BetterHelp](https://appshunter.io/developer/995252383) | [Grow Care, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807125681) |

## What reviewers say

### BetterHelp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betterhelp-therapy/id995252384)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

Access professional mental health support from licensed therapists. Connect via messaging or live sessions, and join educational webinars. Find personalized guidance for various challenges.

**Highlights:** 30,000+ licensed therapists, Therapist matching, Unlimited messaging, Live video/phone sessions, Group webinars

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient and accessible therapy
- 🚀 Quick matching with therapists
- 💬 Ability to message therapist anytime
- 📝 Helpful journaling and worksheets
- 🤗 Supportive and understanding therapists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Video call disconnections
- Billing and subscription issues

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grow-therapy/id6744416231)

**Currently charting:** #100 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great service
- 👍 Really great experience so far

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Almost no features
- 🐛 Bugs encountered when opening app
- 🤖 AI chatbot is concerning
- 🤖 AI not necessary, dislike it being the opening page

**Reported bugs**

- Not available due to age or location restrictions
- Login fields not editable
- Can't log in

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BetterHelp free?

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

### Is Grow Therapy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BetterHelp or Grow Therapy?

BetterHelp and Grow Therapy are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 149K and 9.6K ratings respectively.

### Do BetterHelp or Grow Therapy have ads?

BetterHelp shows ads; Grow Therapy does not.

### Which is updated more often, BetterHelp or Grow Therapy?

BetterHelp ships an update monthly, and Grow Therapy weekly. Most recently, BetterHelp was updated on September 25, 2026 and Grow Therapy on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, BetterHelp or Grow Therapy?

BetterHelp currently peaks at #86 in the App Store charts, and Grow Therapy at #100. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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