Updated October 1, 2026 · ThriveCue Editorial Team
BetterHelp vs PlushCare
What sets them apart
| Compare |  BetterHelp |  PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Plan price per month | €70 to €100 | $19.99 |
| Fastest appointment | Scheduled | 24 7 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysHigher | 0 days |
| Markets | US, CA, GB, AT, DE, NL, FR, ES, CH, AUCovers more | US |
| Consultation price | Not confirmed | $129 |
Same on both: Insurance accepted (Yes), Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- BetterHelp scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Money-back period is higher at BetterHelp: 14 days vs 0 days.
- BetterHelp is available in 8 more countries.
- Services: only BetterHelp offers Psychiatry.
- Services: only PlushCare offers Online gp, Prescriptions, Weight loss.
- Clinicians: only BetterHelp offers Psychiatrist, Nurse practitioner.
- Markets: only BetterHelp offers CA, GB, AT.
Our verdict on each
BetterHelp
BetterHelp suits people who want scheduled therapy and psychiatry on the same plan, with a mobile app, insurance accepted and a 14 day money-back window. The trade-off is cost: fees run €70 to €100 a month for the plan, ranking 24 of 37 on price.
PlushCare
PlushCare suits US adults who want a telehealth account covering everyday prescribing alongside therapy, menopause, skin and hair loss under the same roof. Consultations cost $129, the monthly plan runs $19.99, and urgent care runs 24 7 for anyone who cannot wait until a normal clinic day.
Score breakdown
| Area | BetterHelp | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Fees run €70 to €100 a month while the online therapy median is €17.53, and the cost score is 8.8. | 8.8Plan price month $19.99 ranks 11 of 37; consultation $129 ranks 33 of 34. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherServices cover therapy and psychiatry, availability is scheduled and a mobile app is offered, with an offer score of 9.2. | 9.0Services cover online gp, prescriptions and weight loss, with clinicians drawn from doctor and therapist and urgent care at 24 7. |
| Trust | 8.9Insurance is accepted, the company has traded since 2013 under BetterHelp, Inc., and the trust score is 8.9. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BetterHelp | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for BetterHelp: 8.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | BetterHelp | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Online therapy | 14 of 19 | 3 of 19 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BetterHelp | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Services | Therapy, Psychiatry | Online gp, Prescriptions, Weight loss, Hair loss, Sexual health, Skin, Therapy, Menopause, Contraception |
| Clinicians | Therapist, Psychiatrist, Doctor, Nurse practitionerCovers more | Doctor, Therapist |
| Legal entity | BetterHelp, Inc. | PlushCare, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BetterHelp | PlushCare | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation price | Not confirmed | $129highest quarter | $5.00 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysabove the median | 0 daysbelow the median | 7 days |
Median across 39 listed brands.
Pros and cons
BetterHelp
Pros
- Therapy and psychiatry sit under the same plan, therapy and psychiatry, instead of being split across separate providers.
- Insurance is accepted, matching 88.9% of the online therapy group against a wider site share of 43.9%.
- The clinician panel spans therapist, psychiatrist and doctor, so a psychiatrist is available alongside a therapist within the same subscription.
Cons
- Fees of €70 to €100 a month sit well above the online therapy median, €17.53, and the plan ranks 24 of 37 on price.
- Appointments are scheduled, so anyone wanting on-demand cover, common at 26.9% across the wider site, waits for a booked slot.
- The service stops at therapy and psychiatry, while MDLIVE covers online gp, prescriptions and weight loss, so anything outside mental health means a different provider.
PlushCare
Pros
- A single account covers everyday care, with online gp, prescriptions and weight loss spanning weight loss, hair loss, sexual health, skin, therapy, menopause and contraception.
- Clinicians include doctor and therapist, so therapy sits in the same service as doctor appointments and repeat prescriptions.
- Urgent care runs 24 7, which suits anyone whose symptoms arrive late or at the weekend.
Cons
- Consultations at $129 rank 33 of 34 on price, so a single visit costs more than most listed services.
- The money back window is 0 days, so a plan that does not suit cannot be refunded.
- Service runs in the United States, which rules it out for anyone living outside the country.
Who each suits
BetterHelp
Who it suits
- People who want therapy and psychiatry, therapy and psychiatry, covered by the same subscription and are content with scheduled appointments.
- Readers in the United States, CA and GB who can budget €70 to €100 a month for the plan and pay through insurance.
- Anyone who values a money-back window of 14 days and wants clinician choice across therapist, psychiatrist and doctor.
Who should look elsewhere
- Pague Menos readers who want pharmacy and prescriptions alongside therapy, both listed in online gp, pharmacy and prescriptions.
- MDLIVE readers who want online GP, skin and menopause cover in the same category, set out in online gp, prescriptions and weight loss.
- Sesame Care readers who want sexual health and contraception added to therapy and psychiatry, listed in online gp, prescriptions and weight loss.
PlushCare
Who it suits
- US adults who want a doctor and a therapist on the same account
- People who need a prescription renewed without an in person visit
- Anyone who needs advice outside working hours, since urgent care runs 24 7
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside US, where PlushCare does not run.
- Readers who want pharmacy dispensing, since online gp, prescriptions and weight loss does not list it and DocMorris does.
- Anyone hoping to trial before paying, because the money back window is 0 days.
Current offers
PlushCare
Current offer
First period offer
First month free on PlushCare membership: First month of $19.99 membership free
Medical membership $19.99/month thereafter, plus visit costs (copay with insurance or $129 per visit self-pay); medication and lab costs extra
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | BetterHelp | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| Switzerland | Yes | No |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
BetterHelp
How much does the BetterHelp plan cost a month?+
The BetterHelp monthly plan is priced at €70 to €100 a month, the figure shown in its own help pages. That places it at the upper end of online therapy, where the median is €17.53 and the range reaches €70. The price is a band, so the figure you pay depends on the commitment length you pick.
Does BetterHelp accept insurance?+
Yes, insurance is accepted, so sessions can be paid for through a policy rather than privately. That is a minority position in this category: 88.9% of the online therapy brands listed accept insurance. Readers comparing on reimbursement will find BetterHelp on the right side of that split.
PlushCare
How much does a consultation cost with PlushCare?+
A consultation is priced at $129, paid per visit. Treat that as the entry cost rather than a recurring fee, and keep it separate from the monthly plan, which is listed at $19.99. Regular users pay the subscription on top of visits they book, so both numbers belong in the budget from the start.
What is the PlushCare monthly plan price?+
The plan price month is $19.99, and it is the recurring part of the cost rather than the per visit element. It sits apart from $129, so compare the plan against services that bundle visits differently. On our data the plan reads as the more accessible figure for regular use.