Our Evaluation Methodology

The Five Pillars

Every platform we review is scored on five core criteria. Each pillar receives a score from 1.0 to 5.0, and the weighted average produces the overall platform rating you see across our site.

1. Reader Quality (30% weight)

This is the most heavily weighted criterion because the quality of the reader is the single most important factor in a good psychic reading. We evaluate:

• Screening process. Does the platform screen applicants? How rigorous is the process? Platforms like California Psychics and Psychic Source score highest here due to their documented screening procedures.
• Accuracy reputation. Based on analysis of thousands of user reviews across each platform, we assess the general accuracy and quality of readings.
• Specialization depth. Do readers have genuine specialties or claim expertise in everything? Platforms with clearly specialized readers score higher.
• Professionalism. How do readers present themselves? Are profiles detailed and authentic? Do readers maintain professional boundaries?
• Ongoing monitoring. Does the platform actively monitor reader quality and address poor performance?

2. Pricing and Value (25% weight)

We evaluate the overall financial proposition, not just the sticker price:

• Rate range. What is the spread from cheapest to most expensive readers?
• Intro offers. Quality and generosity of new user discounts.
• Ongoing value. Loyalty programs, recurring promotions, and regular pricing sustainability.
• Hidden costs. Are there any fees, mandatory credit purchases, or non-obvious charges?
• Value for money. Does the reading quality justify the price point?

3. Platform Experience (20% weight)

The platform itself is the vehicle for the reading experience:

• Ease of use. How intuitive is navigation? Can new users figure out the platform quickly?
• Search and filtering. Can you effectively find readers who match your specific needs?
• Connection methods. Phone, chat, video, and email availability and quality.
• Mobile experience. App quality and mobile web functionality.
• Session quality. Audio clarity, chat responsiveness, video stability.

4. Trust and Safety (15% weight)

Trust is foundational for a service as personal as psychic readings:

• Satisfaction guarantees. What recourse do users have if a reading is poor?
• Privacy protections. How is personal information handled? What data is collected and stored?
• Payment security. Standard encryption and secure payment processing.
• Company history. How long has the platform been operating? What is its track record?
• Customer support. Responsiveness and helpfulness of support channels.

5. Reader Selection (10% weight)

The breadth of options affects your ability to find the right match:

• Number of active advisors. More readers means more options and better availability.
• Specialty coverage. Does the platform cover all major reading types?
• Niche specialties. Are less common reading types represented?
• Availability. Can you find readers online when you need them?

Our Testing Process

Ratings are not based on assumptions or secondhand information. Our evaluation process includes:

1. Direct testing. We conduct test readings on each platform, evaluating the experience firsthand from sign-up through session completion.
2. User review analysis. We analyze thousands of user reviews across each platform, identifying patterns in praise and complaints.
3. Platform investigation. We examine the platform's website, app, policies, pricing, and features in detail.
4. Comparative assessment. We compare each platform against its competitors on each criterion to ensure relative accuracy.
5. Quarterly updates. We re-evaluate all platforms every quarter, adjusting ratings for changes in pricing, features, reader rosters, and user sentiment.

What Our Ratings Mean

We only feature platforms that score 4.0 or above in our main directory. Platforms that fall below our quality threshold are not included rather than being listed with negative reviews.

Limitations and Honesty

No evaluation methodology is perfect, and we want to be transparent about ours:

• Our test readings represent a limited sample. Individual experiences will vary.
• Reader quality can change as platforms add and lose advisors.
• Pricing and offers change frequently. We aim for accuracy but there may be brief periods where our information is not fully current.
• Our weighting reflects what we believe matters most to the average seeker. Your priorities may differ.
• We receive affiliate compensation from some platforms we review. This is disclosed on our disclosure page. We are committed to not letting this influence our ratings.

Questions About Our Methodology

If you have questions about how we evaluate platforms or how a specific rating was determined, we welcome the inquiry. Transparency is a core value for us, and we are happy to explain our reasoning.

Explore our evaluations in action at the best online psychic services directory, or read our individual platform profiles for California Psychics, Keen, Psychic Source, Kasamba, and Purple Garden.