Anise Health vs. BetterHelp
Which is the better option for lasting, meaningful mental health change?
Platform overviews
If you want culturally-attuned, personalized mental healthcare built for the Asian community, Anise Health is the better fit. Anise is covered by insurance and matches you on several factors to ensure you’re paired with a therapist who is trained to address your unique needs.
If you’re looking for a therapist marketplace where you scroll through a directory, BetterHelp may suit you. BetterHelp relies on a therapist directory, is commonly described as a trial-and-error process, and it is not eligible for insurance coverage in many cases.
Care designed for the Asian community. Anise personalizes therapy and coaching to your cultural context, goals, and preferences. Expect coordinated care and actionable next steps between sessions. Anise is contracted with several major insurance carriers.
A therapist directory where you can scroll through a lot of therapist options. People often switch providers to find a fit, which can feel like trial and error. Insurance coverage is commonly unavailable.
Why people choose Anise over BetterHelp for mental healthcare
Fit first, not trial-and-error
The strength of the client-therapist relationship is one of the most important factors for progress in therapy. When people are matched to therapists that don’t fit, it can delay or even stop progress. That’s why, at Anise we prioritize fit right at the beginning, so you can build momentum right away.
Culturally-attuned for Asian identities
Anise’s providers are trained to address family dynamics, minority stress, stigma, and other cultural factors that can influence mental health in Asian communities. You should not have to explain your culture before you can receive effective care.
Integrated support between sessions
Therapy is paired with behavioral health coaching and self-guided tools so insights you learn in therapy turn into actionable daily habits. You get clarity on what to do next week, not just what you discussed last week.
Insurance options and payment flexibility
We accept insurance, provide transparent pricing, and our self-pay monthly subscriptions are also HSA/FSA eligible. BetterHelp is commonly described as not eligible for insurance, which can increase out-of-pocket costs.
Anise’s care model was designed in partnership with Stanford and UC Berkeley
Feature comparison
See how Anise and BetterHelp differ on fit, care model, cultural expertise, and cost so you can choose the support that meets your needs today.
Designed for Asian Americans
Integrated plan: therapy + coaching
Intake appointment before starting
In-network insurance options*
HSA/FSA accepted
Published outcomes data
Providers trained in Asian cultural responsiveness
Structured between-session action plans
Progress tracking with validated measures
Therapist directory
*Insurance coverage varies by state. You will get a cost estimate before you have to book an appointment.
Who it’s built for
Adults who self-identify with Asian cultures seeking culturally-attuned care
Providers trained to understand Asian values and lived experiences
Broad, general audience
How matching works
Tailored matches based on goals, preferences, language, and needs shared in intake
Insurance accepted (with transparent cost estimates); HSA/FSA supported
Automated algorithm after a questionnaire; switching is common if the first match isn’t a fit
Care model
Online therapy + coaching + self-guided tools coordinated in one plan
Structured action plans and check-in assessments to maintain momentum
Therapy marketplace; sessions by video/phone; asynchronous messaging varies by provider
Between-session support
Varies by therapist
Insurance/HSA/FSA
Commonly not eligible for insurance coverage; typically out-of-pocket. HSA/FSA supported
Cultural context
Minimize trial-and-error
Varies widely by therapist
Fit emphasis
Self-select directory often leading to trial-and-error fit
How Anise works
Tell us about yourself
Fill out a short intake form and get instantly matched to culturally-attuned Anise providers that are recommended for you. With our satisfaction guarantee, you can feel confident that you’ll work with a provider that understands your unique needs.
Meet your match
Book an intake session to confirm fit with your therapist at a date and time that fits your schedule. When you're ready, activate the monthly care plan that is personalized to your needs.
Start your care
Kick off therapy and coaching with clear milestones, between-session actions, and progress tracking. Chat with your care team at any time on our secure online portal and adjust your care plan with your team as your journey progresses.
We proudly accept insurance
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*Co-pays, deductibles, and other payments will vary for clients who are in-network with our insurance partners.
Meet some of our culturally-attuned providers
We can’t change the unique stressors we experience as Asian Americans, but Anise’s culturally-attuned providers can help you understand how to respond to them effectively.
What people often ask
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Yes. Research and real-world experience show the client–therapist relationship strongly predicts outcomes. If you keep getting matched to the wrong fit and restarting with new therapists, progress slows.
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Fill out a short intake form and get instantly matched to culturally-attuned Anise providers. Book your first session with no strings attached. Start your 5 min intake here >
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On average, insurance clients will pay a ~$25 co-pay per session if we’re in-network but we recommend contacting your plan for the most accurate estimate. For self-pay clients, sessions are ~$65 on average (billed monthly). At the end of each month, your care team will help you decide whether to stick with your current care plan or switch to one that better addresses your latest needs.
For self-pay subscriptions, the intake appointment costs $99 and comes with a satisfaction guarantee. That means that if you’d like to try another intake session, we will help you meet with a different provider at no additional cost.
Self-pay subscriptions are eligible for HSA, FSA, and out-of-network benefits. -
We partner with insurance to make mental health care more accessible for our community. We accept the following plans:
California
Aetna
Optum
Anthem Blue Cross of California
Blue Shield of California
Health Net (formerly MHN)
Wellfleet
Florida
Aetna
Optum
Carelon
Quest Behavioral Health
Massachusetts
Aetna
Optum
Point32Health
New York
Aetna
Optum
Anthem BCBS (formerly Empire)
Carelon
Highmark BCBS of Western NY
Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern NY
New Jersey
Aetna
Optum
Carelon
Quest Behavioral Health
Washington
Aetna
Optum
Premera Blue Cross
Regence BlueShield
Carelon
Texas
Aetna
Optum
Quest Behavioral Health
Your session costs will depend on your specific insurance plan and benefits.
If you don’t see your plan or have questions about whether we accept your insurance, our team is happy to help you figure it out! Just send us an email at info@anisehealth.co
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It will vary based on the care plan you are on. It could range from having 1 therapy session per month and 1 coaching session per month (Integrated-Lite track) all the way to weekly therapy sessions (Deep-Dive track). It all comes down to what best addresses your needs.
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Coaching is included with most of our care plans to help you take a more actionable approach to your therapy goals and see progress. The amount of therapy and coaching will depend on the care plan; the Deep-Dive track is the only care plan that does not include coaching and is primarily for clients with more severe needs. At the end of each month, your care team will help you decide whether to stick with your current care plan or switch to one that better addresses your latest needs.
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Anise supports a wide range of emotional and life challenges, especially those shaped by cultural identity. Clients often seek care for stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, family tension, imposter syndrome, and navigating cultural expectations. Our diverse providers offer therapy and coaching that’s tailored to your lived experience.
Note: We currently do not offer medication management, couples/family therapy, or in-person care. -
We are confident in our providers’ abilities to meet your needs, but understand that not everyone is a perfect fit! If you’d like to try another intake session, we will help you meet with a different provider at no additional cost.
An integrated approach to mental health that works
Solving the mental health equity crisis requires updating treatment models to account for intersectionality and individualized needs. Prioritizing cultural competence in counseling should be top of mind for every care provider. That’s why we do what we do - and it’s working.
87% completion rate of first 4 weekly sessions
vs. 50% BIPOC dropout after session 1
96% of clients felt “heard and understood”
vs. 54% with existing standard of care
93% of clients improve by Week 8
vs. 68% using a one-size-fits-all app
10K+ therapy and coaching sessions
We aim to eliminate health disparities in mental health outcomes and our results within the Asian community show that our approach improves engagement rates by 17x!
“The coaching session was extremely helpful in identifying where in my life I wanted to most improve. I liked how my coach let me guide the conversation but steered me in the right direction through asking targeted questions.”
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