--- slug: en/apps/regain-review-2026 title: "Regain Review 2026: Online Couples Therapy That Works, With Caveats" description: "Regain is established online couples therapy with licensed therapists and flexible scheduling, but it still leaves the biggest gap untouched: what happens between sessions." pubDate: 2026-04-02T00:00:00.000Z updatedDate: 2026-04-05T00:00:00.000Z lang: en tags: - apps - review - online-therapy - couples-therapy - comparison - pricing type: competitor-review heroSubtitle: An honest 2026 review of Regain's therapist quality, between-session limitations, pricing, and who should skip it. schemaType: Article schema: faq: - question: Is Regain legitimate therapy? answer: Yes. All Regain therapists are licensed, with master's or doctoral degrees and at least 3 years of clinical experience. - question: Can I use Regain without my partner? answer: Yes. Regain supports individual sessions focused on relationship issues. You don't need your partner to participate. - question: How does Regain compare to in-person therapy? answer: Same professional credentials, similar session structure, lower cost than in-person therapy. The trade-offs are shorter sessions, no body language reading, and video interface limitations. - question: Can I use LoveFix alongside Regain? answer: Yes, and many couples benefit from this combination. Regain for weekly clinical work. LoveFix for real-time support between sessions when conflicts arise. review: itemType: Organization name: Regain url: https://www.regain.us/ rating: value: 3.5 best: 5 summary: Regain is the most established online couples therapy platform. Licensed therapists, flexible scheduling, 24/7 messaging, and a straightforward interface. pros: - Licensed, vetted therapists. - Flexibility. - Quick matching. - Easy therapist switching. - Financial aid available. - 89% satisfaction rate. cons: - No help between sessions. - Expensive without insurance. - Session length complaints. - Therapist quality varies. - Video call limitations. - BBB concerns. - No structured methodology. verdict: "Regain earns a 3.5/5. It delivers on its core promise: licensed couples therapy online, conveniently and at a lower cost than in-person alternatives." itemList: purpose: comparison name: Options compared in this Regain review items: - id: regain name: Regain isPrimary: true - id: lovefix name: LoveFix - id: lasting name: Lasting offers: - itemType: SoftwareApplication name: LoveFix url: https://our.lovefix.app price: 9.99 priceCurrency: USD priceUnit: month description: > LoveFix provides Gottman-based conflict repair and real-time support for the other 167 hours between therapy sessions. --- **Last reviewed:** April 2026 | **Verdict:** 3.5 / 5 Regain is the most established online couples therapy platform. Licensed therapists, flexible scheduling, 24/7 messaging, and a straightforward interface. 89% of surveyed users report satisfaction with their experience. Where it falls short: the gap between sessions. You meet your therapist for 30-45 minutes per week, but conflicts happen the other 167 hours. No amount of between-session messaging, which is not real-time anyway, replaces having support when the fight is actually happening. --- ## Quick Verdict | | | |--|--| | Rating | 3.5 / 5 | | Best for | Couples who want licensed therapy online without commuting | | Skip if | You need help between sessions, can't afford $260-400/month, or want real-time conflict support | | Price | $260-400/month ($70-100/week, billed every 4 weeks) | | Free trial | No | | Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | | Both partners | Yes (joint or individual sessions) | | Insurance | Not accepted | --- ## What Is Regain? Regain is an online couples therapy platform owned by BetterHelp/Teladoc. It connects couples with licensed therapists, master's or doctoral degree, 3+ years and 1,000+ hours of hands-on experience, for weekly video, phone, or live-text sessions. Founded in 2016 and based in California, Regain operates as a network: therapists are not employed directly but join the platform and are matched with clients based on a questionnaire. Both partners share a secure chat room with their therapist for between-session communication. Extra features include a private journal space and expert-led group classes on topics like trauma and substance abuse, with anonymous participation. --- ## The Experience ### Onboarding Quick and well-designed. Complete a questionnaire, under 10 minutes, about your relationship goals, choose whether your partner joins from the start, and get matched with a therapist. Most couples are matched within 48 hours. Your billing doesn't start until you're matched. ### Sessions Weekly sessions of 30-45 minutes via video, phone, or live text. You can schedule at times that work for both partners. The video interface is functional but basic: multiple reviewers note the absence of a mute button during video calls, which causes audio interference when partners are in the same room. ### Between Sessions A shared chat room lets both partners and the therapist communicate asynchronously. You can message anytime, but therapist responses are not immediate. A journal feature lets you process thoughts privately. Group webinars cover broader topics and are anonymous. ### Switching Therapists Easy. 19% of surveyed users switched therapists, and 78% of them found the process simple. Fit matters enormously in therapy, and Regain makes changing therapists low-friction. --- ## What Regain Does Well **Licensed, vetted therapists.** Every therapist has a master's or doctoral degree, state licensure, and at least 3 years of clinical experience. This is a real credential bar, unlike some platforms that use "coaches" or "counselors" with minimal training. **Flexibility.** Video, phone, or text sessions. Schedule when it works for you. Message your therapist between sessions. Use it from any device. **Quick matching.** Most couples are matched within 48 hours. Compared to 4-8 week wait times for in-person therapy, this is significantly faster. **Easy therapist switching.** If your first match isn't right, changing is simple and encouraged. No awkward breakup conversations. **Financial aid available.** For those who qualify, Regain offers discounted rates based on student status, employment, income, and location. **89% satisfaction rate.** Based on a survey of 100 couples by HelpGuide. While self-selecting, this is a strong number. --- ## Where Regain Falls Short **No help between sessions.** The most significant gap. You meet your therapist for 30-45 minutes per week. Conflicts happen the other 167+ hours. The chat room allows messaging, but therapist responses are asynchronous, sometimes taking hours or days. When you're mid-argument at 11pm, Regain can't help. If what you need is a broader framework for deciding whether therapy or an app should come first, use [When to See a Couples Therapist vs Use an App](/resources/apps/when-to-see-couples-therapist-vs-app-2026/). **Expensive without insurance.** $260-400/month with no insurance coverage, no HSA/FSA, and 4-week billing cycles, 13 billing periods per year, not 12. Financial aid helps some, but most couples pay full price out of pocket. **Session length complaints.** Multiple reviewers wish sessions were longer than 30-45 minutes. For couples with complex issues, this can feel rushed. **Therapist quality varies.** As a network, Regain's therapist quality is not uniform. Some couples report excellent matches. Others describe therapists with poor notes, surface-level questioning, and lack of engagement. Finding the right fit may require 2-3 tries. **Video call limitations.** No mute button, no camera toggle in some configurations. When both partners are in the same room, audio feedback is a real problem. **BBB concerns.** Regain, via BetterHelp, has received complaints about billing practices and cancellation difficulties from some users. **No structured methodology.** Therapeutic approach varies by individual therapist. You might get EFT, Gottman, CBT, or an eclectic approach depending on who you're matched with. This flexibility can be a strength or a weakness depending on your needs. --- ## Who Should Use Regain? ### It's a good fit if: - Your relationship issues require professional clinical intervention - Both partners are willing to commit to weekly sessions - You can afford $260-400/month out of pocket - You value the convenience of online over in-person therapy - You want a licensed therapist, not an app or self-guided program - You're comfortable with video or phone sessions ### It's not a good fit if: - Your main frustration is not having help during actual conflicts - The cost is prohibitive without insurance - You want a structured, methodology-specific approach - You need help between sessions, not just during them - Your issues are primarily about communication during conflict, not clinical-level problems --- ## How Regain Compares | Feature | Regain | LoveFix | Lasting | |---------|--------|---------|--------| | Type | Licensed online therapy | AI conflict repair | Self-guided education | | Cost | $260-400/month | $9.99/month | $15-30/month | | Therapist | Licensed, 1-on-1 | AI guide (Sage) | Group workshops only | | Real-time crisis help | No, appointment-based | Yes, 24/7 | No | | Between sessions | Async messaging | On-demand, real-time | Curriculum-based | | Best for | Clinical issues | Conflict repair | Relationship education | | Evidence base | Varies by therapist | Gottman Method | Research-based | If you want the more direct provider-level comparison, read [LoveFix vs Regain (2026)](/resources/apps/lovefix-vs-regain-2026/). If you want the broader side-by-side on where app support ends and therapy begins, read [LoveFix vs Couples Therapy: When to Choose Each](/resources/apps/lovefix-vs-couples-therapy-2026/). --- ## A Different Approach: LoveFix Regain gives you a licensed therapist for 30-45 minutes per week. LoveFix gives you Gottman-based conflict guidance for the other 167 hours. They're not the same thing and they're not competing. Regain is clinical therapy. LoveFix is real-time conflict support. Many couples find the most effective approach combines both: therapy for deep clinical work, LoveFix for the moments between sessions when the skills need to be applied. At $9.99/month, LoveFix costs less than a single week of Regain and provides something Regain can't: help when the argument is happening, not when the next appointment is. | What | LoveFix | Traditional Therapy | |------|---------|---------------------| | Cost | $9.99/month | $150-250/session | | Availability | 24/7 | By appointment | | Wait time | Immediate | Days to weeks | | Privacy | AI-only, private spaces | Face-to-face | | Focus | Conflict repair and skill building | Broad exploration | | Approach | Gottman-based | Varies by therapist | --- ## FAQ ### Is Regain legitimate therapy? Yes. All Regain therapists are licensed, with master's or doctoral degrees and at least 3 years of clinical experience. However, Regain is not HIPAA-compliant in the traditional sense. BetterHelp states its policies are "consistent with" HIPAA standards but does not claim full compliance. ### Can I use Regain without my partner? Yes. Regain supports individual sessions focused on relationship issues. You do not need your partner to participate. ### How does Regain compare to in-person therapy? Same professional credentials, similar session structure, lower cost, $260-400 vs $600-1,000+ per month for in-person. The trade-offs are shorter sessions, no body language reading, and the video interface limitations. Convenience is the main advantage. ### Can I use LoveFix alongside Regain? Yes, and many couples benefit from this combination. Regain for weekly clinical work. LoveFix for real-time support between sessions when conflicts arise. At $9.99/month added to your Regain subscription, it is a small addition that fills the biggest gap in appointment-based therapy. --- ## The Bottom Line Regain earns a 3.5/5. It delivers on its core promise: licensed couples therapy online, conveniently and at a lower cost than in-person alternatives. The therapist pool is credentialed, matching is fast, and most users report satisfaction. The honest limitation is what it shares with all appointment-based therapy: it can't help you at 11pm when the fight just happened. For couples who need real-time conflict support between sessions, LoveFix fills that gap at $9.99/month. For clinical issues that require professional intervention, Regain remains a solid choice. --- ## Related Reading - [LoveFix vs Couples Therapy: When to Choose Each](/resources/apps/lovefix-vs-couples-therapy-2026/) - [When to See a Couples Therapist vs Use an App](/resources/apps/when-to-see-couples-therapist-vs-app-2026/) - [Is Online Couples Therapy Worth It?](/resources/apps/is-online-couples-therapy-worth-it/)