Best Tarot Readings: What’s in the Cards for You?

Published in cooperation between Aura Psychic and the East Bay Express

In ancient times, psychics used tarot cards as an oracle of divination to help people try and make sense out of the mysteries of life.

Nowadays, people are still trying to make sense of things, and the tarot is still here as a tool for counseling and advice.

If you’d like to experience what this legendary oracle can show you, we’ve listed where to find the best tarot readings online and the best psychics, starting with Purple Garden.

Best Online Tarot Readings Websites: Ranked

  1. Purple Garden—Best online tarot readings
  2. California Psychics —No. 1 for phone tarot readings
  3. Keen—Most online tarot experts
  4. Kasamba—Best tarot card readings for love
  5. Sanctuary Psychic Reading—Best chat tarot readings
  6. Psychic Source—Most experienced tarot site
  7. AskNow—Best tarot readings for career
  8. Oranum—Top live tarot card readings
  9. PsychicOz—Best spiritual tarot readings
  10. Mysticsense—Best LGBTQ tarot readings

Best Tarot Card Readings in 2025 Reviewed in Detail

There is no shortage of psychic sites offering tarot sessions, yet which of the best online tarot reading websites in our list is the best fit for you? Let’s take a closer look and see.

1. Purple Garden—Best Online Tarot Readings Overall

purple garden

Best Tarot Readers on Purple Garden 

  • Júpiter: With 33,000-plus sessions to his credit and a 5.0 overall rating, Júpiter is one of the site’s most popular and highly rated tarot readers. He uses the French Marseille deck, specializes in love spreads and dream interpretation, speaks fluent Spanish and offers readings via chat, voice and video call.
  • LauraMystical: Laura is another popular and highly rated tarot reader on Purple Garden with 29,000-plus total sessions and a 4.9/5 overall rating. A clairvoyant card reader specializing in love, she won’t sugarcoat the truth. Laura offers readings via chat, voice and video call.
  • Dennis M: Dennis is an experienced tarot expert who has done 24,000-plus readings and has a 5.0 overall customer rating. He specializes in love readings and dream analysis with the cards. Dennis has an approachable demeanor and offers readings via chat, voice and video call.

Price and Promos

All new customers to Purple Garden receive a free $30 credit with their first reading. The normal cost of a tarot reading on Purple Garden is between 99 cents per minute and $24.99 per minute.

What Clients Think of Purple Garden

Purple Garden has excellent customer ratings on Trustpilot. Among these, one user said they appreciated the easy-to-navigate site, the helpfulness of customer service and the great advisors [1].

Another was not as sympathetic, saying they didn’t think the site screened readers because a couple they tried were inaccurate and seemed to be guessing [2].

Get Your Tarot Readings on Purple Garden with the $30 bonus

2. California Psychics—Best Tarot Readings by Phone 

california psychics

Best Tarot Readers on California Psychics

  • Zack: He is a medium and clairvoyant who has done over 16,000 total tarot readings on the site with a 4.8 out of 5 overall rating. Zack specializes in readings on love, pets and career spreads. Zack does his readings via phone call and online chat.
  • Tara: As an empath and channeler, Tara has done over 65,000 readings on California Psychics with a 4.7 overall customer rating. Wanting to help you navigate stress in a fast-paced world, Tara does her readings on the site via phone and online chat.
  • Herb: Herb is a tarot expert and clairvoyant who has done over 23,000 readings on California Psychics with a 4.8 overall rating. She has a straightforward, no-nonsense reading style and does her sessions via phone call and chat.

Price and Promos

All new customers to California Psychics are eligible for a trio of discount minute packages that start as low as $1 per minute

Once you’ve used your discount deal, normal reading prices range from $4 per minute to as much as $23 per minute.

What Clients Think of California Psychics

In her Trustpilot review, Jill says the amazing psychics at California psychics have gotten her through many tough times, and they are truly wonderful [3].

Another customer criticized the fact that there are only positive reviews of the psychics, so you don’t really get a balanced perspective [4]. 

Get Your Tarot Readings on California Psychics for $1 per min

3. Keen—Most Online Tarot Experts

keen

Best Tarot Readers on Keen

  • Psychicpat: A clairvoyant and empathic tarot reader, Pat has done over 35,000 readings on Keen with a 4.94 out of 5 overall rating. Pat has a direct communication style and specializes in career and prosperity readings. She offers readings via call and chat.
  • Ms. Cherokee: Ms. Cherokee specializes in love and destiny readings and has done over 32,000 tarot sessions on Keen with a 4.71 out of 5 overall rating. She is a straight talker who doesn’t sugarcoat or mix words on what the cards need you to hear. Ms. Cherokee offers readings via phone and chat.
  • Angelic Pathways: Angelic Pathways is a clairvoyant and empath with over 15,000 tarot readings to her credit and a 4.84 out of 5 overall rating. She has a warm reading style and will tell you clearly what the spirits coming through the cards want you to know. A.P. does her readings via phone and chat.

Price and Promos

All first-time clients on Keen are eligible for a free introductory offer of 5 minutes for just $1. After that, the normal prices for readings range between $1.99 and $15 per minute.

What Clients Think of Keen

One Trustpilot reviewer feels they owe a lot to Keen. The advisors have helped them with more than a few problems, and the site is friendly and easy to navigate [5].

Another Trustpilot review loved Keen’s accurate readers, yet they’ve had a lot of trouble with how the website works (or rather doesn’t work) [6].

Get Your Tarot Readings on Keen at 5 minutes for $1

4. Kasamba—Best Tarot Card Readings for Love 

kasamba

Best Tarot Readers on Kasamba

  • Light4you: Light4you is a certified life coach and tarot reader with over 53,000 readings on Kasamba and a 4.8 out of 5 overall rating. Specializing in love and career readings, she is here to guide you through the rough patches of life. Light4you does her readings via chat and voice call.
  • Accurate Love: This psychic has been on Kasamba since 2007 and has done over 90,000 total readings with a 4.9 out of 5 overall rating. He is a fifth-generation psychic who uses his psychic abilities to specialize in love guidance and uses the cards via online chat and voice call to help you understand the hidden layers of a relationship.
  • Jenna The Psychic: Jenna is a medium and tarot expert with 27,000 readings on Kasamba and a 4.8 overall rating. She focuses on life path readings and helps others overcome obstacles. Jenna does her sessions via chat and voice call.

Price and Promos

New customers to Kasamba are eligible to get 50 percent off their first phone or chat reading, plus an additional three chat minutes free. Kasamba’s normal reading prices range from 99 cents per minute to as high as $39.99 per minute.

What Clients Think of Kasamba

Ron has been using Kasamba for awhile, and according to his Trustpilot review, he feels it provides honest advice that is definitely worth the time and money. Whitney was happy Kasamba credited them for a bad reading, yet she wanted a refund, not a credit [7] [8].

Get Your Tarot Readings on Kasamba at 50 percent off

5. Sanctuary Psychic Reading—Best Chat Tarot Readings

sanctuary psychic reading

Best Tarot Readers on Sanctuary Psychic Reading

  • Angila: Known as a quick tarot reader who provides clear responses to questions, Angila has a 5/5 customer rating based on 227 reviews. She specializes in relationship issues and is open and sensitive to everyone, including LGBTQ people. Angila does her onsite readings via chat and phone.
  • Michael: As an intuitive guide and source channel, Michael works with the tarot to help people find their spiritual centers during trying times. He specializes in intuitive reading, and his channeling approach has earned him a 4.9/5 overall rating based on 86 customer reviews. He does readings via chat and phone.
  • Bonnie The Seer: Bonnie is a psychic tarot reader under the Santeria crown of Oshun who is adept at helping people through the labyrinth of love like her spiritual namesake. With a 4.9 rating based on 161 reviews, Bonnie does her Sanctuary readings via chat and phone.

Price and Promos

All new customers to Sanctuary Psychic Reading are eligible for an introductory offer of five minutes for just $4.99. Once that deal is done, prices for readings range from a low of $2.99 per minute to as much as $28.99 per minute.

What Clients Think of Sanctuary Psychic Reading

On the Apple App Store, Manatears praised the daily horoscopes feature and liked that it reads both the sun and rising each day. But another reviewer complained that “the guides they provide are very generic, so if you’re already a little knowledgeable about astrology, you probably will not learn anything new [9].”

Get Your Tarot Readings on Sanctuary at Five mins for $4.99

6. Psychic Source—Most Experienced Tarot Site

psychic source

Best Tarot Readers on Psychic Source

  • Rachelle: Using her tarot cards as lights to see what awaits in life, Rachelle is a manifestation expert for those who come to her with an open heart. Having done over 48,000 tarot consults on Psychic Source, her customer endorsements call her the wise woman. Rachel does readings via phone and chat.
  • Leah: She is an empath and mystical tarot reader who feels your pain and uses the cards as a balm of wisdom to soothe and enlighten. With over 18,000 readings, she has stellar reviews for love consults and does her sessions via chat, phone and video.
  • Hope: A tarot reader and medium, Hope has a compassionate reading style and specializes in love and destiny readings. With over 36,000 readings, Hope has been at Psychic Source since 2019 and does readings via phone and chat.

Price and Promos

All new customers at Psychic Source are eligible for $1 per minute introductory packages of 10, 20 and 30 minutes, plus an additional three minutes free. The normal prices for readings on Psychic Source range from $1.99 per minute to as much as $20.99 per minute.

What Clients Think of Psychic Source

One customer on Trustpilot kept their review short and sweet, saying Psychic Source has very accurate and authentic tarot readers. On the other hand, another reviewer complained that sometimes it seemed the readers were telling you what you wanted to hear and not the real truth [10] [11].

Get Your Tarot Readings on Psychic Source at $1 per minute

7. AskNow—Best Tarot Readings for Career

asknow

Best Tarot Readers on AskNow

  • Psychic Guide Selena: Selena has been at AskNow since 2011 and has amassed over 54,000 tarot readings during that time. She is a licensed and certified psychic, an intuitive Cancer and offers readings via phone to help you climb that mountain to whatever your goals may be. 
  • Medium Sandra Lee: For 13 years, Sandra Lee has guided over 30,000 people along the paths to their careers since she’s been at AskNow. A gifted medium and multi-generational psychic, Sandra Lee offers tarot readings via phone and would like to help you find your success.
  • Psychic Tree: Over the last 13 years at AskNow, Psychic Tree has done over 25,000 readings, with career and money issues being her specialty. Besides her tarot expertise, she is also an ordained minister and performs her AskNow readings via phone.

Price and Promos

All new customers on AskNow get an introductory rate of 20 minutes for $20 (or $1 per min) with a top-rated psychic. There’s also a five-minute bonus with an elite/master psychic.

For regular readings, AskNow has a two–tiered pricing system consisting of top-rated readers, who cost $5-$10 per minute, and master psychics that cost $11 per minute and up.

What Clients Think of AskNow

Vanessa keeps her Trustpilot review short and sweet, saying her experiences at AskNow have been extremely helpful in her time of need [12].

Meanwhile, Patricia had a beef with her five free master minutes promotion, saying she was also made to do the full reading with the same psychic, and it was stupid expensive [13]. 

Get Your Free Tarot Readings on AskNow at $1 per min

8. Oranum—Top Live Tarot Card Readings

oranum

Best Tarot Readers on Oranum

  • WaterProphecy: With over a decade of experience on Oranum, WaterProphecy is a tarot reader and empath who senses the ebb and flow of the heart’s seasons. Specializing in family matters, dream interpretation and pets, she conducts her Oranum readings via live video stream.
  • MysticSpirit: A clairvoyant and claireaudient, MysticSpirit uses tarot to ground the reading’s energy and help her cut to the chase to save you time and money. One of the most highly rated psychics on Oranum, she’s the July winner of the site’s Top Expert. MysticSpirit does her readings via live video stream.
  • Soulika: Soulika is a medium, holistic therapist and tarot expert who works with her spirit guides to help give her clients clarity and hope for the future. Specializing in love, career and family readings, she conducts sessions via live video stream.

Price and Promos

All new customers who sign up on Oranum get an automatic free $9.99 credits to start. However, readings on Oranum start as low as $2.99 per minute and go as high as $9.99 per minute and more. 

What Clients Think of Oranum

Although Britney stated she couldn’t recommend all the readers on Oranum in her Trustpilot testimonial, she has had a few great readings and said the site is generally friendly and easy to deal with [14].

On the flip side, Thedisciple was less complimentary, saying that most of the readers on the site were fakers. There was one good Australian reader, but when they left, so did the reviewer [15].

>>Get Your Tarot Readings on Oranum with the free $9.99 credits

9. PsychicOz—Best Tarot Readings for Spirituality

psychicoz

Best Tarot Readers on PsychicOz

  • Luke: Specializing in love and relationships, Luke is a multi-lingual tarot reader who is also a medium. He has over 2,400 customer reviews on PsychicOz with a 4.9 overall customer rating. Luke conducts his PsychicOz readings via online chat and phone.
  • Tula: A master love psychic and tarot queen, Tula has over 1,400 reviews on PsychicOz with an overall 4.8 customer rating. She conducts readings via online chat and phone and is a graduate of the Berkeley Institute of Psychics in California.
  • Serenity: An eighth-generation psychic, Serenity is a tarot expert and clairvoyant who specializes in love, relationships and career. She has accumulated over 1,400 reviews on PsychicOz with an overall 4.9 customer rating, and her readings often include a three-card spread. Serenity conducts her readings via phone and email.

Price and Promos

Every new customer gets the first 3 minutes of their first reading free, along with a choice between a pair of $1 per minute offers for 10 and 15 minutes. Readings on PsychicOz start as low as $2.99 per minute for chat, video and phone sessions.

What Clients Think of PsychicOz

In his five-star testimonial on Trustpilot, Philip said he did not expect the reading to be so accurate. He said it was uncanny but definitely going back for more [16].

Carma pointed out that the reading they had contained a lot of negative info, yet they were glad the psychic didn’t try to sugarcoat anything [17].

Get Your Psychic Readings on PsychicOz at $1 per min

10. Mysticsense—Best Tarot Readings for LGBTQ

mysticsense

Best Tarot Readers on Mysticsense

  • Gal: Gal is a clairvoyant and tarot reader who is known for wise, accurate, direct and loving guidance, no matter what the subject. Plus, she is LGBTQ friendly. She has amassed over 1,700 reviews on Mysticsense and is available for readings via online chat, phone and video.
  • Esoteric Rose: Esoteric Rose is a clairvoyant tarot specialist whose expertise lies in love healing and relationship rebuilding. He can truly see the light at the end of the tunnel. He has over 400 reviews on Mysticsense with a 4.5 out of 5 overall rating and conducts readings via chat, phone and video.
  • Mara Divine: Mara is a claircognizant tarot reader who uses the cards to delve into people’s soul mate histories to try and direct lost souls to their other. She has earned over 350 reviews on Mysticsense with an overall customer rating of five stars. Mara does her readings via online chat and phone.

Price and Promos

All new customers on Mysticsense get the first five minutes of their initial reading free. After that, prices on Mysticsense start as low as $1.42 per minute and go up to over $12 per minute.

What Clients Think of Mysticsense

On Trustpilot, Dana gives Mysticsense a solid five stars, saying they are everything a psychic site should be. “Accurate readers with good prices,” she says. Ela lauded the psychics on Mysticsense, but did criticize the glitchy website that disconnected them [18] [19].

Get Your First Five Minutes Free for Tarot Readings on Mystisense

How We Picked the Best Online Tarot Readings Site

What makes a tarot site good, and how did we choose our top picks for the psychic sites offering the best tarot readings? Let’s see.

Transparent Pricing

Charged by the minute, tarot readings can get pricey quickly. Therefore, transparent pricing is a must so you know what you’re in for ahead of time. Unless the pricing is clearly stated up front, don’t assume a site is legit.

Experienced Tarot Readers

When you’re seeking serious life advice and paying by the minute, you want to know you’re speaking with a tarot reader who has honed his or her skills through a great many readings over a long time. Make sure the site you’re visiting screens its readers ahead of time and provides informative reader profiles, so you can be confident in the fortune tellers’ predictions.

Positive Reviews

Psychic readings are a service business. And just like any other service, transparent and positive customer reviews go a long way in letting you know the psychic you’re considering is battle-tested.

It also doesn’t hurt to read reviews about your psychic website of choice. Trustpilot and subreddits like r/psychics are trusted platforms to find genuine testimonials from real users.

User-Friendly Platforms

It should be easy to browse psychics, start an account and know all the site’s deals and pricing up front. Sites that are user-friendly and have transparent policies inspire confidence and make it more likely you will also get a good reading.

Different Reading Options

Not everyone processes information the same way or feels equally comfortable with every format. Look for a site that offers the reading communication option you prefer, be it online chat, phone, video or email. 

The type of reading also matters; some people prefer a simple, direct answer, and for them, a quick yes or no tarot reading can be a great, no-fuss option. 

Meanwhile, others may view tarot as a tool for psychological insight and self-reflection and prefer a more in-depth narrative approach to understand their situation.

Promotions and Offers

Psychic readings can be strange and intimidating if it’s your first time, as well as expensive. Look for sites that offer new customers a break in the form of free minutes to get you acclimated and discounted minutes to give you a longer taste of a session without bankrupting you.

Get Your Tarot Readings on Purple Garden with the $30 bonus

How to Prepare for Online Tarot Readings?

If you’re thinking of trying a tarot reading for the first time, here are some tips for what may be the most eye-opening experience you’ve had in a while.

Cap Your Budget

Despite adverts for the best free online tarot readings, at some point, you will ultimately be paying by the minute for your session, which means things can get expensive really quickly.

Therefore, it’s important to set a cap on what you’re willing to spend. For example, $4.99 per minute (which is cheap) will turn into $100 in just 20 minutes.

Find a Quiet Space

Like any other important meeting, the best free tarot readings require a private and quiet space where the psychic can concentrate and tap into you easily. You also need to be able to focus and follow along without any distractions.

Make Sure Your Tech Is Working

An online tarot reading is not unlike an online business meeting, and if there was ever a time when you took technical connections for granted and it turned out badly, be careful. Make sure to double-check your computer, earbuds, battery, etc., so there will be no chance of a technical mishap.

Gather Your Questions/Set an Intention

Time is money during a reading, so compose your questions in advance to ensure clarity. It’s also crucial to set an intention and put yourself in the right frame of mind; your mental clarity will help the psychic and get you important information in return. 

Unlike a simple book-knowledge approach, this preparation helps you receive personalized, intuitive guidance rather than generic facts.

Clear Your Mind and Stay Open

Presumably, you’re asking the psychic something you don’t know the answer to, which means you might be surprised at what you hear. While it’s natural to approach a reading with some skepticism, keep an open mind and reserve judgment until you’ve had time to meditate on what you’ve been told.

Take Notes

The atmosphere of a tarot reading with a powerful psychic can be a sort of high, which you will dig in the moment but not totally retain afterward. You may also hear things that are new and strange. 

Taking notes or recording a session will allow you to review the spiritual guidance and better understand what you’ve learned.

Get Your Tarot Readings on Purple Garden with the $30 bonus

Best Tarot Readings FAQs

These are some questions readers have been asking about the best free tarot card readings online and what they are all about.

What Is Tarot Reading?

The tarot is a deck of 78 picture cards containing religious and mystical symbols that are read by psychics in answer to questions posed by clients about their lives. This deck is composed of two parts: the major arcana and the minor arcana. The cards are also arranged in various patterns called spreads, with the Celtic cross spread being one of the most well-known. 

What’s the Difference Between Live vs. Online Tarot Readings?

Live or in-person tarot readings are when the client and the psychic tarot reader are in the same place at the same time, so they can speak face-to-face. Online tarot readings occur over the internet, with the participants meeting at the same time, but in different locations. Both methods offer the same powerful symbolic reading, interpreting the cards to provide useful insight.

What Are the Best Ways to Ask Questions in Tarot Readings?

The best way to ask questions in a tarot reading is to state your question and then let the psychic answer without interrupting him or her. Only speak if the psychic needs clarification about what you asked; otherwise, listen quietly. It’s often helpful to have a basic understanding of tarot card meanings beforehand so you can better process the messages and symbols.

Can I Get the Best Tarot Reading Free, or Do I Have To Pay?

Yes, many top platforms offer free or very low-cost introductory deals for new users. But after that, you will have to pay if you want to continue.

Who Is the Best Tarot Reader Online?

Tarot reading isn’t like a foot race; there’s no single winner or “best” reader. Many talented and trusted tarot readers are available online, with each specializing in different subjects and connecting uniquely with different people. A comparative reading, where you try a few different advisors, is often the best way to find the perfect match for you.

Are Online Tarot Readings Safe?

Online tarot readings are generally safe. Most sites do not allow their readers to access your information, and most payment systems are encrypted so that your payment data is safe and inaccessible to any third parties.

Best Tarot Readings Conclusion

Since antiquity, people have been fascinated by the tarot and its ability to instruct, delight and amaze when used by the right psychic.

We’ve just listed the 10 top sites, starting with Purple Garden, where the best tarot readings are available for free for a few minutes.

Hopefully, you will be motivated to see how this ancient oracle might improve, or even change your life in exchange for what you might otherwise spend on more idle entertainment.

Buy the ticket, take the ride. Your spirit may thank you. Namaste.

Get Your Tarot Readings on Purple Garden with the $30 bonus

References

  1. “Sara I Gave Purple Garden 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/67256a0e1a9d2bab6a6fa7f8. 
  2. “RM Gave Purple Garden 2 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/688fee4bb5a50563f112dc7c. 
  3. “Jill Gave California Psychics 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/689aac3cc1c92a90be862edb. 
  4. “Unknown Gave California Psychics 1 Star. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/688a305b20ab39206b7c9bae. 
  5. “CountryDude Gave Keen 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6807e2b42fae882e32e84866. 
  6. “Customer Gave Keen 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6807391e94c29716e3011671. 
  7. “Ron Sapir Eliyahu Gave Kasamba 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68639d647562e0849af46045. 
  8. “Whitney Gave Kasamba 4 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/672a2c5731dc082ab19aadce. 
  9. “‎Sanctuary Psychic Reading.” App Store, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanctuary-psychic-reading/id1417411962. 
  10. “Customer Gave Psychic Source 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/689807c8587266fec8d26a48. 
  11. “Customer Gave Psychic Source 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6878ef38e1e02c098754448f. 
  12. “Vanessa C Gave AskNow 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/67f9a82c732ccf9218ee16c7. 
  13. “Patricia Larocca Gave AskNow 1 Star. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/67b73a16aef63ec2fdd1fa51. 
  14. “Britney G Gave Oranum 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6696da44297d0fcc7cba519d. 
  15. “Thedisciple Gave Oranum 2 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/63c689762338b6d417bc7d01. 
  16. “Philip Gave PsychicOz.Com 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/67f6cd6639595437978fe4ce. 
  17. “Carma Gave PsychicOz.Com 4 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/68309aa5a461d0c0ab7471a5. 
  18. “Dana Galinsky Gave Mysticsense 5 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/689a4c963dea1134690849f8.
  19. “Ela Gave Mysticsense 3 Stars. Check out the Full Review.” Trustpilot, https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6891fdad70130ae28ca93bf7. 

The Psychedelic Furs resurrect ‘Rain’

Officially 29 years in the making, Made of Rain was the follow-up to the Psychedelic Furs’ seventh studio album, 1991’s World Outside, when it arrived in 2020. During that time, grunge, rap-rock and a number of other music scenes arose and petered out, five American presidents served and the internet turned the music industry—and the world—inside out.

And while Furs founding members/siblings singer Richard and bassist Tim Butler spent most of the ’90s on hiatus and making music as Love Spit Love, they resurrected their original group in 2001. When asked why it took so long for the band to record its eighth studio effort, younger sibling Tim offered a rather straightforward answer.

“When we got back together, we were talking about doing a new album, but we were a bit gun shy about coming up with an album that could stand up alongside Forever Now or Talk Talk Talk,” Butler said, referencing the group’s 1982 and 1981 albums respectively. “We had what we considered good songs and had a band that was really playing well together. We figured the time was right—and it was.”

The two-week recording session ran from after Christmas 2019 into January/February 2020. And then the pandemic hit, forcing the Furs to shut down like the rest of the world. For the bass-playing British ex-pat, it meant heading home to his family in Kentucky, instead of a planned extended touring jaunt.

“When the new album came out, we’d planned to do a big tour with new material and everyone was gearing up for that,” Butler said. “And then the whole world shut down and it was a big disappointment. [The album] was supposed to be released early (in 2020) because we thought Covid-19 was going to be under control, which of course it wasn’t.

“It was a day-to-day sort of thing,” he added. “You weren’t sure what was going to be shut down next. It was pretty nerve wracking to watch the news and see how many people got [Covid] that day. It was probably a bad thing to watch the news every day glued to the governor’s four o’clock news conference. So the tour came down to [being launched] in 2022.”

The waiting paid off. Produced by Richard Fortus, formerly of Love Spit Love and currently part of Guns N’ Roses, Made of Rain seamlessly slides in alongside the likes of Forever Now (1982) and Mirror Moves (1984). Richard Butler’s measured baritone sets the tone in nuggets ranging from the irresistible baroque new-wave ear worm “Hide the Medicine” and melancholy swooning of “Stars” to hypnotically surreal opener “The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll” and the sinewy “Come All Ye Faithful,” both paced by longtime saxophonist Mars Williams.

It’s a long way from when the Butler brothers formed a band after seeing the Sex Pistols play London’s famed 100 Club on Oxford Street.

“We were so blown away by that Sex Pistols show that Richard and I were talking one night about if we had a band, what it would be like,” Butler recalled. “So then he said we should form a band, and I told him I couldn’t play anything. He asked what I wanted to play and since I had recently been blown away seeing John Burnel play with the Stranglers, I said ‘bass.’ So he said I should save up for a bass and we would form a band.

“And the psychedelic part of it was because at that time there were bands with names like the Sex Pistols, Venus and the Razor Blades, and the Clash,” Butler continued. “They were all putting down the psychedelic bands and we wanted a name that showed more of our influences. Also, people would see our name on a marquee and wonder what the hell a psychedelic fur was and would want to check it out.”

After the Psychedelic Furs released their self-titled debut in 1980, it wasn’t long before their art rock sensibilities found them at the forefront of the emerging new wave movement alongside peers like Echo and the Bunnymen, the Cure, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. A healthy presence on MTV and filmmaker John Hughes’ decision to use the band’s 1981 U.K. hit, “Pretty In Pink,” for his 1986 film of the same name helped bolster the band’s popularity as they continued achieving mainstream success in their British homeland with hits like “The Ghost In You,” “Heaven” and “Love My Way.”

Fast forward to the present, and with former David Bowie/Bruce Springsteen drummer Zach Alford onboard to keep time for the Furs, Butler the bassist is eager to bring his band’s recent material to the masses.

“We’re all very excited to play for people, so expect a very excited band,” he said with a laugh. “[T]he final release of an album that sounds current, despite not having done a record since 1991’s World Outside, shows we still have something to say musically. It’s really exciting to finally be getting out there playing new songs—not just for us, but for the audience, who have loyally been coming out to see us since we got back together. Now we’ve got a new album to play for them.”

The Psychedelic Furs play Sept. 18 at the Fox, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. With special guest Gary Numan. thefoxoakland.com

Rosie’s rocks the East Bay

As the Saturday morning sun started to ascend, April and Rich Sigona bent their parallel bodies forward while assembling sandwiches side by side. Their “kitchen” was a table set up outside Solano Avenue’s upscale bodega, Of All Places. In motion, they looked like busy scientists meticulously inspecting each ingredient and each condiment before stacking everything together.

The Sigonas started Rosie’s pop-up earlier this year. Both have fulltime jobs outside of their passion project, but they’ve been spending their weekends cooking all over the East Bay. Over the next couple of months, Rosie’s will pop up at Flowerland, Vintage Berkeley on Vine and Morningtide.

Rich, who used to work in fine dining, manages the sandwich menu and does the heavy lifting on the cooking side of the business. On an adjacent table where customers put in their orders, April makes the cookies and pastries that sit sheltered under glass domes. She also manages Rosie’s marketing and social media accounts.

This past weekend Rosie’s menu featured four sandwich options: smoked pork, olive oil-poached ahi tuna, seared maitake mushrooms or, my choice, a turkey club. After I tore open the white paper wrapping, I could see each individual layer—wood-smoked turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, avocado, pickled red onions and toma cheese. The Sigonas aren’t stingy with their portions.

2/3 TURKEY CLUB Rich Sigona meticulously assembled all of the ingredients into my sandwich. (Photo by Alice Sigona)

During our phone interview, Rich pointed out two things that make a sandwich great. “Making sure that there’s a good creamy mayo or aioli,” he said. “And there has to be a pickle. We’re doing different pickles for each sandwich.” The smoked pork had summer squash. The tuna, pickled fennel and shallots. The mushroom included pickled Jimmy Nardello’s, that sweet Italian red pepper.

“The best sandwiches are the ones that have the highest quality ingredients,” Rich added. “That’s something we like to pride ourselves on.”

April said, “Richie handpicks everything. He smokes all our meats, makes our bacon. A lot of love and care goes into everything that we do.” Rosie’s doesn’t serve a revolutionary or avant-garde take on the sandwich, but the Sigonas do want them to be memorable. “We want people to say, ‘Wow, this is a really, really damn good sandwich,’” April added.

The type of bread a home cook or restaurant chef uses can make or break a sandwich. The Sigonas decided to get their bread from Acme. “That was definitely a no-brainer,” Rich said. “Their bread’s fantastic. I was always like, ‘Alright, if we’re going to make sandwiches, we should use Acme.’”

Rich used the term “choreography” for when he’s pairing ingredients with a certain kind of bread. He decided upon an herb slab for the pork, a sourdough roll for the tuna, a “slightly sweet” pain de mie for the turkey and a sesame kaiser roll for the mushroom. The two were planning an “R&D” barbecue with focaccia later that afternoon.

When the Sigonas were coming up with ideas to start Rosie’s, they tried to balance making something “a little bit more elevated” with street food. “When we were looking at pop-ups and farmers’ markets, there really weren’t a ton of sandwiches,” Rich said. “Almost everyone I know really enjoys a good sandwich. And it allows the ingredients to shine and be the focal point.”

FRESH BAKED Seasonal fruit often tops the pop tarts at Rosie’s pop-up. (Photo by Alice Sigona)

April’s brown-butter chocolate chip cookies and homemade pop tarts are difficult to ignore. The cookies contain giant melted chips, both milk and semi-sweet chocolate. Depending on what fruit is in season, she’ll highlight it in a pop tart. Last weekend, April made one with figs. They were elegantly sliced and arranged on top of a white chocolate and thyme icing. “In the past we’ve had a cherry lime and a peach cobbler pop tart,” she said.

“When people are eating our food, we both really want them to feel a sense of nostalgia,” April continued. “In terms of our brand and what we’re serving—whether that’s a pop tart or my mom’s tuna sandwiches—just to carry that same feeling when you’re eating and bonding over food. It’s such an integral part of our lives, especially now.”

Rosie’s next pop-up is noon to 3pm, Saturday, Sept. 13, at Vintage Berkeley on Vine (@vbscwine). Check out their roving weekend schedule on IG: @rosiesbayarea.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 10

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): I can’t speak the Quechua language, which is Indigenous to the Andes Mountains. But I have lifted one of their words to use for our purposes here: munay. It refers to an intensely practical and visionary love that includes far more than sweet feelings and affection. When we practice munay, we offer discerning respect and detailed appreciation to those we adore. We are generously eager to help our allies live their best lives. It takes discipline! And focus! And ingenuity! To be a rigorous and vigorous source of munay, we must cultivate it as a daily practice. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will go a bit wild in your expression of this tender force of nature. Imagine yourself as a gentle whirlwind of love that spreads interesting beauty and bestows useful blessings. Be a relentless dispenser of catalytic gifts.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The medieval Persian polymath Avicenna believed the soul entered the fetus not with the first heartbeat, but with the first dream. I offer this idea for your poetic consideration, dear Taurus. Let’s imagine that the next beautiful thing you create will not arise from your forceful intention. Rather, it will emerge because you give yourself permission to fantasize, to wander freely in wonder and to meander with curiosity on the frontiers. Your assignment is not to hustle, but to incubate; not to push forward, but to dwell expectantly in the mystery.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The bowerbird constructs elaborate ground-based shrines not as nests but as seduction lures. The enticer might gather blue bottle caps, yellow flowers and shiny stones so as to create a scene that piques the attention of a potential mate. These objets d’art are not merely decorative. They are displays that demonstrate discernment, skill and aesthetic intelligence. I authorize you to be like a bowerbird, Gemini. What collection of symbols, words, gestures and curiosities will magnetize the people or opportunities you long to engage with? It’s not about flashiness; it’s about alignment. What you draw into your sphere will reflect the vibes you emanate.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The pearl doesn’t begin as treasure. In its earliest form, it’s an irritation: a grain of sand that’s really a wound inside the oyster. Over time, the creature coats it with layers of nacre, turning discomfort into luminescence. Let’s use that as a metaphor for you, Cancerian. In my view, your task right now is not to escape or shed what’s bugging you, but to expedite the coating process. What is that gritty thing? A memory, injustice or unmet yearning? It’s crucial you don’t reject it and don’t let it fester. I think it’s best to turn it, layer by layer, into a luminous asset, even a treasure. Prediction: The pearl you form will long outlast the wound.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Olive trees can thrive in rugged environments, including rocky and nutrient-poor soils. Their root systems are wide, deep and resilient. They are well-adapted to full sun, high temperatures and low water availability. In comparing you to an olive tree, Leo, I’m not implying you will always have to be as hardy as they are. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to be equally plucky and persevering. Here’s another fact about the olive tree you can and should emulate: Its fruit is valuable and in demand.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Basenji is a dog breed that doesn’t bark. Instead, it produces an eerie, melodic yodel called a baroo. This oddity isn’t a flaw or drawback; it’s an interesting uniqueness. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to express your personal versions of the baroo—your idiosyncratic offerings and singular gifts. Playfully resist the pressure to be more conventional or “on brand.” Be faithful to what yearns to come out of you, which may be raw, radiant and a little weird. Let your authenticity be exactly what it is: a beacon, not a liability.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Scientists discovered that some caterpillars, while dissolving inside their cocoons, retain memories of their caterpillar lives even after becoming butterflies. In my view, that’s equivalent to us humans remembering details of our previous incarnations: Having an all-new body but being able to draw on what our past body learned. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be able to draw on this amazing capacity in the coming weeks. The person you used to be will have key revelations and inspirations for the future you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to Celtic mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of inspiration. In her cauldron, she brews magical elixirs that bestow the powers of wisdom, creativity and transformation. The humans most likely to earn her blessings are those who are patient and willing to be changed. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are now at the top of the eligibility list for gifts like these. And the next three weeks will be the most favorable time for you to ask for and receive such blessings. Here’s a clue that will help you get all you deserve: Believe in magic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Chinese philosophy, ziran means naturalness, spontaneity. It might refer to the way a mountain is purely a mountain, and a wave is a wave without trying to be a wave. I think you Sagittarians are due for an extended engagement with this wild ease and elegant freedom. After weeks of inner labor, your soul wants to breathe in ziran. Your assignment is to let yourself be as natural and unconstrained as you dare—not correct or careful or “optimized.” So I advise you to head in the direction of what’s simple and real and good. Emphasize smoothness over effort. Choose your rhythm, not theirs. You aren’t required to prove your healing. You just have to live it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Serendipity” is an English term that refers to beautiful accidents, fortunate interruptions, unexpected opportunities and surprisingly wonderful discoveries (The French equivalent is sérendipité; Italian: serendipità; Japanese: serendipiti.) The word didn’t exist until 1754, when author Horace Walpole coined it. Lovely outbreaks of good luck and uncanny blessings had been happening from time immemorial, of course, even though there wasn’t this precise word for them. Here’s a key point: They are more likely to occur if you believe they’re possible and make yourself alert for their arrival. That’s good advice for you right now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The placenta is the only organ that the human body creates from scratch and then discards. Let’s pause for a moment to register how remarkable this is: to grow a temporary life-support system and then jettison it once its purpose is fulfilled. Inspired by this miracle, I speculate that you may soon undertake a metaphorical version of it. A situation or experience that has nurtured you is reaching the end of its mission. Though it has served you well, the wise move might be to outgrow it and move on to a new phase of your evolution. At the very least, it’s time to embark on a search for new forms of nourishment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Balinese gamelan music, there’s a technique called kotekan. Two instrumentalists play distinct musical parts that together create a seamless, intricately melodic and rhythmic texture. Let’s make this your metaphor to live by in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you are not meant to work solo. Your greatest success and most fun will come by generating harmony through collaborative improvisation and shared timing. A small warning: Someone else’s input may at first feel like interference, but it’s actually the missing part of the song. Let yourself blend, bounce, echo and respond. Genius will be born in the spaces between.

Homework: Give yourself a pep talk about how smart you plan to become about love. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Best of the East Bay 2025 celebrates a rooted renaissance

In an era defined by disconnection and distraction, we find ourselves drawn more than ever to what grounds us: truth, art, food, love and place. For our annual “Best of the East Bay” issue, with a few bonus articles, we highlight stories that are not just locally grown, but deeply rooted.

Whether it’s this month’s glorious celebration of Oakland Pride (with elevated nightlife options), the thoughtful journalism Michael Bolden champions at UC Berkeley, the exploration of empathy and connection in local author Natasha Tripplett’s new children’s book, or the processing of loss and renewal on local musician Mae Powell’s debut album, each story in this issue offers more than a profile—it provides a portal into how culture, care and connection can shape lives.

We also honor a local legend, Malcolm Margolin, who passed away last month. He was a Berkeley-based author and publisher, and the founder of Heyday Books. His 1978 book, The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area, was a landmark history of local Indigenous tribes.

And of course, our annual “Best of the East Bay” roundup is here to celebrate the people, places and businesses that continue to feed the soul of this region. Your votes, alongside our editorial picks, reflect a community in joyful motion—still changing, still rising, still home.

Welcome to the East Bay’s renaissance, with a celebration of what we value most, grounded in regional pride and rooted in the fearless joy of being real.

We honor our local wordsmiths

It’s time to face it and embrace it. Arts and culture in the East Bay pack the award-winners’ list with everything from music to dance to theater, cinema, museums, art galleries, festivals, performing arts venues and more.

One gaping hole in the 2025 selections is wordsmiths. People who, on the page or stage or broadcast and internet platforms, sculpt, define, praise, criticize, analyze and re-imagine the world in which we live or the history and voices held in memory, forgotten and in need of revival, or erased and long-buried in overlooked communities.

Sticking mostly to Bay Area-based writers and poets with recent, new or forthcoming books and collections that stock local bookshelves to overflowing, the 2025 “Best Ofs” include science writer Mary Roach (Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, September); YA graphic artist/novelist Briana Loewinsohn (Raised by Ghosts, February); and novelist/poet Leila Mottley (The Girls Who Grew Big, June).

Also included are author Jon Hickey (Big Chief, April); poet devorah major (word time, November); essayist Rebecca Solnit (No Straight Road Takes You There, May); novelist/children’s picture book author/cookbook writer Ying Chang Compestine (multiple releases, 2025); memoirist Samina Ali (Pieces You’ll Never Get Back, March); author Isabel Allende (My Name Is Emilia del Valle, May); and more.

Allowing the literature to expand, there are cookbooks from chef Tu David Phus (The Memory of Taste, co-written with Soleil Ho and released in late 2024) and Chez Panisse founder/owner and writer Alice Waters (A School Lunch Revolution, October). 

Branching out to museums, one may scoop up BAMPFA’s marvelous Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California (edited with text by Elaine Y. Yau and including essays by Daphne A. Brooks, Bridget R. Cooks, Basil Kincaid, Eli Leon, Adia Millett, Matthew Villar Miranda, Wendy M. Thompson, Julie Rodrigues Widholm and more).

Comedian/host/producer/writer W. Kamau Bell hits all the right writerly notes with multiple projects in print, on tour with his standup show—Who’s With Me?—and through philanthropic collaborations benefiting East Bay schools and students.

These writers and speakers of words are only the top of the barrel. For more, visit one of the East Bay’s many independent bookstores (see Goods & Services winners) and browse the stacks with the help of knowledgeable, book-addicted owners and employees.

View this year’s readers’ picks for the Best of Arts & Culture here.

When self-care means hair now, flow later

There’s been less talk about and focus on “self-care” since everyone emerged back into the busy world post-pandemic. But it’s worth considering that self-care is even more important now, as people need to look and feel their best to do their best in a demanding work, home and play environment.

Whether it’s keeping muscles and joints flexible with the many types of yoga available, taking good care of skin, the body’s biggest organ, or just feeling more upbeat because hair and nails look good, the physical and psychological benefits are legion.

The East Bay has it all, from super-glam to low-key, homey spaces. Berkeley’s Today’s Rave, for example, is a small, woman-owned hair salon that earns customers’ kudos for the skill and professional expertise shown by the folks who cut and color hair there. 

Of the many and diverse yoga studios, El Cerrito’s Soma Yoga & Wellness offers several types of “flow” yoga, alongside more challenging vinyasa, as well as yin, with longer posture holds and restorative benefits. Many yoga enthusiasts enjoy a combination of styles. Soma’s goal is offering classes based on principles of yoga, Ayurveda and somatics, which emphasizes body awareness, releases tension and fosters a sense of safety and well-being.

It was difficult to maintain regular dental visits during Covid. Yet taking good care of teeth is another vital way of maintaining long-term health. It’s important to find a dentist whose care and advice inspires trust and confidence, and whose staff is welcoming. Fortunately, the East Bay is home to many such providers, including those voted on in this year’s “Best Ofs.”

Getting back into the world has meant more freedom, of course, but also more stress. Now may be the time to work on the inner self with help from the right therapist. Working through problems is never out of style.

Today’s Rave, 1787 Solano Ave., Berkeley. Open Tue-Sat by appointment. 510.524.0991.

Soma Yoga & Wellness, 9951 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Open daily. 510.240.9059. somayogawellness.com

See this year’s readers’ picks for the Best of Beauty, Health & Wellness here.

Sites Like Listcrawler: 10+ Listcrawler Alternatives to Use in 2025

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Published in cooperation between Paradise Media and the East Bay Express

When you have an itch that needs scratching, the last thing you want to do is go into the rabbit hole of researching which escort sites are reliable. The best sites to use like Listcrawler can help you get the job done.

Basically: You want some, and you want it ASAP. But you also don’t want to be scammed, catfished or just left high and dry. 

So, we bring you the best sites like Listcrawler to find what you’re looking for, while staying all legal and legit. Here they are.

First Look—Sites Like Listcrawler

List Crawler Alternatives, Reviewed

1. AdultFriendFinder—Quick and Easy Hookups

adultfriendfinder

Pros

  • Everyone’s down (girls, guys and trans)
  • Hookups and escort ads
  • Tons of explicit content

Cons

  • Free version sucks

Top Features

  • Tens of millions of users
  • Video chat
  • Great forum

AdultFriendFinder is not an escort site, but it is one of the casual dating sites. Still, there are plenty of girls, guys and trans users offering sexual services over there.

There are also wild women looking for some car fun—you can hook up with them for free.

Well, technically not for free, as you have to pay for a premium subscription to chat with other users and use the site for free.

Subscriptions are affordable and totally worth it, as it’s really easy to get laid.

The best thing about AdultFriendFinder is the discussion forum. That’s where you’ll find threads on all sorts of topics (usually sex-related), but that’s also the place to find genuine, active folks looking to get laid, like you.

In case you don’t, there’s tons of explicit content for a self-made happy ending.

>>Jump to AdultFriendFinder, the easiest way to get laid

2. Ashley Madison—Discreet Sex Site and Escort Ads

ashley madison

Pros

  • 100 percent free for women
  • Super discreet
  • MBA affairs, hookups and escort services

Cons

  • Not really an escort site

Top Features

  • Easy sex site
  • App disguise 
  • Private profiles

Ashley Madison may not be an escort site, but it sure has a lot of escort ads, so it deserves its spot on our list of sites like Listcrawler.

It’s not just the escort ads—Ashley Madison is an overall great sex site.

First off, there’s plenty of women on it, as women get to use it for free. There are plenty of women who aren’t escorts but are looking for some car fun and other types of casual sex.

It’s easy to pick up one of those, but you can also always book escort services if you fail.

The best part about Ashley Madison is that what happens on Ashley Madison stays on Ashley Madison, thanks to its discretion features.

You can private your profile to the extent you want, disguise the app and even customize the notifications so no one knows you’re on the app.

>>Head to Ashley Madison, the most discreet sex app

3. FapChat—Best List Crawler Alternative for Short, Disappearing Ads

fapchat

Pros 

  • Fun, disappearing messages and pics
  • Seamless on mobile devices
  • Lots of pro and amateur creators

Cons

  • Limited free version
  • No strict verification

Top Features

  • Custom content
  • Virtual gifts
  • Search filters

FapChat’s online success is hinged on its exciting, short and disappearing ads. Users here interact through NSFW sexy snaps, naughty video clips and fast-paced chats that auto-destruct once viewed.

How about that for fun action?

FapChat is ideal for individuals who love the idea of online speed-dating (or hookups). Blink here and you’ll miss the prize.

You can find both amateur and professional escort models to engage your quirky needs. The best part is that you can request snaps to see if the goods are worth shipping. Of course, being a premium platform, you’ll have to pay $3 to $15 per snap, depending on the model.

Definitely worth the bucks if you ask me, since the babes can customize them to your tastes. 

While the lax profile verification may raise a brow or two, the site welcomes numerous casual escorts, bringing in a lot of spice and variety to your experience.

>>Sign Up on FapChat for Quick, Spicy Arrangements 

4. Slixa—Premium Escort Directory

slixa

Pros

  • Wide selection of high-quality escorts
  • User-friendly interface
  • Variety of VIP escorts

Cons

  • Rates tend to be on the higher side
  • Limited availability in smaller areas

Top Features

  • VIP escorts available
  • Live cam integration
  • Advanced search options

Slixa stands out as a premium escort directory offering a diverse selection of top-tier companions. With a sleek and intuitive interface, navigating through Slixa’s listings is a breeze, ensuring a seamless user experience

One of its standout features is the availability of VIP escorts, catering to clients seeking exclusive encounters with elite companions. It works especially well in bigger cities, where you’ll have a tough choice in finding your next hookup.

This escort ad site also integrates live cam services, providing an interactive experience for users who prefer virtual interactions. Slixa’s advanced search options allow you to filter results based on specific preferences, ensuring you’ll find the perfect companion to suit your desires.

While Slixa’s rates may be higher compared to other Listcrawler-like sites, the quality of service and the caliber of escorts justify the investment for those seeking a premium experience. 

>>Explore Slixa for a great selection of high-quality escorts

5. Escort Directory—Site Like Listcrawler With Most Attractive Escorts

escort directory

Pros

  • Reliable escort website
  • Quick and easy 
  • High-quality service

Cons

  • Expensive rates

Top Features

  • VIP escorts
  • Live cams
  • Search by price range

Escort Directory has earned its spot on the top No. 5 list of sites like Listcrawler because it really is one of the best. It’s even better than Listcrawler, if I do say so myself. It’s everything you need in an escort site—reliable, fast and with more attractive friends.

First things first—it’s all independent escorts, so there’s no hassle.

Secondly, the escorts on Escort Directory are unmatched in terms of looks and the quality of their services. You can see they’re serious about making money this way.

When it comes to the website itself, it’s easy to navigate and the interface is pretty sleek. It’s also considered one of the top live cam sites

Booking escort services is fast, easy and secure, which is something all escort sites should strive for.

There’s a good chunk of VIP escorts, ranging from porn stars to B-list actresses and singers. They charge more, but if that’s what you like, you’re gonna find it on Escort Directory.

You’d have to pay upfront, but you know how much you’re paying, and your transactions are secure.

>>Jump to Escort Directory, home of the most attractive escorts

6. HappyEscorts—Largest European Escort Community

happyescorts

Pros

  • Large European user base
  • Contact agencies
  • Detailed escort profiles

Cons

  • Relatively expensive rates

Top Features

  • Leave/read escort reviews
  • Diverse search features
  • Accurate translation engine

Happy Escorts is a haven for finding professional European escorts in the thousands. It’s among the leading sites like Listcrawler, with the highest number of European escorts among our top picks.

This top Listcrawler alternative works in more than 45 countries and has the highest user base in Germany. This gives you more than enough options to consider if you travel to Europe a lot.

The escort profiles are also well-detailed and include things such as the model’s gender, sexual orientation, height, body type, body arts, language(s) and other information to help you make a decision.

What’s more, Happy Escorts has an exceptional translation feature that can present the site in 38 languages for easy access and navigation across multiple languages.

Perhaps the best feature I enjoyed using on the site was the escort reviews that give other users a heads-up on the experience they should expect when they pick a particular escort. 

I greatly appreciate such features because they help tremendously reduce the number of catfishing and other online scams.

The icing on the cake? You can decide whether you want to go out with an independent escort or choose one from an agency if you want some kind of assurance.

>>Try HappyEscorts today, the No. 1 largest European escort service

7. KittyAds—Easy-to-Use Escort Site

kittyads

Pros

  • Diverse escorts
  • Easy to use
  • No ads

Cons

  • Dated website design

Top Features

  • U.S.-focused
  • Great search filters
  • Good selection of trans escorts

Those among you who just want an easy (yet reliable) way to find hot escorts when you need them should go to KittyAds.

KittyAds may have a horribly dated website design that should be a crime these days, but it’s very easy to use.

The search filters work like a charm, making finding the right escort that much easier.

Speaking of which, there are all kinds of escorts and a particularly good selection of trans escorts. You also have detailed information on every escort’s page, including contact details prominently displayed. 

There are lots of pictures, too, and the escort’s age is clearly noted.

Last but not least, there are no annoying ads or spam.

>>Go to KittyAds, the easiest way to find escorts in the US

8. Tryst—International Indie Escorts

tryst

Pros

  • High-quality site design and tools
  • Indie escorts worldwide
  • LGBTQ+-friendly

Cons

  • Not that many options in rural areas

Top Features

  • Escort interviews page
  • Excellent search filters
  • Large site

Tryst is not only the most aesthetically pleasing site with the coolest features, but it is also the best place to go for international indie escorts.

It’s also the place with the most diverse LGBTQ+ indie escorts.

The downside is that there aren’t that many options in rural areas in the United States, but that’s more or less the case with most escort sites.

What Tryst does have is a lively community of real sex workers offering all kinds of sexual services.

That and some amazing features that include detailed search filters that will help you zero in on just the kind of new experience you feel like having that night.

Tryst also has detailed escort profiles as well as escort interviews, so you can get a feel for what each one of the call girls is like before phoning her.

>>Head to Tryst to browse for international indie escorts

9. Bedpage—Backpage 2.0

bedpage

Pros

  • Looks just like Backpage
  • Classified ads
  • Works for hookups, too

Cons

  • A little bit chaotic

Top Features

  • Browse for free
  • Many escorts from Backpage
  • Solid categorization

Does anyone miss Backpage? Bedpage is the best alternative to Backpage—it even has an almost similar site name.

And it looks just like Backpage, so if you were a fan, you’ll love the familiar interface.

Also read: Best Backpage alternatives

That’s not the only thing Bedpage has in common with Backpage—some of the women from Backpage you had some sexy time with are also on Bedpage.

It will be easy for you to find them as the site has good categorization.

Much like Backpage, it works on classified ads, so you browse through them to find what you’re looking for. There are also lots of personals, so you can use the site for dating, too.

>>Go to Bedpage, one of the best sites like Listcrawler

10. Doublelist—100 percent Free Escort Site

doublelist

Pros

  • 100 percent free
  • Lots of local girls
  • Works for dating, too

Cons

  • No app

Top Features

  • Classified ads
  • Like Craigslist personals
  • Lots of LGBTQ+ escorts

Remember the glory days of Craigslist personals? Well, Doublelist is kinda like that—there are budget-friendly classified ads from local sex workers as well as personal dating ads.

You can go either way here.

One thing’s for sure—there’s no better free escort site than Doublelist, whether you’re looking for some action or offering some.

Doublelist lets you both browse and post ads for free.

The LGBTQ+ community will also love to hear that the community has a pretty strong presence on Doublelist, so there’s lots of action and all the balls-deep fun to be had for them, too.

>>Jump to Doublelist, one of the free sites like Listcrawler

11. Erotic Monkey—Mega Popular Escort Site

erotic monkey

Pros

  • Super popular
  • Easy to use
  • Lots of gay escorts

Cons

  • Outdated interface

Top Features

  • In-depth escort reviews
  • Excellent search bar
  • Vibrant forums

With the slogan “Never spank the monkey again” and its famous monkey mascot, Erotic Monkey is one of the most popular escort sites in the United States.

It’s reliable, free, easy to use and it’s got tons of escort ads—what else can one want from an escort site?

Its interface is a bit outdated, but the site gets the job done.

The search tools are amazing, so you can easily find what you need. There’s also a blog with useful tips as well as a dope forum where you can meet lots of people and exchange experiences.

Then there are escort reviews, which is always a plus with escort sites—it just makes everything more convenient. 

>>Head to Erotic Monkey, the most popular escort site

12. Rub Maps—More Than Just an Escort Site

rub maps

Pros

  • Find escort hangouts
  • Lively dating community
  • No extra charges for messages

Cons

  • Only subscribers see the reviews

Top Features

  • Find massage parlors
  • Locate strip bars
  • Read real reviews

If you’re really digging the escort lifestyle and want to be immersed in it, Rub Maps is the place to go—it’s the way to really immerse yourself in your little hobby.

Only people who subscribe get to see all the reviews and get all the good stuff, but there are great reward programs, too.

Rub Maps is all about places you can go to get some of whatever you are looking for. 

Those are mostly massage parlors and strip clubs, but there are other escort hangout spots and great places for adult parties.

You can see real reviews of these places by other Rub Maps members, too.

There are escorts, swingers and all kinds of folks on the site, and messaging is free once you subscribe.

>>Jump to Rub Maps to immerse yourself in the world of escorts

13. Adult Look—All Kinds of Escorts

adult look

Pros

  • Diverse escorts
  • International site
  • Accepts diverse currencies

Cons

  • Search by location only

Top Features

  • Detailed profiles
  • Escort reviews
  • Video ads

Adult Look is the escort site with the most diverse selection of escorts in every way—whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it there.

That’s because it has affiliations with all kinds of sites, so you can also see ads from its sister sites on the platform.

That means lots of options.

The search bar is a bit of a letdown as you can only filter by location, but the profiles are pretty rich—descriptions, lots of photos and a vertical list of services.

Adult Look knows you can’t judge a call girl by her profile, so each one has reviews from previous clients for you to see.

Premium users also get access to video ads, which is pretty dope.

>>Go to Adult Look, the most diverse escort site

14. Euro Girls Escort—Hottest Escorts in Europe

euro girls escort

Pros

  • Really hot girls
  • Reviews from previous clients
  • VIP escorts

Cons

  • Only in Europe

Top Features

  • Girls from all European countries
  • Independent and agency escorts
  • Excellent search bar

If you ever find yourself in Europe and in need of some action, now you know where to go—Euro Girls Escort.

It really is the go-to for the entire continent, with women from the big EU-zone countries and outskirts, too.

The best thing about Euro Girls Escorts is, of course, the women but also the search filters. You can find just the kind of action you want.

Filter by language, hair and eye color, bust (cup size), pubic hair and more.

We also like the fact that you can read escort reviews by other clients, which gives you a heads-up on what you can expect and if that hottie really is as good as she seems.

You will have to prepay for services, like on most top sites like Listcrawler, but you know what you’re getting for your buck.

>>Head to Euro Girls Escorts, the best escort ad site in Europe

Sites Like Listcrawler FAQs

Before we leave to go book some good times with the women (or guys), we will answer some of the most common questions about sites like Listcrawler. Check out the FAQs part to see if yours is among them.

How Can I Ensure Safety When Using Sites Like Listcrawler?

To ensure your safety when using platforms like Listcrawler or similar sites, it’s essential to prioritize platforms with robust safety measures in place, such as user verification processes and customer support. 

Additionally, always communicate openly with potential partners, set clear boundaries and arrange to meet in public places for initial encounters. 

Trust your instincts and never hesitate to report any suspicious activity or profiles to the platform administrators. By prioritizing safety precautions, you can enjoy your experience while minimizing potential risks.

Where to Find an Escort Online?

You can find an escort online on some of the best escort sites, like Escort Directory, Euro Girls Escorts, Ashley Madison and KittyAds. These sites are reliable and safe and make it easy to find just what you’re looking for.

What Are the Best Escort Sites That Are Legit?

The best escort sites that are legit are Escort Directory, Euro Girls Escorts and KittyAds—these are all serious sites that don’t mess around when it comes to safety and quality. Alternatively, you can also find escorts (and hookups) on Ashley Madison.

How Can I Hookup Fast?

The best way to hook up fast is to go to some of the casual dating apps like Ashley Madison and AdultFriendFinder. These adult dating sites were made for one-night stands and casual flings, so everyone’s there for that reason. They’re pretty big, too, so there are lots of options.

Is Ashley Madison Legit and Safe?

Yes, Ashley Madison is a legit and safe hookup app and one of the best at that. That’s where everyone looking for discreet hookups goes, so finding someone for some casual sex is really easy.

Have Fun With Sites Like Listcrawler—Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of sites like Listcrawler—some are even better. All these sites are safe and reliable. It’s only up to you to figure out what you hope to get out of the experience and go to the site that offers that.

AdultFriendFinder is the best choice whatever you’re looking for, as it’s got plenty of options and it works fast.

Euro Girls Escort is the best bet for those in Europe, and Ashley Madison works both for escort ads and easy hookups. If you want to find someone more upper class, find your new favorite companion on Slixa.

Most of these have free versions, so you can test out all of them and see which one works best in your area.

Happy hunting.

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