Finding the right mental health care can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to understand which online platforms offer the services, insurance coverage, and therapeutic support that matter most to you. Many people searching for a therapist often compare Headway vs. Grow Therapy, two leading platforms designed to make care more accessible and more affordable.
Both platforms connect clients with licensed mental health providers and help simplify the process of using insurance benefits for mental health care. However, the user experience, insurance options, and specialty availability differ in meaningful ways. In this guide, we’ll break down those differences to help you make the best choice for your personal mental health goals.
Key takeaways
- Insurance coverage: Both platforms accept commercial insurance, but Grow Therapy also works with Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial plans, while Headway works with commercial insurance and limited Medicare Advantage plans.
- Specialities: Grow Therapy offers 135 specialties with inclusive filters for personalized matches; Headway offers 20+ specialties.
- Client tools: Grow Therapy provides self-guided resources and therapy tools; Headway focuses on fast scheduling and insurance navigation.
- Pricing and payment: Grow Therapy supports insurance and private-pay options, while Headway relies on an in-network insurance model.
Headway vs. Grow Therapy at a glance
| Grow Therapy | Headway | |
| Offers cash-pay options | ✔ | X |
| Accepts Medicare and Medicaid | ✔ 100+ plans, including Medicare & Medicaid in select states | X Limited Medicare and Medicaid acceptance |
| Medication management | ✔ | ✔ |
| Offers wide range of specialities | ✔ 135 specialties | X Limited to 20+ specialties |
| Session flexibility | ✔ Virtual or in-person; nights/weekend availability | ✔ Virtual or in-person; nights/weekend availability |
| Therapy tools | ✔ Progress tracking tools, therapy toolkit, self-guided resources | X Limited client-facing tools |
What is Grow Therapy?
Grow Therapy is an online therapy platform that helps clients find licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers for virtual or in-person care. You can filter your search by specialty, insurance, language, therapist identity, and availability to find the right match for your needs. Grow Therapy accepts 100+ insurance plans including Medicaid and Medicare in some states, and also supports private-pay sessions when preferred. Many therapists offer evening and weekend availability, giving clients more flexibility to find care that fits their schedule.
Grow Therapy pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| • Accepts 100+ insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare in some states • Offers virtual and in-person therapy with evening/weekend availability • Includes 135 specialities and identity-based filters • Offers access to psychiatric providers and medication management in many states • Offers self-guided tools, AI-assisted journaling, worksheets, and educational resources • Streamlined insurance navigation and transparent pricing | • Cash pay rates vary by provider • In-person availability depends on location |
Grow Therapy stands out for its flexibility, specialty options, and user experience. With broad insurance acceptance and more than 135 specialties, clients can find a therapist who meets their exact needs. Self-guided tools, worksheets, and AI-assisted journaling make it easier to stay engaged in your mental health journey between sessions. Some specialty areas and in-person appointments may have regional limitations; however, Grow Therapy offers one of the most accessible and personalized therapy experiences available.
What is Headway?
Headway is a mental health platform that helps clients find licensed therapists and psychiatric providers who accept their commercial insurance. The platform focuses on making in-network care easier to access by allowing you to verify your benefits instantly, view estimated copays, and schedule virtual or in-person appointments. Headway is designed for clients who want fast, affordable access to care through commercial insurance plans, though it does not accept Medicaid or traditional Medicare and supports only limited Medicare Advantage plans.
Headway pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| • In-network with many commercial insurance plans • Offers virtual and in-person therapy with evening/weekend availability • Transparent copay estimates and fast benefits verification • Easy booking and simple user experience | • Does not accept Medicaid or traditional Medicare • Only supports limited Medicare Advantage plans • Minimal private-pay or out-of-network options • Fewer specialty and identity-based filters compared to Grow Therapy • Minimal self-guided mental health tools • In-person and speciality availability varies by region |
Headway is a strong option for clients seeking in-network, affordable therapy through commercial insurance. Its biggest advantage is how quickly you can check benefits, understand your copay, and book a therapist who is available soon, which can be especially helpful if you need care quickly. However, Headway’s specialty filters are more limited, and the platform does not offer self-guided mental health tools or support for Medicaid, traditional Medicare, or private-pay clients. For those whose primary goal is fast, insurance-backed access to care, Headway may be a convenient fit.
Compare Headway vs. Grow Therapy benefits
Choosing the right platform comes down to what you value most, whether that’s speciality options, affordability, or access to specific types of providers. Here’s how they compare across four key areas: pricing, insurance, specialties, and therapy tools.
Pricing model and payment structure
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy uses a flexible pay-per-session model that supports insurance and private-pay. Your copay or out-of-pocket cost is shown upfront before booking. This model gives clients more control, especially if you want to choose a therapist outside of your insurance network.
Headway
Headway relies entirely on an in-network model. Clients typically pay their in-network copay, which varies by plan and makes it a convenient option if keeping costs low is your priority. The platform automatically bills your insurance company, but it does not offer private-pay flexibility. If you don’t have commercial insurance, you’ll need another platform.
Insurance and billing
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy accepts 100+ insurance plans plus Medicaid and Medicare in some states, making therapy accessible to a wide range of clients. Grow also offers easy benefit verification and straightforward billing through their cost estimate tool, which helps reduce confusion around mental health insurance benefits.
For more on how to navigate using insurance for therapy, check out our guide.
Headway
Headway specializes in commercial in-network insurance and offers instant benefit checks with clear copay estimates. This makes the booking process fast and predictable. However, the platform does not accept Medicaid or traditional Medicare, and only works with limited Medicare Advantage plans. If you rely on public insurance, Grow Therapy is likely the better fit.
Specialities
Grow Therapy
Grow offers 135 specialties, including trauma therapy, couples counseling, LGBTQ+ affirming care, ADHD treatment, child/teen therapy, and more. This makes it easier to find a therapist whose experience matches your mental health goals. Grow also provides access to psychiatric services and medication management in many states, allowing clients to receive both therapy and medication support in one place.
Headway
Headway offers 20+ specialties and focuses on quickly connecting clients with therapists who accept their insurance. While it covers many common areas (like anxiety, depression, and relationship issues), specialty filters and identity-based matching are more limited. In addition, access to psychiatric providers varies by region.
Therapy tools
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy offers a comprehensive user experience by providing therapy worksheets, self-guided tools, psychoeducation modules, and progress-support resources. These tools help clients stay engaged in their mental health journey between sessions. The platform also makes it easy to book appointments, view insurance details, and message your therapist securely.
Headway
Headway centers its experience around fast scheduling and insurance navigation. You can verify your benefits, see estimated costs, and book appointments through a clean, simple interface. However, Headway does not offer self-guided therapeutic tools or educational resources — it is primarily a booking and insurance platform for therapy.
How to choose the right therapy platform
When selecting a therapy platform, consider your insurance, your goals, and how personalized you want the process to be.
Grow Therapy may be a better choice if you want:
- Broader insurance acceptance, including Medicaid and Medicare
- Highly personalized therapist matching across 135 specialties
- Identity-based and culturally affirming filters
- Access to psychiatric services and medication management
- Self-guided mental health tools, worksheets, and educational resources
- Clear pricing and the option to choose private pay
Grow Therapy is typically the best choice for clients who value flexibility, specialty options, and a more supportive, resource-rich user experience.
Headway may be a better choice if you want:
- Low-cost therapy through commercial in-network insurance
- Instant benefit verification and upfront copay estimates
- A fast, simple way to find an in-network therapist
- A simple booking process and straightforward scheduling
Headway is often the best choice for clients whose priority is quick, affordable access to an in-network therapist — especially if you have employer-sponsored or marketplace insurance.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, choosing between Headway vs. Grow Therapy depends on the type of coverage you have, your mental health goals, and how personalized you want your care experience to be. Grow Therapy is a strong option for clients who need broad insurance acceptance — including Medicaid and Medicare — or who want access to 135 specialties, identity-affirming filters, and a more supportive user experience with self-guided tools. Headway may be a better fit if you have commercial insurance and want fast, in-network scheduling with clear copay estimates.
If you’re ready to begin your mental health journey, you can easily find a therapist through Grow Therapy’s nationwide network of licensed mental health professionals. Book your first appointment today and get matched with a therapist who aligns with your needs, preferences, and insurance coverage.
For additional support in choosing the right therapy platform, it may be helpful to learn about different therapy types, compare the best online therapy platforms, or see how Grow Therapy compares to other platforms like Grow Therapy vs. Talkspace and Alma vs. Grow Therapy.
Frequently asked questions
Headway reimburses therapists based on insurance-contracted rates, which vary by location, plan, and credential type.
Yes. Grow Therapy is a HIPAA-compliant, fully legitimate mental health platform with licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers across all 50 states.
Grow Therapy accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance, offers 135 specialties, provides self-guided tools, and supports both in-person and virtual care. Headway focuses on commercial in-network insurance, offers fewer specialties, and is built for fast benefit checks and simple scheduling.