Last Updated: Apr 2026
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Our Most Popular
1
BetterHelp -The world's largest online counselling service
- No referral required
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Message your therapist anytime
- Get 25% off your 1st month
Exceptional
9.8
2
OurRitual -Counseling for couples & individuals
- Led by renowned therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik
- Save 20% on 1st month with code: TOP20OFF
- Flexible scheduling, anytime
Very good
8.7
Did you know?
Online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy (Psychology.org)
3
Faithful Counseling -Licensed therapists catering specifically for Christians
- Counselling from a Biblical perspective
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- All counsellors are practicing Christians
Very good
8.5
4
ReGain -Couples therapists trained in relationship counselling
- Individual and couples counselling
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- 3-way call for couples in separate locations
Very good
8.7
5
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Online-Therapy.com -Complete cognitive behavioural therapy toolbox
- Get 20% off your first month
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Flexible plans, cancel anytime
Good
8.4
6
Talk-Space -Speak to a licensed therapist with a simple, secure app
- Get $65 off initial purchase
- Text, voice, & live video plans
- Easily switch therapists at no extra cost
Get matched with a therapist
Our Most Popular
1
BetterHelp -The world's largest online counselling service
- No referral required
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Message your therapist anytime
- Get 25% off your 1st month
Exceptional
9.8
Natural Intelligence does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or your local emergency number immediately.
1. Is my online therapy session safe?
Yes. Most platforms have robust security measures to ensure your messages are between you and your therapist, ensuring your sessions stay discreet.
2. How do I know if my therapist is qualified?
All therapists are licensed professionals, and most platforms verify their credentials. You can easily review their qualifications and experience before choosing the right fit.
3. What equipment do I need for online therapy?
All you need is a stable internet connection and a device with a camera and a microphone. It’s quick to set up and lets you connect from the comfort of your home.
4. Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Yes. Research shows online therapy can be just as effective for many concerns, offering the same level of support and flexibility that fits your schedule (bmj.com, 2023).
5. What if there’s a technical issue during a session?
No worries — most platforms offer easy backup options like switching to a call or rescheduling, so your therapy can continue smoothly.
What Is Online Therapy?
Like the name suggests, online therapy is a term used to describe mental health counselling and marriage counselling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or right at your fingertips on your smartphone. This is much more convenient than only looking for 'therapy near me'.
Often referred to as “e-therapy” or “internet therapy,” online therapy isn’t meant for people who are in the midst of a mental health emergency or who need urgent medical care. Instead, it’s a way for people to get easy, convenient, and reliable counselling and everything from teenage counselling, cbt therapy to anger management that tends to be much cheaper than in-person therapy. In addition, it can also be a real help for people who have mobility issues or live too far away from a licensed therapist for it to be convenient.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Most online therapy companies offer 3 main types of counselling: real-time chat, video chat, and phone chat.
Email and text message counselling is popular with people who want to be able to think out their questions and write them out before asking a therapist or counsellor. These tend not to be free-flowing conversations like with phone or video chats, but being able to write out what you want to say can be preferable. Typically these chats are done through your personal email to a special, secure email provided through the site, which can help safeguard your anonymity.
Video chat will require a reliable internet connection and will allow you to speak with a counsellor face-to-face, if not in the same room. It’s intimate, and personal, and allows you to establish a rapport that can be more difficult with the written word.
Real-time chat puts you into a secure line and allows you to chat back and forth with a counsellor in real-time. Think of it like having your own personal, private chat room with a counsellor who’s there to listen to what ails you.
When you sign up for an online therapy service or online marriage counselling, you’ll typically be asked to take a short quiz to determine which sorts of issues you’re dealing with, which can be used to help the service match you with a counsellor who may specialize in your concerns. If you’re seeking out online counselling for your child, the quiz will ask you a lot of questions about what you think the child needs help with, before sending the child an invitation on your behalf.
Our Recommendations for Online Therapy
- BetterHelp : Best for accessible, affordable, and flexible therapy anytime, anywhere
- OurRitual : Best for mindfulness and holistic mental health
- Faithful Counseling: Best for Christians seeking faith-based therapy grounded in Biblical values
- ReGain : Best for couples and relationships
- Online-Therapy.com: Best for structured CBT programs and self-paced emotional growth
How Much Does it Cost?
The prices vary by company, but typically online counselling therapy and online therapy services charge a monthly fee to use the service and don't charge by minute or hour or text. For instance, BetterHelp, one of the bigger names in the industry, charges a flat fee of between £30-£55 per week, including all messaging, chats, phone, and video sessions.
These memberships tend to be quite flexible, and allow you to quit at any time.
Most online counselling is not covered by private insurance, so while it’s cheaper than in-person therapists, you will typically have to pay out of pocket.
How to Choose the Right Online Therapy Service
Before you sign up for an online therapy service, do a little research on counselling therapy. Take a look at how the company screens its counsellors and if their certification checks out. If you're looking for a speciality like teenage counselling, marriage counselling, a 'psychiatrist near me', anger management or cbt therapy, these are things you can look for on their websites. Usually, you can find therapists or counsellors that specialize in cbt therapy or anger management or teenage counselling. You can also look at customer testimonials to get an idea about the quality of service.
You’ll want to decide which types of counselling you want—chat, video, or email—and if they’re available through the service. If you’re interested in using the service on your smartphone, see if the company has an app and if you can have sessions with your counsellor by chat on your phone.
In addition, check what type of security they provide and if your chats will be encrypted, and if you’ll have the ability to remain anonymous to your counsellor.
Look at the price also, and see if it fits your budget. In addition, see if you can quit the membership at any time, or if it's binding.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1World's largest network of licensed therapists
- Best for - Messaging your therapist anytime
- Pricing - From £60/week
- Modes of communication - Text, live chat, video call, phone call
High AvailabilityWorld's largest network of licensed therapistsHigh AvailabilityDescriptionRead BetterHelp ReviewBetterHelp is one of the largest providers of online therapy services, letting you get matched with a licensed professional therapist in less than 24 hours. You’ll be able to communicate with your therapist by phone, video call, live chat, or text messaging.
While the platform doesn’t take private insurance, it does offer financial aid for patients with tighter budgets.
Why we chose BetterHelp: BetterHelp’s app and online platform are both user-friendly, giving you access to self-help worksheets on various topics, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and conflict resolution.
Our experience: BetterHelp reviews are positive and the service is reasonably priced. We like the fact that BetterHelp counsellors each go through a rigorous vetting process.
Pros & ConsBetterHelp Pros & Cons
PROS
Unlimited messages to your therapistStudies show the platform is effectiveOperates in 200+ countries and 82 languagesCONS
Therapists can’t prescribe medicationHarder to find specialised therapists - 2Couples counseling with relationship experts
- Best for - Couples and individuals in relationships
- Pricing - $100-$260 per month
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, text, live chat, app
Couples counseling with relationship expertsDescriptionRead OurRitual ReviewRitual is ideal if you’re looking for couples counseling delivered by relationship experts. Unlike other couples’ therapy platforms, you can engage with therapy on your own if you are in a relationship and need help finding solutions to your problems. There are three plans, each of which includes one-on-one therapy sessions, a personalized therapy plan, regular support and feedback outside of therapy sessions.
Its therapists are well-suited for helping you with relationship issues such as managing your emotions, developing healthy relationship habits, improving intimacy, and learning how to understand and empathize with one another. You can use the service on the go and make progress wherever you are, whenever is comfortable. Ritual’s services are more affordable than typical counseling therapy.
Pros & ConsOurRitual Pros & Cons
PROS
Hybrid modelAvailable 24/7Guided reflections & activitiesCONS
Not suitable for severe mental health conditionsNot suitable for domestic abuse circumstances - 3A faith-based approach to clinical therapy
- Best for - Clinical therapy that includes biblical teachings
- Pricing - £40-£70
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, message, live chat
A faith-based approach to clinical therapyDescriptionRead Faithful Counseling ReviewFaithful Counseling is an online therapy platform that specialises in delivering clinical therapy that includes Christian teachings from the Bible. Its therapists are all licensed and certified within their field and submit declarations as to their beliefs to ensure they conform to the Faithful Counseling statement of faith.
The provider employs a sophisticated matching process to connect you with a therapist that specialises in both your mental health difficulties and your branch of Christianity. This means it’s a suitable platform if your faith is important to you and wish to include biblical teachings in your therapy. Its easy sign-up process, clear and appealing display, 24/7 messaging service, and simple functionality in terms of booking appointments make it easy for Christians who want faith-based counselling to try Faithful Counseling.
Why we chose Faithful Counseling: In-app dairy
Pros & ConsFaithful Counseling Pros & Cons
PROS
6,000+ therapists specializing in Christianity-based counseling24/7 messaging servicesAccessible via website or the free appCONS
Matching process can take 1-2 daysCan’t choose a specific therapist