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Sociology & Social Policy

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Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2025.09.005

A Comparative Study of Pricing Strategies and Influencing Factors of Online Psychological Counseling Platforms: Case of Yixinli and Yidianling

Debao Hou

Orkhon University, Ulaanbaatar 17031, Mongolia.

*Corresponding author: Debao Hou

Published: August 22,2025

Abstract

This study conducts a comparative analysis of the service pricing strategies and their influencing factors of China’s two major online psychological counseling platforms, Yixinli and Yidianling. Utilizing descriptive statistics and comparative analysis methods on 1,876 therapist profiles, the study explores the relationships between counseling fees and factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and professional qualifications. The results indicate that Yixinli’s average price (586.78 RMB) is higher than Yidianling’s (266.83 RMB), with significant positive correlations between price and geographic location, years of experience, and professional qualifications. The study reveals differences in pricing strategies between the two platforms, reflecting their distinct market positioning and competitive approaches. It provides empirical evidence for understanding the pricing mechanisms of China’s online psychological counseling market, offering valuable insights for platform operations, therapist development, and user decision-making.

Keywords

Online Psychological Counseling; Pricing Strategies; Influencing Factors; Platform Comparison

References

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How to cite this paper

A Comparative Study of Pricing Strategies and Influencing Factors of Online Psychological Counseling Platforms: Case of Yixinli and Yidianling

How to cite this paper: Debao Hou. (2025). A Comparative Study of Pricing Strategies and Influencing Factors of Online Psychological Counseling Platforms: Case of Yixinli and Yidianling. Sociology & Social Policy2(2), 67-71.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2025.09.005