Skip to main content
Headway

Starting a practice

Headway vs. Alma: Which is best for your practice?

Whether you’re a seasoned provider or just starting your practice, our analysis provides transparency so you can make the decision that works best for you.

April 17, 2025 • Updated on August 18, 2026

By Ashley Abramson • Clinically reviewed by the Headway Clinical Team

7 min read

By Ashley Abramson • Clinically reviewed by the Headway Clinical Team

Mental healthcare has never been more important. 1 in 4 Americans have a treatable mental health condition, but most don’t get care — which means it’s more essential than ever to make therapy accessible. Online platforms like Headway are one way to make it easier for people to get the mental health support they deserve, all while unburdening therapists of potentially stressful and time-consuming administrative work.

If you’re a mental healthcare provider considering joining an online platform, it can be difficult to read reviews and learn how to navigate your options. Keep reading to learn more about how online therapy platforms can help grow your therapy business, and what factors to consider in your decision-making process.

Key insights

1

Headway is an all-in-one practice partner that makes it easier for therapists, group practice leaders, and prescribers to accept insurance and offer accessible high-quality care.

2

Alma is a subscription-based platform that simplifies administrative work for in-network therapists and psychiatric providers.

3

Headway and Alma both offer credentialing services, EHRs, billing support, and guaranteed regular payments — but Headway’s features are free for providers, while Alma’s start at $95 per month.

A look into Headway

Headway is an all-in-one practice partner built for solo therapists, group practice leaders, and psychiatric providers. More than 80,000 clinicians who accept insurance are part of the Headway network, and for good reason. The platform is designed to ease common administrative burdens — like onerous documentation requirements and confusing claim submission processes — that make some therapists shy away from accepting insurance.

By making it more realistic for therapists to take insurance, Headway helps providers and patients alike. Therapists save time and energy, allowing them to focus on client care and avoid burnout. And patients get greater access to high-quality care they can easily afford.

Some of the platform’s key features include:

  • Rapid credentialing services that get providers paneled with major insurers in as few as 30 days
  • A provider directory that makes it easy for therapists to connect with potential clients in all 50 states
  • A robust EHR that includes a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, scheduling and client communication tools, and AI-augmented templates for compliant documentation
  • Billing support that saves providers from hassles like clawbacks and claim denials
  • Insurance eligibility verification
  • Guaranteed bi-weekly payments at enhanced reimbursement rates
  • Continuing education opportunities through Headway Academy

Therapists enjoy access to all of these features, and more, absolutely free. Rather than charging up-front or membership fees, Headway negotiates competitive reimbursement rates with participating insurance plans. Headway keeps a small percentage of session payments, while the rest goes straight into providers’ pockets — on time, every time.

A look into Alma

Like Headway, Alma’s mission is to expand access to high-quality therapy and medication management services. It does so by making it easier for therapists and psychiatric providers to work with insurance, streamlining time-sucking administrative tasks including documentation and claim submission so clinicians can focus on reaching more clients.

Some of Alma’s key features include:

  • Credentialing support, so providers can join major insurance panels in 45 days or fewer
  • A provider directory searchable by prospective clients in all 50 states
  • An EHR that includes client scheduling and communication tools, documentation and treatment plan templates, AI-assisted progress notes, and HIPAA-compliant telehealth
  • Billing and claims support, including automated claim submission
  • Continuing education opportunities
  • Either weekly or bi-weekly payments, depending on the clinician’s preference
  • Insurance eligibility verification
  • A members-only community for sharing resources, referrals, and support

Alma’s features are available under a subscription model. Monthly memberships start at $95.

HeadwayAlma
PricingNo subscription fee$95/month or $1,140/year
InsuranceBills insurance and allows private payNew members required to join insurance program
CredentialingFully handles insurance credentialing for therapistsHelps therapists get credentialed with insurance companies
EHRsBuilt-in EHR with templates for complianceBuilt-in EHR features with note-taking tools
Pay schedulePays therapists every two weeksPays therapists either weekly or every two weeks
ResourcesUp to 150 hours of free continuing education courses through Headway AcademyMember platform to share referrals, resources, and support
Referrals1:1 marketing support and $90 Psychology Today stipend to support time spent on profile and caseload growth Provided slowly over time

Are the benefits the same for therapists and psychiatric providers?

Headway and Alma both work with therapists and psychiatric providers. Regardless of license type, providers on these platforms enjoy many of the same benefits, including credentialing services, HIPAA-compliant telehealth, documentation templates, billing and claims support, provider directories, and guaranteed regular payments.

Headway is actively working on new features that will benefit psychiatric providers, too. The platform will soon support e-prescribe, a functionality that allows prescribers to electronically send prescriptions directly to pharmacies. Already, prescribers who work with the platform can expect support throughout the DEA licensure process, prescriber-specific documentation templates, and complete compliance support.

Can platforms like this actually benefit your therapy practice?

Whether you’re a brand new therapist or you’ve been in private practice for years, platforms like Headway can make it easier to grow your practice by providing referrals, supporting the insurance credentialing process, and billing for therapy sessions. Without the extra burden of administrative tasks, you can stay focused on supporting your clients. 

Platforms like Headway can also help streamline the documentation process by providing electronic health record (EHR) features that make assessments, notes, treatment plans, and billing as simple as possible. 

An EHR system can support your practice by providing benefits like:

Secure ways to communicate

A good EHR includes secure chat logs and email options, so you can send your clients intake materials, assessments, and educational materials to support therapy. You can also use an EHR to communicate with other mental health providers, such as your clients’ prescriber, or your clients’ primary care provider, to optimize the care you provide as a therapist.

Appointment reminders and scheduling tools

Electronic health records can also help streamline the scheduling and calendar management process. Some software allows clients to book or cancel appointments online through a client portal, providing email or text appointment reminders to prevent no-shows. 

Insurance

Some EHRs, including Headway and Alma, guide therapists through the credentialing process or even handle it for them. Taking the insurance process off your plate allows you to expand your client base, without the extra headache of credentialing applications, paperwork, and follow-ups.

Client acquisition

Increased online visibility in directories and direct referrals from platforms like Headway can support you as you grow your therapy business, allowing you to expand your client base without investing unnecessary time and money on marketing.

Practice in-network with confidence

Simplify insurance and save time on your entire workflow — from compliance and billing to credentialing and admin.

Talk to a practice consultant

So, which one’s better?

Choosing the best online therapy platform for you is a personal decision. Alma and Headway have similarities, so understanding some of the key differences can help you make a decision that’s best for you and your practice. 

Best for private practice

Headway ensures timely payment, so you can grow your business without the stress of credentialing and billing. If your goal is to grow your business without a major financial investment, Headway may be a better option for you.

Best for therapists who take insurance 

Headway has a dedicated team that negotiates for the best rates on your behalf, so you can focus on providing great care to your clients. Compared to other platforms, Headway also ensures a smoother transition when a client’s insurance changes to prevent disruptions in care. If you want to make therapy more accessible while also growing your business over time, Headway may be a better fit for you.

Best for private pay therapists

Both Alma and Headway allow you to offer private pay services where you can set your own rates. With Headway, private pay is available for clients that have insurance Headway is not in-network with. And as a Headway provider, you’ll receive private pay payments with the rest of your bi-weekly payouts.

In the end, it’s all about personal preference.

Some therapists will prefer one online therapy platform over another depending on their area of expertise, whether they want to bill insurance, and other personal factors. Ultimately, you should choose a tool you feel supports your business while allowing you to provide the best possible care to your clients. 

How does Headway compare to other options?

Want to learn more about other therapy platform options so you can find the one that’s right for you? Explore our other comparison articles below.

Choose Headway as your next therapy platform

Headway is an easy and cost-effective option for teletherapy — especially if you want to grow your client base and increase your income without all the extra stress of insurance credentialing, billing for sessions, and chasing down payments.

In addition to handling insurance and billing at no cost to providers, Headway offers EHR features to ensure ease of documentation and proper compliance, so you can stay focused on supporting your clients on their mental health journeys — all at no cost.

Switching to Headway is smooth and hassle-free, thanks to our proven process and dedicated support team. Ready to take the next step? Get started with Headway today.

Talk to a practice consultant

This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.

© 2026 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

Starting a practice