Users praise BetterHelp as ‘easy to use’ counselling platform offering a variety of sessions

One member said they’d ‘found the perfect therapist’ through the service

As of September 2025, charity Mind reported that 1 in 5 people in any given week in England experience a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. The same report states that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.

With this in mind, ensuring access to services that remove high costs and stigma often attached to mental health is very important. According to the NHS, at the end of September 2025, 2.15 million people were in contact with mental health services.

Online counselling website BetterHelp offers a range of services to help people struggling with issues or concerns. At BetterHelp, these services can be accessed from the privacy of someone’s own home, giving a safe time and place to talk to someone who won’t judge.

There are four main ways to connect with a mental health professional through BetterHelp – video call sessions, audio sessions, live chat sessions and messaging through the BetterHelp app. Video sessions, similar to a FaceTime or Zoom format, allow a person to have a video session at a scheduled time.

It is the most akin to in-person therapy, as the therapist can be seen and heard. Audio sessions are a format with audio-only, through a phone. The system will ask for the user’s number, then call and connect to the therapist via audio without sharing this number with the therapist.

Live chat messages mean a therapist can be contacted during a session to receive a real-time response, just like texting back and forth. For messages from a therapist outside of a session, in-app messaging provides a way for therapists to reply with guidance, tips, insights, and resources as soon as they’re able.

The BetterHelp service combines a directory of more than 30,000 trained counsellors and therapists with an online platform for receiving talking therapies. Once matched to a mental health professional, which the platform says takes as little as 48 hours, users can connect via weekly live video, phone, or chat sessions, with unlimited messaging between sessions.

All BetterHelp counsellors must have at least three years’ experience, the brand says, as well as verified UK credentials, such as Registered Member (MBACP) or Accredited (MNCPS / PMNCPS / HCPC). If users don’t feel like their therapist is the right fit, they can switch at any time or cancel their membership.

With the Mirror’s 20% discount, the first month would cost between £36 to £56 per week; subscription pricing is based on factors such as location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply. A BetterHelp subscription ranges from £40 to £70 per week (billed every four weeks). The price also includes over 100 live group sessions, as well as digital resources and worksheets.

Mental health charity Mind also recommends other apps for anyone struggling. The Gro Health app offers guided meditations, breathing exercises and mindfulness tools. A subscription is needed to use Gro Health, starting from £59 for one month with in-app private coaching.

The Holly Health Habit Coach app can help users build healthier habits for mental and physical well-being. The app offers a two-week free trial. Subscription plans are available at £9 per month, £39 for six months or £60 every year.

Having been rated 4.1 out of five by more than 9,000 users on Trustpilot, many users of BetterHelp feel the user experience is ‘easy to access and navigate’, praising the platform’s ability to match then with ‘suitable therapists’.

On Trustpilot, a happy user of the service said: “I found the perfect therapist for me. I was worried about who would reach out to me in case they didn’t work out. But I was clear about what I was looking for, and I got matched to the perfect therapist. He gets all my references and offers spot-on insights.”

Some others deducted a star over technical issues, as one said: “Love my therapist. Overall, a great experience. Once in a while, there are technical issues that make you miss a session. Customer service always makes it good and comps your session or extends your membership.”

Another reviewer wrote: “Betterhelp is such an amazing online option for therapy. I have found it to be super affordable (much cheaper than any in-person therapists I have seen). I love all of the ways I can communicate with my therapist, especially that I can message at any time.”

A user who gave their experience five stars said: “Easy to use. Found a great therapist! So glad to have this very helpful tool in my pocket.”