Is BetterHelp Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Take
BetterHelp provides online therapy through text, phone, and video sessions with licensed therapists for approximately $65 to $100 per week. While the accessibility of online therapy is valuable, BetterHelp has faced serious criticism for sharing user health data with advertising platforms including Facebook and Snapchat. The FTC fined BetterHelp $7.8 million in 2023 for these practices. For anyone seeking therapy, privacy of your mental health information should be a paramount concern, and BetterHelp has demonstrably failed on that front.
What You Get
- Access to a licensed therapist matched based on your preferences and needs
- Weekly live sessions via text chat, phone call, or video conference
- Unlimited text messaging with your therapist between scheduled sessions
- Easy therapist switching if your initial match is not a good fit
- Accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection and a private space
What is Missing
- Therapists are independent contractors with varying quality and availability
- Not suitable for serious mental health crises, suicidal ideation, or psychiatric medication needs
- Insurance is not accepted in most cases, making it an out-of-pocket expense
Privacy Concerns
- BetterHelp shared user health data with Facebook and Snapchat for advertising targeting, confirmed by FTC investigation
- The FTC fined BetterHelp $7.8 million in 2023 for sharing health intake data with advertising platforms
- Mental health questionnaire responses and therapy-related data were used for advertising despite privacy promises
The Accessibility of Online Therapy Is Genuinely Valuable
For people in areas with limited therapist availability, those with mobility challenges, or anyone with scheduling constraints that make in-person therapy difficult, online platforms like BetterHelp remove real barriers to accessing mental health care. The ability to text a therapist between sessions and attend sessions from home provides flexibility that traditional therapy cannot match. The concept of accessible online therapy is important and valuable for mental health care.
The Privacy Scandal That Should Concern Every User
In 2023, the FTC confirmed that BetterHelp shared users' health intake questionnaire data with advertising platforms including Facebook and Snapchat. This means your answers about depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health concerns were used to target you with advertising. BetterHelp paid $7.8 million in fines. This was not a data breach. This was a deliberate business decision to monetize the most sensitive health information people share. The mental health data you share with a therapy platform being used for ad targeting represents a fundamental betrayal of user trust.
More Private Therapy Alternatives
Traditional in-person therapy with a private practice therapist provides the strongest privacy protections under HIPAA without platform intermediaries. For online therapy specifically, look for platforms that are covered entities under HIPAA and do not have advertising-based revenue models. Open Path Collective offers affordable therapy with licensed therapists at reduced rates. Your health insurance may cover teletherapy sessions with in-network therapists who maintain proper HIPAA compliance.
Verdict: No, Skip It
We cannot recommend BetterHelp given the documented sharing of user mental health data with advertising platforms. Mental health information is among the most sensitive data a person shares, and BetterHelp demonstrably violated that trust in ways confirmed by federal regulators. The accessibility of online therapy is valuable, but not through a platform that has shown willingness to monetize your mental health struggles for advertising purposes. Seek therapy through HIPAA-covered providers, whether in-person or through more privacy-respecting online platforms.
Better Options
Affordable therapy at $30-$80 per session with licensed therapists, no advertising-based data sharing, clearer privacy boundaries
HIPAA-covered therapy through your insurance plan, strongest privacy protections under law, search Psychology Today for in-network therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
Did BetterHelp really share mental health data for advertising?
Yes. The FTC investigated and confirmed that BetterHelp shared health intake questionnaire data including information about depression, anxiety, and other conditions with Facebook, Snapchat, and other advertising platforms for ad targeting purposes. BetterHelp paid $7.8 million to settle the charges. This was a deliberate business practice, not an accidental data breach, making it a fundamental trust violation for a mental health platform.
Is BetterHelp HIPAA compliant?
BetterHelp claims to maintain HIPAA-level security, but the FTC settlement demonstrated that their actual data practices did not align with their privacy promises. HIPAA compliance requires protecting health information from unauthorized disclosure, and sharing therapy intake data with advertising platforms directly contradicts that requirement. The gap between claimed compliance and actual behavior is the core issue.
What are safer alternatives for online therapy?
Look for online therapy platforms that are certified HIPAA-covered entities, do not have advertising revenue models, and have not been subject to FTC enforcement actions. Open Path Collective offers affordable sessions with licensed therapists. Many therapists in private practice now offer teletherapy sessions that are fully covered by HIPAA. Check with your insurance provider for covered telehealth therapy options.