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Headspace vs Joyous: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of Headspace and Joyous based on our independent scoring across trust, value, experience, product range, and reputation — plus real pricing for the treatments they both offer.

Our Verdict

Headspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (64.3/100 vs 64/100), leading on trust & safety, experience, product range, reputation. Joyous comes out ahead on value.

64

Meditation app turned mental-health provider offering coaching, therapy and non-controlled psychiatry, largely insurance-billed, and pending acquisition by Sword Health.

Visit Headspace
64
Joyous
Fair

The most affordable at-home ketamine provider, offering very-low-dose (microdose) sublingual ketamine for depression, anxiety, and PTSD at $129/month.

Visit Joyous

Score Breakdown

DimensionHeadspaceJoyous
Overall Score64.3/100 ✓64/100
Trust & Safety30%68/100 ✓60/100
Value25%64/10085/100 ✓
Experience20%62/100 ✓60/100
Product Range15%62/100 ✓55/100
Reputation10%62/100 ✓55/100

At a Glance

Founded20102021
HeadquartersSanta Monica, CAFoster City, CA
Publicly tradedNoNo
Treatment categories11
Treatments listed42
Starting price$0/mo$129/mo

Pricing Where They Compete

Prices shown are based on our most recent research and may not reflect current pricing. Telehealth providers update their pricing frequently. Always verify pricing directly with the provider before purchasing.

CategoryHeadspaceJoyous
Mental HealthFree–$149
Therapy (self-pay or insurance)
$129
Commitment Plan (3-month minimum)

Headspace

+Therapy in all 50 states, in-network with 45+ plans; most insured members pay $0-35 per session and see an estimate before booking
+Meditation, sleep and coaching content bundled alongside clinical care in one app (4.8/5 on iOS)
+Self-pay therapy is priced per session ($149) with no membership required
−Psychiatry is generally unavailable to cash-pay members, and prescribers cannot issue controlled substances
−Consumer billing sentiment is poor (Trustpilot about 1.4/5), citing auto-renewal and web-only cancellation
−$125 fee for cancellations inside 48 hours or no-shows
Read the full Headspace review →

Joyous

+Most affordable at-home ketamine option at $129/mo — fraction of competitors' pricing
+Microdose approach: patients stay fully functional, no sitter required, compatible with SSRIs
+All-inclusive flat pricing: consultation, medication, provider access, portal, and check-ins bundled
−$400K privacy class action settlement (2025) for disclosing confidential customer data
−BBB C+ rating with 112 complaints — billing after cancellation is the top issue
−High provider turnover — patients rarely see the same clinician twice
Read the full Joyous review →

Headspace vs Joyous — FAQ

Is Headspace better than Joyous?

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Headspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (64.3/100 vs 64/100), leading on trust & safety, experience, product range, reputation. Joyous comes out ahead on value.

Is Headspace or Joyous cheaper?

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Headspace has the lower starting price (from $0/mo vs $129/mo for Joyous). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do Headspace and Joyous both offer?

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Both platforms treat Mental Health. Headspace covers 1 treatment category total and Joyous covers 1.

Still deciding?

Headspace alternativesJoyous alternativesTake the Match Quiz