When it comes to career development, coaching platforms have become staple tools to help you level up your skills and mindset and get to the next level.
Among these platforms, BetterUp has maintained its position as a prominent player since its launch in 2013.
The thing is, a lot's changed since then, and there are now plenty of options available in 2025, many of which are far more specialized and dedicated, depending on what sort of career coaching you're looking for.
So, is BetterUp still the powerhouse it once was? Does it deliver real results? And most importantly, is it worth your hard-earned money?
We at MentorCruise understand the importance of finding the right support for your professional journey. Not just the "best platform out there", but rather finding the one that works best for what you're after.
With this in mind, let's dive into our comprehensive breakdown of what BetterUp offers, examining everything from its core features to genuine user experiences.
Let's go.
What exactly is BetterUp in 2025?
BetterUp has evolved significantly since its inception. What started as a virtual coaching platform has transformed into one of the largest people-centric coaching platforms to help improve productivity, employee retention, and engagement.
While individual coaching is still available, it's clear that BetterUp has focused more on providing companies with their coaching services.
As such, companies and organizations can work with BetterUp to provide comprehensive coaching solutions to their staff, teams, and employees. This aims to engage the employee better, raising them up, benefitting both them and the company simultaneously.
There are plenty of services here, including:
- Dedicated sales training
- Lead development programs
- Certified coaches offering 1-to-1 training on career development, leadership, and personal wellbeing
- AI-powered assessment courses
- Unlimited access to a vast content library on all things well being
- Built-in community functions
And a whole lot more. All backed by behavioral science and data analytics to create personalized development paths that adapt to your progress and changing needs.
Their network now includes over 5,000 coaches (up from 3,000 in previous years) across 80+ countries, offering support in more than 70 languages. This expanded reach has made BetterUp a resource for over 1,000 organizations, including industry leaders like SpaceX, Microsoft, Adobe, and the Mayo Clinic.
The platform's mission remains focused on helping professionals lead lives filled with clarity, purpose, and passion. But has their execution kept pace with their ambitions? Let's find out.
BetterUp pricing structure in 2025
One of the first questions potential users ask is: "How much will this cost me?" BetterUp's pricing has evolved to offer more flexibility while maintaining its tiered structure.
Unfortunately, however, that means there's no hard-and-fast pricing plan. The website states that individual coaching costs between $75 and $250 per session, depending on various factors.
For example:
- Which coach you want to work with (and how experienced or available they are)
- How many sessions do you want
- How accessible and on-demand you want your coach to be
- The kind of coaching intensity do you want to work with
- The content you wish to access to
In reality, the only real way to get an accurate quote is to start going down the route to getting a coach, where you'll be quoted on what you decide. Then, you can make the choice whether or not this is right for you.
Enterprise solutions
For organizations, BetterUp offers customized pricing based on company size, specific needs, and the level of service required. These enterprise solutions typically include:
- Dedicated account management
- Custom content libraries
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Integration with existing HR and learning systems
Again, your best bet is to get in touch with the BetterUp sales team, which can quote you exactly based on your individual needs, goals, and expectations.
What are the key features of BetterUp in 2025?
BetterUp has refined its service offerings in 2025, focusing on delivering measurable business impact through its core products and solutions. Let's explore what they're currently offering:
The Human Transformation Platform
At the heart of BetterUp's offering is its comprehensive platform designed to drive scalable mindset, skill, and behavior changes across organizations. In 2025, this platform has been enhanced with:
- Advanced analytics dashboards showing clear ROI metrics
- Personalized learning journeys tailored to individual needs
- Seamless integration with existing HR and learning systems
- Mobile-optimized coaching experiences for on-the-go development
The platform serves as the foundation for all their specialized offerings, providing a consistent user experience while delivering targeted solutions.
BetterUp Lead™
Focused specifically on building effective leaders, BetterUp Lead™ has become their flagship service for organizations looking to enhance leadership capabilities. The program helps:
- Accelerate team performance through improved leadership skills
- Boost employee engagement and retention
- Develop adaptable leaders capable of navigating change
- Build inclusive leadership practices that support diverse teams
Companies using BetterUp Lead™ in 2025 report significant improvements in manager effectiveness and team productivity, with measurable impacts on key performance indicators.
BetterUp Care®
Recognizing that performance depends on well-being, BetterUp Care® addresses the human factors that drive organizational success. The service focuses on:
- Building personal and team resilience
- Enhancing mental fitness and wellbeing practices
- Developing agility to navigate workplace challenges
- Preventing burnout and supporting sustainable performance
In 2025, BetterUp Care® has expanded its preventative approach to mental health, helping organizations create environments where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.
Specialized Solutions
BetterUp has also developed targeted solutions for specific business needs:
Sales Performance
This specialized offering helps transform sales organizations by focusing on sales leadership development. The program includes:
- Coaching for sales leaders and managers
- Tools to build high-performing sales cultures
- Strategies to improve sales resilience and adaptability
- Techniques for coaching sales teams through market changes
Organizations implementing this solution have reported improvements in sales productivity, reduced turnover in sales teams, and more consistent achievement of revenue targets.
Executive Coaching
Designed specifically for C-suite and senior leaders, BetterUp's executive coaching offers:
- Personalized, high-touch coaching relationships
- Strategic thinking and decision-making support
- Change management and organizational transformation guidance
- Leadership presence and executive communication development
This top-down approach helps drive organizational transformation by ensuring leaders have the support they need to effectively guide their companies.
What are the pros and cons of BetterUp in 2025?
After analyzing user feedback and testing the platform ourselves, here's our balanced assessment of BetterUp's strengths and limitations in 2025:
What BetterUp gets right
Exceptional coach quality: BetterUp maintains rigorous standards for their coaches, with most having advanced degrees and certifications in their areas of expertise. In 2025, they've implemented an enhanced matching system that results in higher coach-client compatibility.
Evidence-based approach: The platform continues to ground its methodologies in behavioral science, with regular updates based on new research. Their internal research team now publishes quarterly insights on workplace trends and effective development strategies.
Comprehensive resources: The content library has expanded significantly, with resources organized by skill areas, industries, and common challenges. New additions include interactive tools, scenario-based learning modules, and micro-learning options for busy professionals.
Improved user experience: The platform interface has been redesigned for greater intuition and accessibility, with personalized dashboards highlighting relevant resources and progress metrics.
Impact measurement: BetterUp has strengthened its ability to measure and demonstrate coaching effectiveness, providing clearer ROI metrics for both individual users and organizations.
Areas where BetterUp could improve
Session flexibility: The non-rollover policy for unused sessions remains a pain point for many users, especially those with fluctuating schedules or unexpected work demands.
Assessment fatigue: While the platform's assessment tools provide valuable insights, some users report feeling overwhelmed by the frequency and length of questionnaires.
Pricing transparency: Some users mention challenges in understanding the entire cost structure, particularly for enterprise solutions with custom features.
Content organization: Despite improvements, navigating the extensive resource library can still be overwhelming for new users, with some reporting difficulty finding specific content relevant to their immediate needs.
Refund process: There continue to be reports of complications in the refund process, though the frequency of these complaints has decreased compared to previous years.
What real users are saying about BetterUp in 2025
To provide you with the most accurate picture of the BetterUp experience, we've analyzed recent reviews from verified users across multiple platforms, including G2 and other review sites. Here's what real people are consistently saying about their BetterUp experiences:
Positive experiences
Professional, high-quality coaches: This is by far the most frequently mentioned positive. A Learning Design Lead from an enterprise company shared, "I mostly enjoy the professionalism of the coaches... The dedicated time to work on personal development with an experienced coach is invaluable." Many users describe their coaches as knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in their growth.
Personalized support that drives results: Users appreciate the tailored approach to their specific challenges. A telecommunications professional noted, "What I loved most was the feeling of having a personalized cheerleader in my corner. I used it to work on techniques to manage my anxiety, practiced my delivery, and even role-played answering tough questions."
Well-designed user experience: The platform itself receives consistent praise for its intuitive design. As one Customer Success Manager remarked, "The way BetterUp presents live and self-serve resources is highly intuitive and helps keep me motivated, depending upon the capacity I have that month." The clean interface and straightforward scheduling system make it easy to engage with the service.
Actionable growth plans: Many users highlight the practical nature of their coaching sessions. "At the end of each session, the coaches help me to create an action plan. They also share resources available on the BetterUp portal that are related to the topics we discussed," explained one enterprise user. This focus on concrete next steps helps users apply their insights in real-world situations.
Safe space for open conversations: Several users mentioned appreciating the confidential environment BetterUp creates. "The openness I felt in having good and healthy conversations" was highlighted by one user, noting how valuable it was to discuss challenges they typically "bottle up."
Constructive criticism
Price considerations: Cost remains the most commonly cited concern. As one IT professional candidly put it, "The pricing seems way too much. Coming from a non-US country, I can easily get face-to-face consulting for 30% of their price!" Even satisfied users acknowledge the significant investment: "Depending on your plan, coaching with BetterUp can be a significant investment. It took me some time to decide if the cost was justified for my needs."
Limited coach selection process: Multiple users expressed a desire for more flexibility in choosing their coach. One higher education professional explained, "I did not like that it only gave me three options for potential coaches. I would have preferred to choose from a list... I wish I could have 'shopped around' more." Another user mentioned wanting to "keep one mentor and try out another with an Intro Call before the platform closes out the interaction."
Content overwhelm: While the extensive resource library is viewed positively, some users find it challenging to keep up with all the materials. A talent acquisition specialist noted, "Everything is good except the amount of coaching material they provide. Sometimes it's really tough to prepare yourself for discussions." Others mentioned feeling unprepared for group sessions due to the volume of recommended pre-work.
Inconsistent experiences across coaches: While coach quality is generally praised, there's some variance in user experiences. As one healthcare professional shared, "I have heard from staff that they dislike how unhelpful it is, but they have mentioned they have only tried once or twice, so I don't think that's a fair assessment." This suggests that finding the right coach match is crucial to success with the platform.
The verdict from users
When analyzing the overall sentiment across reviews, several themes emerge:
- Users who fully engage with the platform and find a compatible coach report substantial personal and professional growth
- The investment pays off for those who commit to the process and actively implement their action plans
- The platform works best for those who are genuinely open to self-reflection and change
- Organizations that properly introduce and support employee use of BetterUp see higher satisfaction and better outcomes
- The pricing model works better for users with employer sponsorship than for individual subscribers
A software professional summed up many users' sentiments well: "This is the best resource I have found for professional development... I have recommended it to many of my colleagues and am talking to my org right now about getting it for my whole team."
This mix of praise and constructive feedback provides a balanced view of what new users might expect when engaging with BetterUp in 2025. While not perfect for everyone, those who find the right coach and fully commit to the process typically report meaningful results that justify the investment.
Is BetterUp the right choice for you in 2025?
After thoroughly examining BetterUp's offerings, pricing, features, and user experiences, the question remains: Is it the right platform for your needs? The answer, as with most development tools, depends on your specific situation and goals.
BetterUp might be perfect for you if:
- You value evidence-based coaching and development approaches
- You're looking for a holistic solution that addresses both professional skills and personal well-being
- You prefer a structured development journey with clear metrics and milestones
- You appreciate having access to a comprehensive resource library alongside one-on-one coaching
- Your organization is willing to invest in your development (many users access BetterUp through employer programs)
You might want to explore alternatives if:
- You're seeking a more flexible or pay-as-you-go coaching arrangement
- You prefer a more specialized focus on specific skills or career transitions
- You're working with a limited budget and need more affordable options
- You want more control over coach selection and scheduling
- You're looking for industry-specific mentorship rather than general coaching
Exploring alternatives to BetterUp in 2025
If you're weighing your options or finding that BetterUp might not align perfectly with your needs, there are several alternatives worth considering.
MentorCruise: Personalized mentorship for career advancement
At MentorCruise, we offer a different approach to professional development through our mentorship platform. Unlike BetterUp's coaching model, our platform connects you directly with experienced professionals in your specific industry or role.
Our mentors provide tailored guidance based on real-world experience, helping you navigate career transitions, develop targeted skills, and build valuable professional relationships. With flexible scheduling and pricing options starting at a more accessible price point, MentorCruise offers a personalized alternative that many professionals find invaluable.
The key differences between BetterUp and MentorCruise include:
- Industry specificity: Our mentors work in the fields they advise on, providing insider knowledge and practical guidance
- Direct mentor selection: You choose your mentor based on their background and expertise rather than being matched through an algorithm
- Flexible commitment: Options range from monthly subscriptions to pay-per-session arrangements
- Career focus: While we address personal development, our primary emphasis is on career advancement and practical skill-building
- Community access: Connect with peers in your industry through our growing professional community
Wrapping up
Professional development is a deeply personal journey, and the right platform for you depends on your unique goals, learning style, and circumstances.
BetterUp continues to offer a robust, science-backed coaching experience that has helped thousands of professionals enhance their careers and well-being. Its comprehensive approach and organizational focus make it particularly valuable for those in leadership positions or with employer sponsorship.
However, the investment—both financial and in terms of time commitment—means it's worth carefully considering whether BetterUp aligns with your specific needs and development priorities.
Whether you choose BetterUp, MentorCruise, or another development platform, the most important factor is finding a solution that resonates with you and supports your unique professional journey.
Ready to explore your options further?
Consider signing up for BetterUp's free introductory session to experience their approach firsthand.
Or, if you're interested in industry-specific mentorship, browse MentorCruise's diverse network of mentors to find the perfect match for your career goals.
Your professional development is too important to leave to chance—take the time to find the right support system for your journey.