Your Guide to the Best Online OCD Therapy Services in 2025

Of all 46 online therapy companies we tested, Brightside Health was the most insurance-friendly option, making it a solid choice for those seeking online therapy for OCD. It is worth highlighting that, unlike many other online therapy companies, Brightside Health accepts most major insurance plans, including some states’ Medicaid and Medicare plans.

Additionally, the platform’s crisis services provide an extra layer of support that many other competitors lack. These features, paired with reasonable out-of-pocket costs for those without insurance, make it a strong choice for individuals seeking comprehensive mental health care to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms.

Whether you’re looking for structured CBT or an integrated care approach, Brightside Health offers an impressive blend of affordability, insurance accessibility, and results.

A majority of the online therapy companies we tested offered CBT, but Online-Therapy.com stands out as a platform that prioritizes CBT in its entirety.

As a user of Online-Therapy.com myself, I was impressed by the company’s affordability. At $260 to $520 per month (after a 20-percent discount for your first month), it is one of the least expensive online therapy options.

Online-Therapy.com could be an excellent choice for individuals looking for a structured approach to therapy. With its focus on CBT and self-paced courses, it’s ideal for self-driven individuals eager to work on personal growth.

That said, the self-paced additional resources and overall use of CBT may not be the best fit for everyone, particularly for individuals with OCD who may require more tailored, hands-on support. While CBT can be highly effective for OCD, some people may struggle to implement the necessary strategies on their own without close guidance from a therapist. For those with more severe symptoms or who need consistent accountability and real-time feedback, working directly with an experienced therapist in a more interactive setting may be a better option.

Of the many online platforms we tested, only a few offered exposure and response prevention (ERP), but of the few that did, only NOCD focused exclusively on the method. The company pairs users with licensed therapists trained specifically in ERP, guaranteeing targeted and effective treatment.

A key feature of NOCD is that it widely accepts many of the major insurance plans, making it more accessible compared to other platforms that don’t take insurance and only accept out-of-pocket payments. As a licensed therapist, I thoroughly enjoyed using NOCD’s services because it was my first experience with ERP as a client. I was impressed by how NOCD prioritizes ERP and also provides users with extra resources like peer support groups and mobile tools to track progress — strong features that set it apart from other platforms. In fact, I would have continued to see my therapist on NOCD had the out-of-pocket pricing been within my budget. My therapist’s expertise in treating OCD and the quality of care during sessions were readily evident to me throughout the entire month I tried NOCD.

Of all the services we tested, Talkiatry was the best option for those seeking medications and psychiatric care for OCD, particularly due to its focus on providing convenient and accessible care while accepting most major insurance plans. Another advantage of Talkiatry is its quick intake process and appointment availability with licensed psychiatrists. Especially for anyone unsure of how to begin looking for psychiatric care or concerned that the process would be too long or too complicated, Talkiatry has a clear advantage over the long waiting periods that can come from seeking a local provider.

Although controlled substances are not typically prescribed for OCD, it is helpful to have the option available for those individuals experiencing the impact of both OCD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which often (but not always) occur together.

One of Talkiatry’s key strengths is its broad acceptance of major insurance plans, so the company is extremely familiar with coordinating insurance coverage, which can be a very daunting task to navigate alone. However, it’s important to note that Talkiatry does not accept Medicaid and does not have an option to pay out of pocket without insurance, which may be a barrier for some individuals.

My colleague Raki Swanson tried psychiatric services through Talkiatry and appreciated the immediate match with a medication management provider, reducing the stress of going through the process of researching providers. This saved a lot of time that would have otherwise been spent reaching out to several providers to ask about their availability to schedule a session.

We found the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) to be the best option for support groups because of its extensive network, established reputation as an expert in OCD, and variety of offerings. Its specialized focus on the diagnosis of OCD is a standout feature.

Having been around since 1986, the IOCDF’s extensive reputation adds a level of trustworthiness for new users who may feel more confident in the organization’s deep understanding of OCD and how it can impact daily life.

Unlike other online therapy platforms, the IOCDF provides a wide range of support groups tailored to different needs involving the experience of OCD. This includes groups for individuals with OCD, their families, and those affected by specific OCD subtypes, allowing everyone to find a group suited to their situation.

Many of the support groups are also free, so they’re accessible for individuals and families seeking help without adding additional financial stress. With the abundance of IOCDF’s offerings, it can be challenging to differentiate between support groups and treatment groups. However, its well-designed platform allows users to filter results based on support groups and treatment groups as well as local therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in OCD.

Support groups at the International OCD Foundation focus on offering emotional support and peer connections, while treatment groups are structured, using evidence-based techniques like CBT and ERP to help manage OCD symptoms. Treatment groups are more focused on clinical interventions, whereas support groups provide a space for shared experiences and mutual understanding.

Additionally, some support groups are peer led rather than facilitated by a licensed therapist, whereas the treatment groups are only led by mental health providers.

Across all of the companies that we tested, only a few offered audio sessions. BetterHelp’s offering of multiple therapy formats — including audio sessions — that cater to different therapist preferences and its flexibility in scheduling caught our attention during testing, making it a solid choice for those with OCD.

BetterHelp’s subscription-based pricing model allows users to choose the format that works best for them, especially if audio sessions feel less intimidating than video sessions. For individuals who have been in therapy previously and are now looking for a little extra help in managing their mild to moderate symptoms of OCD, BetterHelp is definitely worth considering.

What further sets BetterHelp apart from other platforms is its large network of more than 30,000 therapists. Despite not being able to choose your therapist directly, the platform’s easy therapist-switching feature can help mitigate this concern. This level of flexibility is particularly beneficial for those with OCD who may require a therapist who is highly attuned to their unique challenges.

Health journalist Erin Heger tested individual therapy at BetterHelp and emphasized her overall positive experience with the service. She praised its affordability and easy-to-use platform. She also highlights the “convenience of being able to join a session from my phone or laptop.”

“Audio sessions can be helpful, especially when providing flexibility for those unable to attend in-person or video sessions or for those who may find it easier to concentrate without visual distractions,” states Ryan S. Sultan, MD, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. “However, the absence of visual cues may limit the therapist’s ability to fully assess nonverbal behaviors, which can be important in OCD treatment.”

Only you can decide whether audio sessions are a good fit, but if that is a therapy format you wish to pursue, it could be worth finding a trained therapist through BetterHelp’s large network to help you manage your OCD symptoms over the phone.

Of the 46 online therapy companies we reviewed, Fort Health was the best option for children and teens due to its niche focus on pediatric mental health.

Fort Health’s availability in only five states certainly excludes a good number of patients across the country, but for those located within the Fort Health network, this smaller operation allows for more tailored services and individualized care.

My colleague Olivia Campbell tested teen therapy at Fort Health. She notes that while users cannot choose their therapist, all providers on Fort Health are trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy, an evidence-based modality proven to be effective for treating OCD when correctly applied.

“My teen felt very comfortable. The therapist gave great, actionable advice,” Olivia says of her impressive experience navigating her teen’s therapy at Fort Health. Other highlights were the company’s quality providers and quick availability in scheduling.

Not all the companies we tested offered family therapy, but of the few that did, Thriveworks is the best option for families affected by OCD due to its insurance accessibility and the variety of services offered, including medication management.

One of the key features that makes Thriveworks so effective for families is its acceptance of more than 585 major insurance plans, making therapy more accessible to a broader range of families. Additionally, offering services like medication management alongside therapy ensures that families dealing with more complex OCD cases can receive well-rounded care without needing to turn to an additional platform. That said, we did experience a few issues with using insurance coverage to pay for Thriveworks services. It’s important to check the specifics of your plan prior to starting.

A licensed mental health provider can be key to helping families manage these challenges together.

“Many people with OCD often have family members who help them avoid their OCD triggers or help them do their OCD rituals, thinking that it is helping their loved one,” explains David Yusko, PsyD, cofounder of the Center for Anxiety & Behavior Therapy and a specialist on exposure therapies. “We want them to understand that this short-term help is the equivalent of negative reinforcement learning. As long as we are helping people with OCD avoid their emotional distress and helping to perform their rituals for them, we are only guaranteeing more OCD symptoms in the future.”

My colleague and clinical social worker Julia Childs Heyl, MSW, tested individual services at Thriveworks. She points out her experience of waiting more than 10 days for her first session, even though Thriveworks advertises a three- to five-day initial waiting period. Often, family therapy requires managing multiple schedules, so this might not be as big a dilemma for those seeking family services.

Of all the 46 online therapy platforms we tested, Ours stood out as the most client-centered approach for couples impacted by OCD. The company requires personalized matching between couples and therapists, which helps couples pair with a provider that is well-suited to their unique relationship and mental health needs.

In order to start therapy at Ours, you are required to meet with a “care advocate.” This is a licensed therapist who will explore your reasons for seeking therapy, potential therapy modalities that may help, and preferences regarding therapist demographics or availability. This personalized approach stands out among other therapy companies that rely on automated algorithms to quickly match users with a therapist.

As someone who tested Ours for couples therapy with my partner, I was also impressed by the thoroughness of its intake process. Beyond completing questionnaires on relationship history and future goals, both my care advocate and therapist followed up with additional inquiries to refine our treatment plan. Between the highly personalized treatment plan and the exceptionally customized matching process, for a couple in which one or both partners experience OCD symptoms, they are very likely to find a qualified provider whom they can be comfortable with at Ours.

“There are certain kinds of OCD symptoms that could be directly about the partner,” Dr. Yusko continues. “Like relationship-themed OCD: This is when a person with OCD doubts they have found the right partner, doubts the feelings they have for a partner — basically doubts the relationship.”