Cost is the single most significant barrier to mental health care. Online therapy aims to lower that barrier, but it is not always free of high price tags. You need to know exactly what your money buys. In 2026, typical weekly costs for subscription-based services will fall roughly in the range between $50-$135.
If you prefer paying per session without subscribing, expect to pay about $100 to $200 a session, with specialized care often costing much more.
To really gauge what you are paying for, you need to look at insurance reimbursements, data costs, hidden by the services, and how different billing models work. The following text will walk you through every dollar sign attached to online therapy that your insurance company might not disclose.
Comparison between the two main pricing models of online therapy
Before we get to the exact cost, it’s really important to talk about how you are going to get billed. There are two main pricing models in online therapy, and choosing a model that does not suit your lifestyle can cost you hundreds each year.
1. Subscription Model
The said model has a recurring fee charged once a week or a month in exchange for a bundle of services.
Average Cost: $260 to $436 a month.
Typically includes one live video session per week, either 30 or 45 minutes, plus text messaging with your therapist. Most of these businesses count on “breakage,” you pay for the month, but if you skip a week, they still make money. If you pay $400 for the month and only take two sessions, your real per-session cost jumps to $200.
While others charge $400 just to profit from your missed weeks, YDO‘s monthly rate starts lower and guarantees the full 45 minutes every time you book.
2. Pay-As-You-Go Model
This model emulates a regular doctor’s appointment. You only pay when booking an appointment.
Average Cost: $108 to $179 per session of therapy.
If you are on vacation or just feeling great for a month, you pay nothing. But the per-session rate is higher, and weekly intensive care often makes this more expensive than a subscription.
Types of online therapy and why some sessions might cost more
A common misconception is that all therapies cost the same. The truth is, the prices vary greatly depending on the type of therapy and who is receiving the treatment. The following are the market rates for different types of therapy.
Individual Therapy
Standard one-on-one talk therapy, such as CBT, for problems including anxiety or depression.
- Subscription Fee: $65–$100 every week.
- Pay-Per-Session: $100-$180 per session.
This segment offers the most shopping options and often the best competitive prices.
Couples and Relationship Therapy
Treating a relationship is more complex and correspondingly more expensive.
- Subscription Fee: Approximately $109/week, which is about $436/month
- Pay per session: $130–$250.
The cost of couples therapy is higher as it requires a specialist therapist who can handle the concerns of two individuals. It also requires more time, 60–90 minutes, to allow both partners to have their say
Teen Counseling
The demand for adolescent therapy (ages 13–19) has been on the increase.
- Subscription Cost: $70–$100 per week.
- Private practice: $120–$200 per session.
Quality teen therapy often includes separate parent check-ins, and some platforms bundle these together, while individual private therapists may charge for them separately.
Psychiatry and Medication Management
If medication is required, you will be treated by a medical doctor, not just a counselor.
- Initial Evaluation: $299+ (one-time for the first diagnosis).
- Follow-up visits: $129–$175 per visit.
Most subscription platforms treat psychiatry as an add-on. That means you pay a therapy subscription plus additional, separate psychiatry fees, plus medication costs at a pharmacy.
4 major factors influencing online therapy costs
Why does your friend pay $80 while you are quoted $150? It all comes down to algorithms and economics. These listed factors are the driving force that affects how much your online therapy costs:
1. Your Location
Online platforms utilize dynamic pricing, whereby, in a high-income city, you might get offered a higher weekly rate, say, $100, compared to your rural counterparts, who receive $70.
2. Credentials of the Provider
You pay for the expertise of your mental health provider:
- Student/Intern: $30–$60 (best value)
- Master’s Level (LCSW, LPC): $80–$150 (industry standard).
- Doctoral Level (PhD, PsyD): $150–$250, premium pricing.
3. Session Length
Therapeutic hours were usually 50 minutes. Many platforms, as a cost-cutting measure, offer sessions for 30 or 45 minutes. Check the time limit: $90 for 30 minutes is often more expensive per minute than $150 for 60 minutes.
4. Format (Text vs. Video)
Text-based therapy is the lowest entry point at about $69/week, but studies consistently indicate that live video is more effective for serious conditions.
Your data is not safe with cheaper options
If something seems too cheap or free, you might be trading privacy for savings. The FTC cracked down on several major online therapy platforms in 2023–2024 for mishandling user data.
When you opt for a cheaper platform, read the fine print. Are they selling your data to advertisers? Are they using tracking pixels? It is often worth it to go with one that is a little more expensive but guarantees HIPAA-compliant security and does not sell your data. Your mental health records are priceless; don’t trade them in for a discount.
The hidden costs of missed appointments and cancellations
The cancellation policies are not always apparent. Most platforms and private clinics follow a 24-hour cancellation rule. In the subscription models, the unused weekly sessions are not carried over, meaning you are paying for a session that you have not used. Such breakage keeps the subscription model profitable.
How to lower your online therapy costs?
You may not have to pay the sticker price. A number of tools can cut your actual cost.
1) Insurance
Parity requires insurance to pay for mental health on the same terms as physical health. Most plans now pay for teletherapy with a copay-e.g., $20-$30. Just be aware that some insurers reportedly list therapists as in-network but are not accepting new patients, forcing you back to out-of-network rates.
2) HSA and FSA Accounts
If you have an HSA or FSA, you can pay for therapy with pretax dollars and save 20–30% in tax value. Keep in mind that therapy for diagnosed conditions is usually covered; however, services of general wellness may require a Letter of Medical Necessity.
3) Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Check with HR for EAPs that offer 3–10 free therapy sessions per year. This is free and confidential.
Why is ‘Your Doctors Online’ a better option for online therapy?
The major weakness this market currently faces is that too often, more than one member in a single household is affected, whereas most of the platforms charge per patient. So, if Mom, Dad, and Teen all need to see a therapist, it gets very expensive. Your Doctors Online offers family-friendly options:
- Family Sharing: One subscription for multiple people reduces the total price compared with three separate subscriptions.
- Session allocation: The plan allows for four sessions per month, to be used by any combination of family members.
- More than therapy: access to doctors’ notes, prescriptions sent to your pharmacy, and possible medical consultations, establishing this as a broader health solution, not just therapy.
- Savings for the long term: An annual plan may lock in savings and protect against price increases.
