AskNow vs California Psychics
Choose AskNow if you want help being matched with an advisor and a published satisfaction credit. Choose California Psychics if a curated roster with a well-documented screening process matters most. Both offer phone and chat readings charged per minute, with no video or email readings.
AskNow
Best for guided matching
California Psychics
Best advisor screeningAskNow vs California Psychics at a glance
| AskNow | California Psychics | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading formats | Phone, chat | Phone, chat |
| Pricing model | Per minute, varies by advisor tier | Per minute, varies by reader |
| Advisor screening | Multi-step, described publicly | Multi-step, described publicly |
| Help choosing | Matching service and callbacks | Browse and filter the roster |
| New-customer offer | Usually; check current terms | Usually; check current terms |
| Our editorial score | 8.5 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
Which should you choose?
Pick AskNow if you want the site to suggest an advisor, or like a written satisfaction credit you can fall back on.
Pick California Psychics if you want a smaller, curated roster and the most detailed account of how readers are screened.
How they differ
AskNow and California Psychics are two of the longer-running US psychic networks, and they look alike at first glance: both offer phone and chat readings, both charge per minute, and both say they accept only a small share of the advisors who apply. The difference is in how they help you choose and what they promise if a reading goes badly.
AskNow leans on guidance. If you do not know who to call, it offers a matching service that suggests an advisor based on what is on your mind, and you can request a callback when your chosen advisor is busy. Advisors are grouped into tiers, with higher tiers costing more per minute. California Psychics puts more weight on its roster itself: it describes a multi-step screening process for readers and keeps a more curated directory that you browse and filter yourself.
Pricing and billing
Both sites show each advisor's per-minute rate before you connect, and both usually offer new customers an introductory deal. The details change, so check the current offer on each site rather than relying on any figure you see elsewhere. One point to watch on AskNow: its FAQ says that once your purchased or introductory minutes run out, the reading continues at the advisor's full per-minute rate, with a voice prompt or chat message to tell you. That is convenient if you want to keep going, but it means you should decide in advance how long you want to talk and end the session yourself.
If a reading disappoints
AskNow publishes a satisfaction guarantee: a one-time credit of up to ten minutes toward a reading with a different psychic. It is a credit rather than cash, and it is one-time, but the terms are easy to find on its about page. For California Psychics, check the current satisfaction or refund terms on its site before you buy; conditions such as time limits for claims matter more than any headline promise.
Which should you pick?
If you are new to psychic readings and would rather be pointed toward an advisor than scroll through profiles, AskNow's matching and callback options make the first session easier. If you are more comfortable choosing for yourself and want the most detail on how readers are vetted, California Psychics is the slightly stronger pick in our ranking. Neither offers video or written email readings, so if those formats matter, compare Psychic Source, Purple Garden or Kasamba instead.
Whichever you choose, set a budget and a time limit before you connect, and remember that psychic readings are for entertainment purposes only. Do not make important decisions about health, money or relationships based on a reading.
AskNow vs California Psychics FAQ
Is AskNow or California Psychics cheaper?
Neither is consistently cheaper. Both charge per minute at rates that vary by advisor, so compare individual profiles and check each site's current new-customer offer.
Do AskNow and California Psychics offer video readings?
No. Both focus on phone and chat readings. If you want video, look at Psychic Source, Purple Garden or Oranum instead.