BetterU is an online mental health platform offering at-home ketamine therapy for people dealing with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain.
In this review, I cover how the service works, what’s included, pricing, and what customers are actually saying about their experience.
The company emerged following the 2020 telehealth rule change that allowed controlled substances to be prescribed via video call rather than requiring an in-person visit (more about that here). This opened the door for companies like BetterU to scale nationally and offer ketamine therapy at a lower cost than traditional IV infusion clinics.
BetterU currently offer services in 33 states across the US, including California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
How BetterU Works
To begin ketamine therapy with BetterU, patients first complete an online assessment to determine their eligibility. If deemed acceptable, they have a virtual consultation with a licensed clinician to discuss their medical history, symptoms, and therapy goals.
Once approved, patients receive their ketamine medication in the form of lozenges delivered directly to their homes or a nasal spray administered in person at their office. The nasal spray option is one feature that sets BetterU apart from some competitors who only offer oral lozenges.
It’s standard amongst at-home ketamine therapy providers to require a trusted adult to monitor you during every therapy session, and I believe Better U is no different in this.
Throughout the process, patients have regular virtual check-ins with their clinician to monitor progress, adjust dosage if needed, and address any concerns.
BetterU uses doses of ketamine designed to produce a psychedelic effect, which is thought to increase neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form new connections and help break existing thought patterns.
What’s Included
The “Brain Box” starter kit ships with each new patient and contains a blood pressure monitoring cuff, meditation mask, heart diffraction glasses, and a journal. The blood pressure cuff is important because ketamine can temporarily raise blood pressure, so patients are asked to log their readings in the companion app before each session.
Better U requires all patients to arrange an on-site peer support person to be available during treatments – usually a family member, partner, or close friend. Those who cannot arrange this can engage Better U’s virtual peer support team for an additional fee.
The companion app allows patients to track their mood, progress, and symptom changes throughout their treatment journey. It also provides access to guided meditations, curated playlists for sessions, and self-care resources.
Integration coaching is included, offering access to Better U’s Neuroplastic Therapy program with personalized routines and therapeutic exercises rooted in CBT and psychodynamic approaches.
Pricing & Packages
BetterU offers two main packages:
Introduction Package (5 sessions): $500 total, which works out to $100 per session. This is designed for people whose mental health challenges are more recent (within the last 12 months).
Transformation Package (9 sessions): $792 total, or approximately $88 per session. This suits those who have been dealing with symptoms for longer than 12 months.
Payment plans are available through Affirm, advertised as starting at $54 monthly. Insurance is not accepted.
For context, this pricing sits on the more affordable end of the at-home ketamine market. Mindbloom, a major competitor, charges roughly $159–$209 per session. And traditional IV infusion clinics can cost $500–$800 per session, with the first month often running $2,000–$4,000.
Refund Policy
What about refunds? According to BetterU’s Terms & Conditions, they offer full refunds if their clinician determines you’re not a good fit before treatment starts. For non-medical reasons, you have a 90-day window to request a refund – but that window closes (and all sales become final) once:
- You’ve had a clinical consultation with a provider
- Your prescription has been sent to the pharmacy
- You’ve started treatment or received medication
- 90 days have passed since purchase
- You’re requesting a refund based on treatment outcomes or results
For the complete refund policy, check out their Terms & Conditions page.
Dosing
A natural question would be – how does the dosing work?
I didn’t find a lot of info about this on their site, so I reached out to BetterU customer support to check. According to them:
Dosing is individualized and determined by the provider based on clinical factors and how a patient responds.
All patients start with an “acclimation dose” which is a very low dose. This initial session is sometimes referred to as an enhanced meditation session.
From there, the dose is titrated up each session until reaching a level that is right for the patient.
Some patients can stay at the same dose throughout, while others may have adjustments if the provider believes it’s appropriate (for example, if the initial dose feels too low or too strong).
Availability of ketamine refills is typically as follows:
- 5-session package: about every 25 days
- 9-session package: about every 27 days
Nasal Spray Option?
The website mentions a nasal spray option, but beyond that, I couldn’t find much further info on it. According to BetterU support:
The nasal spray option is provider-directed, and eligibility is determined by the prescribing provider. It is typically considered for patients who have already completed treatment with oral ketamine first.
Customer Reviews & Experience
At the time of writing, BetterU holds a 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot based on 382 reviews with 91% of reviewers giving 5 stars.
What people liked:
Many reviewers describe the therapy as genuinely transformative. One user wrote that they’re “happier, slower to anger, think faster, speak better, and overall less anxious.” Another stated the treatment “eliminated physical symptoms of anxiety that had been with me so long I had no idea they were even there.”
Staff are frequently praised as “incredibly knowledgeable” and for calling to check in on patients. Multiple reviews mention feeling genuinely cared for.
One Trustpilot review noted that about six months earlier, they would have only given 4 stars due to slow weekend communication, but the company had since improved their responsiveness.
What people didn’t like:
Negative reviews on Trustpilot mention that the volume of texts and emails received after entering contact information felt excessive.
Some negative reviews mention provider turnover and communication delays, though it’s worth noting the company appears to respond to most negative reviews on Trustpilot with direct contact information for resolution.
Some Reddit users complained that prices seemed to increase after treatment started.
App-related issues appeared on the Apple and Google Play stores, including payment processes freezing and forms not saving progress.
A small percentage of users reported the therapy simply didn’t work for them, which is consistent with any treatment because ketamine is not effective for everyone.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Strong Trustpilot rating (4.6/5) ✅ Affordable compared to competitors and IV clinics ✅ Nasal spray option available (not just lozenges) ✅ Blood pressure cuff included in starter kit ✅ Payment plans through Affirm | ❌ Self-directed model may not suit everyone ❌ No insurance accepted ❌ Limited integration sessions included (some competitors offer more) ❌ Some users report app glitches ❌ Requires arranging your own peer support (or paying extra for virtual support) |
Who Is BetterU Best For
BetterU works well for people who are self-motivated and comfortable with a more tech-driven, independent approach to treatment. For those who have tried traditional medications like SSRIs without success and want to explore ketamine at a lower price point than competitors like Mindbloom, this may be worth considering
The service is less suited for first-timers who want extensive hand-holding or frequent one-on-one therapy calls before and after every session. One independent reviewer noted they would have ideally liked more coaching calls and ended up supplementing with weekly therapy through another platform.
If you’re looking for intensive support, Mindbloom may be a better fit despite the higher cost. If you want something even more minimal (and cheaper), Joyous focuses on microdosing with just text check-ins.
If you want more structured therapeutic support, Innerwell is another option in this space. They pair ketamine with licensed psychiatric care and offer more integration sessions as part of their packages. Their foundation program includes eight ketamine doses with three clinician meetings, while their extended program is designed for more severe cases. Innerwell tends to run at a higher cost than BetterU, like the other options mentioned here.
Roundup
BetterU offers a solid middle-ground option in the at-home ketamine therapy space — more affordable than premium providers, with enough structure and support for most self-directed users. The Trustpilot reviews are overwhelmingly positive, though the self-guided nature of the program means you’ll need to bring some motivation to the table.
If you’re in one of the 33 eligible states and want to explore ketamine therapy without the high cost of IV clinics or premium telehealth services, BetterU is worth a look.
If you’re in the market for ketamine therapy, you may also enjoy reading:
Disclaimer: The above information is for research and educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full medical disclaimer.
