How to Cancel BetterHelp and Find Cheaper Therapy (2026)

Updated 2026-02-17 · 6 min read

BetterHelp costs $65-$100/week ($260-$400/month). That's $3,120-$4,800/year — and it doesn't accept insurance. Many people sign up during a tough moment, get matched with a mediocre therapist, and keep paying out of guilt or inertia. Here's how to cancel and find better options.

⚠️ Important: This Is About Your Subscription, Not Your Mental Health

Canceling BetterHelp doesn't mean giving up on therapy. It means finding therapy that's more affordable, better quality, or covered by insurance. If you're in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) — it's free, 24/7.

How to Cancel BetterHelp

Log in to BetterHelp.com
Click the gear icon (⚙️) or go to Settings
Scroll to Payment Settings
Click Cancel Membership (or "Change plan" → Cancel)
Complete the exit survey
Confirm cancellation

📱 Cancel via App

Open the BetterHelp app → Menu → Settings → Payment Settings → Cancel
Apple subscription: Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → BetterHelp → Cancel
Google Play: Play Store → Subscriptions → BetterHelp → Cancel

BetterHelp Refund Policy

Situation	Refund?
Within first week, no sessions used	Full refund — contact support ✅
Therapist no-show/unresponsive	Partial credit or refund ✅
Mid-billing-cycle cancellation	No prorated refund ❌
Unused sessions in paid period	No refund ❌

The Real Cost Comparison

Option	Cost/Session	Monthly (weekly)	Annual
BetterHelp	$65-$100	$260-$400	$3,120-$4,800
In-network therapist (insurance)	$10-$50 copay	$40-$200	$480-$2,400
Sliding scale therapist	$20-$60	$80-$240	$960-$2,880
Open Path Collective	$30-$80	$120-$320	$1,440-$3,840
Community mental health center	$0-$30	$0-$120	$0-$1,440

Better (and Cheaper) Alternatives

Your insurance: Check your plan's mental health benefits at Psychology Today's therapist finder — filter by your insurance
Open Path Collective — $30-$80/session, licensed therapists, income-based (membership fee: $65 one-time)
Alma — Accepts insurance, modern matching platform, often $0-$30 copay
Community mental health centers — Every county has one. Sliding scale, often free. Find yours at SAMHSA's locator
University training clinics — Graduate students supervised by licensed therapists, $5-$25/session
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free, 24/7, call or text 988
Crisis Text Line — Free, text HOME to 741741

🔑 The Insurance Check

Before paying out-of-pocket for BetterHelp, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask: "What's my mental health coverage?" Many plans cover 80-100% of therapy after your deductible. The Affordable Care Act requires most plans to cover mental health as an essential benefit.

Why People Cancel BetterHelp

Poor therapist match: The matching algorithm is imprecise — many people go through 3-4 therapists
Session format: Text-only therapy feels inadequate for many issues
Cost: $300+/month without insurance is unsustainable for most people
Privacy concerns: BetterHelp settled an FTC complaint for sharing user data with Facebook/Snapchat for advertising
Therapist quality varies wildly: Some therapists manage 100+ clients on the platform

⚠️ BetterHelp Privacy Issue

In 2023, the FTC ordered BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million for sharing users' health data (including therapy intake questionnaire answers) with Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo, and Pinterest for ad targeting. If privacy matters to you, consider an in-person therapist or a platform with stronger data protections.

🔍 What Else Are You Paying For?

BetterHelp + Calm + Headspace + Noom = $500+/month in wellness subscriptions. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to see your total wellness spend.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Betterhelp

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions