last updated september 29, 2026
Rula and Headway both connect you with licensed therapists and medication providers who are in-network with your insurance, and both handle the billing. the useful differences are concrete: Rula publishes flat cash prices and will see you without insurance; Headway will not take a new client without accepted insurance. Rula is mostly virtual, with in-person care only for a couple of California plans; Headway providers see people in person or virtually depending on the provider. and Rula publishes age floors for kids and teens.
from Rula's FAQ and Headway's help center. checked on 2026-09-29.
| Rula | Headway | |
|---|---|---|
| what you can get | individual, couples and family therapy; psychiatric care (medication management) | talk therapy; medication management with psychiatrists and NPs |
| typical cost with insurance | "Rula patients typically pay $15 per session" | estimate shown before booking; no published average in the help articles we read |
| without insurance | published: $150 individual, $165 couples/family; psychiatry $225 intake, $175 follow-up | new clients can't book without accepted insurance; an existing provider may offer private pay |
| fees from the platform | "Rula does not charge any fees" | none described; you pay your cost-share and any provider-set cancellation fee |
| insurance named | Aetna, Anthem, most BCBS, Cigna, Kaiser (by referral), Optum, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare; some Medicare Advantage in CA and GA | Aetna, BCBS (select states), Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare, Optum affiliates; select Medicare Advantage and Medicaid |
| out-of-network | PPO holders pay the cash rate and can submit for reimbursement | "does not work with out-of-network benefits" |
| format | mostly video (Zoom); in person only for Kaiser Southern California and Anthem CA members | in person or virtual, set by each provider |
| ages | therapy 5+; psychiatry 13+ | not stated in the client help articles we read; a parent completes ID checks for minors seeing prescribers |
| network size | "21,000+ licensed providers" | all 50 states and DC |
Rula prints its self-pay prices: "$150/session for individual therapy and $165/session for families or couples," and for psychiatry "$225 for an initial 60-minute intake session and $175 for 30-minute follow-up sessions." it also accepts HSA and FSA cards. Headway's help center says "Headway can only match you with a provider through insurance," and that people on Medicare or Medicaid are not eligible for private pay through Headway. if you have no insurance, or a plan neither company takes, Rula is the one of these two you can actually use.
then it comes down to format and who you want. Rula says it "specializes in online therapy" and sends a Zoom link about 24 hours before each session; in-person is limited to Kaiser Southern California and Anthem CA members. Headway providers set their own formats, so in-person care is available wherever a provider offers it. Headway also offers free 15-minute phone consultations with some providers before you commit. on cost, Rula quotes a $15 typical session; Headway shows you your own estimate once your insurance is entered and charges it after the provider confirms the session.
Rula fits you if you're uninsured or want a known cash price, if you have a PPO and plan to use out-of-network benefits, if you're looking for care for a child 5 or older or medication care for a teen 13 or older, or if you prefer video sessions from home.
Headway fits you if you want in-person sessions outside California, if you're on a Medicaid managed-care plan Headway accepts, or if you want a short free phone call to check fit before booking. if you see a prescriber there, expect a one-time ID and live-photo check.
these are both ways into paid, licensed care. if cost is the wall, or you want company from people who have been through it while you wait for an appointment, there are free options that are not therapy. veisund is a free app (iOS and Android) where you post under a handle you choose, with no real name and no phone number, and other members reply when they read it. it is not live chat and nobody is waiting on the other end; the community is still small, so replies can take a while. you can mark a post resolved and credit the reply that helped. the web side is an evidence library: plain-language study summaries with the source and an evidence grade, plus a lookup of drug-company payments to your own doctor from federal Open Payments data. it is not therapy, not a crisis service, has no licensed clinicians providing care, prescribes nothing and bills no insurance. if you are in crisis, call or text 988, or text HOME to 741741.
Rula lists $150 per session for individual therapy, $165 for couples or family therapy, and for psychiatry $225 for a 60-minute intake and $175 for 30-minute follow-ups. Checked on 2026-09-29.
Not as a new client. Headway says it can only match you with a provider through insurance. If you already see a Headway provider, they may offer private pay; Medicare and Medicaid members are not eligible for private pay through Headway.
Mostly no. Rula says most appointments are virtual and in-person therapy is available to Kaiser Southern California and Anthem CA members, booked through its support team.
Yes. Rula says its therapists treat children, teens and adults ages 5 and up, and psychiatry providers serve patients 13 and older.
Rula says its patients typically pay $15 per session. Headway shows your personal estimate before you book. Your real cost depends on your plan and deductible on either one.
veisund is free peer support under a handle: post what you're carrying, and people who've been through it reply. it isn't therapy or a crisis service — in the US, call or text 988.
get veisund — it's freenot sure whether what you need is a therapist or people? six questions, two minutes — no diagnosis, no email.