Mental Health Information
This content is for informational purposes only. AI therapy tools are not substitutes for professional mental health treatment. Always consult a licensed mental health professional.
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Wysa vs Youper: Which AI Therapy App Is Better?
With Woebot gone from the consumer market (shut down June 2025), Wysa and Youper are the two most credible AI therapy chatbots with published clinical evidence. Both offer CBT-based interventions through conversational AI. Here's how they differ.
Published: April 4, 2026 | Last updated: April 4, 2026
| Feature | Wysa | Youper |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2016 |
| HQ | Boston / Bangalore | San Francisco |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Premium Price | $6.25/mo (annual) | $5.83/mo (annual only) |
| Human Coaching | Yes ($19.99/session) | No |
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 (20,200+ ratings) | 4.8/5 (15,300+ ratings) |
| Therapy Modalities | CBT, DBT, ACT, Solution-Focused, MI, Mindfulness | CBT, ACT, DBT, PST, Mindfulness |
| Clinical Evidence | 30+ peer-reviewed papers including RCTs | 1 Stanford study (N=4,517, observational) |
| Regulatory Status | CE-marked Class I medical device (EU), NHS endorsed | None |
| Crisis Detection | Yes | Premium only |
| Validated Assessments | Yes | GAD-7, PHQ-9 |
| Countries | 65+ | USA + English-speaking |
| Affiliate | 15% via Refersion | None |
Clinical Evidence Comparison
This is the most important differentiator. Wysa has 30+ peer-reviewed publications, including randomized controlled trials published in JMIR. It is endorsed by the UK NHS through the Innovation Accelerator programme and holds CE-mark status as a Class I medical device in the EU. Its therapeutic alliance studies show users form human-level bonding with the chatbot.
Youper has one significant study — a Stanford University observational study with 4,517 participants published in JMIR showing statistically significant reductions in anxiety (d=0.57) and depression (d=0.46) within 2 weeks. The study also showed 42.66% 4-week retention. However, this was not an RCT with a control group, making the evidence weaker than Wysa's.
Winner: Wysa — by a significant margin on clinical evidence quality and quantity.
Therapy Approach
Both apps cover the core evidence-based modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness). Wysa adds Solution-Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Youper adds Problem-Solving Therapy (PST). In practice, the coverage is similar enough that most users won't notice the difference.
Youper's GAD-7 and PHQ-9 integration is a strength — it uses clinically validated assessment instruments to track symptom severity over time, giving users a clearer picture of their progress. Wysa offers similar tracking but less prominently featured.
Pricing Comparison
Both offer free tiers with limited features. Youper is marginally cheaper on premium ($5.83/month annual vs. Wysa's $6.25/month annual), but Youper only offers annual billing — no monthly option. Wysa adds optional human coaching ($19.99/session) that Youper doesn't offer.
Safety and Crisis Detection
A critical difference for a mental health app: Wysa includes crisis detection and safety monitoring in all tiers, including free. Youper locks crisis support features behind its premium paywall. For a vulnerable user population, free crisis detection is the responsible design choice.
Our Recommendation
Choose Wysa if: Clinical evidence matters to you, you want crisis detection in the free tier, you might want human coaching sessions, or you're outside the US and need global availability. Wysa is the stronger choice for most users.
Choose Youper if: You specifically want GAD-7/PHQ-9 symptom tracking integrated into daily use, you prefer Youper's conversational style, or you want the marginally lower annual price point ($69.99 vs $74.99).
Neither app replaces professional therapy. If you're experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or any mental health crisis, please contact a licensed professional or call 988.