Why online counselling costs less, and what stays the same.

16 October 2026 · 5 min read

If you have priced counselling lately, you may have noticed that online sessions often cost noticeably less, and wondered what the catch is. It is a fair question. When something costs less, it is sensible to ask what has been taken out.

Here is where the difference comes from, what it does and does not mean, and what to check before you book.

Is online counselling actually cheaper?

Often, yes, though not always. Healthdirect, the Australian Government-funded health information service, says the cost of mental health services can vary enormously, and that telehealth psychology services usually have lower cost options.

For counselling specifically, a May 2021 survey of members of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) found the most commonly reported fees were $100 to $160 an hour. It is self-reported by one professional body's members and a few years old, so treat it as a rough guide. InnerHub charges $59.90 AUD for a 50-minute session, which sits below the bottom of that range.

Where do the savings come from?

Most of the difference comes from costs that online practice simply does not have. This is our reading of how the costs fit together, not an audited breakdown of any one practice.

• No clinic room. An in-person practitioner usually pays for a room, in a suburb you can reach, and builds that cost into each fee. A practitioner working online needs a quiet space and a good connection.
• Less admin overhead. Booking, reminders and payment run through the platform rather than a front desk.
• No travel for you. You skip the fare, the parking and the hour lost either side. That is a saving the fee does not show.
• No postcode pricing. City clinic fees tend to reflect city rents. Online, you are not limited to whoever practises near you.

None of these involves doing less for you in the session. The hour is the same hour.

What does a lower price not mean?

A lower price does not mean a less experienced practitioner. The saving sits in running costs, not in the person across the screen.

What it does mean is that the quality signals are worth checking yourself, whatever the price. Every InnerHub practitioner profile shows the degree, the country it came from and their years of practice before you book. InnerHub practitioners are experienced and qualified in their own countries, and they are not AHPRA-registered. That is why sessions sit outside Medicare, and it is a fact you can see on each profile rather than something buried in the terms.

What do you give up with online counselling?

Less than you might expect, and a few things worth knowing.

• A room in person. Some people simply prefer sitting across from someone. If that is you, online may not suit, and that is a legitimate answer.
• A quiet place at home. You need somewhere private for 50 minutes. Headphones and a closed door go a long way.
• A steady connection. A video session needs a reasonable internet connection.
• Medicare rebates. InnerHub sessions are outside Medicare, so no rebate applies. If a rebate matters to you, our guide to sessions outside Medicare explains the trade-off, and the Better Access initiative page lists who is eligible.

How does it compare once you count the gap?

Compare what you will actually pay, not the advertised fee. Healthdirect notes that almost all psychiatrists and psychologists charge a gap fee on top of any Medicare rebate, so the out-of-pocket amount can be well above zero even where a rebate applies.

InnerHub's price has no gap: $59.90 AUD per session, which is $239.60 AUD for four weekly sessions. Our guide to what therapy costs in Australia sets every model side by side, and our post on how much a counsellor costs in Australia goes through counsellor fees in detail.

What should you check before you book?

Whatever the provider, a few questions keep a low price honest:

1. Is that the full fee? Ask whether it includes any booking or platform fees.
2. How long is the session? Some providers charge for 60 minutes, others 50.
3. What is the cancellation policy? Late fees can change the real cost.
4. Who is the practitioner? Look at their qualification, where it came from and how long they have practised.
5. Can you change practitioner? On InnerHub, changing practitioner costs nothing extra.

Is there free support while you decide?

Yes. The Beyond Blue Support Service offers free phone (1300 22 4636), webchat and email support at any hour, and a GP can talk through options. Our guide to affordable counselling in Australia lays out the free, subsidised and paid routes together.

What counselling cannot do

Counselling is a place to work through what you are carrying. It does not replace a doctor. InnerHub practitioners work within their training and refer honestly: if what you are carrying needs a GP or specialist care, they will say so.

When to get help sooner

InnerHub is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For support at any hour, Lifeline is on 13 11 14.

This article is general information for adults 18 and over. It is not financial, clinical or medical advice, and not a substitute for professional care.

General information, not clinical or medical advice. For adults 18 and over. InnerHub is not a crisis service: in an emergency call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.