HomeCompareSesame Care vs Talkspace

Sesame Care vs Talkspace: Which Is Better?

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

Our Verdict

Talkspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (75.4/100 vs 74/100), leading on trust & safety, experience, product range, reputation. Sesame Care comes out ahead on value. Sesame Care has the lower entry price (from $34/mo vs $175/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

Pay-per-visit marketplace connecting patients with licensed providers — no subscriptions, transparent per-visit pricing.

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75
Talkspace
Very Good

Talkspace is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: TALK) telehealth platform offering online therapy and psychiatry, notable among prescribers for declining to prescribe controlled substances.

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Score Breakdown

DimensionSesame CareTalkspace
Overall Score74/10075.4/100
Trust & Safety30%75/10080/100
Value25%80/10070/100
Experience20%70/10078/100
Product Range15%70/10072/100
Reputation10%70/10075/100

At a Glance

Founded20192012
HeadquartersNew York, NYNew York, NY
Publicly tradedNoYes (TALK)
Treatment categories61
Treatments listed52
Starting price$34/mo$175/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.

CategorySesame CareTalkspace
Mental Health$45–$99
Mental Health Visit
$175
Psychiatry Follow-Up (Medication Management)

Sesame Care

+No subscription required — pay-per-visit model
+Transparent pricing shown before booking
+Wide range of specialties available
No integrated pharmacy
Less continuity of care than subscriptions
Provider quality varies in marketplace model
Read the full Sesame Care review →

Talkspace

+Does not prescribe controlled substances, eliminating DEA telemedicine-flexibility exposure that affects most psychiatry peers
+In-network with major insurers including Cigna, Aetna, and Optum, with copays as low as $0
+Strong Trustpilot sentiment (4.4/5, 2,388 reviews) concentrated on therapist and prescriber quality
Self-pay pricing ($299 initial, $175/follow-up) is high relative to cash-pay peers for patients without insurance
Recurring Trustpilot complaints about billing and cancellation-fee enforcement (one reviewer cited a $125 charge for cancelling 54 minutes before an appointment)
Non-controlled formulary means patients needing stimulants or benzodiazepines must seek care elsewhere
Read the full Talkspace review →

Sesame Care vs Talkspace — FAQ

Is Sesame Care better than Talkspace?

Talkspace scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (75.4/100 vs 74/100), leading on trust & safety, experience, product range, reputation. Sesame Care comes out ahead on value. Sesame Care has the lower entry price (from $34/mo vs $175/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

Is Sesame Care or Talkspace cheaper?

Sesame Care has the lower starting price (from $34/mo vs $175/mo for Talkspace). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do Sesame Care and Talkspace both offer?

Both platforms treat Mental Health. Sesame Care covers 6 treatment categories total and Talkspace covers 1.

Still deciding?