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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
For organizations, BetterUp offers customized pricing based on company size, specific needs, and the level of service required. These enterprise solutions typically include:
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.
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:
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:
The platform serves as the foundation for all their specialized offerings, providing a consistent user experience while delivering targeted solutions.
Focused specifically on building effective leaders, BetterUp Lead™ has become their flagship service for organizations looking to enhance leadership capabilities. The program helps:
Companies using BetterUp Lead™ in 2025 report significant improvements in manager effectiveness and team productivity, with measurable impacts on key performance indicators.
Recognizing that performance depends on well-being, BetterUp Care® addresses the human factors that drive organizational success. The service focuses on:
In 2025, BetterUp Care® has expanded its preventative approach to mental health, helping organizations create environments where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.
BetterUp has also developed targeted solutions for specific business needs:
This specialized offering helps transform sales organizations by focusing on sales leadership development. The program includes:
Organizations implementing this solution have reported improvements in sales productivity, reduced turnover in sales teams, and more consistent achievement of revenue targets.
Designed specifically for C-suite and senior leaders, BetterUp's executive coaching offers:
This top-down approach helps drive organizational transformation by ensuring leaders have the support they need to effectively guide their companies.
After analyzing user feedback and testing the platform ourselves, here's our balanced assessment of BetterUp's strengths and limitations in 2025:
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.
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.
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:
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."
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.
When analyzing the overall sentiment across reviews, several themes emerge:
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.
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.
If you're weighing your options or finding that BetterUp might not align perfectly with your needs, there are several alternatives worth considering.
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:
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.
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