Short answer: we score each platform out of 10 using six weighted criteria: safety and privacy, pricing transparency, reader vetting, refund and satisfaction policy, specialty fit and depth, and user experience and support. Scores are based on official policies, published pricing and public user feedback. We do not claim to verify psychic ability, and we do not claim to have personally tested readers. We earn affiliate commissions from some links, and we explain how we keep that separate from scoring. See the results in our ranked comparison.
Rankings are only as trustworthy as the method behind them. This page explains exactly what we measure, where our information comes from, how we turn it into a score and what we do not do. If you see anything that looks inaccurate, please tell us through the contact page.
What we do and do not claim
- We do not verify psychic ability. There is no scientific consensus that psychic abilities exist, as we explain in are psychics real? Our scores measure how a platform treats customers, not whether any reader can predict the future.
- We do not claim personal testing. We do not say that we booked hundreds of readings or tested individual readers. Our reviews rely on what platforms publish and what customers report publicly.
- We attribute claims. When we say a platform offers vetted readers or a free first question, we write “the platform states” or “according to its published terms,” because we have not independently audited it.
- We do not invent data. Prices and offers change. Where we cannot confirm a current figure, we tell you to check the current price on the provider’s site.
The six criteria and their weights
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Safety and privacy | 25% | Data handling, privacy policy clarity, payment security, recording policy, deletion options, absence of fear tactics and scam patterns |
| 2. Pricing transparency | 20% | Published rates, clear intro-offer terms, auto-billing disclosure, absence of surprise charges and mandatory deposits |
| 3. Reader vetting | 15% | Stated screening process, reader profiles, rating systems, complaint handling, claims we can attribute to the platform |
| 4. Refund and satisfaction policy | 15% | Existence, clarity and fairness of refund or satisfaction terms, time limits and ease of claiming |
| 5. Specialty fit and depth | 15% | How well the service serves defined needs such as mediumship, love, career or general guidance, and the range of formats offered |
| 6. User experience and support | 10% | Site usability, booking flow, mobile experience, response times, customer service channels |
1. Safety and privacy (25%)
This carries the most weight because people often share sensitive information about relationships, health and grief. We read the privacy policy and terms for what data is collected and shared, whether sessions are recorded, how long data is kept, and whether you can request deletion. We check that payment is handled through standard methods and look for any patterns associated with scams, such as curse claims or pushing paid rituals. A platform that discourages seeking professional help or uses fear to sell loses points here.
2. Pricing transparency (20%)
We prefer platforms that publish per-minute or per-reading prices before you commit, that explain introductory offers clearly, and that make it obvious when billing starts and how to stop it. Platforms that do not publish prices are not automatically penalised heavily if they are open about where the price is set and who sets it, but they score lower than those that show costs upfront.
3. Reader vetting (15%)
We look at what the platform says about how readers are selected, whether profiles contain meaningful information, and whether there is a review and complaint system. We report the platform’s claims as claims. We do not certify that any reader has psychic ability.
4. Refund and satisfaction policy (15%)
We read the policy and assess whether a dissatisfied customer has a realistic route to a refund or credit, how long they have to ask and what conditions apply. Generous, clear and easy-to-claim policies score higher.
5. Specialty fit and depth (15%)
Platforms are not all alike. Some are broad marketplaces. Others focus narrowly, for instance on mediumship. We assess how well each serves its stated purpose, the available formats (chat, phone, video, written) and the depth of guidance and resources. This is why specialised services can outrank larger ones for particular needs.
6. User experience and support (10%)
We consider how easy the site is to navigate, how clear the booking process is and what support channels exist. This criterion has the lowest weight because a pleasant interface does not make a service safer or fairer.
Our sources
- Official policies and terms. Privacy policies, terms of service, refund pages, FAQs and help centres published by each platform.
- Published pricing and offers. Rates and promotions shown on provider websites at the time we checked. We label the month and advise checking current prices.
- Public reviews. Feedback on independent review sites, forums and consumer complaint pages. We read patterns across many reviews and treat individual reviews, positive or negative, with caution because they can be incomplete or manipulated.
- Regulatory and consumer information. Public statements from consumer protection agencies about psychic-industry fraud help us define red flags.
- Research on readings. General scientific literature about cold reading, the Barnum effect and confirmation bias informs how we describe what readings can and cannot do.
How scoring works
Each criterion is rated from 0 to 10 on the evidence available. We multiply each rating by its weight and add the results to get an overall score out of 10, shown to one decimal place. In general:
- 9.0 to 10: strong evidence of good practice across the board, with only minor reservations.
- 8.0 to 8.9: solid, with some gaps or unanswered questions.
- 7.0 to 7.9: acceptable, but with notable weaknesses a customer should know about.
- Below 7.0: significant concerns. We would not include a platform that scored this low in our main ranking without a clear warning.
Scores are editorial judgements built on a consistent framework, not laboratory measurements. They compare platforms on how they treat customers, using the information that is available. Where information is missing, we say so and score conservatively. Ranking order follows the overall score, and where a platform is better suited to a specific need, we say so in the “best for” notes.
Why Medium Reading ranks first. On the information the provider publishes, it scores well in specialty fit (mediumship and loved-one readings), its stated free first question with no card for that step and its stated emphasis on respectful, no-pressure guidance. It scores less well on pricing transparency because it does not publish prices itself and refers you to a booking partner. Our Medium Reading review sets out the full assessment. The provider’s own site is medium-reading.net.
How often we update
- Full review of each platform: at least twice a year.
- Spot checks of prices, offers and policies: roughly quarterly, and sooner if a change is reported to us.
- Immediate corrections: when we find or are told about a factual error, we correct it and note the date.
- Re-scoring: when a platform changes its policies, pricing or practices in a way that affects a criterion, or when credible patterns of complaints emerge.
Each page shows when it was last reviewed. Offers and prices can change without notice, so always confirm on the provider’s site.
Independence and affiliate disclosure
Trusted Psychic Advisors is funded by affiliate commissions. If you click some links on this site and buy a service, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This is a conflict of interest, and we want to be upfront about it. To limit its effect:
- Scores are assigned using the same criteria and weights for every platform, before we consider commission rates.
- A platform cannot pay for a higher score or ranking position.
- We include critical points, cons and warnings in every review, including for our top-ranked platform.
- We link to the providers’ official sites, and we mark affiliate links appropriately.
- We include safety guidance and advice to seek professional help, even where it may reduce conversions.
More detail is in our disclaimer and about page.
Limits of our method
We rely on public information, which can be incomplete, outdated or biased. Platforms may change faster than we update. Reviews written by customers may be unrepresentative. Individual experiences with specific readers vary widely, and we cannot predict yours. For these reasons, treat our scores as a starting point for your own research, not a guarantee. Read each provider’s current terms before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do you verify that psychics are real or accurate?
No. We do not claim to verify psychic ability and there is no scientific consensus that it exists. We evaluate platforms on safety, pricing, vetting claims, refunds, fit and usability.
Did you personally test these platforms?
We do not claim personal testing. Our reviews are based on official policies, published pricing and public user feedback, and we attribute provider claims to the provider.
Can a platform pay to rank higher?
No. Scores come from the same weighted criteria for every platform. We earn affiliate commissions from some links, but this does not determine scores or ranking.
Why is safety and privacy weighted the most?
Readings often involve sensitive information, and the psychic industry has a history of fear-based upselling. How a platform handles data and treats customers matters more than how modern its website looks.
How often are rankings updated?
Each platform gets a full review at least twice a year, with spot checks on prices and policies about quarterly and corrections made as soon as we learn of an error.
What if I disagree with a score or find an error?
Tell us using the contact page. We review credible corrections and update pages with the date of the change.
Why do some platforms not show prices in your table?
Some providers do not publish prices or change them often. In those cases we say so and ask you to check the current price on the provider’s site rather than guessing.
Trusted Psychic Advisors is for entertainment and self-reflection purposes. Some links are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclaimer.