Maybe you've been dating someone for a while, starting to feel the feels, but something is not right. Is it your own insecurities — or a relationship red flag?
Keep reading to trust whether this is you — or them.
Red flags in relationships are behaviors that hint (or scream!) that the other person is not available for a serious relationship — or even mentally unstable. These red flags show themselves early in the dating, though you may not have seen or heeded them until you were emotionally invested.
9 common relationship red flags to watch for in a man or a woman:
What to look for:
Any kind of addictive behavior — signs of drinking too much or drugs, gambling, money problems
Anger and hostility towards his or her family or friends
Sexual chemistry is a deal-breaker in relationships, according to Fran Walfish, PhD, a Beverly Hills, Calif., family and relationship psychotherapist, and author of The Self-Aware Parent.
“The one deal-breaker that cannot and should not be looked past is sexual chemistry,” Walfish says. “Most couples who move forward to a deeply committed relationship have their highest levels of physical attraction during the first three months of meeting, though it is not unusual for some people to develop chemistry during their courtship.
“If after the first 3-6 months of dating, good communication, and expression of verbal and physical affection there is no spark the likelihood is that these two people do not, and will not, have sexual chemistry. It is a deal-breaker.”
If your lover's story doesn't seem quite right, you can always run a background check to verify their employment, address, criminal, civil and marriage history. Our No. 1 recommendation is TruthFinder, with its A+ BBB rating and access to billions of public records.
3 silent relationship red flags that are toxic
These toxic relationship behaviors cannot go ignored — even if they are subtle:
Defensiveness — if someone is not open to vulnerability, it will be hard if not impossible to connect in a meaningful way, and grow together
Criticism — if the person you’re dating seems to dislike everything you like, or not approve of your appearance, mannerisms, life, they are also not open to deep love right now
Lots of secrets or even evasiveness — it can take some people longer than others to open up, and it should take time to get to know each other (beware of love-bombing and big dumps of too much personal information, too soon).
In a relationship with a divorced woman or man? Red flags to watch for when dating a single mom or dad
Dating someone going through a divorce, or messy breakup can be a red flag in and of itself — but not always. In some places like New York like where I live, divorces take a very long time, and lots of people date while they are still technically married, but emotionally moved on from their marriage. Here are some red flags when you are starting a relationship with someone recently out of one:
Actually in the middle of a very messy divorce. Divorce, no matter how happy every one is to be ending the marriage, is emotionally, mentally and financially exhausting — and all-consuming. They may be looking for a distraction, or desperate to partner up again — but still in the middle of it. Red flag — at least for now.
They are really still married, but lying about a divorce. The situation may be ambiguous — maybe they are legally separated, or maybe they just haven't spoken in years and have an agreement to live together but separate lives. Perhaps they are taking a break but working on it. Lots of variants, but bottom line: your date is not really, fully single and not being 100% honest with you. Red flag.
Perhaps your man or woman is totally divorced, the kids are settled, and they are single! But … this is their first dating relationship in decades. They have (understandably) trust issues. They feel unsure and insecure. All 100% human and normal. Also, may not align with where you are right now. Or maybe it does. But be aware.
Perhaps your man or woman is totally divorced, the kids are settled, and they are single! But … this is their first dating relationship in decades. They have (understandably) trust issues. They feel unsure and insecure. All 100% human and normal. Also, may not align with where you are right now. Or maybe it does. But be aware.
In a relationship with a narcissist? Red flags of a narcissist man or woman
“When you date a narcissist you are a spectator at his date with himself,” says Laurel Steinberg. “Some red flags include non-stop talking about himself without showing interest in learning about you, and him possibly telling story after story about how everyone else he's known is stupid or a bad person.”
Love-bombing with excessive gifts and adoration very early in the relationship
Name-Calling
Withdrawing
Having no or few friends
Gaslighting — which can include making the other person (you) feel crazy for bringing up issues
Empty promises
False flattery
Conversation hogs, talking about all of their achievements, etc.
They don’t have any/many long term friends
They think they are right about everything
Always blame everything on the other person when the relationship ends
They panic and lash out if you try to break up with them
Do all relationships have red flags?
Laura Louis, PhD, owner of Atlanta Couple Therapy, says that within a relationship, there is a difference between deal-breaking red flags and issues that need addressing. “I don't think that all relationships have red flags. But all relationships do have problems,” Lois says. “The difference is that conflict can be resolved while blatant red flags just harm you.”
Fran Walfish said that some red flags can be overcome when the couple otherwise has a strong relationship. For example, Walfish counts a lack of ambition as a deal-breaker. However:
“I have seen high-achieving professional women turn their heads when they meet a man who has all of their other fantasy qualities, but lacks ambition,” she says. “I have observed several of these couples over years time establish, nurture, and create very happy, successful relationships in which the female partner becomes the primary breadwinner and the male partner brings in a significantly smaller figure income but shores up the difference by picking up extra load in homemaking, care-giving the child(ren), cooking, and other household duties. Each couple must find and create their own happy balance. The common denominating requirement is healthy open, honest, straight-talking communication.”
Ultimately, every date and person is loaded with reasons that someone will not want to date you — and vice a versa — and not all those reasons mean anyone is broken or unlovable. Every one of us has our triggers, our own list of things that are not permissible, or simply a good fit. Stephanie, a mom from the Millionaire Single Moms Facebook group, says for her, red flags include “someone who doesn’t share my values — political and otherwise.”
Lakeesha says: “I don’t know if I have specific red flags, but I try to pay attention more to whether they feel authentic. Anything that’s too-good-to-be true sets off my alarm bells.”
Other overall red-flags include:
Elisa: “The biggest one for me is the ambition to live a happy life. I don’t need a man to make a lot of money or live a certain way … but if HE is not happy with his current situation, he can’t be just settling and complaining without a plan…he needs to at least be working towards changing the situation that makes him unhappy.”
Cameron: “I learned I struggle to relate to men who aren’t dads. And I prefer to date someone with a college degree and career going for him. Also that if a guy isn’t even remotely interested in travel, that’s a turn off for me, and he’s just probably not a good fit because I want a guy who will travel with me.”
Emily: “A red flag for me is someone with who I feel insecure. I dated over 150 men since my separation nine years ago, and that’s the one consistency I noticed. If I felt any sense of insecurity, there was always a reason behind it.”
To understand your own values and what matters to you, Kirby Davis, LMHP, based in Nebraska, suggests this red-flag checklist. The more negative responses you get from your date or partner, well … you know the answer!
How do they treat others that provide them a service (e.g., servers, clerks, maintenance workers)?
How do they interact with and speak about their family/friends/others?
How do they treat their pet or your pet?
How do they respond when they are told “‘no”’?
However, Katherine Winny, Licensed Professional Counselor and relationship coach, says that you should look inward to monitor your own internal red-flag checklist.
“How you feel internally is one of the most important indicators you are dating someone with potential,” Winny says. “You should feel calm, able to be yourself and comfortable expressing your needs and opinions.
“One of the biggest red flags is your own anxiety, often triggered by hot/cold behavior from your date, which is a clear sign they are not ready for a relationship or are of an avoidant attachment style.”
How do you deal with red flags in a relationship?
“Once you see evidence that there might be a red flag, you don't ignore it, you double down on it,” says Tessina. “Ask questions about their previous relationships, and how they ended. If the date blames everything on the other people, that's an issue to be concerned about. Before you get too deep into the relationship, meet your date's friends and family. You will find clues there about whether there is addiction, anger issues, hysteria, legal problems, money problems or other difficult issues, like children from a previous relationship and a bad connection with the ex.”
Solid, universal relationship advice from Laura Louis: “If you notice any red flags, attend to it, and state your feelings without attacking the other person. Use ‘I' statements instead of ‘you' statements, which just make the other person defensive and less likely to listen.”
Remember, not every discomfort is a deal-breaker or an insurmountable red flag. Conflict can point to your insecurities, those of your partner, normal sums of fear or trepidation. In other words: Make room for humanity in your dating relationships.
What may feel like a red flag or deal-breaker may really be old trauma rearing its heads. Jill, from the Facebook group, says that her boyfriend's healthy attachment at first turned her off — but helped her heal from a divorce.
“With my current relationship, I tended to see red flags when there weren’t any. They were actually signs of a healthy relationship. I didn’t realize it until I met my boyfriend, but my ex and I were very codependent,” Jill posted. “My ex always praised me and put me up on a pedestal, and also needed me to be with him all the time. When my boyfriend didn’t do those types of things or need the same things from me, I thought it was just because he wasn’t that into me. I'd worry that he chould just find someone prettier or with a less complicated life. But my boyfriend just accepted that I love him and want to be with him, and that was all he needed. He just doesn’t need constant attention and assurance like my ex did, and like I used to.”
Krevalin said that within a relationship, struggles often point back to red flags early on — but can be overcome.
“Trust reigns supreme and it will always be the most important ingredient in successful, loving and meaningful relationships. Trust, or the lack of it — is the ultimate red flag, if we choose to see it. Does your partner put you first? Are they accountable? Are they Kind? Caring? Can you trust them? Here’s your barometer: Trust is knowing that your partner has your best interest at heart. This is something we can discern quite early on in a relationship— but only if we acknowledge red flags.”
Relationship red flags that are deal breakers: When to call it quits in a relationship
Deal breakers for women and men
Of the women and men and therapists experts, lying is definitely considered a deal-breaker and a red flag when dating, and an emotional affair is reason to call it quits when in a relationship. Jealosy is a red flag for women when dating, and extreme jealousy during a relationship is reason for a breakup — including one's own jealosy. “I have to trust him,” Jess said.
Other thoughts on relationship dealbreakers:
Signs of an abusive relationship
Extreme highs and lows; if they are so into you and extremely passionate this is usually a sign (like no one else could ever be as good as you, if you ever leave me I can't live, so insanely in love).
Moods change quickly.
Make or say threatening movements or words during an argument.
Extremely jealous.
Blame you for their terrible reactions.
Reasons to break up but not red flags:
Bad hygiene: don't shower enough, don't clip fingernails and toenails.
Communication is off.
Sex sucks and/they won't take gentle guidance to get better.
Don't stick up for you when needed.
He lives with his mom — because he never moved out in the first place is a deal-breaker.
Think you are bragging when discussing good things happening to you (an ex actually did that. He patted my back when I was talking about business. At first I was really confused then realized he felt like I was bragging when I just wanted to share accomplishments).
Dating deal-breakers from Tasha:
From Amy:
I strongly dislike when men say they live in different states than their children, don't get to see their children much, see their children when they can.
From Kim:
I would never again be with someone who has seemingly burned all of their past relationships. I'm not saying they need to keep in touch with everyone they knew, but when there is an excuse that everyone is banned… the most common denominator is the true issue.
Lying about the little stuff. There was no reason to lie, it was one of his hobbies though.
If someone calls you crazy…. nope.
Needing action/exciting stuff all the time.
I wouldn't consider someone with debt, but I am picky about that.
Just porn sex, bleh.
Need to work through some of your dating hangups before getting out there again? Online therapy is affordable and very convenient. Read reviews of major online therapy platforms. Or, connect with a certified mental health professional through BetterHelp.com. Read our review.
Feeling ashamed or lonely in your single-mom dating. Binging on TV shows and movies about others in your situation can help.
Red flags in relationships are behaviors that hint (or scream!) that the other person is not available for a serious relationship — or even mentally unstable.
Do all relationships have red flags?
Laura Louis, PhD, owner of Atlanta Couple Therapy, says “I don't think that all relationships have red flags. But all relationships do have problems.”
How do you deal with red flags in a relationship?
Solid, universal relationship advice from Laura Louis, PhD, owner of Atlanta Couple Therapy: “If you notice any red flags, attend to it, and state your feelings without attacking the other person. Use ‘I' statements instead of ‘you' statements, which just make the other person defensive and less likely to listen.”
“It should have been a red flag that … ”
I hear that so many times from both women and men who are heartbroken, abused or otherwise disappointed that a relationship or marriage didn't work out. In hindsight, the information was there all along — they just ignored it because there were other qualities that were green flags. Plus, they were lonely, vulnerable, horny, bored, or otherwise really wanted a partner.
“When there is suspicion and things don’t feel quite right, red flags should be waiving and alarms should be deafening We generally have a gut feeling about people and situations,” says Deborah Krevalin, LPC, LMHC, a relationship expert in West Hartford, Conn., So, why do we purposefully choose to ignore those feelings, suspicions and warnings? “The fantasy is just too good to let go of — the promise of love and all that comes with that is overpowering and completely seductive,” Krevalin says.
News alert: Those feelings always rear their head later.
“As a psychotherapist I have worked with countless couples struggling with a myriad of relationship issues. Undoubtedly, there were always red flags that presented themselves, surprisingly soon, after the first date,” Krevalin says. The question becomes: Was the partner blind to them or did they choose not to see it?
In this post, therapists and other experts weigh in on what red flags to ignore, what negative behavior is or should be forgiven, and how to navigate dating in a healthy way:
Tina B. Tessina, PhD, LMFT, of Long Beach, Calif., considers a red flag to be indications of serious mental and emotional well-being.
“Most relationships, at the beginning, have possible issues, but not red flags: says Tessina, author of How to be Happy Partners: Working it out Together, and Dr. Romance's Guide to Finding Love Today.
Seeing red flags? You can run your partner's name through a site like TruthFinder, which will pull all online public records on the person and compile them into an easy-to-read report.
“To me, red flags are indications of serious problems, indications that a date might have emotional problems, addiction problems, anger issues, tendencies toward violence, severe money problems or other non-workable issues that will emerge as the relationship develops, and won't go away.”
Others consider a red flag general dishonesty, signs of narcissism, or bad habits that are a no-go for you personally.
“Anything that you don't feel neutral or better hearing about is a potential red flag!” says Laurel Steinberg, Ph.D., a clinical sexologist and relationship expert in New York City, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology Teachers College, Columbia University.
Common dating red flags to watch for
Whether your initial interactions are online, at a party, the office or some meet-cute, here are some general themes to keep an eye out for:
Signs he or she is still in a relationship, or barely out of one
Addictive behaviors, like drinking too much or prioritizing getting high
Love bombing you — way too much affection and devotion way too early in the relationship
Secrets. It should take time to get to know someone, but if they are sketchy about where they live, their employment history, you find out they have a kid but said they did not, or other signs they are not being transparent about who they are, they are not ready for emotional intimacy
First, get a real phone number, or first and last name, and Google him or her. Check out any stories or facts with what you find on LinkedIn, Facebook or news articles.
You searched locally but the other person is always in another time zone — but it's not an international dating site? They may live in another country and are catfishing you.
If the other person won't share any of details that would help you understand who they are, red flag.
Do you see a person on a hookup app? That may be a red flag. But then again, YOU were on the hookup site, so ….
Lakeesha shared this cautionary warning to trust your gut:
“I met a guy on Match several years ago. Good looking. Lots of flashy pics of travel and a very high-end education. We texted a bit. He was very bright and engaged but his answers about his business accomplishments were grandiose and made me uneasy. That made me suspicious and I started looking closer and his pictures in his dating profile closer. A few little things stuck out there.
We had a date planned to meet for drinks and I was so uneasy. I didn’t have his full name but his username was AJ. So I dropped his picture into Google images and found his full name on Linked In. The. I was able to search him using his full name and location and found recent news articles on his financial fraud. He was facing 20 years. That was the biggest lesson for me about really listening to the other person AND paying attention to how I felt. I trust myself implicitly and if anything seems off I allow myself the time to dig in until I’m satisfied.”
No, you are not crazy if you do a quick background check before a date! Use TruthFinder to do a reverse phone lookup in minutes. TruthFinder is a leader in background checks:
Pro tip: Search for a prospective date on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or other social media before you meet IRL. According to a survey by Elite Singles Australia, 75% of women and 59% of men say they have done it. No shame at all.
Red flags to look for on social:
Non-existent digital footprint. If you can find no or very little about this person, that can be a sign that either they’ve lied about their identity, are running from the law, or otherwise are bad news.
They’re not single. Recent pics of the person snuggling with a romantic partner, or their status marked as ‘married’ or ‘in a relationship. Not rocket science.
Political stances that are deal-breakers for you — or other ways you don’t connect.
Dating red flags: What to watch for on a first date
Here are some typical behaviors that can certainly set the tone for a bad start of a dating relationship even before you meet — if not be a total deal-breaker:
Being late for the date without good reason or an apology
Rudeness to waiters
Being disrespectful of your boundaries — for example, not taking “no” for an answer in any way
Showing no interest in you, and only speaking about themselves
Says Tessina: “Understand that your date is on their best behavior early in the relationship, and the behavior will not get better, it will get worse. Don't make excuses for the person just because they’re attractive, or saying what you long to hear.”
Here are some first date red flags identified by women in the Millionaire Single Moms Facebook group:
Bringing up sex before you’ve even met in person, or early in the date.
Talking very negatively about an ex and/or ex in-laws.
Tina B. Tessina, PhD, LMFT, of Long Beach, Calif., considers a red flag to be indications of serious mental and emotional well-being.
If you’re going through a hard time or dealing with mental health issues, or just need someone to talk to, online therapy is a low-pressure and affordable way to get help from a licensed professional — immediately.
This is our list of the best online therapy sites based on our research and personal experience.
BetterHelp is our top choice for online therapy because of its BBB accreditation and immediate access to a large selection of tens of thousands of therapists with infinite specialties and qualities. 100% of BetterHelp’s packages include live video sessions, and they offer:
Today, millions of people receive the benefit of therapy online, for a simple reason: It works.
There are several quality online therapy platforms, including free online therapy apps, as well as online therapy paid for by your insurance. But with so many options on the market, finding the best online therapy platform or app can be overwhelming. With this in mind, we’ve reviewed the most popular online therapy sites so that you don’t need to do the research yourself, choosing out favorite sites and explaining why they stand out.
I personally used Betterhelp to get me through a tough time during pandemic lockdown — and had a good experience with the technology, easy scheduling, and quality therapists that you can switch easily. Betterhelp's price is also very competitive.
Based on broader research Betterhelp stood out from the rest based on value relative to cost, ease of use, and reviews by customers and third-party credentialing agencies. More on this below, as well as in this recounting of my own personal experience using BetterHelp during a dark time.
There are several important factors we use to choose the best online therapy sites to recommend:
Rating and reviews
How does this online therapy company rate with Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and individual client reviews?
Ease of use
Is the online therapy company's technology up-to-date with a great app, multiple modes of communication, and otherwise great user experience?
Price
Which sites are a) most price competitive, b) transparent in pricing, c) offer financial aid
Honesty and transparency
How is customer service? Are there hidden fees? Is it easy to change therapists? Is canceling straight-forward? Is it easy and fast to connect with a helpful customer service representative through multiple channels — chat, email, phone.
Content
Some sites do a better job than others at creating content — articles, podcasts, videos, online events — that compliment the live therapy itself. This is important since people grow and learn through different modes, in addition to talk therapy.
Security
We rated each online therapy platform for its compliance with Internet security practices, which work to prevent malicious third-parties from accessing your medical, personal, and financial data.
Privacy
Is the site HIPAA compliant? Does it take steps to ensure that your personal and health information will never be shared illegally. Do users have the option to engage anonymously?
No. 1 Best online therapy site and app: BetterHelp
Our #1 online therapy site choice is BetterHelp, which also happens to be the most widely used online therapy app. BetterHelp offers therapy via phone, text, and video, for fees starting at $65/week. Financial assistance is available. BBB accredited, and has an A- rating. Use this link to get 20% off and get connected with a therapist immediately >>
Wealthysinglemommy.com founder and editor, Emma Johnson, chose BetterHelp when she was looking for a therapist. Here’s what she found in her investigation of and experience with BetterHelp.
BetterHelp reviews and ratings
BetterHelp worked with Berkeley Well-Being Institute on a study that found BetterHelp to be as effective as face-to-face therapy. The study found:
98% of BetterHelp users made significant progress
94% of BetterHelp users preferred the service over traditional, face-to-face therapy
70% users reported reduced depression
BetterHelp has an A- with the BBB, and has been accredited with the organization since 2015. The company also has an average score of 4.08 out of 5 stars, taken from more than 505 real customer reviews. While most of the reviews consist of 4 or 5 stars, there are a handful of 1-star reviews, which are mostly related to confusion around billing.
BetterHelp also scores 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on more than 8,625 customer reviews. These reviews mirror the same key praise and complaints found on the BBB website.
Ease of use
BetterHelp makes it very easy to both sign up and participate in therapy.
To sign up for therapy using BetterHelp, all you need to do is create an account. As a part of this process, you’ll answer a short questionnaire that the company will use to get to understand you and why you are seeking therapy. Within 24 hours (or sooner!) you’ll be paid with a therapist.
Therapy itself can take many different forms through BetterHelp, depending on your own personal preferences and style. You can text your therapist throughout the day, or you can schedule a phone call, video session, or even a live chat. However you best respond to therapy, BetterHelp has an option for you.
You can access the BetterHelp platform through either their app or their website.
BetterHelp price
BetterHelp is less expensive than its competitors with prices starting at $65/week for unlimited texting and one live session per week — and a 20% discount for new clients. Financial assistance is available.
Honesty and transparency
BetterHelp is also very open and clear about its pricing, and makes it easy to cancel, change therapists, and otherwise manage your account. Here is one of the first emails our editor, Emma Johnson, received from BetterHelp when she first signed up for the service:
We like that the upcoming charge was announced well in advance, and the site proactively offered ways to change therapists, cancel and apply for financial assistance. No need to go hunting for this information — much less get a customer service runaround. This made us feel like BetterHelp truly aims to help clients, and offer quality service.
For less than $200, Amy McCready's self-directed online program Positive Parenting Solutions gets rave reviews by parents who say it changed thier families. Read our review — and whether it is worth it.
Content
BetterHelp has dedicated a lot of time and attention toward creating high-quality, valuable content for those seeking information about mental health. This content ranges from blog posts and articles describing different types of therapy to real, practical advice that you can use to address your personal mental health concerns. Key areas of focus for this content include depression, anxiety, and much more. The best part is that all of this content is completely free: Even non-members can access it.
BetterHelp members also have access to this content, as well as group therapy sessions for 20 specialty topics — included in your fee.
Security
The BetterHelp website is hosted with an SSL certificate and 256-bit encryption, which is best-of-breed online security. When you use the website, you can feel confident that your information and privacy are well protected.
Privacy
BetterHelp takes your privacy seriously. The company only hires therapists that are HIPAA compliant, and takes special steps and precautions to ensure that your personal information is always protected.
The first way that BetterHelp protects your privacy is by shielding your identity from your therapist. When you begin working with a BetterHelp therapist, you will choose a nickname that they will know you as. Outside of this information, you remain virtually anonymous to your therapist. Unless you choose to engage in a video session, they don’t even need to know what you look like.
Second, if BetterHelp ever needs to contact you for whatever reason—for example, to let you know that you have a message from your counselor—they will never include any identifying or sensitive information in their emails. They will send you a very basic, straightforward email letting you know that you have a notification. To read the message, you’ll need to actually log into the system. This means you never have to worry about your kids, significant other, or your ex seeing something you don’t want them to see.
BetterHelp also guarantees that they will never share your information with any third party, ever. You even have the option to permanently delete any messages you receive to your BetterHelp account, if you choose to do so.
Unlike other online therapy sites, which also offer quality therapy, all BetterHelp packages include one-on-one therapy — and not just ongoing messaging. Other sites require you pay extra for those sessions.
BetterHelp's secure app is just as dynamic as its desktop website, and helps make therapy even more accessible, since you can conduct live sessions from your office, car, on walks — wherever works for you.
One of the features that many users like about online therapy company BetterHelp is how much control you have over choosing a therapist, and how often you interact with your therapist.
The onboarding process allows you to choose a BetterHelp therapist's qualifications and attributes, including:
Gender
Race
Religion
LGBTQ
Teens
Specialists in various needs, including addiction, eating disorders, trauma, grief, sexuality, anxiety, depression, couples and relationship therapy
Therapy types, including Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Client- or Person-Centered Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, etc.
Experience working with various personal, family and mental health issues
Communication and personality style
BetterHelp's process starts with a text exchange with an online matchmaker, who will ask you about your therapy history, reasons for seeking therapy, and if there are any special considerations you'd prefer (here's where you'll want to disclose your preference for, say, a female counselor or a therapist specializing in panic disorders, etc.).
You receive a form, similar to a traditional office's intake form, to fill out and send back, and then you're paired with your “primary therapist.”
Because this is all happening in real-time, you will be matched with a therapist within 24 hours.
The timeliness of the process is an especially helpful aspect of BetterHelp — especially for busy moms, or those who struggle with anxiety or depression, or otherwise are eager to start working with a therapist.
BetterHelp offers a large database of 20,000+ online therapists that it may match you with. The site states:
“We have found that we are able to provide a successful match most of the time; however, if you start the process and you feel your counselor isn't a good fit for you, you may elect to be matched to a different therapist.”
Each counselor is verified via:
Licensing
Good standing with their licensing board
Video review
100% BetterHelp therapists have a Master's or Doctorate degree
Minimum 3 years and 2,000 hours of training.
“The result of this rigorous 4-5 week process is that only about 15% of the therapists who apply to work through BetterHelp are accepted to the platform,” BetterHelp's site states.
Additionally, BetterHelp isn’t the only therapy site. Realizing the need for affordable, accessible mental health support for everyone, BetterHelp launched Pride Counseling, Teen Counseling, ReGain Relationship Counseling, and Faithful Counseling. However, you get the same benefits of using these sites by using BetterHelp.com because of their counselor matching process.
BetterHelp’s other online therapy sites
While BetterHelp has sister sites for LGBTQ+ people, Christians, couples, and teens, anyone can be matched with a specialized therapist directly through BetterHelp. When you join BetterHelp, you’ll be matched with a therapist based on your age, religion, race, sexuality and a number of other preferences.
Teen Counseling
Teen Counseling is an online therapy platform to help meet the mental and emotional needs of teens aged 13 to 19.
The site also caters to parents, with parents or guardians having access to the same therapist (though the discussions are confidential at all times, unless the therapist has a concern about serious risk). Each can have unlimited contact with the counselor, via whatever digital method is preferred: video call, phone call, or messaging.
Teen Counseling is aimed at teens ages 13 to 19, though either a parent/guardian or a teen can initiate the sign-up process. The online counseling for teens website has an A- rating through the Better Business Bureau, via its parent company BetterHelp.
Pride Counseling
The LGBTQ community members suffer from mental health challenges at a twice the rate of the general population — with suicide rates at twice that of straight people, and nearly half of transgender adults attempting suicide within the past 12 months, compared with just 4% of the general public, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
Additionally, depression, anxiety and PTSD are experienced at a much higher rate among those who identify as LGBTQ. Pride Counseling set out to be a catalyst to getting the help to those who need it with LGBTQ therapists.
Pride Counseling does offer financial assistance. Otherwise, rates start at $65 per week for unlimited messaging and weekly sessions, no coupon code required.
ReGain Relationship Counseling
Whether you are working on your first, second or third marriage, another romantic relationship, or trying to improve your co-parenting relationship with your child's other parent, online relationship therapy can be an affordable, convenient, and productive tool.
Bonus: You don't have to be in the same room with the person, since you communicate with the counselor via chat, text, email, voice or video!
If your relationship is in trouble, couples counseling could be the answer. Enter ReGain, an online platform that helps couples find counselors to help them get their relationships back on track — or save it.
ReGain is a sister site to BetterHelp, our favorite online therapy source, which earned an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.
ReGain starts at $65 a week for unlimited messaging and one weekly live video or phone session.
Faithful Counseling
Faithful Counseling brings together licensed therapists who are practicing Christians and clients who are seeking faith-based mental health care.
“By combining Biblical wisdom with clinical expertise in mental health, our counselors do their best to invite God into the conversation and formulate actionable plans that best address the unique challenges their clients face,” the website states.
Faithful Counseling clients can access both pre-scheduled sessions with their therapist as well as have unlimited messaging with counselors any time they are available. You can also pick your preferred method of discussion for each session, either by phone, video call, or messaging. Because of the unlimited contact, costs for Faithful Counseling can be much lower than a traditional, per-session charge.
Faithful Counseling is one of the services offered under the umbrella company BetterHelp, which has an A- Better Business Bureau rating.
Listen to Wealthy Single Mommy founder Emma Johnson interview BetterHelp therapist Haesue Jo about anxiety, depression, isolation — and how to find joy, relief and beauty — during the COVID-19 pandemic, on her Like a Mother podcast:
Other online therapy sites we reviewed:
7 Cups
7 Cups was originally named “7 Cups of Tea,” referring to a Chinese poem that celebrates tea as a means to tranquility.
7 Cups is unique among online therapy sites in that it offers both free and paid options. You can log on to 7 Cups 24/7 and connect immediately to an “active listener,” a volunteer who is there specifically to chat with you when you need it. This option is free to use.
Of course, because not all problems can be solved by an untrained volunteer, you can also access paid online therapy through 7 Cups for a fee.
7 Cups reviews and ratings
7 Cups has been accredited with the BBB since 2018 and has a B rating. The company’s BBB profile currently has a score of 1.89 out of 5 stars based on 19 customer reviews. The majority of the negative reviews revolve around confusion as to what the paid option of the site looked like.
On Trustpilot, 7 Cups maintains a score of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on more than 583 reviews. The majority of these reviews are positive and speak to the compassion of the active listeners and therapists. As with the BBB reviews, the negative reviews on Trustpilot mostly revolve around issues of billing.
Ease of use
According to the 7 Cups website, it is an “online emotional support service.” Its active listeners are volunteers who've been trained to listen deeply and to reflect what you're saying when offering feedback, to let you know that you're being heard — all through an easy-to-use chat thread platform.
You can connect with an active listener at any time, day or night. The live chats are anonymous and private. No one will know it's you, and no one except the active listener will be privy to the conversation. This service is 100% free.
It's easy to create a free account at 7 Cups, and to get in touch with an active listener. You ask, and within a short time (sometimes literally seconds), a listener will “pick up” and begin the e-chat.
If you want therapy with a professional rather than simply active listening, you'll be matched with one of 300 counselors (or allowed to pick your own, from the 7 Cups therapist directory) and given a private chat room. From there you can message the therapist as often as you want, though counselors respond once or twice each day, and only Monday through Friday.
7 Cups does not offer live text, video or phone therapy options.
7 Cups price
Active listening through 7 Cups is completely free. You only pay if you decide to make an appointment with a therapist through the 7 Cups platform. Those plans cost $150 per month and include unlimited chat-based support with a licensed therapist.
7 Cups does not currently accept health insurance, meaning if you opt into their paid option you will need to cover that cost out of pocket.
Honesty and transparency
7 Cups is very transparent about their process. There is a ton of information on their site about how active listening works, how listeners are screened and evaluated, and what users can expect. It is also made clear up front that active listeners are volunteers and not mental health professionals.
The one area where transparency is a bit lacking is around the technology that the service uses. 7 Cups states that they use AI and machine learning to screen text and identify banned users as well as banned volunteers. This is mentioned only once on the entire website. While it is understandable why they would use this technology, some users might admittedly be turned off by the idea.
Finally, while negative experiences between users and active listeners appear to be rare, they do occasionally come up. This is why some active listeners end up banned or rejected. 7 Cups does not include any information on the website about these instances. The only way to gain any insight there is by finding reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, or the BBB that specifically reference improper interactions with volunteers.
Content
The 7 Cups blog contains a lot of helpful information on topics ranging from addiction and anxiety to depression, eating disorders, domestic violence, family and relationship issues, financial stress, LGBTQ+ issues, grief, and more. All of this content is written by mental health experts and professionals.
While there’s a lot of valuable information on the website, the blog itself is not incredibly active. On average, there are about one or two new articles published each month.
Security
The 7 Cups website is built using an SSL certificate. This means that it is encrypted and safe to use. Additionally, if you choose to work with a therapist through 7 Cups paid option, you can rest assured that each therapist is bound by their own code of ethics that dictates how they handle your personal information.
Privacy
The 7 Cups platform is 100% HIPAA compliant. This means that any communications you have with your therapist are private and secure.
On 7 Cups, you can remain completely anonymous if you’d like to, or you can let your identity be known. It’s completely up to you. The one caveat to this is that 7 Cups does collect your personal information for emergency purposes. This will only be accessed if you are in an emergency situation.
More on 7 Cups
7 Cups offers a number of programs designed to help specific populations work through their mental health issues. For example, 7 Cups offers special programs for schools, employers, and nonprofit organizations that are designed to help students, employees, and volunteers (respectively).
Bottom line: Why 7 Cups isn’t one of our “best” online therapy sites
If you choose to opt into a paid subscription through 7 Cups, you’ll pay $150 per month. This works out to about $35 per week, which is lower than many of the other options in our list. The key difference, however, is that this is text-only therapy. You can’t communicate with your therapist by video or phone, even for an additional fee.
While text-based online therapy can be very effective, many people find value in the occasional live therapy session, whether that is through phone or over video. Because this isn’t an option with 7 Cups, it doesn’t make it into our top choices.
Calmerry
Calmerry is another popular online therapy site. Getting started is easy: Just fill out a quick self-assessment, choose how you want to receive therapy, get matched with a therapist on the platform, and begin therapy.
Calmerry currently offers two types of therapy: Text therapy and live video therapy. All Calmerry therapists are required to hold licenses in the states in which they practice.
Calmerry is not currently accredited with the BBB, and does not have a profile with the bureau featuring reviews.
That said, Calmerry maintains a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on 59 customer reviews and a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Sitejabber based on 123 customer reviews. The vast majority of these reviews are positive. Those that are negative cite a poor experience with therapists who are unresponsive or dismissive.
Ease of use
Calmerry’s website is clean, modern, and easy to use. You can access Calmerry’s platform via the website if you prefer, or you can download their app (available for both iPhone and Android).
To find a therapist and get started with Calmerry, all you need to do is complete a 5-minute survey. Your answers to the survey questions will be used to match you with a therapist on the platform, typically within 24 hours of signing up. If you decide that you would prefer a different therapist, you can request a switch completely free of charge.
Calmerry price
Calmerry is a subscription-based online therapy service. This means that you'll need to select either a weekly or monthly subscription plan. The most inexpensive plan currently offered is $50 per week.
Calmerry does not currently offer free therapy or a trial period.
Whether or not Calmerry’s services are covered by your insurance plan will ultimately depend on the specifics of your plan.
Calmerry states that their services are not typically covered by Medicare or Medicaid. If you have a private insurance plan that covers online therapy (also called teletherapy) then Calmerry should be covered. You should review your policy or call your insurance company to determine exactly what is covered.
Honesty and transparency
The vast majority of reviews that Calmerry has received from customers are positive, and speak highly of both the service as well as the individual therapists that Calmerry matches their customers with. Of the negative reviews that do exist, none of them accuse Calmerry of being dishonest or of lying, which speaks well of the company.
That being said, there is some data leveraged throughout Calmerry’s website that can be seen as misleading. On the homepage, Calmerry states that “88% of clients found Calmerry to be as effective or more effective than traditional therapy,” and that “found it to be more convenient than traditional therapy.” Calmerry doesn’t provide any information about where this data came from, however, such as who was surveyed or how many people were included in the sample. Without this detail, it’s impossible to know how accurate the statements are, so it’s important to take them with a grain of salt.
Finally, Calmerry is owned and operated by the parent company Mental Fuel Inc. This information is somewhat hidden from consumers, being stated only in Calmerry’s privacy policy. While there is nothing wrong with being owned by another company, the lack of transparency about the fact is interesting to say the least.
Content
The Calmerry blog has a lot of content that you can access whether or not you are a paying customer. This content ranges from blog posts describing different types of therapy, answering commonly asked questions about therapy, and simply offering mental health advice. It’s high-quality and valuable content.
Security
Calmerry is built on an SSL certificate, ensuring that any data you enter through their website is safe and secure. Calmerry also states that any of your data stored on their servers is encrypted as an added layer of security.
Privacy
Calmerry is HIPAA compliant. This means that any information or data that Calmerry collects is protected by law. Additionally, when you use Calmerry you will only ever be matched with a therapist who holds a license from your state. This means that your therapist will be subject to the unique privacy laws of your state as well as federal privacy laws.
More on Calmerry
Therapists on the Calmerry platform are experienced in working with patients experiencing a variety of conditions or concerns, including:
Anger management
Anxiety
Childhood abuse
Depression
Eating disorders
Emotional abuse
Family conflict
Grief and trauma
LGBTQIA+
PTSD
OCD
and more
Bottom line: Why Calmerry isn’t one of our “best” online therapy sites
At first glance, Calmerry appears to be cheaper than the competition. But Calmerry’s plans start at $50 per week, and it’s important to note that those plans are text-only. They don’t include any form of live or video sessions. If you’d like to add live therapy to your subscription, the add-on packages start at $50 per week, which is essentially more than what you’d pay going through BetterHelp.
BetterHelp is one of the top online therapy services currently available. It’s incredibly popular, has a stellar record with the BBB and on rating sites such as Trustpilot, and is simply the best of the best. If you’re going to pay top dollar for online therapy, you might as well get it from the best.
MDLIVE Counseling
In 2014, MDLive, a leader in online medical care, bought online therapy giant Breakthrough. Today, the service is branded “MDLive Counseling”and works to connect patients with licenced therapists.
MDLIVE Counseling reviews and ratings
MDLive has a A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2015. The company’s profile has a score of 1.13 out of 5 stars based on 86 customer reviews. These reviews range in content from payment issues to poor website experiences.
On Trustpilot, MDLive fares slightly better, maintaining an average score of 2.4 out of 5 stars based on more than 11,950 customer reviews.
Here are some recent reviews from MDLive Counseling from Trustpilot. The online telehealth and online therapy industry saw a huge influx of new clients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ease of use
The site's process is different from its competitors. For starters, the therapy site doesn't pair you with a therapist.
Instead, you choose your own counselor by criteria like their location, what insurance they accept, or their specialties (anxiety, depression, family issues, etc.). Perfect for those of us who like a bit more control.
To sign up, pick a date and time that works for your schedule and your therapist either confirms the appointment or sends a “counteroffer” for a different date and time.
MDLive Counseling is available through phone calls or video chats using your computer or smartphone. Most states require an initial video assessment, but after that you can discuss whether phone or video are appropriate for your counseling needs.
MDLIVE Counseling price
As of May 2025, MDLive Counseling costs $108 per session for therapists, $284 for a first psychiatrist session, and $108 for follow-up sessions. This is very expensive when compared to the competition.
Honesty and transparency
MDLive Counseling is open and honest about the services that they offer, what their therapists can and can’t do, and what you can expect when using the platform. That being said, due to a series of acquisitions in recent years, figuring out exactly who owns the company is a confusing process.
MDLive Counseling was originally a standalone company known as Breakthrough, which was founded in 2009. Breakthrough was acquired by MDLive in 2014 and was then rebranded as MDLive Counseling. In April of 2021, MDLive(and MDLive Counseling) was acquired by the healthcare conglomerate Evernorth. Therefore, you may see reference to Evernorth on some pages of the website and on some of your communications with the company.
Content
MDLive Counseling offers a lot of content on its blog, which essentially acts as an online wellness magazine. Because MDLive also treats medical issues, the blog offers a mix of content related to either mental or physical health. This is a big differentiator from the content found on other websites in our list. Some users find the variety helpful, while others would prefer it to be more focused purely on mental health.
Security
The MDLive Counseling website operates on an SSL certificate, which lets you know that any information you enter into the website cannot be hijacked or spied upon. All video sessions, data, and communication between you and your therapist are encrypted to provide further protection.
Privacy
MDLive Counseling is completely HIPAA compliant. The company states that their privacy policy is also compatible with individual state privacy laws, some of which are even stricter than HIPAA. This means that your personal information is private and cannot be shared with anyone without your consent.
More on MDLIVE Counseling
Therapists on MDLive can specialize in a range of mental health conditions, including:
Stress and anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Grief and loss
LGBTQ+ support
Trauma
PTSD
Relationship issues
Addiction
Gender specific issues
Postpartum depression
Life changes
And more
MDLive Counseling therapists do not provide services for individuals with autism, AD/HD, or those experiencing emergency situations.
Bottom line: Why MDLIVE Counseling isn’t one of our “best” online therapy sites
At $108 per session for a standard online therapy session, MDLive is the most expensive option that we reviewed, and is nearly double the price of our top pick. While MDLive has positive customer reviews, it’s hard to justify paying so much when cheaper (and just as effective) options are available.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that MDLive doesn’t let you text your therapist, which is a popular feature offered by many other online therapy platforms. You can only communicate with your therapist through videoconferencing on either the website or mobile app.
Online-therapy.com
Online-Therapy.com is an online therapy platform that consists of a dedicated team of consultant therapists, cognitive-behavioral therapists, practitioners and support staff that collaboratively works to help people in need of emotional support.
This online therapy company gives you full access to an online therapy program designed for your specific needs with easy-to-follow information and hands-on tools, your daily journal and activity plan, including daily contact with your therapist (Monday-Friday), tests to monitor your progress and access to the forum.
Online-Therapy.com's programs are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been developed on the idea that your thoughts are what cause your feelings and behaviors, not external stimuli like people, situations and events.
Online-Therapy.com is supporting the public through COVID by offering free access to its online therapy program with 8 easy-to-follow sections and 25 worksheets, yoga and meditation videos, activity plan, journal, and tests.
Online-therapy.com is owned and operated by CRN Solutions AB, which is headquartered in Sweden. The company is not accredited with the BBB, and does not have a profile or any reviews on the BBB website. The company’s profile has a score of 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 20 customer reviews.
Here are some recent reviews from Online-therapy.com from Trustpilot.
Online-therapy.com has collected more than 2,500 customer reviews directly, the vast majority of which are 5 out of 5 stars. The average review is 4.7 out of 5 stars. You can see some of the most recent reviews below:
One user on Reddit offered a more well-rounded review of the company based on their personal experience:
It was difficult to find other reviews online, but there were a few posted on a site called Top10.com.
Ease of use
Unlike other online therapy apps that are really traditional therapy, but online, Online-therapy.com bills itself as a “therapy toolbox,” consisting of an online worksheet and video tutorial program, with therapist support and sessions offered on a tiered-basis.
The platform is web-based, and can easily be accessed on desktop computers, smartphones, or tablets with internet access. As of right now, the company does not offer a mobile app.
Online-therapy.com price
Online-Therapy.com's website is easy to navigate, and with prices that start at $40/week. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Honesty and transparency
Unlike many companies, which would hide the secret to their methodology and processes behind some kind of gate, Online-therapy.com is pretty open and honest about how they work.
Right on the homepage is information about how the company leverages content, therapist sessions, worksheets, messaging, journal entries, a personalized activity plan, yoga, meditation, and more to help you reach your goals.
Online-Therapy.com’s reviews page does not just display reviews that show it in a positive light. While the majority of reviews are either 4 or 5 stars, you can also read a handful of 2-star and 3-star reviews. This is the kind of behavior that we expect from a business with nothing to hide, and we’re happy to see it.
Finally, if you want to cancel, pause, or downgrade your subscription, you can do so at any time. However, you will not typically receive a refund for days or appointments that you have already paid for.
Content
Online-Therapy.com provides a complete toolbox of resources built on the success of CBT:
An online, self-directed, 8-module Cognitive Behavioral Therapy course
Worksheets — with daily feedback from your personal therapist
Journal
Live chat, video or phone sessions with your personal certified and licensed therapist
Action plan — where you add activities that bring meaning and joy to your life
Meditation videos
Yoga videos
Additionally, the website includes information and advice about mental health issues, including agoraphobia, anger management, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, insomnia, OCD, panic attacks, PTSD, relationship issues, stress, weight issues, and more.
Security
Online-therapy.com is hosted on an 256-bit encrypted SSL certificate, ensuring that any information you share is safe and protected from prying eyes. Additionally, the platform takes precautions to ensure that any information that is saved is done so on an encrypted server which can only be accessed by you and your therapist.
Any information that you have submitted to the platform is automatically deleted after two years, in order to prevent data leaks or hacking, and if you choose to, you can delete your account whenever you wish. Alternatively, you can also choose to download all of your data as well.
Privacy
Online-therapy.com states that they have designed their platform to meet and exceed HIPAA guidelines. Your information is protected by multiple layers of security, requiring multiple checks and controls in order to keep you safe. Databases, chats, videos, and any audio between you and your therapist are encrypted end-to-end.
You can choose to remain anonymous with your therapist for whatever reason, as well as choose a nickname to go by so that your therapist doesn’t know your real name.
Online-therapy.com negatives
Online-Therapy.com does not have an app. Instead, clients log in directly to their accounts via smartphones or tablets.
Bottom line: Why Online-therapy.com isn’t one of the best therapy sites
Although Online-therapy.com has glowing reviews on its website, there simply aren’t enough third-party consumer reviews to be able to say whether it’s an effective online therapy site. Unlike some of its competitors, it is not rated by the BBB or Trustpilot.
Online-therapy.com also falls short because it doesn’t have a mobile app, and some user reviews online note difficulty scheduling live sessions and trouble navigating the website.
Talkspace is one of the giants of online therapy. They are a direct competitor of BetterHelp.
Talkspace has done brand partnership deals with celebrities including Demi Lovato and Michael Phelps. While this is a buttoned-up site with quality service, note that base prices do not include live therapy sessions — phone or video — like BetterHelp does.
During an initial text exchange, a virtual Talkspace matchmaker will ask you about your therapy history, reasons for seeking therapy, and if there are any special considerations you'd prefer (here's where you'll want to disclose your preference for, say, a female counselor or a psychotherapist specializing in panic disorders, etc.).
You receive a form, similar to a traditional office's intake form, to fill out and send back, and then you're paired with your “primary therapist.”
The speed of registering is an especially helpful aspect of Talkspace — especially for busy moms, or those immobilized with anxiety or depression.
Talkspace reviews and ratings
Talkspace has been accredited with the BBB since 2017, and maintains a B rating through the organization. They also maintain an average of 1.1 out of 5 stars, based on more than 100 customer reviews. On Trustpilot, Talkspace has a score of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 4722 customer reviews.
Each of these scores are lower than what our top choice, BetterHelp, has received.
That being said, Talkspace does claim on their website to have more than 5800 5-star reviews.
Ease of use
Getting started with Talkspace requires a brief assessment where you will be asked a series of questions. Based on your answers, Talkspace will give you a list of recommended therapists to choose from.
Once you have signed up, you can access Talkspace through their web-based platform from any device with an internet connection, or you can download their app for either iPhone or Android.
Base packages allow you to message your therapist by text, and you can also send audio, pictures, and video messages if that is what you prefer. Live video appointments are also available for an additional fee.
Talkspace price
TalkSpace online therapy starts at $69 per week and offer support for you and a partner, including weekly live sessions and messaging support.
TalkSpace does not offer a free trial, or any free online counseling.
Honesty and transparency
Talkspace is not as open and transparent about their methodology as other services are (such as Online-Therapy.com). That said, they do have a lot of valuable content on the website to educate their customers.
That being said, the fact that the Talkspace website only displays 5-star reviews is interesting, and something that should be taken with a grain of salt. Virtually all services will receive some level of negative reviews, and the decision to hide those reviews rarely ever speaks well to the company being reviewed. Talkspace could benefit from more transparency in that regard.
Content
The Talkspace blog is full of content and information that you can access for free whether you are a Talkspace customer or not. This content can be a great resource if you are considering therapy but not yet ready to commit, or if you are still doing a bit of self-discovery.
The Talkspace website also has a number of online tests or graders—such as a Depression Test, Anxiety Test, and Mental Health Test—that some users find helpful.
Security
Talkspace is built on an SSL certificate, which is industry standard for online therapy websites. This puts it on par with other players in the space. All of your chat data is encrypted on Talkspace’s servers, for added security. In order to access the app, you will need to enter your password and passcode (optional), offering additional layers of security.
Privacy
Talkspace is HIPAA compliant, so they take your privacy seriously.
According to Talkspace’s privacy policy, they will never share your private data with anyone unless you authorize disclosure, or in cases where disclosure may be required by law. Talkspace limits which employees can access customer data, and trains its employees on the proper way of interacting with customer data in order to ensure your privacy is maintained.
More on Talkspace
Earlier versions of the Talkspace app had several bugs, including crashing at start-up. Updates in February 2020 have addressed these issues.
TalkSpace partners with several U.S. health insurance plans, although individual insurance plan participation varies. In other words, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider to see if online therapy is covered and what you’re expected to pay out-of-pocket — and which online therapy companies your insurance works with.
Talkspace also shares that many of their customers pay for their therapy with a credit card or Paypal then submit their bills for reimbursement through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Talkspace does not currently accept Medicaid or Medicare. This means that if you do not have private insurance, you’ll need to pay for your online therapy through Talkspace out of your own pocket. At $69 per week, you can likely find less expensive alternatives.
Bottom line: Why Talkspace isn’t one of our “best” online therapy sites
Talkspace has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (accredited), but its only reviews are fairly abysmal. Its customer rating on the BBB site is 1.1/5 stars, and 66% of Talkspace reviews on Trustpilot are 1-star reviews.
Here are your answers to questions about online therapy pricing, insurance, how it works, and whether online therapy platforms are worth it.
How does online therapy work?
First, consider your personality type and preferred method of communication.
Would you rather video conference with your therapist, or have a phone call? Text or instant message? Post intermittently on an online message board?
Most services provide at least a couple of these options, but it's still good to keep in mind which ones are most effective for you.
If online therapy is new to you, be open to trying different communication modes.
Typically, online therapy works like this:
After you are matched with a counselor, there will be an in-take session. This might be over the phone or video, and you may be asked to provide information over email or an online portal.
If you prefer phone or email, that is up to you! You never have to use video (for example) if you don't want to.
From there, depending on what you agree to with your therapist, you can schedule weekly calls of 30-50 minutes each — very much like a traditional, in-person session.
Most of the online therapy sites offer an option for unlimited email or text communications, to account for unexpected events that arise, or questions or concerns that come up between regular sessions.
Is online counseling safe?
One of the benefits of online therapy is that a quality site makes counseling safe and anonymous — after all, there is no risk of bumping into your neighbor like you might with traditional, in-person sessions.
Some things to look for in an online therapy site if security is a concern:
Is the site secure (with an https in the URL)?
Up-to-date encryption
Compliance with HIPAA requirements
Compliance with recommendations for therapists to use secure devices and connections. The National Board for Certified Counselors adheres to strict distance services policies for therapists.
What do you need for teletherapy?
Most telecounseling platforms give you the option to communicate by audio or video — typically a smartphone is enough for either. BetterHelp also gives you the option to connect by laptop or desktop, which not all companies do.
Is online therapy legit? Is teletherapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Online therapy includes a local therapist who offers telephone or Zoom.
While multiple studies find that therapy helps clients improve depression, relationships, and quality of life, one study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that online therapy is just as effective as in-person traditional therapy:
If you are researching online therapy platforms, check their Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot ratings, and read review websites for the pros and cons of the different apps.
Does online therapy work? Is online therapy any good?
Again, online therapy, when done well, is just as effective as in-person therapy, studies find.
Advantages of online therapy include:
Affordable pricing
Access to a wide variety of specialists which may not be available in your area
Option to easily switch counselors if the first one is not a match.
Convenient — no need to drive anywhere
What are the benefits of teletherapy or online therapy?
Therapy is increasingly acceptable, in part, because the benefits can be so great. There are many reasons why therapy is right for you. These include:
You are depressed and don't know how to stop being depressed
You find yourself stuck in your career, relationships, or life challenges, and can't get unstuck
There is turmoil in your relationships, and you want help finding resolve
You feel overwhelmed and don't know how to get a grip
Rage. You are angry all the time, for reasons that do not equate with the issues at hand
General apathy and fatigue (signs of depression)
A sense of guilt or shame colors your life
General apathy, sense of unfulfilling relationships, loneliness
Parents can also seek out in-person for children and teens, as well as online therapy for teens aged 13 and older.
Phebe Brako-Owusu, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Tacoma, Wa., says that teens can benefit from therapy for both specific traumas, as well as a vehicle for helping a teen express themselves. “A teen or child could benefit from therapy if they have experienced a change or trauma in their life and there are noticeable behavioral or emotional changes observed by the parent,” Brako-Owusu continues. “Or, if the parent is noticing the child is not being themselves and they're reluctant to talk to them about it, they could use a session.”
The only difference between online therapy and traditional, in-person counseling, is that with online counseling, you communicate with your therapist by phone, text or video, depending on your preference.
Differences between face-to-face therapy and online therapy
Online psychotherapy is fast becoming a solid alternative to face-to-face therapy. A study by the Berkeley Well-Being Institute determined that online therapy for adult depression from online therapy leader BetterHelp was as effective as face-to-face counseling.
Online therapy sites hire a variety of mental health professionals who are rigorously vetted, but certain professionals are better suited to help you than others.
For instance, do you need a psychiatrist (an M.D. or D.O.), who can prescribe medication? Maybe you only need talk therapy through a licensed psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.), licensed psychological associate or (L.P.A.) licensed professional therapist (L.P.C.). For specific issues and specialized family or relationship help, licensed clinical social workers (L.C.S.W.), or licensed marriage and family therapists (L.M.F.T.) may work best.
CallonDoc is a secure online psychiatry service that connects you to a psychiatrist by phone, where you can get the prescriptions and other care you need for issues including depression, anxiety and panic disorder. Virtual sessions and prescription refills start at $39.99.
Make sure any site you choose is HIPAA compliant, meaning they abide by federally mandated health care privacy standards.
This safeguards your information and transcripts of your sessions against any data breaches, hackers, etc.
Top therapy sites BetterHelp, Talkspace, and MDLive therapy all boast HIPAA compliance in easy-to-find spots on their sites, so finding out whether your site is covered shouldn't be difficult.
Once you've figured out whether online or face-to-face therapy is right for you, how you'd like to communicate with them, and whether or not they're qualified, it's time to sign up!
Our choice for online therapy is BetterHelp, which lets you choose from thousands of licensed, certified counselors, starting at $65/week for unlimited text, voice, video or email sessions. Better Business Bureau A rating. Financial aid available Learn more about low-cost online therapy with BetterHelp >>
Advantages of face-to-face therapy
Face-to-face therapy provides a personal experience and additional benefits such as:
Predictability – An office visit secures a designated time and place to receive therapy and may help with establishing a routine for care.
Visual cues – Clients experience the therapist’s body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. If you lean toward sensory interaction or are extroverted, this may help.
Safety – Mental health conditions in which a person may be in crisis or a danger to themselves or others may benefit from face-to-face counseling.
Variety – Some therapeutic approaches require in-person meetings such as animal-assisted therapy, expressive arts therapy and music therapy.
Disadvantages of face-to-face therapy
Therapists must protect your privacy, but there is the very real possibility that you could run into someone you know while walking into, or out of your appointment. This may be especially troubling when dealing with custody issues if your ex-spouse is looking for fuel to deny or limit access to your child.
Other disadvantages include:
Expense – According to GoodTherapy, an online therapy resource site, an in-person session can cost $65 – $250 per hour. Online options tend to be much more affordable.
Waiting – Instead of getting therapy right away, you must wait until your scheduled appointment time. Depending on the client load of a therapist, that could be weeks or even months in the future.
Scheduling – Typically in-person counseling requires scheduling an appointment during business hours, or otherwise working around the counselor’s availability. This may mean taking off work early, or otherwise creating inconvenience for you.
Travel time – Traditional therapy requires you commute to the appointment, which adds time on either end of the session. Most of us are busy!
Is counseling online as good as face-to-face therapy? Which one is better?
Online therapy is great for moms because it provides coveted flexibility, is very affordable, and has all the other benefits that come with traditional, face-to-face, in-person counseling.
Your comfort level with technology, individual needs and session expectations will play a huge part in determining if online therapy fits.
Technology gives us more options to heal. The flexibility of online therapy, stability of face-to-face counseling or a carefully timed mix may be the answer.
But sometimes you prefer face-to-face, in-person interaction, and that is great, too!
Frequently asked questions about online therapists
Are online therapists legit?
Each platform has its own criteria, but check to see whether an online therapy site requires of its therapists:
Advanced, relevant degree such as a master's or doctorate
Licensure in their state
Advanced hours of practice (BetterHelp requires a minimum of 2,000 hours)
An internal review process — and not just automatic enrollment
Often, a therapist promotes that their services are available via phone or Zoom, which may be fine — but check to make sure the person is certified and credentialed in their state, and has relevant education and training.
How to choose an online therapist
If you’re looking into online therapy, grappling with your personal preferences is the first step. Being confident in your choice is crucial to establish trust and build a positive relationship with a professional counselor.
Can't afford a therapist right now? Here are workbooks you could try to DIY:
Share in the comments: Have you used online therapy sites? What has been your experience?
Is therapy worth it?
If you’re going through a hard time or dealing with mental health issues, or just need someone to talk to, online therapy is a low-pressure and affordable way to get help from a licensed professional — immediately.
If you're facing single motherhood – whether by divorce, choice or happenstance, you need support. Yet, you likely feel lonelier than ever.
You are not alone. Americans are lonelier than ever.
According to a recent Survey Center on American Life1 of more than 2,000 adults, nearly half of all Americans have fewer than three close friends, down from 27% in 1990 when 33% reported having 10 or more close friends, compared to just 13% today.
The key to this phase of life is to think both strategically and be open-minded about who you spend time with. It might mean you part ways with old friends who are holding you back, or have become toxic after your breakup. But it also means a whole, exciting world of possibility.
Feeling awkward and not sure where to start? I give some advice on how to make friends as a single mom, including trying one of the friendship apps we researched.
Here are the types of people you need in your life right now:
1. A comrade
Someone going through the exact same thing. Divorcing? Inseminating? Just got knocked up and gonna see it through? You need someone who is there, too. For networking purposes, if nothing else — share tips on lawyers, doctors, child support. For me, this is hands down my bestie Morghan, who I quote here, is a family lawyer. Our paths happened to coincide in infinite ways. We've done all kinds of stuff together, including go through divorce, vacation and contemplating creating a blended family together.
2. A mother superior
This is a mentor of sorts — A woman who went through what you're going through and came out the other side being more or less who you want to be. I have a couple of these, including single mom bloggers Alaina Shearer of Ms. Single Mama and Honoree Corder of The Successful Single Mom – both of whom are wildly successful businesswomen and remarried happily.
3. The dude
This is your single dad friend. I have several single dad friends, but the main jam is Marc. You need this friend because he is a man — a straight man who is going through the same thing you are, but with a penis. My friendship with Marc has proven invaluable for his perspective on dating and parenting, points of view that have made me a better girlfriend, parent and ex-wife.
4. Wing-woman
Now, I don't know a lot of people at this stage of life who go out to bars and cruise dudes, though Morghan and I had a fun minute or two that involved some Jameson and firefighters and you can read about it here. Most of us set up respectful wine or dinner dates with fellows met online. In any case, you need someone to commiserate with — someone who will not judge you as being a filthy whore because you have sex with men who are not the father of your children, and also will not easily tire of your endless dating antics, because if you're lucky there will be many.
I've got a few of these (I like to circulate between several people, so as not to tire them of my tales). Several are single moms who live afar, and we catch up via IM after our kids are asleep. Others include my friends Betsy and Kris who have been married for a zillion years and think my dating life is hilarious and twisted and also hilarious. And then there is Sasha, who is 15 years older than me and married for the first time in her early 40s. This came after years working in the music industry and enjoying romance and her body in ways that not every woman does — but I do. “I can totally relate,” she says when I share without shame my latest dalliance. “When I was your age I.Could.Not.Get.Enough. You keep doing what you're doing.”
5. The local
This mom may not be your bestest soulmate sister, but she lives nearby and that is a lot. This is a mom — better if there are three such moms – or more — who you can call when you're stuck at the office and need someone to snag your kid at the Boy Scout meeting. She's the one with whom you can coordinate childcare coverage for all those effing half and snow days at school, and will take your kids when you feel like you're on death's door with the flu, and she will not judge you when you call her every.single.day of spirit week and ask, “OK, what are we supposed to dress for today?”
Maybe you don't have a zillion things in common, but that doesn't mean that you don't have a glass of wine with her once in a while and gossip about the cute dads at the school or encourage your kids to be closer friends because that is what community and family is all about. And if you are really luck you will really come to love and like her, and even if one of you moves away, or gets married you will still be close forever – because you will always have that bond that is single motherhood. And even though you don't chose it or wish it on others, it is like war. Men who go through war together always cherish that time as precious and those friendships as their dearest, most brotherly. Because even though it is horrific and unspeakable, those difficulties are the stuff of life. That is when you are most alive. And the people who go through it with you are the only ones who understand.
To find local moms, search for “single parent groups near me” and look for Facebook and Nextdoor groups for single parents or divorced women. Other places to find moms friends in your hood include churches, Meetup and Reddit, as well as your kids' school — whether chatting with parents at pickup or joining the PTA.
6. Your ex (Should you be friends with your ex?)
Should you be friends with your ex? This one is a big maybe, and if the answer is yes, then the friendship will solidify years after the breakup or divorce.
Maybe you just want sex. Or a fun connection, a physical relationship—but none of the baggage of a full-on relationship.
Maybe you're enjoying something really great, but not sure how to define it.
Maybe a FWB is right for you.
I'm not fond of the term “friends with benefits.” I prefer, “Someone I'm sleeping with,” or “a lover.”
My terminology suggests what people have been doing since God created penises and vaginas: Enjoying each other sexually and romantically without any social commitments. When all parties are evolved adults, it can be a very satisfying arrangement. But it is rarely without its complications.
Get over the negative thinking that you are unlovable and perpetually lonely — as a friend or otherwise. Good vibes attract good vibes. This is a new start after divorce.
Be open to finding friends everywhere: other parents on the playground, colleagues, neighbors
Be open to finding all kinds of friends, of all ages and demographics. Love is love!
Invest in and prioritize your friendships through hiring babysitters to go out, kid-free, check in regularly and extend your time and care as you would any important relationship
Where to meet people and find friends after divorce
Finding a single mom friend who is also ambitious, open-minded about sex and dating, and shares your parenting style may be a tall order, especially if you live in a small community in a state not aligned with your politics.
If you feel overwhelmed and confused about how to make friends as an adult at this stage of life, you are not alone!
Grieving friends you lost in a divorce or breakup, as well as accepting that your life as a solo parent may be different than what you envisioned would be your ideal life is required to move on. Sometimes the challenge is healing ourselves through self-care or therapy before we can connect with others.
Here are 10 places you can go to make new friends:
1. Friendship apps
There is a growing list of apps designed specifically to help lonely people find friends. The Wall Street Journal even wrote about this trend, as people are more and more comfortable using technology to make meaningful personal connections of all kids.
We compiled this list of 25 apps to make friends and meet new people to help you sort through the noise. Find out which apps are worth your time and which ones aren't worth checking out.
2. Dating apps
Just as you would ask friends for a romantic setup, put the word out that you are looking for new friends, and ask those you trust for introductions. Dating apps including Bumble, Match and Tinder have friendship features exactly for the many people who feel exactly like you do — lonely and in search of quality platonic friendships.
Also, be open to making platonic friends with nice people you meet for dates, but lacked the spark. I made several important friendships with single men I met for potential dating on various apps, but instead fostered relationships that lasted much longer than any boyfriend!
3. Reddit
Reddit is a large and growing web of often thoughtful conversations about literally everything and anything — including local topics like politics, community organizing, parenting and schools, and more. See if there are any Reddit Community groups or threads for your city — like this one for Brevard County, Florida.
4. Local gym or yoga studio
Local gyms can be a great way to meet other fitness-minded people who you see again and again in the weight room, fitness classes or buck-naked in the locker room or sauna.
5. Local sports league
Whether you are semi-pro or amateur, there are other athletes in your town who want to be friends. Seek out a softball league, tennis class, bocce ball court, bowling league, ping pong club — or form your own neighborhood family badminton rally or kayak outings.
As always, if you can’t find what you are looking for, start your own effort. Build it and the friends may just come!
6. Faith-based organizations, like “churches with singles groups near me”
Many people find they feel awkward if not explicitly rejected from their religious community after divorce, or as a single mom. Maybe it is time to seek out a new church or temple if you no longer feel welcome in what was your spiritual home, or are craving such a community.
Or, consider forming within your current congregation a single parent meetup, divorce recovery group or fellowship organization devoted to one of your interests (say, a monthly movie night, service group or professional evening).
7. Community-based organizations
Friends can be found anywhere you can find a shared connection. Some examples:
Service organizations — United Way, Junior League, Big Brother Big Sisters
Professional organizations
Investment clubs
Book clubs
Your PTO or other school-based org
Your kids activities: Scouts, sports, music
Neighborhood cleanup, neighborhood watch or HMO
Local political organizations
8. Search for “single mom groups near me” or “single parent support groups near me”
Google might connect you with your new BFF. Each local community has its own scene, and by going to search engines, you may discover a group through a local church, YMCA or JCC, park district or other community group. Takes two seconds!
Meetup app has been helping people find new friends for two decades by facilitating in-person meetups for a wide, wide variety of interests and activities. One of the most vibrant social networks, Meetup.org has been used by more than 50 million people to find events and join groups. The site has high user reviews, thanks to man fond fans who have had wonderful experiences and friendships through this site that is free to attendees (event organizers pay a small fee).
Here is the Meetup.org page for my city of Richmond, Va., where there are several groups just for people looking to make friends:
Following and interacting with people from your area on Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor can lead to learning about great local resources, as well as meaningful friendships.
Discord Server is like Slack, but for socializing. You can create invite only groups to discuss specific topics with your friends, or join larger conversations about pop culture, movies, technology, gaming and more — through voice, video, and text.
Facebook groups of all kinds can be a great way to feel connected and get info on topics that are important to you — both in the ether, as well as in your neighborhood. Sometimes, national groups can net local friendships.
Years ago I created Millionaire Single Moms — An awesome forum for professional single moms to hang out, dish on divorce, kids, sex, dating, money, career. Many of us have made meaningful Internet friendships, and many even have found friends in their town who have changed their lives.
Don’t be shy about finding Facebook groups that focus on your own community, and be confident other people there are also yearning for new friends.
11. Take classes
Take an in-person class at a local university, community college, art studio, theater, gym, museum, a community center in anything that strikes your interest — as well as things outside your interests. Learn something new, meet new people at the same time.
My dear friends Amanda and Melissa met 25 years ago in a screenwriting class through a local university — and have been BFFs ever since. Melissa even met her husband through Amanda, though he is now her ex-husband, and that is another story … but you know what I’m saying.
Bottom line: Single moms, you need to make friends after divorce
Making friends as a single mom can be even more challenging than for other adults — but your unique life stage can also make it a great way to make friends and connect with both men and women in a similar situations.
SOURCES
The State of American Friendship: Change, Challenges, and Loss — Findings from the May 2021 American Perspectives Survey,” By Daniel A. Fox. June 8, 2021 americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/
If you’re looking to expand your dating prospects to a global dating pool, are seeking someone of the same nationality or ethnicity, or romantically prefer one race over another — we put together a list of 13 international dating sites to help you meet that special someone wherever in the world you happen to be.
Even though it isn’t exclusively for international dating, our top pick on this list is eharmony because of its large dating pool (10 million active users) and track record of successful, long-term matches and marriages.
Founded in 2000, Asian Dating was one of the first international dating apps, and it’s certainly the largest.
AsianDating is for men who want to meet Asian women. The site features women from Thailand, Singapore, India, Malaysia, China and more. The Asian Dating homepage features a white man with an Asian woman, and the rest of the site’s images are of young, pretty Asian women.
Asian Dating is a sister site to the International Cupid media network that operates over 30 reputable sites. Asian Dating is not exclusively for Asian daters. Its 4.5 million users span the U.S. and Europe, among other parts of the world.
It takes just a few minutes to sign up for Asian Dating, and memberships start at $38.75 per month. Make sure to specify your geographic criteria in the filter section; otherwise, you will get matches from all over the world.
A free account only allows you to respond to one member, after which a pop-up prompts you to subscribe.
What are the features and benefits of Asian Dating?
There are three memberships, gold, platinum, and diamond:
Gold: Allows you to communicate with all members, live chat, send/receive emails, remove all third-party ads, and hide your profile so you can browse anonymously
Platinum: This version has additional features to help you rank above other members, double your profile space, highlight your profile, translate messages, and access advanced matching algorithms
Diamond: With this membership, your profile ranks at the top and displays a diamond icon. You have priority messaging, and premium 24/7 customer service
To sign up, you must upload a picture and provide a valid email address. If there is a question about whether your profile is legit, you will be asked to provide a valid I.D. to verify your identity.
Who's on Asian Dating?
Asian Dating has more than 4.5 million users worldwide. Despite its name, Asian Dating is open to people of all ethnic backgrounds. The profile quality varies (I saw a fair number of unkempt males with questionable fashion preferences), but Asian Dating is worth giving a try, thanks to the large number of members and affordable prices.
How much does Asian Dating cost?
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
1 Month
$42.50
$51
$91.98
3 Months
$83
$100
$179.97
12 Months
$165
$210
$379.98
Asian Dating pros
App
Ability to interact with the first member for free
Asian dating cons:
Excessive claims of fake profiles
Unlikely to meet someone in the free version
Asian Dating reviews (Trustpilot)
Don D. 09.17/2025
“Every one of these girls is fake. They are either from LA or FL. For example, I chatted with a bunch, but many say they're from LA or FL, and then you get their number, it will be from a different state. I got her number for use of WhatsApp, and we chatted there, and within the first 10 messages, she wanted to show me her portfolio in crypto. I'm not a dummy, then she started talking more about BTC and showing me her crypto wallet. And then she asked me to telegram. If you google telegram scams you will find a list here. She or he might have been a he, but quickly stopped chatting with me. If these girls look too good, they are fake, and that's about 95% of them. Don't fall for it, guys, and don't pay for the site. If you want a real Asian, go to Pinallove, you will have more luck meeting a real one. Stay away!”
Richard Marshall, 06/17/2025
“It allows a few messages free per 24 hours. Would like the ppm to be a little less expensive.”
Consumer, 06/22/2025
“9 out of 10 of the female profiles are FAKE/SCAM
In the past months have been bombarded with likes and messages from mostly FAKE/SCAM profiles (rough estimation: 95%) and if I report them via the standard report button, they do little or nothing about it. On the other hand they keep sending commercial messages to make you subscre to yet another dating site of the same group. Very annoying also is the fact that you cannot hide others' profiles. They keep appearing in all your lists. As things are now, it's impossible for me to have a normal and safe dating experience here.”
MD Sabbir, 03/13/2025
“This is the worst dating site I have ever used in my entire life. When I purchased it, they suddenly suspended my account saying that I had a duplicate account, which was wrong and even if I have one, what's their problem if I pay for both. When I reached out the support team, they activated it but I felt it was unsecure for me, so I tried to check by messaging people but I felt like most of the women's are bot there and some of them are paid to talk with people and even some of them directly asking money from me . After this horrible experience when I demanded a refund after a few hours of the purchased, they I said I had used enough of their service so they are not gonna refund me, I mean what the heck is this. this company operates in Australia where no refund things is illegal so I'm going to file a online case against then and take legal action. if the authority is watching this then be prepared for facing court notice.”
Asian Melodies
(no BBB rating, 2.9/5 star rating on Trustpilot)
Asian Melodies primarily caters to women in Asia looking to meet men from other countries. You can sign up from anywhere globally, but women must be Asian. Men don’t face such restrictions.
Creating a profile is straightforward, and you answer standard questions. Other than typical dating site questions (lifestyles, hobbies, work, activity level, and more), Asian Melodies asks about your English language skills and “guilty pleasures,” such as eating in bed or anything potentially embarrassing.
What are the features and benefits of Asian Melodies?
The site is intuitively easy to navigate with a pleasing aesthetic. The filters are straightforward, thorough, and very efficient. Special features include roulette-style matching, sending digital “gifts,” and winks.
The more you use the site, the more pricey it can get (since you pay for every feature separately), so users beware. Looking at the airbrushed profiles, it looks like many (female) profiles might be fake. Asian Melodies offers a community blog where users can post any conversations/share experiences, discuss potential red flags, and interact.
The site requires members to verify their identity by submitting documents and recording a video to ensure they are who they say they are.
Who's on Asian Melodies?
This site reports 1 million users in the United States, and about 70% of users are male. Asian Melodies is popular with younger Asian women (30 and under). However, the male database tends to be 40 and up. As a woman, it's possible to meet people in your age range; however, the odds are stacked against you, given the sexist demographics. If you are looking to date online, I recommend investing in other online dating sites.
How much does Asian Melodies cost?
Customers buy credits to purchase separate features. Asian Melodies gives you 10 free credits to start. However, that does not go a long way and is not enough to try all the features. For example, these are the costs for popular features:
Live chat – 2 credits/minute
Stickers – 5 credits each
Sending photos in chat – 10 credits
Sharing a video – 50 credits
Emails – 10 credits for first mail, then 30 credits each (which are limited to a minimum of 150 symbols and a max of 3,500 symbols)
Opening email – first one is free, followed 10 credits each
Sending photos in email – free
Opening photos in an email – 10 credits each
Accessing a video – 50 credits
Profile videos – 50 credits to post
Request personal info – free after 3,000 credits of communication with a member
You can purchase 65 credits for $9.99.
The bottom line is that the total cost is relatively expensive because the credits add up.
Live chat
2 Credits per minute
5 Credits per sticker
10 Credits to send a picture
50 Credits to send a video
Email
30 credits per email (10 Credits for the first email)
5 Credits per sticker
10 Credits to open an email
10 Credits to unlock photos 50 Credits to open a video
Credits
$9.99 for 65 credits
Asian Melodies pros
Pleasant interface
Large user base
Asian Melodies cons
Expensive (itemized costs accumulate)
Many fake female profiles reported (consider investing in a background check)
Asian Melodies reviews (Trustpilot, Sitejabber.com)
Javed Iqbal Salim, 05/26/2025
“Just a plain rip off. The ladies are fake. They talk nonsense. Not interested in any sort of friendship. Just keep paying stupid money for the tokens.”
Miles Griffin,” 03/08/2025 “I’ve been through dozens of similar sites and honestly didn’t expect anything new. But somehow, I find myself still here after two hours, genuinely interested.”
TNT “Dynamite,” 12/03/2024
“Asking for too many credits. I understand you need credits for certain services, but to charge credits for every chat per reply and for every picture sent to me is ridiculous. Especially the amount of credit needed and the price to purchase more credits that won't even cover 90% of what is needed making you pay for more. Completely a waste of money and a huge scam. Girls are not even real, just bots or people to drain your bank account.”
Anna M., 01/16/22
“I like Asian melodies! There are really many interesting people you can meet with and correspond. I communicate not only with girls but also with boys because I want to find friends.”
(Parent company Bumble has a 1.3/5 stars on BBB and is not accredited with an F rating, Badoo has a 2.9/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
You can choose if you want everyone to be able to contact you or just the people that you “like.” Founded in 2003, Badoo is a top-rated is one of the most popular dating app which reports 500 million users around the world — making it among the largest of all dating apps. You can also use the app to make friends.
Badoo operates across 190 countries. However, the app can be useful for meeting locals if you specify your geographical preferences. Once you allow the app to track your location, it notifies you of nearby members with the “bumped into” feature.
Badoo offers a free 3-day trial, which is great for people who want to test the waters of different dating apps. Signing up is easy, but you must upload a minimum of two photos (later, you can verify your photos so people know you’re legit). After that, you have the option of taking a short quiz to populate your profile or just diving right in. Your “likes” list comes pre-populated with potential matches you can approve or delete. You can choose if you want everyone to be able to contact you or just the people you “like.”
The interface is much like Tinder. You click on a heart to like someone's profile and on the X to remove it from your list. You can also swipe.
What are the features and benefits of Badoo?
Badoo is an easy-to-use and fun dating app with tons of features such as chat mode, security checks, and video chat. The features allow you to view who liked you, see who viewed your profile, send messages and gifts, and live video chat. Premium features include the ability to undo a swipe, make sure that your messages appear at the top of the inbox list, and browse profiles anonymously.
There are two search functions: “encounters” (profile-based matching within your specified criteria) and “people nearby” (a geographically based search for which you must enable your location). The filter search criteria include sex, age, distance, interests, preferred type of relationship, personality, habits, kids, work/income, looks, pets, religion, education, and more.
Who's on Badoo?
Badoo's most popular age range is 25 to 45, and the large user base means it can be used for any type of dating connection.
How much does Badoo cost?
You can buy credits or choose a Premium or Premium Plus membership:
100 credits
$4.99
450 credits
$19.99
1,350 credits
$39.99
3,050 credits
$59.99
Premium
1 day
$3.99
1 week
$7.99
1 month
$19.99
3 months
$31.99
6 months
$47.99
Lifetime
$159.99
Premium Plus
1 week
$19.99
1 month
$39.99
3 months
$79.99
6 months
$119.99
Badoo pros
App
Free trial
Badoo cons
slightly higher cost than mainstream apps
Badoo Reviews (Trustpilot)
Olumuyiwa, 06/24/2025
“It is a nice spot to date ladies and exchange ideas about live issues.”
Rachel Heads, 06/23/2025
“Not very good at all. Rude people. All they want is sex not even to get to know you so not using it anymore and no one even wants to go on dates anymore”
Khosi Queen, 03/11/2025
“The site has some real people and some scammers…no world without them right. Overall, give it a try, I met real people.”
Laurynas Urbutis, 03/09/2025
“I will say simple, don't waste your time with Badoo. They changed policy you can't write any women as was before same with likes they are limited. This company apps going down. In Tinder i got 15 likes in one day, in badoo just 1. This is normal? Really sad what left from app. Totally nothing. Disappointed”
BravoDate
(not BBB accredited with a C+ rating, 3.3/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
BravoDate is a great international dating platform for singles who wish to meet a partner when distance is no object. The online platform mainly targets men who want to meet Slavic women. Most female profiles look stylized and model-like. The same is not true for the male profiles.
Signing up for BravoDate is quick. Like other sites, once you answer the basic questions, you are free to browse. The search filters are efficient, and you can search by age, education, habits, nationality, relationship status, religion, and more. If you are a younger, single female, you’ll likely enjoy other apps more, since many male profiles on BravoDate tend to be older.
BravoDate minimizes fake profiles with a thorough approval process. To use any of the features on the site, you must purchase credits. Credits will enable you to send instant messages, video chat, email, and more. BravoDate offers standard features with no extra frills. Unfortunately, no free trial is available.
Who's on BravoDate?
BravoDate is filled with Eastern-European beauties and airbrushed photos. So, unless you're a male looking to meet someone from Eastern Europe, move on to another app. it has a large user base with approximately 400,000 active members at any given time.
How much does BravoDate cost?
When you sign up for BravoDate, you will receive 20 credits. This won’t get you far, since these are the costs for standard features:
Chat – 2 credits/minute
Sending letters – 10 credits for the first, then 30 credits each
Opening a picture in chat – 10 credits
On-camera video – 4 credits/minute
Opening profile videos – 50 credits
You can purchase more credits in a pack of 65 for $9.99.
BravoDate pros
Video chat
Pleasant interface
BravoDate cons
No app
Impossible to connect or even try the site in the free version
BravoDate reviews (Trustpilot)
Roxanne Edwards, 06/22/2025
“Has everything you need in a dating app!Cool for finding people, editing your bio, just make sure to put another way of contacting you like discord or snapchat since after a bit you have to pay to talk to people.”
John Robert, 03/13/2025
“Very good and interesting.”
Gun, 03/10/2025
“This dating website is an scam. For just a few messages, you pay a lot of money. When you want to communicate outside the platform, you can’t share contact details—they appear as asterisks **** supposedly on her side. The profiles are fake and keep you engaged on the website so you end up spending more. It’s a waste of time and a money grab. How are you ever supposed to arrange a meeting if you can’t share anything?”
Elliot Strong, 11/06/2024
“Overall, my impressions are positive. It's easy, many girls actually respond and engage in a dialogue, not just ‘Hi, bye'. There are some paid feauters, but to be honest, even the basic ones are enough for dating. Overall, my impressions are positive, although finding love is a matter of time.”
eharmony
(A BBB rating, 2.8/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Since 2000, eharmony has been helping singles find meaningful relationships, often leading to marriage. The compatibility quiz and detailed profile review filter out fake profiles or individuals looking for quickies. Relationship studies from Harvard and the University of Chicago analyzed major dating sites, and couples who met on eharmony scored higher in marriage rates and lowest in divorce rates.
The sign-up process for eharmony is thorough and lengthy — but worth it. For over 20 years, eharmony has connected international singles with common values and interests. The digital platform enables singles from all over the world to interact and expand their cultural horizons.
eharmony’s website claims that someone finds love every 14 minutes with eharmony. However, the cost is high, which helps weed out individuals who are not serious about the dating process. eharmony is trustworthy, with over 3.5 million verified reviews.
What are the features and benefits of eharmony?
eharmony's patented compatibility matching system increases the likelihood of two compatible people forming a successful relationship. In addition, the site offers a comprehensive personality test, assessments, match recommendations, messaging, and a blog with dating advice. eharmony also shows a compatibility score with every potential match.
The search filters allow users to narrow down and filter match suggestions. In addition, with a premium membership, you can see who viewed your profile, send/receive messages, browse profiles anonymously, call customer service assistance, and view photos. While the free version allows for some messaging and unlimited likes, it blurs the pictures so you cannot see the members.
eharmony uses a text message verification process to confirm the identity of its members. Vetted members have an SMS Verified symbol on their profile. The eharmony Trust & Safety Team also reviews profiles for legitimacy.
Who's on eharmony?
eharmony is for singles looking for a committed relationship.
Like-minded, extensive user base with quality singles
eharmony reviews cons
Free version blurs profile pictures
eharmony reviews (BBB reviews)
Kevin W., 03/08/2025
“I have been charged the incorrect rate for months. I have notified them prior and yet it happened again.”
Maria G., 12/11/2024 “Less than 0 stars!!!!!This site is terrible and you can't speak to anyone. I accidently signed up for an annual plan and when I realized (a few days later) what I had done. They canceled the subscription but will continue to charge my card for a total of $366.00. The profiles are fake, the selection is terrible. I would have never singed up for a year. I didn't want to do it for a month. Don’t sign up! You will regret it.”
Michele D., 10/25/2024
“Very expensive, and I've had the same 10 people show up on my profile. Everybody that is decent, is outside the set parameters of 50 miles distance; sometimes they're even on the other side of the country. Every time I see my credit card charge my stomach turns.”
Rob F., 09/27/2024
“Waste of money and the matches are absolutely awful. The site is a scam.”
Elite Singles
(not BBB accredited with an A+ rating, 1.6/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Since its launch in 2013, Elite Singles caters to relationship seekers who invest in successful careers and higher education. This site isn't for those looking for something casual. But, if you value higher education and want to find a partner that's on the same page, this app is your best bet. Elite Singles offers a free trial to give members a preview of its features before paying. Elite Singles serves more than 25 countries and 13 million singles worldwide.
What are the features and benefits of Elite Singles?
Signing up is easy and takes under five minutes. Elite Singles offers virtual speed dating events, wildcard matches, personality tests, matching algorithms, and search filters, including age, height, education, habits, and ethnicity. Only paid members can view photos and messages.
When you sign up, your personal information is reviewed for accuracy and validity.
Who's on Elite Singles?
Elite Singles caters to the elite international dating market. Over 90% of users are 30 years old and above, and Elite Singles claims that 85% of its members hold an above-average education (which likely means at least some college).
How much does Elite Singles cost?
Elite Singles offers a limited free trial. However, if you choose to take advantage of premium features, the cost is higher than most sites.
3 months
$57.95/month
6 months
$44.95/month
12 months
$31.95/month
Elite Singles pros
App
Quality, educated career singles
Elite Singles cons
Blurred profile pictures in the free version
Elite Singles reviews (Trustpilot)
Kitty, 06/23/2025
“A scam. Can't video call. Many without photos. Obvious fake profiles. $$$$$. Fake good looking ‘match' appeared last day of my paid membership. Off shore company can get away with BS.”
Alison Weir, 03/08/2025
“Wishing to ensure that my subscription would not automatically be renewed, I searched their website recently and could find little about it, but it did seem that it would expire without renewal. Last week, I was annoyed to be informed that they had renewed it. When I complained, not only about that but also about the lack of activity (no comparison with the highly proactive Match.com), I met an inflexible attitude and a refusal to end my subscription and refund me.
They need to make it clearer and easier on their website to end a subscription.”
Beautyworks, 11/30/2024
“This company is lucky to get 1star and how I wish I could get a refund. Absolute rubbish. Terrible choices. No matching carried out just any photo put up whether they are suitable or not. Big mistake on my part to join. Shockingly bad.”
Sarah Quinn, 08/28/2024
“After 2 days of being on this site I plan to cancel tonight. I have already been contacted by 3 fake accounts and likely 2 more. There is no way to directly reach customer service, they have 48 hours to respond. Also, many of the matches I was presented with did not fit what I had listed as being important to me. This is an expensive service that represents itself as something it is not at all and it does not feel even remotely safe.
Update: I have already been trying to cancel my membership since the 26th for a refund, as I wrote in my letter to customer service yesterday, the membership cancelations provided on your website did not work, I tried many times. That is why I have been e-mailing you. I also did report the pages. I have not yet heard back from customer service.
I sent another request to customer service but still have heard nothing from the company.”
(not BBB accredited, 2.1/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Did you ever want to travel the world? International Cupid is a dating site that allows you to do just that. This site has one of the largest user databases of all, but you have to consider if the international dating scene is right for you. Cupid Media operates 33 sites globally. Since 2004, International Cupid has helped singles from all over the world form long-distance relationships and marriages.
Have you ever seen the show “90-Day Fiancé?” The premise is that people fall in love, arrive in the U.S. on a 90-day visa, and in the end decide whether they want to get married. It’s a very extensive process, and certainly not guaranteed.
So, unless you are willing to travel or invest in a long-distance relationship, International Cupid probably isn’t for you. On the other hand, you might meet interesting people and expand your cultural horizons.
What are the features and benefits of International Cupid?
Free features include a translator, “Exotic Beauties Gallery” (a gallery featuring beautiful women from all over the world), compatibility guide, the ability to respond to a paying member’s messages, and profile tags intended to highlight your personality (such as @socialbutterfly or @worldtravel). Platinum features include anonymous profile viewing, no ads, highlighted profiles, doubled profile space, and more.
While you don't need to provide documents to register, you may be asked to provide identification or pictures that mimic poses to prove your identity if there are questions about your profile.
Who's on International Cupid?
The user base consists of an international crowd willing to go an extra mile or 1000 to meet that special someone. If you don't like long-term relationships, this is not the app for you. The predominant age range is mid-20s to mid-30s.
How much does International Cupid cost?
1 month (gold)
$41.50
3 months (gold)
$83 ($27.67 per month)
12 months (gold)
$165 ($13.75 per month)
1 month (platinum)
$50
3 months (platinum)
$100 ($33.33 per month)
12 months (platinum)
$210 ($17.50 per month)
1 month (diamond)
$89.98
3 months (diamond)
$179.97 ($59.99 per month)
12 months (diamond)
$379.98 ($31.67 per month)
International Cupid pros
Free version is sufficient to meet someone
App on Google Play
Great interface and an international crowd
International Cupid cons
No app on Apple store
Scams and fake profiles reported
International Cupid reviews (Trustpilot)
Marko D., 06/24/2025
“Caution: I warn you about this dating site. It's a 100% scam. You either get fake messages or, if you're registered, only African women respond. If you pay money, you get nothing. The people who respond are women who just want the money or are looking for rich men. Stay away from it if you're looking for something honestly. My own experience.”
Ntombifuthi Sprenkane, 03/09/2025
“So far, so good, but still searching. I would love to meet someone honest as they say, not yet found someone but hopefully I will, can't complain for now.”
Yana Buraeva, 12/03/2024
“Terrible service. I created my account and one day later, it’s terminated without any emails or other type of communications.”
JollyRomance
(no BBB rating, 3.4/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Jolly Romance caters to the American male fantasy of meeting Eastern European women. The user base includes other countries, but most female profiles are from Eastern Europe. Many profile pictures emphasize sensuality.
What are the features and benefits of Jolly Romance?
The free version allows members to create a profile and view other members. If you want to meet somebody or view private images/videos, you need to subscribe. Search filters include lifestyle choices, appearance, age, habits, interests, and more. Jolly Romance also offers verified profiles, meaning the member has supplied documents to prove identity.
Who's on Jolly Romance?
The profiles are primarily women from Slavic-speaking countries (Ukraine, Russia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, and more) seeking to meet American men.
How much does Jolly Romance cost?
At sign-up, you receive 20 free credits. You can purchase more credits in a pack of 65 for $9.99.
Jolly Romance pros
International profiles
Jolly Romance cons
No app
No free messaging/you must pay to meet people
Jolly Romance reviews (Trustpilot)
Jade, 03/12/2025
“A really pleasant experience, even if you just want to talk to someone new. People are open and friendly.”
Chuck, 12/14/2024 “It’s simple and convenient. What's important to me is that the site doesn't turn into a complicated quest. Here, everything is straightforward: if you want to meet people, you meet them; if you want to browse profiles, you browse. It's simple and convenient, and thankfully, there's no endless push for paid subscriptions.”
Dizzy Whitworth, 09/ 22/2024
“Good, but credits are too much and keep raising , you cant have a real conversation with because so many get to you, like bots, anyhow they are good interesting individuals.”
Latin Feels
(no BBB accreditation, C+ rating, 3.6/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Latin Feels exoticizes Latin women and caters to male fantasies. If you are a U.S.-based single mommy, this site likely isn't for you. Latin Feels attracts men who wish to meet ladies from Latin America and ladies who want to marry American men. Registration is simple and efficient. The more information you provide about yourself, the more you're likely to meet someone who fits your criteria.
What are the features and benefits of Latin Feels?
Oddly, you cannot specify your gender when signing up. The female profiles are gorgeous. However, their male counterparts leave a lot more to be desired. The site has a modern, user-friendly, clean interface with extensive filter tools for numerous criteria and specifications. In addition, the site requires profile verification for security purposes.
Who's on Latin Feels?
Latin Feels has a large female user base. In addition, the site markets its mail-order-bride concept to men. The male user base is predominantly middle aged.
How much does Latin Feels cost?
Latin Feels uses a credit-based system where each credit costs 50 cents. You can also purchase credits in a pack of 65 for $9.99.
Latin Feels pros
Customer support available 24/7
Fast response/messaging
Latin Feels cons
No app
Costs add up (credit-based system)
Latin Feels reviews (Trustpilot)
Ramiro Gonzales, 06/09/2025
“I like the beautiful woman on site, they sound sincere and friendly.”
Steven Jennings, 02/21/2025
“Just started. No risk no money. Wonderful chat with real like, very attractive female. She demands little and freely shared her thoughts. Quite a safe start.”
Andrew Jones, 11/01/2024
“I was on this site for a long while and never got to meet up with anyone and the ladies never give out phone numbers this site will strip away your savings!”
LoveFort
(no BBB rating, 3.9/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
LoveFort is a dating site that caters to western men who want to date Colombian, Brazilian, Mexican, and other Latin American women. You must create a profile to view other profiles. LoveFort will ask you to specify your personality, looks, interest, taste in a potential partner, and relationship expectations.
What are the features and benefits of LoveFort?
LoveFort boasts a large user base. Features include “Faces” (roulette-type selection of 20 profiles), excellent filter parameters, chats, mail, gifts, and the ability to exchange photos. LoveFort uses a video verification process with documents to ensure the identity of its members.
Who's on LoveFort?
The vast majority of the few female users are under 35 years old. The male user base is slightly older, averaging around 40.
How much does LoveFort cost?
LoveFort is another site that works on a credit-based system. For example, reading a letter costs 10 credits; sending a letter 40 credits. Upon signing up, all members receive 20 free credits. You can purchase more credits in a pack of 65 for $9.99.
LoveFort pros
Detailed filter/search options
Quality profiles
LoveFort cons
Geared toward Latin women
No app
Long registration process
LoveFort reviews (Trustpilot)
Gus Gilder, 06/25/2025
“Don't even think about it! It's a scam – you see what appear to be photos of real people, but they use bots to try to get you to buy expensive credits.”
Oliver Berg, 03/11/2025
“Interesting concept, but be cautious. Site design is clean, and signing up was easy. after using the site for a while, I noticed some red flags. Many profiles seemed too perfect, and I received an unusual number of messages right after joining—even before I had filled out much information. The site operates on a credit-based system, which can get expensive quickly.”
Not Shuer, 12/15/2024
“Here is how to let interactions with new opportunities can reflect some one like me to pass a veteran to be put on wait through a two year draft.”
Match.com
(not BBB rated with a 1.08/5 customer rating, 1.1/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Operating since 1995, Match.com is a veteran in the dating world. The site aims to attract all singles regardless of their relationship goals. The interface is clean and organized, and profiles convey maximum information about each user. It's free to sign up and browse.
The sign-up process is easy and intuitive. While it does require some basic information, you'll be happy you gave it a try. To access singles in other countries, simply follow the “Match International” link on their site. Match.com services over 50 countries in 12 languages.
What are the features and benefits of Match.com?
Features include filter/specific search criteria, algorithm matching, sending emails/chat, events, and favorites. Basic features include seeing profile views, who liked you, top picks, sending likes, and posting photos. Premium features include notifications when someone has read your email, one monthly boost, and the ability to reverse swipes.
Match.com uses technology to scan your face to ensure you are the same person in your photos. This tool allows you to have a verified profile badge.
Who's on Match.com?
Match.com has one of the biggest user bases in the international dating site world. In this community, there is something for everyone. However, the predominant age range is mid-20s to mid-30s.
How much does Match.com cost?
Platinum
3 months
$42.99 per month
6 months
$26.99 per month
12 months
$20.99 per month
Silver
3 months
$27.99 per month
6 months
$16.99 per month
12 months
$10.99 per month
Bronze
3 months
$6.66 per month
6 months
$4.99 per month
12 months
$3.32 per month
Match.com pros
App
Extensive user base
Match.com cons
Reports of unfair billing practices
Match.com reviews (BBB, Trustpilot)
Prousa, 1 star 06/04/2025
“Worst dating app. They block, ban you after false reports by fake female profiles, then they block you from future use. I didn't even get to use my account. Terrible experience. Match is unethical and a monopoly. They need to be shut down.”
Mark Saenz, 1 star 05/28,2025
“I wished I read Truspilot before falling into that scam. Be aware that there are many old profiles of inactive people. the page takes your money without your authorization, change your credit card. very bad matches and nobody answered.”
Hema, 1 star 11/15/2024
“Absolute rubbish. They tie you in for 5 months and most people on there are just looking for sex or waste your time. I have two months left and ill never use this shit app again.”
(formerly Seeking Arrangements) (D- rating with the BBB and a 1/5 customer rating, 1.2/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Seeking claims to attract wealthy men looking for beautiful women. This age-old dilemma raises concerns about prostitution and sugar-daddy relationships. Seeking operates internationally in 139 countries.
The site caters to men in that the ratio of users is four women to every single man. Seeking suggests that a woman's attractiveness determines her value in the dating space, so if you find such a premise offensive, you might want to skip signing up. Their website portrays a gorgeous young woman under the subheading “What is a sugar baby?”
Signing up is free and quick. However — since you apparently cannot have both — Seeking asks you to choose whether you're looking for “looks and charm” or “success and wealth.” Members also need to specify their annual income. Members can pay $4.99 to verify their profile and can also opt to submit to a background check, which costs $50.
What are the features and benefits of Seeking.com?
Features include messaging, pictures, a pleasant interface, filter/search functions, VIP rooms, profile verifications, and more. In addition, you can choose a VIP-room diamond membership (all members must undergo verification) that costs $250 per month.
Who's on Seeking.com?
The user base is older men and younger women seeking reciprocal relationships. The term “relationships” may be a bit of a stretch considering most users are looking for hookups, sugar babies/daddies, or short-term dating.
How much does Seeking.com cost?
It’s free to sign up and try the site.
For men:
30-day Premium member
$19.99/month
90-day Premium member
$15/month
Seeking.com pros
Transparency
App
Seeking.com cons
Meat-market atmosphere/dynamic
Expensive
Seeking.com reviews (BBB, Trustpilot)
Rick, 06/20/2025
“Waste of money. This site is worse than other terrible SD sites. The site has very few real women in the large city I live in and you will get messages from women overseas trying to scam you for money. Save your hard-earned money, fellas! This site is a complete waste of time and money!”
Ryan, 03/11/2025
“Stay clear. Signed up, created my profile, and began swiping, only for the app to close and my account to be suspended, all within about 10 minutes of starting up. Emailed support and they said my accounts suspended and that's final, no explanation has been provided, disgraceful really but I'm just glad I didn't pay for a subscription beforehand. Major thumbs down. Got in touch with the support team as requested, made a ticket asking what happened and the ticket was immediately closed with no response. Nice one.”
Zoosk
(not BBB accredited with an A+ rating, 1.9/5-star rating on Trustpilot)
Since 2007, Zoosk has been dedicated to helping build romances, relationships, and friendships. With over 40 million profiles, Zoosk's primary user base is all-inclusive. As a result, it's one of the best local dating apps available in over 80 countries.
What are the features and benefits of Zoosk?
Features include a free trial, behavioral matchmaking algorithm, integrated social media tools, likes, personalized notifications, extensive security measures/filters, messaging, dating advice, extensive filter preferences, and more. Subscription is necessary to initiate conversations, see who's viewed your profile, send gifts, boost profiles, receive daily recommendations, or look at profiles in a “hidden” mode.
Zoosk offers several ways to verify your identity. You can connect the account to Facebook or Twitter, verify your photo with a selfie video, or verify using your phone number.
Who's on Zoosk?
Zoosk caters to all demographics, although the primary user base is 25-50 years old.
How much does Zoosk cost?
1 month
$29.95
3 months
$59.95 ($19.98/month)
6 months
$65.99 ($11/month)
12 months
$89.99 ($7.50/month)
1800 coins
$99.95
480 coins
$39.95
180 coins
$19.95
Zoosk pros
App
Quality paid members
Zoosk cons
Free memberships attract scammers and hookups
Zoosk reviews (BBB)
Dan Vinovich, 03/05/2025
“There is no customer service. The site changes the time when a person views, you also you will get a heart and then get a reply from women that she did not send that to me. I had very few women that I could contact that lived within 50 miles. The variables, smoking , religion, distance from your location, attractive, I received responses from women that had no photo or profile. I am in a financial bind and cancelled my 3 days into my subscription; I had an emergency in the family that would take me away from home, and I pleaded for a refund, but no response!
Ani Frunza, 12/15/2024
“Horrible site. They don't care about your filters, they push on you face accounts, scammers, bots. Zoosk is a fraud.”
Bottom line: What is the best international dating site?
eharmony scores first place on our list because of its large user base and the quality of its matches. The odds of international daters meeting a potential partner is very high.
eharmony scores first place on our list because of its large user base and the quality of its matches. The odds of international daters meeting a potential partner is very high.
Gemstones, including rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, can be sold for cash, much the same as diamonds and other jewelry. However, more often than not, those stones have very little resale value, though the gold they are set in is valuable.
This post summarizes how to understand the value of your gemstone and the process of how to sell gemstones for the highest price to reputable gemstone buyers.
If you have loose gemstones or gemstone jewelry you'd like to sell, here's what you should know:
Are gemstones worth anything?
While there are a number of factors that will influence the value of your gemstone, the most important are the same as for diamonds:
Color: What specific color or hue is your stone? The rarer and more vibrant the color, generally speaking, the more valuable your gemstone.
Clarity: The clearer your stone, the more valuable it will be.
Carat: The larger your gemstone, the more valuable it will be.
Cut: If your gemstone is processed, the specific cut and quality of cut will impact its value.
Also, any stone treatments (such as heating) can potentially impact value greatly, even if the result is a large, clear, and vibrant stone. The origin of colored stones can also play a large part in their value.
For example, with all factors being equal, an emerald from Colombia is worth more than an emerald from Zambia, just like a Burmese ruby is valued higher than one from Mozambique.
While it may be possible to reference online charts and resources to conduct some sort of assessment for yourself, in order to get an accurate picture of your stone’s worth you need a gemstone appraisal.
Antoinette Matlins, a professional gemologist and member of the Accredited Gemologists Association, has authored 7 books on gemstones and jewelry. She recommends finding an appraiser through organizations like the Accredited Gemologists Association, which has a directory on its website.
“Retaining a knowledgeable, reliable gemologist or gemologist-appraiser can increase the likelihood of you not becoming a victim of fraud or misrepresentation by a dishonest dealer or retailer,” Matlins says.
What are the grades of gemstones?
According to the Gemological Institute of America, there is no standard quality-grading scale for gemstones.
In most gemstone grading reports, gemologists simply note whether a gem is “eye-clean” (meaning inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye) or has visible inclusions, which lower a gem’s value. GIA groups colored gems into three clarity types1:
Type I (usually eye-clean)
Type II (usually included)
Type III (almost always included)
While it isn’t an “official” grading system, many individual companies follow these designations:
AA-AAA Grade:
Near perfect
More expensive
AAA usually reserved for more expensive gems like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires
AA usually reserved for stones like amethyst and garnet
High transparency
Vivid and even color saturation
Not usually color enhanced
Typically faceted cut
A-B Grade:
Slight inclusions
Good transparency
Well cut
Slight color variations or streaks
C-D Grade:
More inclusions
Low transparency
Varying cuts and styles
More noticeable color variations or streaks
What is the highest quality of gems?
The highest-quality gems have no inclusions visible to the naked eye, are vibrant in color, and are typically more expensive gems like rubies, sapphires and emeralds. GIA would rate the highest-quality gemstones as Type I, while most individual companies would issue a AAA designation.
These are the 10 most valuable gemstones in the world:
Blue Diamond – $3.93 million per carat
Jadeite – $3 million per carat
Pink Diamond – $1.19 million per carat
Ruby – $1.18 million per carat
Emerald – $305,000 per carat
Alexandrite – $70,000 per carat
Musgravite – $35,000 per carat
Red Beryl – $10,000 per carat
Black Opal – $9,500 per carat
Tanzanite – $1,200 per carat
Matlins says there are “no rules” for which gemstones will maintain their value over time.
“Most people don't realize that many ‘mall stores' work on a 3-4 times mark-up, whereas fine jewelers such as Tiffany or Cartier work on a 2-times markup or less,” Matlins says.
The finer the quality of the gemstone, the rarer and more expensive it will be, of course. But as diamond resale value is plummeting in recent years, gemstone resale value has always been low. If you have anything other than a very large and fine ruby, sapphire or emerald, your jewelry is likely only worth the value of scrap metal it is set in.
Good news is that gold and silver are near record highs. Learn more about selling gold, and selling silver.
What is the difference between precious vs. semi precious gemstones?
According to the International Gem Society,2 today’s gemologists don’t typically classify gemstones as precious or semi precious anymore because these terms imply that some gems are worth more than others, which isn’t always the case.
Instead, gemstones are priced based on their beauty, rarity, durability, size, color, clarity, cut, and carat.
How much is alexandrite worth?
Alexandrite is a popular gemstone in how its color can change in different lights: blue or green in daylight, and purple, pink or red in incandescent or candlelight. As such, the value of your alexandrite is most impacted by the purity of its color, as well as how dramatic and noticeable the color change.
Other factors, such as clarity, carat size, and cut will also determine the value of your alexandrite. Low-quality alexandrite can sell for as little as $100, but high-quality stones can sell for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How much are emeralds worth?
As mentioned above, color, clarity, carat, and cut will all determine the value of your emerald. The most important of these factors, however, is color.
The most valuable emeralds are typically those that exhibit a vivid, saturated, not-too-dark bluish-green to a pure green color. The color should be evenly distributed throughout the gem, and the gem should be fully transparent. Generally speaking, the richer and more saturated the hue of the emerald, the more valuable it will be.
Emeralds sell for anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
How much is a ruby worth?
As with other colored gemstones, color is one of the most important factors determining the price of your ruby. The most valuable of rubies tend to be an intense deep red in color, and may even be a slightly purplish red. Likewise, the clearer the stone—the fewer inclusions, or impurities—the more valuable it will be.
While richer and deeper hues are typically better for gemstones, if a ruby is too dark in color, it may actually negatively affect the price.
This is typically a concern with stones that are so dark that the color of the ruby cannot be appreciated because it absorbs too much light. On the other end of the spectrum, once they are clearly pink and not red, they’re pink sapphires, and they can also fetch competitive prices.
Generally speaking, the rarer the color, the more valuable the ruby will ultimately be. The most common hues falling in the middle of the spectrum between pinks and deeper reds can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, with rarer and higher-quality stones selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
How much is a sapphire worth?
The value of sapphires, like rubies and emeralds, is predominantly tied to the color of the stone. Stones that have a high degree of clarity, color intensity, and saturation will be worth more than stones of lesser quality. Note: Treatments a stone may have undergone will play a part in its final value.
Heating sapphires and rubies to achieve a more desirable color is an accepted treatment, so untreated stones with naturally desirable colors are rare and hence valued more.
While most people think of blue gemstones when they think of sapphires, the truth is that these gems can be found in a wide range of colors. Blue, pink, purple, orange, and yellow sapphires are all highly sought after. One of the rarest, and therefore most valuable, of colors is the Padparadscha sapphire, which is pink-orange in color.
Sapphires range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on size and quality.
How much is opal worth?
Opal is a unique stone in how it reflects light, and as such the value of opal is often tied to these unique qualities.
The class (single vs. doublet vs. triplet) body tone (white vs. black opal), play of color (variety of colors reflected in light), brilliance (clarity of the stone), and internal pattern can all significantly impact the value of an opal. Rare opals can sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars, while others are worth tens of dollars.
What's the best place to sell gemstones?
In my experience, selling to a reputable online buyer will get you the most money for your gemstones. However, if time is of the essence, the best place to sell your gemstones may be a local antique dealer or pawn shop.
The process of selling gemstones typically involves getting an estimate, either by mail or in person, and accepting an offer.
Whether your gemstones are loose or are a component of jewelry, you may be able sell your gemstone to the same buyers that might be interested in purchasing diamonds or precious metals.
Jewelers, gemologists, gemstone dealers, diamond buyers, diamond exchanges, antique dealers, and local pawn shops may accept gemstones. Some may even specialize in buying and selling stones. Selling through a consignment store is also an option.
There are pros and cons to selling locally: Pros include that you may personally know and trust a gemstone buyer, and it can feel safer to sell in person.
However, note that your sapphire, ruby, emerald, pearls or semiprecious stone like topaz or amethyst is probably not very valuable—though the gold or silver in which it is set is actually very valuable right now—with gold prices around record highs:
Many online diamond buyers also buy other types of gemstones. These businesses have good reputations and are incentivized by sheer internet competition to pay the highest price, and maintain a good, honest business because their potential client base is national or international — and not just local.
Plus, online businesses do not have to invest in expensive retail locations or sales people, which keeps their costs down, and can pass the savings on to buyers in the form of higher prices paid out.
Note that diamond prices have fallen more than 30% over the past year, so you can expect less than half of what you paid retail for your diamond jewelry.
As lab-grown diamonds become more popular, and diamonds overall are less popular, experts expect diamond prices to fall further. We suggest selling now.
How to get a gemologist’s appraisal
You can find appraisers who specialize in appraising gemstones; many jewelers and buyers also appraise stones. The most accurate gemstone appraisal will require laboratory testing to measure color and clarity against scientific benchmarks and recent market data — whether yours is a loose stone, newer piece, or estate or antique jewelry. More on where to get a jewelry appraisal.
These are the current birthstones according to the International Gem Society3:
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Alexandrite
July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October – Tourmaline
November – Topaz
December – Blue topaz
IGS says the list of birthstones most well-known in the United States originated in Poland between the 16th and 18th centuries. However, in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers released a list of “modern birthstones” that included only transparent gems (the list that appears above).
This was apparently done to make it easier for jewelers to create jewelry that featured the birthstones of a woman’s children.
These are some alternative birthstones for different months:
March – Bloodstone
June – Pearl
August – Spinel and Sardonyx
October – Opal
November – Citrine
December – Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Tanzanite, Blue Zircon
Which month’s birthstone is most expensive?
There is no single birthstone that is considered the most expensive. Each individual stone is priced based on its rarity and quality — color, clarity, cut, and carat weight — though diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires generally sell for the most money.
Selling crystals
According to IGS,4 a crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a “highly ordered” repeating pattern called crystal systems. While some gemstones are crystals, not all crystals are gemstones.
Diamonds, amethyst, aquamarine, and citrine are examples of gemstones that are also crystals.
How to sell crystals online
If you have a crystal that is also a precious gemstone — like a diamond — you can sell to a reputable online diamond or jewelry buyer.
However, if you have crystals that are not gemstones, you may be able to sell them on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, or ebay.
These are some crystals currently listed for sale on ebay as October 2024:
Where can I sell my crystal rocks?
You can sell crystal rocks on Facebook Marketplace, ebay, or Etsy, or sell at local gemstone and mineral shows.
How much are crystals worth?
Crystals come in a variety of sizes and colors. How much they cost depends on their rarity and quality. Some lower-quality minerals may not be worth more than a few dollars, while some larger rare crystals could be worth thousands.
The Pink Star diamond, widely believed to be the most expensive crystal in the world, sold in a Sotheby’s auction for $71.2 million in 2017.5
Can you make money selling gemstones, birthstones and crystals?
Yes! Once you learn about how to sell gemstones, you will want to know where to sell them. You can certainly search for “gemstone buyers near me” or “gem dealers near me,” but we recommend going with A+-rated CashforGoldUSA for selling your jewelry, though keep in mind you will likely only get paid for the gold, silver or any diamonds of at least .3 carats.
“What is a Crystal?” IGS. https://www.gemsociety.org/article/crystal/
“‘Pink Star' diamond sells for record $71.2 million at auction,” April 4, 2017. CNN Business. https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/04/luxury/pink-star-diamond-auction-sothebys/index.html
How can I sell my gemstones for cash?
You can sell gemstones for cash to an online buyer like Diamonds USA, gemstone dealers, diamond exchanges, antique dealers, and local pawn shops — though only the very finest of gemstones have resale value. You can also sell on a site like ebay or on consignment. The process typically involves getting an estimate on your gemstones, either by mailing them in or going in person, and accepting an offer.
How do I sell raw gemstones?
Semiprecious stones in an unpolished or raw state — like amethyst, quartz, selenite, citrine, jade and lapis lazuli — can be sold on a site like Etsy or ebay. Raw or rough gemstones like rubies or sapphires, if they are of significant size and quality, may be of interest to the buyers.
Are gemstones hard to sell?
While the amount you get for your gemstones will vary depending on the type of stone, quality, size, and cut, it is not hard to sell gemstones for money, either online or in person.
Where should I sell my gemstones for cash?
Whether your gemstones are loose or are a component of jewelry, you can typically sell your gemstone to the same buyers that might be interested in purchasing diamonds or precious metals. Jewelers, gemstone dealers, diamond buyers, diamond exchanges, antique dealers, and local pawn shops all typically accept gemstones.
Who buys gemstones?
Pawn shops, jewelers, local cash-for-gold shops and estate and antique dealers in your area likely buy diamonds. There are also gemstone buyers online.
How do I find the value of my gemstones?
In order to get the most money, you must understand how gemstones are graded, which gives you an idea of what they’re worth. While there are a number of factors that will influence the value of your gemstone, the most important are the same as for diamonds: color, clarity, carat, and cut. A local jeweler can help you understand the basics.
