Introduction

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Ginger is an on-demand mental healthcare platform that provides employees access to 24/7 text-based behavioral health coaching, psychiatry sessions, and self-guided care resources through a stand-alone application on their smartphones.Their accessibility is their greatest advantage.
Ratings
Ease of Use
Best For
Key Differentiator
Price
Free Trial
PROS
- Members can connect with a behavioral coach in under 60 seconds at any time of the day
- Ginger offers a wide variety of self-help resources at no additional cost to the user
CONS
- Ginger is not a web-based platform. Users can access the tool only via their smartphone
- Members outside the USA do not have access to video therapy and psychiatry sessions.

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Built using smartphone-based technology, data science, and augmented intelligence, Ginger is an on-demand mental healthcare platform that helps employees deal with any challenge they're facing, at any time of the day.
With a wait time of under 60 seconds, employees can easily chat with behavioral health coaches through the Ginger app. You can also book therapy and psychiatry sessions with licensed practitioners when needed. Any medication prescribed by your psychiatrist can be delivered to your house via Capsule in select cities.
What we like about Ginger is that health coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists collaborate and work together as a team to ensure that every individual receives the right level of care.

Ginger offers a massive library of self-guided care resources, ranging from webinars, podcasts, mental health tips, videos, and 200+ activities. All members can access these resources at any given point in time. Your behavioral coach will either assign resources and exercises as a part of your care, or the app will suggest them based on your needs and previous activity. From dealing with anxiety and stress to building healthy personal and professional relationships, there's something for everyone. We especially like their Ginger Chats - a resource of inspirational mental health stories.
Over 1.3 billion data points support Ginger's virtual platform - the world's largest data set on mental health. Equipped with these data insights, Ginger's coaches and healthcare practitioners can better help members and provide more effective care.

I use Headspace several times a week, both in the morning and before bed, to help me relax and focus. My main way to practice is through guided meditation sessions. The sessions give me a simple way to clear my mind when I'm stressed or have too much stuff to do.
I listen to "sleepcasts" at night. The sleepcasts are peaceful stories that help you sleep better and relax. I pick short mindfulness activities to do during my breaks at work based on what I have to do that day. The Headspace software is what I use to plan my daily wellness routine. It helps me relax and think more clearly.
What I love about Headspace is that it adapts to how I'm feeling each day. Like, if I'm completely frazzled from meetings, boom - there's a session for that exact vibe. Want to chill out after a long day? Yep, they've got me covered there, too.
The whole setup is pretty straightforward, which honestly matters when you're trying to build a habit. Plus, watching that streak counter go up can be addictive.
What really hooked me was how they seemed to have thought of everything. Anxious about tomorrow's presentation? There's a meditation for that. Shoulders tight from hunching over my computer?
They've got a body scan thing that helps. It's like they crawled inside my brain and figured out exactly what I needed on any given Tuesday.
In order to promote the mental health and general well-being of our employees, Etsy implemented Headspace as a benefit. With the shift to remote work and the blurring of work-life boundaries, Etsy saw a growing need for tools that could help our team manage stress during the decision-making process.
Our culture of care and balance was well-suited to Headspace's easy-to-use approach to promoting mindfulness, focus, and rest.
I've been using Headspace for more than two years, and it's now a regular part of my routine, whether I use it as a sleepcast to relax at night or as a quick breathing exercise in between meetings and phone screens.
Our teams have given us overwhelmingly positive feedback, which has made talking about mental health at work more common in reality.
To be honest, the $12.99 monthly subscription seems expensive when you're first starting with meditation, especially if you're not even sure if daily practice will become a habit. Due to the short duration of their free trial, you are forced to make a financial commitment before you can truly determine whether it is worthwhile for you.
After using the app regularly for a few months, the content begins to feel repetitive, especially when it comes to topics like sleep meditations and work stress. Even though I've gone through the same sessions several times, I wish there were more varied options for users who have advanced past the introductory level.
The offline download feature isn't as dependable as I'd like; on several occasions, sessions that I believed I had downloaded wouldn't play when I wasn't online, which negates the point of having it in the first place.
I actually discovered Headspace through my job at Etsy - they offered it as an employee perk, which was cool. I'd been using Calm before that, but honestly, I wasn't paying much attention to whether it was actually helping or just becoming background noise.
Headspace felt way more like actual instruction compared to Calm's more ambient approach. Andy explains the "why" behind what you're doing, not just the "what," which made me feel like I was building fundamental skills instead of just zoning out.
What really sold me was how the sessions built on each other. With Calm, I'd pick whatever sounded good that day, but Headspace has these progression tracks that made me feel like I was getting somewhere.
Before you choose a meditation app, think about what bothers you in your daily life. For instance, do you often feel disorganized, struggle to sleep, or get stressed out due to work deadlines? It's easier to pick the best software when you know what you want it to do, as each one excels at tackling specific challenges.
Definitely take advantage of those free trials to locate a teacher whose voice you like. Some voices may click with you immediately. While others might sound off or be bothersome after a few sessions. We all learn in different ways, thus, the way the teacher teaches is also essential.
Be honest about how much you can afford each month, but also check to see if your employer has wellness benefits that would cover the membership. Mine did through Etsy, which made the decision a lot easier since these apps aren't cheap when you put it all up.
I've been using Headspace intermittently for the past four or five years, and it's definitely advanced. What began as fairly simple meditation sessions has evolved into an entire ecosystem with breathing techniques, sleep stories, and programs designed for particular issues like managing your obnoxious boss or maintaining focus at work.
The app's best feature is that, depending on when I open it, it knows what I need. For instance, if I look at it first thing in the morning, it suggests content that will inspire me, but if I look at it late at night, it promotes the stuff that makes me tired. Instead of focusing on their strengths, the coaching and therapy they have been offering lately seem to be an attempt to please everyone.
Anyone new to mindfulness or looking for a simple, approachable way to begin meditation or manage daily stress should check out Headspace. For businesses looking to enhance employee mental health and foster a more positive work environment, it's also a great tool.
Regardless of experience level, anyone can easily find some peace in their day and form healthy habits with the help of the app's guided sessions.
Headspace isn't for everyone - if you're someone who's been meditating for years and wants serious, traditional practices, you'll probably find it way too basic and almost dumbed down.
Budget-conscious companies should probably skip it since the corporate rates can get brutal when you're trying to cover your whole team. And honestly, if you're the type of person who just wants to sit quietly without someone cheerfully telling you how to breathe every thirty seconds, the whole cutesy vibe will drive you absolutely nuts.
They offered reporting so we could understand utilization. I used it personally for mindfulness and meditation. They also had courses on certain topics that employees used, such as dealing with grief or stress. Another thing they offer is monthly webinars. We would share these with employees and encourage them to join.
The voices were soothing. The content was easy to search. The resources and webinars were well done.
We bought it because a big part of our culture is wellness. We wanted to place a focus on mental well-being. We only purchased the basic package, which included meditations and mindfulness content, but they offer a lot more than that. I have used it for two years.
We weren't trying to solve a specific problem, but we were trying to strengthen our support for employee wellness and position ourselves as an employer of choice.
We had to purchase a number of seats, but we could not account for utilization. There wasn't much support to encourage employees to use it, so our utilization was around 20%. More content related to the work experience would be helpful.
They have name recognition. Their graphics and content are excellent. Their pricing seems to be all-inclusive rather than modular.
Do you have the time to administer this tool and encourage employee participation? Do you really need to buy this tool, or could you reimburse employees for other app preferences?
They recently added an EAP within the tool.
Headspace is probably a good option to improve wellness goals for bigger companies or any company with a focus on wellness.
Smaller companies would have a hard time justifying the cost of Headspace.
I use Headspace to support my mental health, including depression and anxiety. The meditation and cognitive-based approaches have suited me best, significantly to calm my mind during and after the work day.
I've even leveraged the therapy sessions, as they've been the perfect incentive to support my well-being without paying out of pocket by utilizing my employer-based insurance. In addition, I've shown my family the benefits of how I'm able to navigate my insomnia by allowing myself to rewire my brain chemistry and not overthink at night.
I've noticed an overall uptick in my thinking capabilities, navigating different employee personalities, and staying focused.

I love the benefits of using both my desktop and mobile apps when I'm on the go. I appreciate the different mental health tools, such as support with stress and anxiety with meditation. The software runs seamlessly without any hindrances, which is also a great attraction since there are no disruptions when I need it the most.
Mental health concerns were heightened during the pandemic. We were introduced to a new era, which was impacting our personnel, 78% to be exact, based on our HRIS metrics.
We were receiving not only a ton of mental health grievances through our employee relations team, but our employees' productivity slowed down by 17%. Employees were experiencing depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and burnout.
Instead of offering employer training and internal courses, we decided to go external to best support them in their own time. We've been successfully using Headspace for over 5 years and provide this incentive in our new hire onboarding.
Their customer service process to support employees can be delayed, especially when connecting their account to the employer incentive. I've also encountered delays requesting additional licenses since the company has grown due to integrating new personnel.
Employees have also reported limited video therapy access as they don't always have expert personnel after regular business hours.
Headspace is surely the best of its competitors in terms of pricing, implementation, and the range of mental health care it provides. We had a demo with Balance, and although the application is free for the first year, it doesn't provide the best cognitive approach for those in need of day-to-day support.
This tool is the ideal investment to support your employees in terms of their overall support and well-being. Although the investment can be considered a risk for companies, the overall benefits in terms of ROI are phenomenal. Metrics show that employees will have a better mental capacity and wellness when using their programs.
Also, implementation strategies are free, with Headspace SMEs navigating the site, so we can teach and guide employees to use the benefits best.
Headspace is constantly evolving with different programs based on their research and the needs of people. Since adapting this platform, Headspace offers custom approaches best suited to the individual and their needs. They've also included clinical assessments and skill-building resources emphasizing increasing your interpersonal deficits.
I believe Headspace can be beneficial for all organizations, but specifically for those in high-stress corporate positions, creative/PR organizations, government personnel, or technology industries.
Headspace may not be best for users who aren't ready to acknowledge the importance of their mental health and appreciate best practices for improving their overall well-being. It may also not benefit those who need in-person support.
I most commonly use Headspace when I have trouble sleeping. It offers nighttime sleepcasts, which are calming stories that help promote relaxation and rest. There are also other sleep tools, including white noise, sleep radio, and guided meditations.
Headspace provides so many features that I sometimes forget all the ways I could use it, and each time I open the app, I discover more options that could benefit me. I would like to explore more of the focus and skill-building activities it offers.

Headspace offers solutions for almost any wellness challenge, including movement, sleep improvement, anxiety reduction, and skill-building. The app has a friendly user interface with bright colors and easy-to-navigate menus. It tracks activity and usage stats, showing completed activities and total time spent on the platform.
We purchased Headspace a few years ago as part of our employee wellbeing package. The veterinary industry is notoriously stressful, and Headspace provides a way for employees to rest and recharge.
It offers guidance on meditation, focus, and sleep to support emotional wellbeing. It also includes mini-sessions for learning and practicing skills, even for those who may not be interested in fully exploring its wellness tools. I have personally used Headspace for over a year.
The "Today" tab displays suggested activities for the entire day, so even if I log in at night, my first recommendations are morning activities—I wish it updated based on the time of day.
Headspace is primarily designed for mobile use, but I wish the website was as robust as the app so I could fully access it without needing my phone. Other than that, I have no major complaints—Headspace has done an excellent job.
Headspace has a more visually appealing and user-friendly design than other wellness apps I’ve tried. The app is enjoyable to browse, even when I’m not actively using its features. The layout, colors, and audio elements are thoughtfully designed and enhance the user experience.
When purchasing Headspace for employees, ensure they understand how to use it and have the resources to take full advantage of its features. The tool is only beneficial if people actively engage with it. Additionally, consider whether employees have access to a smartphone or tablet, as the mobile app offers more functionality than the website.
Headspace consistently adds new activities based on relevant topics, such as election stress and managing change. There is always fresh content to support the emotional needs of a diverse user base.
Any organization or individual looking to prioritize wellness and promote employee or personal wellbeing.
I believe Headspace could benefit any person or organization.
You cannot use Ginger’s service unless your employer has signed up for it.
Buzzfeed, Sephora, TaskRabbit, SurveyMonkey, and Chegg
- 24/7 on-demand live chat
- Behavioral health coaching
- Therapy and psychiatry sessions
- Self-guided care resources
Ginger is a stand-alone application and doesn’t integrate with other applications/software.
Ginger's pricing is not disclosed on their website. You can get in touch with their team for a custom quote depending on how much access to coaches and therapists your company requires. Employees and their dependents don't have to pay any fees.
Any sized company will find Ginger valuable for keeping employees happy and healthy.
Ginger is a mobile app, so implementation is as simple as downloading it.
Ginger's licensed professionals are available 24/7, so you can reach out to them at any point during the day. If you have any queries or concerns, you can chat with their Member Support Team using the app, and someone will get back to you within two minutes. You can also email them and expect a response within 12 hours.
When Ginger's co-founder and COO, Karan Singh, was a child, his mother would brew him ginger tea whenever he felt like he was about to be sick - a preventative remedy used at the first sign of illness. Years later, after learning of a loved one's suicide attempt, Karan decided to establish a system that takes a preventative approach to mental health, addressing problems before they become worse. Thus, in 2011, with the help of a team of entrepreneurs and data scientists at the MIT Media Lab, Ginger was born.
Company HQ
San Francisco, California
Number of Employees
230+
Year Founded
2010
Amount Raised
Ginger has raised $220.7 million in funding over 11 rounds. Their latest was a Series E round in March 2021.