Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: An Overview
Despite both being highly rated psychic reading platforms, Purple Garden and California Psychics are quite different.
While one is optimized for mobile readings, the other works well on both your computer and phone. And where one of these sites offers video readings, the other only offers phone and chat.
So depending on what criteria are important to you, you will be able to pick a winner by the end of this review.
Fortunately, no matter which site you choose, both have great introductory offers. Purple Garden gives new customers $10 towards their first reading, while California Psychics offers readings for $1 per minute.
Quick Summary of Winner in Each Category
| 💲 Starting price: | Purple Garden ($0.99 per Minute) |
| 🔮 Types of reading: | Draw (9 Choices) |
| 🤝 Trustworthiness: | California Psychics (Psychic Screening) |
| 🎉 Added extras: | Purple Garden (Cash-Back Program) |
| 🙋 Customer Support: | California Psychics (24-Hour Support) |
Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: Types of Readings
Purple Garden
When it comes to the variety of reading topics, Purple Garden doesn’t come close to California Psychics. The platform has 8 categories to choose from that cover the basics you’d expect to find on any psychic reading site:
While the site has hundreds of readers with unique specialties that go beyond these basic categories, it’s not all that easy to find them. The site doesn’t let you filter psychics beyond choosing from one of these 8 categories, so you have to manually look through them one by one.
With that being said, Purple Garden does offer an impressive selection of psychics. Not only that, but the majority of these readers have very high ratings and have delivered thousands of readings over several years.
California Psychics
California Psychics has an impressive selection of reading topics to choose from. You can also filter your search according to psychic tools, abilities, and reading styles.
You’ll find all the standard topics and tools you’d expect from a psychic reading site as well as niche options like runes, I-Ching, crystals, remote viewing, and automatic writing.
In addition to having a wealth of topics to choose from, the site also features a large number of readers across these categories. You’ll find over 500 love and relationship psychics, over 300 destiny and life path psychics, over 100 psychics skilled in astrology, and many others.
Winner: California Psychics for its comprehensive selection of reading topics.
Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: Pricing
Purple Garden
While Purple Garden may lack some of the bells and whistles that California Psychics has, the site is the clear winner when it comes to pricing. The most expensive readers you’ll find on Purple Garden charge $14.99 per minute.
But the reality is that the vast majority of psychics on the platform charge under $10 a minute. In fact, you can even find readers who charge $0.99 per minute, which you won’t find on many other platforms.
As an added bonus, as a newbie you’ll be eligible to get $10 towards your first reading.
California Psychics
While California Psychics certainly isn’t the most expensive psychic reading site out there, it is more expensive than Purple Garden. The most expensive readers you’ll find on this site charge $15 per minute, while the cheapest rates you’ll find are $4 per minute. So while the two platforms share the same upper price limit, Purple Garden does have many readers that charge less than the cheapest rates you’ll find on California Psychics.
That being said, California Psychics does have an introductory package for new users that will bring the cost down to $1 per minute, at least temporarily. You can choose between three packages: popular, preferred, and premium.
Each package is for 20 minutes worth of reading time, and depending on which one you choose, you’ll get to meet with psychics within different tiers.
Winner: Purple Garden for its competitive rates.
Claim Your Credits on Purple Garden
Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: Website Usability
Purple Garden
Website usability is where things get a bit sticky for Purple Garden. Purple Garden wasn’t originally designed for desktop use. Instead, the platform offers the best experience when you download the app and use your smartphone.
The first big thing to take note of is that while you can connect to a Purple Garden psychic via chat, phone, and video, these last two only work from your smartphone. If you choose to use the Purple Garden site from a computer, you will only be able to connect with readers via chat.
The second thing to note is that some features that you see on the app are missing from the website. For example, the app offers a section called Journeys, where you can read about other users’ psychic and spiritual journeys using Purple Garden, or even share your own.
The last important thing to mention is that creating an account on Purple Garden is completely free. This is important to me because I like to have the option to explore the platform in depth before deciding to make a purchase. When I can’t create an account without also making a purchase, it takes away from the experience.
California Psychics
Unlike Purple Garden, the California Psychics platform works equally well on your computer as it does on your smartphone. Finding the perfect psychic on the site is really easy because of the platform’s great filtering options. Filter your search according to reading topic, tool, and psychic ability to find a psychic that meets all the criteria.
What’s more, the platform has its own app, giving you the option to schedule a reading on the go.
All of that being said, California Psychics does have two main drawbacks. The first is that while Purple Garden offers readings via phone, chat, and video, California Psychics only offers phone and chat readings. There’s no video option available.
The second big drawback is that you can’t create an account for free. When you sign up, you must also purchase one of their introductory packages, and the cheapest one costs $20.
Winner: California Psychics for its better all-around user experience.
Claim Your Discount on California Psychics
Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: Trustworthiness
Purple Garden
If you’re looking for a psychic reading site with iron-clad guarantees and clear refund policies, then, unfortunately, Purple Garden is not for you. Purple Garden takes a very hands-off approach to satisfaction guarantees and refunds.
In fact, the site explicitly states, “We do not give refunds on Purple Garden since we do not guarantee what the advisors say, advice that they give or circumstance outcomes or predictions. Purple Garden is for entertainment purposes only.”
The site also doesn’t offer much info on how they evaluate their featured psychics.
California Psychics
According to the California Psychics site, the platform accepts less than 2% of applicants and has a rigorous screening process. And unlike Purple Garden, the platform does offer some form of satisfaction guarantee.
According to the site’s fine print, you can request a refund if you’re not happy with your most recent reading, but you must do so within 24 hours. While the site does not offer cash refunds under any circumstances, they will credit your account with minutes if they determine the reading in question was indeed unsatisfactory.
The other good thing about California Psychics is that they have 24/7 support and they make it very easy to get in contact with a representative.
Winner: California Psychics for its screening process and satisfaction guarantee.
Purple Garden vs. California Psychics: Added Extras
Purple Garden: Extra Features
One of the best things about Purple Garden its cash-back program. You get to earn 2% cash-back for every purchase you make. And once your rewards add up to at least $10, you can start using this credit towards your readings.
The site’s program is simple, straightforward, and overall a really great deal for customers.
California Psychics: Extra Features
California Psychics also has a rewards program called Karma rewards. What’s great about this rewards program is that you get $20 worth of credit and a free birth chart just for enrolling.
You’ll now earn points each time you purchase minutes, which can be used for future readings. The thing that makes the rewards program a bit complicated is that it’s divided into tiers. Depending on how many minutes you purchase a month, you move into different tiers. And the higher the tier that you’re in, the more points you get per purchase.
Winner: Purple Garden for its straight-forward cash-back program.
The Bottom Line on Purple Garden vs. California Psychics
If you’re looking to connect with a psychic reader on the go, or even face to face through video calls, then Purple Garden is the choice for you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a site that has a wide range of topics, tools, and abilities, then California Psychics is the better option.
If cost is a major factor for you, then you should probably go with Purple Garden. They have more competitive rates than California Psychics, and a great cash-back program.
But if you’re looking for a site that vets their psychics rigorously and has a satisfaction guarantee, then California Psychics is the right choice.
For this comparison review though, I am going to dub California Psychics the overall winner.
