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.
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). 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.
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.