BetterHelp and SonderMind are two of the biggest online mental health platforms, but with their different features, it can be difficult to know which one to choose if you require help for a mental health condition.
Since Healthy Minded has been producing mental health content since 2018 and has reviewed many online mental health platforms grounded in research, we’re qualified to inform readers of a comparison of these two online mental health care platforms.
So, continue reading this article to learn about online mental health and if you should choose BetterHelp or SonderMind.
BetterHelp vs SonderMind: Quick verdict
| Factors | BetterHelp | SonderMind | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-up process | Easy and quick. Fill out a questionnaire and get matched with a therapist. Or, choose your own therapist. | Easy and quick. Fill out a questionnaire and choose a therapist from a list. | Tie |
| Services | Video, text, phone, live chat therapy sessions | Video and in-person therapy sessions | BetterHelp |
| Privacy | HIPAA-certified, encryption technology, ability to shred messages and use a nickname. | HIPAA-certified, encryption technology. | BetterHelp |
| Pricing | Between $65 and $100 per week. | Between $75 and $175 per session. | BetterHelp |
| Discounts | Financial aid | No discounts | BetterHelp |
| Refunds | Case-by-case basis | Case-by-case basis | Tie |
| Insurance | No, but it does offer financial aid | Yes | Tie |
| Availability | Over 200 countries | 15 U.S. states | BetterHelp |
| Extra features | Online groups, app, and journaling | App and in-person therapy | BetterHelp |
Our Pick, Top Online Therapy
BetterHelp.com
- Cost ranges from $65-$100 per week
- Get matched with a therapist in 48 hours or less
- 30,000 licensed therapists with 317 million+ counseling sessions
- Members can reach out to 24/7 support via email, phone, or contact form
- Therapists from wide-array range of backgrounds, beliefs, & cultures
- Specialist providers can assist with extremely particular or complex issues.
- 15% off for Healthy Minded visitors
If you’re looking for mental health support online, BetterHelp has more features to cater to your needs. It provides quicker access to therapists across the globe while making it easy to choose the best way to get therapy based on your preferences, such as if you want to message your therapist or chat to them via video.
Such telehealth services are growing in popularity. A recent study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association found that four in 10 people in the U.S. have used telehealth services for online sessions with a mental health professional or medical doctors.
There are good reasons for this. Online mental health services are making therapy more convenient and accessible. They also help to remove the stigma of seeking mental health support. It’s good to know that online mental therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy sessions, and research confirms this.
A study found that online mental health programs can decrease symptoms of depression and reduce stigma, which were found to be especially useful in remote areas where people have limited access to in-person mental health professionals.
However, to ensure that you get professional mental health support that’s beneficial to you, the mental health platform must meet certain requirements, such as:
- Licensed therapists. The therapists or psychiatrists on the mental health platform must be licensed to work in your state and experienced in the mental health conditions for which you seek support.
- Privacy. You want to ensure that the platform is HIPAA-compliant and that your messages with your mental health provider are private.
- Ease of use. The mental health platform should be easy to navigate so you can contact your licensed therapist whenever you need help.
- Cost-effectiveness. Online mental health platforms are generally more affordable than in-person therapy, but you can choose ones with different membership or subscription plans to fit your budget. Some platforms are also covered by insurance.
BetterHelp vs SonderMind: Detailed comparison
BetterHelp and SonderMind are popular mental health platforms, but how do they compare? Let’s break down their features.
Sign-Up Process
Signing up to BetterHelp or Sondermind is easy. Both platforms provide short questionnaires for you to take regarding your therapy preferences and mental health challenges.
BetterHelp
To sign up to BetterHelp, choose the type of therapy you seek from the homepage and click the ‘Get started’ button. You’ll have to complete a questionnaire to get matched with a therapist, which should happen within 24 hours.
When you’ve been assigned your therapist, you can message them. If you want to choose your own therapist, you can do so from a list on the screen when you enter your area code.
SonderMind
To sign up to SonderMind, you’ll answer some questions, such as regarding the type of therapy you want, and then the site will give you some therapist matches so you can choose the one that feels most suited to your needs. Once you’re matched, you can schedule an appointment with them immediately.
Winner: Tie. Both platforms make signing up for mental health easy.
Looking for a specialist? Match with a top-rated therapist.
Services offered
BetterHelp
BetterHelp therapists offer support for various issues and mental health conditions, such as Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Addictions, Sleep disorders, Trauma, Family issues, Marital conflicts, Grief, and LGBTQ matters.
BetterHelp offers individual, teen, and couples counseling services. It provides trained, experienced, and licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, board-licensed counselors, and marriage and family therapists.
You can make use of different types of therapy on the BetterHelp platform, such as:
- Text therapy
- Video
- Phone
- Live chat
SonderMind
SonderMind therapists can provide help with various issues, such as Anxiety, Depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Medication guidance, Bipolar disorder, Sleep issues
SonderMind online therapy sessions can only be conducted via live video calls or in person. The platform doesn’t provide any other ways to get therapy. However, there are opportunities to make use of individual and group therapy.
Therapists and psychiatrists licensed in talk therapy and mental health disorder treatment are available. All professionals on the platform have a valid license with a master’s level degree or higher in behavioral and mental health.
Winner: BetterHelp. It provides many more ways in which you can conveniently get online therapy. If you don’t feel comfortable chatting via video, for example, you can use text therapy, which also makes the therapy more accessible.
However, BetterHelp doesn’t provide psychiatric services, and providers can’t prescribe medication to treat mental health conditions. By comparison, SonderMind does.
Online vs in-person therapy
Cost comparison between online therapy vs. in-person therapy
| BetterHelp | In-person therapy |
| Cost ranges from $65-$100 per week (you can message your therapist anytime) | $100 to $200 per session |
| $260- $400 monthly Get 15% off for Healthy Minded visitors |
BetterHelp
BetterHelp offers online therapy for various mental health conditions. There is no in-person treatment option. Although not everyone needs or wants to have face-to-face counseling, sometimes it’s helpful to have the option available.
SonderMind
By comparison, SonderMind does offer the option of in-person therapy. If you feel more comfortable getting therapy in person, you can connect with a therapist in your region.
Winner: SonderMind, simply because offering of online and in-person therapy sessions can make it more convenient for some users.
Privacy
BetterHelp
To ensure your privacy, BetterHelp is HIPAA-compliant and applies industry standards to prevent unauthorized access to your private therapy sessions. Encryption technology is used to maintain your security and privacy. The BetterHelp platform has been certified by HiTrust, which is a renowned data security certification program in the health industry.
If you want to increase your privacy, you can sign up to BetterHelp with a nickname instead of your real name and choose to shred your messages so that they won’t show up in your account. Note, however, that you can’t delete your therapist’s messages.
If you’re worried about your data being used on the platform, you can access a copy of your data by logging into your BetterHelp account. Go to ‘Menu,’ then ‘My account’ and ‘My personal information.’
SonderMind
You can also request your data from SonderMind by emailing them at support@sondermind.com.
The platform makes use of encryption software and it’s HIPAA-compliant. Video calls with therapists aren’t recorded. Other than that, there’s not much more information about how your privacy is protected.
Winner: BetterHelp, because it provides more ways for users to increase their online therapy privacy, such as by choosing a nickname instead of their real name.
Payment Models
BetterHelp
You can expect to pay between $65 and $100 per week for BetterHelp’s mental health services. This amount varies depending on your therapy preferences and your location. Although using BetterHelp requires a subscription, you can cancel it at any time.
Note that you will have to pay for your first month upfront, after which you’ll be billed on a monthly basis. And, there is no free trial available.
The Scientific Case for Meditation and Mindfulness
Employees at Google and Roche who used Headspace for 8 weeks experienced a 46% drop in depression and a 31% drop in anxiety, according to a published study.
Headspace is often ranked as the best meditation app, and it’s not hard to see why. It has a simple, soothing interface and various meditations for different levels and goals.
Try HeadSpace.com
SonderMind
SonderMind doesn’t offer a subscription. Instead, you pay for individual therapy sessions. The cost per session is between $75 and $175, but this varies depending on your chosen therapist and whether you’re meeting them online or in person. There is no free trial available on SonderMind.
Winner: BetterHelp is more affordable, so you can use mental health services online for less.
Discounts
BetterHelp
You can use discounts on BetterHelp in the form of financial aid. This is available for students, veterans, and people on subsidized government programs, with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) being an example. To see if you qualify, you will have to fill out a financial aid form.
SonderMind
SonderMind doesn’t seem to offer any discounts at the time of this writing.
Winner: BetterHelp is the clear winner, as its an online therapy platform gives you cost savings.
Refunds
BetterHelp
If you’re unhappy with your BetterHelp subscription, you can cancel it anytime and request a refund, as the platform offers refunds on a case-by-case basis. Email contact@betterhelp.com to explain why you’re unhappy with your experience and want to request a refund.
SonderMind
You can get a refund from SonderMind, as the platform considers refunds on a case-by-case basis. Email SonderMind at support@sondermind.com. You might be able to get a partial or full refund, such as if your insurance provider has paid too much for the mental health services.
Winner: Tie. Both online therapy services allow you to request a refund via email.
Insurance
BetterHelp
Although the platform doesn’t accept insurance because coverage is usually limited, and co-pays can end up being higher than what you’d pay for a BetterHelp subscription, it does offer financial aid. This can reduce how much you have to pay up to between 20% and 50%. To find out if you qualify for financial aid, you should contact BetterHelp by emailing them at contact@BetterHelp.com.
SonderMind
This mental health platform does accept insurance from various insurance providers, such as Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medical Mutual; Optum, Friday Health Plans, Medicare.
Winner: Tie. Both platforms provide you with methods to reduce your online therapy costs.
Availability
BetterHelp
BetterHelp is available in over 200 countries. This makes it much more accessible for people all over the world.
SonderMind
SonderMind is currently available in the following 15 US states:
- Arizona
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Colorado
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- Nebraska
- Texas
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington D.C.
Winner: BetterHelp is the winner, allowing you to use online therapy wherever you are.
Extra Features
BetterHelp
BetterHelp offers group support through interactive seminars every week. Here, you can chat with people about various mental health issues, such as anxiety and self-care.
To help you on your online mental health journey, BetterHelp also gives you your own online journal that no one can access, not even your therapist. It’s only visible to you, but you can share it if you like. To help you start journaling, BetterHelp provides you with journaling prompts.
For increased convenience, you can use BetterHelp’s services on their app, which is available on both Google Play and Apple.
SonderMind
There aren’t many frills on the SonderMind platform, but what sets it apart from other mental health platforms is that it gives users a choice between in-person and online therapy.
SonderMind also has an app that’s available on Google Play and Apple.
Winner: BetterHelp provides a more comprehensive mental health journey, with extra features for members.
What do customers say about BetterHelp vs. SonderMind?
There are various customer reviews of these two best online therapy services. Let’s check them out.
BetterHelp
On Trustpilot, BetterHelp has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews include a smooth experience when changing therapists on the platform and ease of use when messaging therapists, as the platform provides 24/7 messaging services. Some negative reviews include difficulty with getting refunds and customer support issues.
Examples of Twitter reviews of BetterHelp include the following:
SonderMind
SonderMind has a 1.7 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. Reviews on the site are mostly negative, with common complaints being that the platform overcharges or double bills its members. However, although reviews are mostly negative, people did mention that they were happy with their therapists.
Some customer tweets include the following:
BetterHelp vs SonderMind: The winner
BetterHelp is the best online therapy service, as it offers great mental health services and additional features to help people along their mental health journey. It’s also more affordable than SonderMind.
However, there are times when SonderMind might be a better choice for people who want to access mental health services online. People who might prefer SonderMind’s services include those who:
- want to use their insurance to pay for online mental health. SonderMind has excellent insurance coverage, which can reduce one’s therapy costs.
- prefer in-person therapy. SonderMind offers video and in-person therapy, depending on one’s preferences.
- require psychiatric services. These are not provided on the BetterHelp platform.
Although these points are worthy of consideration, BetterHelp is one of the best online therapy platforms. It’s more accessible and operates in more regions. Its trained mental health professionals offer many more types of therapy, such as text, video sessions, and unlimited messaging, so you can choose the best way to chat with your provider even if you have a busy schedule.
By signing up for BetterHelp, you can start your online therapy journey and work through issues that are holding you back from reaching your potential.
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