Editorial Standards

How we research, test, and rate every platform

We have affiliate relationships. We also have standards. Here's exactly how both coexist — and which one wins when they conflict.

Last updated: March 2026 Platforms reviewed: 34+ Update cadence: Monthly pricing · Quarterly full reviews

The process

Our five-stage review process

Hands-on signup and testing

We sign up for every platform we review. We go through the intake questionnaire, get matched, and verify pricing at the payment screen — not by trusting the marketing copy. When a platform says "$65/week," we go to checkout.

Insurance verification

We check coverage in two ways: the platform's own insurance tool, and direct verification with the insurance carriers. We document where they differ — and they often do.

Policy and fine-print review

We review cancellation policies, refund terms, and therapist switching policies. The things people never check until they need them.

Clinical accuracy review

Every platform review is sent to a licensed mental health professional to verify that our descriptions of therapeutic modalities are accurate, our "best for" recommendations make clinical sense, and our "who should look elsewhere" sections are honest.

Publication and ongoing updates

Reviews publish with both researcher and clinical reviewer credited. Pricing is verified monthly. Full reviews updated quarterly or on material platform changes.

The scoring rubric

What we measure

No platform gets a perfect score — because none of them are perfect. Our scores reflect eight dimensions, weighted equally:

Pricing transparency

Insurance accessibility

Therapist quality signals

Platform usability

Session format options

Cancellation fairness

Crisis response

Condition fit

Conflicts of interest

How we handle affiliate relationships

We earn commissions through affiliate programs when readers sign up through our links. Current relationships include BetterHelp (via Impact Radius), Talkspace (via FlexOffers), and Online-Therapy.com (direct). Other platforms may be added as relationships are established.

We don't recommend the platform with the biggest payout. We recommend the platform that's best suited to the specific condition or need. "Best for [condition]" recommendations are often different platforms — because different conditions have different clinical requirements.

Our non-negotiable line

Our affiliate commissions do not influence our editorial ratings, rankings, or the content of our reviews. We have turned down platforms seeking favorable coverage in exchange for higher commission rates. We review platforms we don't have affiliate relationships with. We write critical reviews of platforms we do.

Full affiliate disclosure → About Digital Therapy Solutions → Back to homepage →