Imagine this scenario: you charge €20 per session. Your client, however, pays €60 on the platform. The remaining €40 doesn’t go toward improving your service, training, or growing your brand. It goes to a company that, essentially, just lent you its URL.
It’s no exaggeration. That’s the business model of most online therapy platforms. And while you provide the real value—listening, diagnosis, support—they take the lion’s share of the fee.
50–70€ Average weekly price on the platform | 30–50% Standard commission rates for platforms in Spain | 3x How much more an independent freelancer could be earning |
The business model no one explains to you when you sign up
Platforms like Buencoco, Therapyside, Terapify, ifeel, Unobravo... have built a brilliant business model: they attract clients through heavy marketing investments, offer them a sleek interface, and charge them a high price. Clients pay between 50 and 70 euros per week; therapists receive between 15 and 50 dollars per session, according to data published by various platforms regarding their compensation models. Do the math.
In Spain, the situation is not much different. According to industry analyses, commissions charged by platforms such as Buencoco can exceed 40% of the final price of each session. Other established platforms retain similar percentages and, in many cases, prevent the professional from continuing the therapeutic relationship outside their ecosystem.
This isn't just a one-time financial loss. It's a monthly, systematic, and silent drain on resources.
You aren't an employee for these platforms. But you aren't really their partner either. You are their product.
What you lose beyond the money
The financial issue is the most obvious one, but it’s not the only one. When you outsource your practice to a third-party platform, you also give up:
- Your relationship with your patients. In many cases, if a patient wants to continue seeing you outside the platform, the terms of service make it difficult or outright prohibit it. Your patients don’t belong to you—they belong to the platform.
- Your professional identity. Patients remember the app’s name, not yours. You’re building someone else’s reputation.
- Control over your rates. You can't adjust your prices based on your experience, expertise, or demand. The platform decides what your time is worth.
- Your future. If the platform changes its terms, raises fees, or shuts down, you’ll suddenly lose your entire portfolio of active clients.
The alternative: your own platform, your own business
The good news is that it has never been easier for a freelancer to set up their own digital infrastructure. We’re talking about specific tools: a branded website, an integrated video-calling system, an online appointment calendar, a payment gateway, and—if you’d like—a private area for tracking each patient’s progress.
Concept | External platform | Your own platform |
Revenue per session (price: €60) | ~€20–35 (after fees) | €60 in full |
Patient ownership | The platform's | All yours |
Price control | Set by the platform | You decide |
Brand and visibility | Third-party brand | Your name, your reputation |
Dependency risk | High (changing conditions) | None |
Approximate monthly cost | 30–50% of each session, forever | Initial investment recouped in weeks |
With just 10 active patients per week, the difference between giving up 40% of each session to a platform and operating independently can mean over €1,000 extra per month. Not just in theory—but in your bank account.
Is it difficult to set up your own platform?
This is the question that holds back professionals considering making the leap the most. And the answer is: it depends on who helps you.
Technically, the components already exist and have been tested: secure, encrypted video conferencing tools, appointment booking systems, European payment gateways, and GDPR compliance. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel; you need someone to combine them in a smart way that fits your workflow.
What it does require is a first step: stop viewing technology as an obstacle and start seeing it for what it is—an investment that pays for itself in just a few weeks and, from then on, works in your favor every month.
At Veltis Digital Consulting, we make your custom platform a reality
We design and implement custom digital solutions for mental health professionals: from websites to payment systems, including appointment scheduling and secure video calls. No technical jargon, and no impact on your consultation time.
Calculate how much you’re losing right now through intermediary platforms and find out how long it will take to recoup your investment. The first consultation is free.