4 Best Online Anger Management Classes in 2024

If your anger negatively affects your personal relationships and work life, and you feel it’s difficult to control, it may be time to consider treatment through online therapy or an anger management class. Our reviews team looked at different online anger management classes to find the best options for those who want to experience personal growth or need to satisfy legal or employer obligations.

• Best free course: Veterans Affairs Anger and Irritability Management Skills Course
• Most affordable paid course: Open Path Anger Management Course
• Best for parents: Anger Class Online
• Best for court-ordered classes: Course for Anger

Pros

• Free, self-paced course
• Free app available to complement the online course or use alone

Cons

• May not be the best fit if you aren’t a veteran or in the military
• Cannot receive a certificate for completion
• Cannot fulfill a court order
• Website doesn't save progress or completed worksheets

Session Format Self-paced online course

Cost Free

Accepts Insurance No

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a free Anger and Irritability Management Skills (AIMS) course designed specifically for veterans of all ages and genders. Although the course is designed to help veterans with anger and aggression, the principles apply to civilians, too. The course is based on the work of Patrick Reilly, PhD, a professor emeritus of clinical psychology at the University of California in San Francisco, who developed a cognitive behavioral approach to anger management to effectively treat anger issues in veterans.

Through this program, you will identify anger triggers, discover how your thoughts affect your feelings and reactions, and learn positive coping skills, such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation exercises, to help you better control your anger.

AIMS is a free, interactive program that consists of seven learning modules you can follow at your own pace. You'll also have access to the following tools:

• Videos from veterans sharing their personal stories and firsthand experiences using the program to help manage their anger
• Interactive activities that simulate real-life situations
• Tip sheets and worksheets, such as an anger control plan, to write down your goals and triggers
• A learning log, with assignments to complete after each of the seven modules
• A free app available on iOS and Android, with tools to help you track your anger and manage angry reactions

You do not have to register for the course, which is completely anonymous. The platform does not save any of the information you enter. If you want to save your anger control plan or worksheets, you'll need to print them or save them to your computer.

Pros

• Satisfies court requirements
• Provides an enrollment letter once you register
• Receive your certificate immediately after completion
• Registration fee includes access to other classes, such as mindfulness and burnout prevention

Cons

• Requires a $4.99 registration fee

Session Format Self-paced video course

Cost $17 to $115 for certificates; $4.99 one-time registration fee

Accepts Insurance No

Open Path offers affordable and court-approved online anger management courses for anyone who needs to satisfy a legal requirement or wants to better manage their anger. For an initial fee of $4.99, you have access to all the Open Path courses, which cover topics like anxiety and stress reduction, mindful social media, and self-esteem. Once you register for your anger management class, Open Path will email you proof of enrollment. If you need a certificate of completion, you have eight options. The available courses are classified by how many hours the course lasts, ranging from 4 hours to 52 hours.

During the Open Path anger management classes, you'll learn how, where, and why anger pops up in your life and how to manage it. You’ll learn skills such as emotional intelligence, so that even when your anger is triggered, you can maintain calm, practice assertive communication, and act with compassion.

Open Path Anger Management Course Options and Pricing

To access all the Open Path classes, including the anger management course, there is a one-time fee of $4.99. The cost of a completion certificate depends on the length of the course you take.

Certificate Prices

• 4 Hours $17
• 8 Hours $33
• 12 Hours $53
• 18 Hours $70
• 24 Hours $85
• 30 Hours $94
• 36 Hours $100
• 52 Hours $115

If you need a hard copy of the certificate, you can pay to have it mailed. Shipping starts at $5, depending on the shipping method you choose. You can download a digital certificate for free if you don't need a hard copy.

Pros

• Designed for parents struggling with anger issues
• Offers 8- and 12-hour classes
• Will refund your money if the class does not fulfill legal requirements

Cons

• More expensive than other options in this list
• Certificates of completion are sent by mail

Session Format Self-paced course with articles, pictures, and diagrams

Cost $195 to $250

Accepts Insurance No

Parenting comes with its own challenges, but when you’re dealing with anger issues, the need to address them is even more pressing. Childhood experiences, such as harsh punishment and family dysfunction, can increase the likelihood that a child will develop issues with anger or aggression, according to Yale Medicine.

That’s why Ari Novak, PhD, a marriage and family therapist based in Laguna Beach, California, and Tony Fiore, PhD, a clinical psychologist and anger management specialist in Newport Beach, California, developed Anger Class Online specifically for parents. Through this class, you'll learn how to create more realistic expectations for your children. You'll also learn how to notice and stay in control when you start to feel angry, express your frustration constructively, and cope with emotions in healthier ways.

Anger Class Online Plan Options and Pricing

Anger Class Online offers two anger management classes for parents.

• 8-Hour Class $195
• 12-Hour Class $245

You can use the offer code "ACFAQ20" to receive $20 off any class.

All certificates of completion are sent by mail, so you will need to plan ahead if you need to receive yours by a certain date.

Pros

• Offers 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-hour classes
• Satisfies court requirements
• Receive a certificate immediately after completion
• Refunds your payment if your court rejects the class
• Accessible via computer, tablet, or smartphone

Cons

• More expensive than competitors

Session Format Online, self-paced course

Cost $25 to $85

Accepts Insurance No

Course for Anger offers 4- to 16-hour online anger management classes that satisfy legal and employment requirements. Once you sign up for Course for Anger, you'll receive an enrollment verification letter, which you can send to a judge, attorney, probation officer, or other applicable party. All Course for Anger classes include a certificate of completion, which can be emailed to the party that required you to complete the class. Your certificate will show whether you passed the optional written exam.

Course for Anger Options and Pricing

Course for Anger offers four online anger management classes. If you find a class at a cheaper price, Course for Anger will match the price and discount it by $1. If your class isn’t accepted for any reason, Course for Anger will refund your money in full.

• 4-Hour Online Anger Management Class $25
• 8-Hour Online Anger Management Class $45
• 12-Hour Online Anger Management Class $65
• 16-Hour Online Anger Management Class $85

According to the American Psychological Association, anger management helps diminish the emotional and physiological responses that come with anger. You can get treatment by taking a course individually or in a group setting. Some classes are court-ordered, but you may choose to take a course for personal growth.

Anger management therapy uses elements from cognitive behavioral therapy, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (PDF), to teach you how to recognize your triggers, control your anger using techniques such as deep breathing, and resolve conflict using assertive communication.

If you take an online anger management course, you can expect to participate in weekly classes or modules to learn how to manage your anger better. Between courses, you may be advised to practice what you learn to gradually improve your outlook and behavior over time.

According to the American Psychological Association, it’s time to consider anger management when your anger feels out of control and has a negative effect on your life and relationships. You may also need an anger management class if you’re required to take one to fulfill an obligation to the legal system or an employer.

Heather Wilson, LCSW, the executive director of Epiphany Wellness in Blackwood, New Jersey, says that anger issues can emerge in a few forms. The following are signs you should seek help:

• Physical manifestations, including tension, headaches, chest pain, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Behavioral manifestations, including yelling, hitting objects or people, and throwing or breaking things
• Suppressing your feelings, including pushing down your emotions and finding it difficult to express emotion

• Does the assigning party accept the class? If a judge, employer, or other entity assigned a course, verify that you’re allowed to use online learning and whether they approve your class.
• Do you need proof of enrollment? Some courses include this as part of your class, while others do not offer it at all.
• Do you have the ability to complete a self-guided course? Self-led classes are the most common type of online anger management class. If you can’t commit to a regularly scheduled time to complete your class, or if you don’t have the resources required, consider an in-person option.
• Does the class provide the hours you need? The most common classes are 4-, 8-, and 12-hours long. If you need a longer course, make sure you choose one that's specifically designed to meet your needs.
• Do you need a certificate? While some anger management classes issue certificates of completion, others do not.
• Do your anger issues warrant therapy? If you want to explore your feelings more deeply and on a more ongoing basis, especially if you’re taking a class for personal growth, therapy might be a better option than an anger management course. Therapy will help explore the underlying reasons for anger beyond managing the symptoms of anger.
• Do you need medication? Professionals may recommend medication to help treat underlying mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety that can contribute to your anger issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Since anger management classes do not offer medication, you would need to consult an online psychiatrist.

RELATED: The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety in 2024

Who Should Use Online Anger Management Courses?

An online anger management course is an appropriate option for those who have court or probation requirements for anger management and have received approval for online learning. It’s also for those who need to take a course for their employer, or any person who feels they could benefit from a structured environment where they can learn how to manage their emotions and change their behavior.

Who Should Not Use Online Anger Management Courses?

If your anger management class is mandatory, you should not use online courses until you have confirmed that the class meets the requirements of your probation officer, judge, employer, or a similar entity.

Online anger management courses are also not appropriate for those without a stable internet connection or who struggle to use technology. They're not appropriate for those who need ongoing support through therapy or a more personalized approach to working through their anger issues.

We independently investigate and recommend products and services that we believe will enrich the lives of our readers and meet their specific needs. You can read our full online therapy review methodology here. We’ve spent many hours carrying out in-depth research on the online therapy market. You can trust our review because we did the legwork for you in these specific ways:

• Engaged in ongoing independent research
• Mystery shopped each of the brands
• Contacted the brands’ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsiveness
• Consulted six leading psychologists and psychiatrists
• Became customers of online therapy providers ourselves
• Reviewed academic research about the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapy
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as the Better Bettter Business Bureau and Trustpilot

Online anger management classes can help you learn your personal anger triggers, how to control your responses, and how to better cope with anger, especially when you’re stressed. If you want to take a class for personal reasons and don’t require a certificate, Veterans Affairs offers an eight-part course for free. For more affordable classes between 4 and 52 hours, try Open Path. If you’re a parent struggling with your anger, Anger Class Online offers classes specifically for repairing relationships with children and improving the way you handle your anger. For any court-assigned anger management classes, Course for Anger is your best option.

If you are in crisis, waiting for an online therapy appointment is not safe. In case of an emergency, call 911. This includes plans to harm yourself or others. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Help is available 24/7.

You can also reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). The SAMHSA help line is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental or substance use disorders.

If you are a victim or survivor of abuse, a concerned friend or family member, or an abusive partner seeking change, you can talk to a National Domestic Violence Hotline advocate by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233), texting “START” to 88788, or starting a live chat on its site. All of its services are free, nonjudgmental, and available 24/7.