Updated September 30, 2026 · ThriveCue Editorial Team
BetterHelp vs Sesame Care
BetterHelp vs Sesame Care: the differences
| Compare |  BetterHelp |  Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| Plan price per month | €70 to €100 | $10.99 |
| Insurance accepted | YesHas it | No |
| Fastest appointment | Scheduled | 24 7 |
| Markets | US, CA, GB, AT, DE, NL, FR, ES, CH, AUCovers more | US |
| Consultation price | Not confirmed | $34 |
| Money-back period | 14 days | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- Sesame Care scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Insurance accepted: only BetterHelp.
- BetterHelp is available in 8 more countries.
- Services: only Sesame Care offers Online gp, Prescriptions, Weight loss.
- 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.
Sesame Care
Sesame Care suits US households who want a single account covering everyday medicine alongside therapy and psychiatry, with a monthly plan at $10.99 and a cost score of 9.3. The trade-off sits in payment: insurance accepted is no, so visits come out of your own pocket.
Score breakdown
| Area | BetterHelp | Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Fees run €70 to €100 a month while the online therapy median is €17.53, and the cost score is 8.8. | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan price $10.99 ranks 6 of 37 brands compared, while a visit is $34. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherServices cover therapy and psychiatry, availability is scheduled and a mobile app is offered, with an offer score of 9.2. | 8.9Clinicians doctor, nurse practitioner and therapist and availability 24 7 sit behind a service list reaching past everyday medicine into therapy and psychiatry. |
| Trust | 8.9Insurance is accepted, the company has traded since 2013 under BetterHelp, Inc., and the trust score is 8.9. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | BetterHelp | Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| Online therapy | 14 of 19 | 1 of 19 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | BetterHelp | Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for BetterHelp: 8.
Pick BetterHelp if, pick Sesame Care if
Pick BetterHelp if offer, insurance accepted, and markets matter most.
Pick Sesame Care if cost matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BetterHelp | Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| Services | Therapy, Psychiatry | Online gp, Prescriptions, Weight loss, Hair loss, Sexual health, Skin, Therapy, Psychiatry, Contraception, MenopauseCovers more |
| Clinicians | Therapist, Psychiatrist, Doctor, Nurse practitioner | Doctor, Nurse practitioner, Therapist, Psychiatrist |
| Legal entity | BetterHelp, Inc. | Sesame, 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 | Sesame Care | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation price | Not confirmed | $34above the median | $5.00 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysabove the median | Not confirmed | 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.
Sesame Care
Pros
- The Sesame Care monthly plan at $10.99 ranks 6 of 37 brands compared on plan price, putting the ongoing charge near the cheap end of the table
- Clinicians doctor, nurse practitioner and therapist place therapy and psychiatry in the same service as everyday medicine
- Availability of 24 7 plus a mobile app means a visit can start at any hour without going through a clinic reception desk
Cons
- Insurance accepted is no, so members pay the Sesame Care monthly plan at $10.99 and each consultation at $34 themselves.
- It runs in a single market: US, with the operating company registered in the United States.
- On consultation price it sits 22 of 34 brands compared, so the entry cost is above the cheapest in that table.
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.
Sesame Care
Who it suits
- US households who want everyday medicine, therapy and psychiatry reached through one service and a mobile app
- People who put the ongoing charge first, since the Sesame Care monthly plan ranks 6 of 37 brands compared on plan price
- Members who value availability 24 7 more than having a dispensing counter attached to the account
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants pharmacy dispensing in the same account: DocMorris lists pharmacy in online gp, prescriptions and pharmacy, outside the Sesame Care service list of online gp, prescriptions and weight loss
- Readers who only want a focused prescription weight loss service: FeelGood GLP-1 keeps its list to online gp, prescriptions and weight loss
- Members who are content with general medicine, prescriptions, weight loss and sexual health and nothing more: FeelGood ED lists online gp, prescriptions and weight loss
Current offers
Sesame Care
Current offer
Discount code
Save 20% on your first visit: 20% off first visit
Sign up with email address; new customers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | BetterHelp | Sesame Care |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Sesame Care
How much is a Sesame Care consultation?+
A Sesame Care consultation is $34, which is the figure you meet when you book. It sits 22 of 34 brands compared on consultation price, so it is below most of that table without sitting at the cheap end of it. The amount covers the appointment itself.
What does the monthly plan cost, and does it cover visits?+
The Sesame Care monthly plan is $10.99, and it ranks 6 of 37 brands compared on plan price. Read that figure as the ongoing charge for access to the service rather than as cover for appointments, because the consultation price of $34 is billed separately when you book.