How We Test Occult Apps: Our Methodology (2026)
Table of Contents
A review is only as trustworthy as the process behind it. This page is the process. Every rating on this site came from the same seven steps, applied in the same order, by the same standards.
The Seven Steps
- Install on a clean Android device with no other apps present
- Run every core feature in airplane mode and record what still works
- Audit the permission list and flag anything unrelated to the app's function
- Measure installed size and 48-hour background battery drain
- Test every advertised feature twice: by the manual, then by real-user discovery
- Verify pricing: one-time, no hidden subscription, no surprise upsells
- Write the review with the raw test log attached, not from memory
What We Refuse to Test
We never rate the supernatural. Whether a tarot reading feels accurate, a sigil “works,” or a spirit box communicates is not testable in a reproducible way, so it never enters our scoring. We review the app: its features, its honesty, its price, its privacy. The magic is yours to judge.
- No scoring of accuracy, luck, or paranormal effectiveness
- No claims about what spirits, fate, or the universe “intend”
- No paid placements: we never charge for reviews and never accept free copies with strings
- No anonymous testing: the same standard applies to our own apps as to any other
Why It Matters
The occult app space is full of subscriptions, data harvesting, and inflated claims. A shared, published methodology is the only defense. We publish ours so you can check it, and we apply it to our own apps - the Rider-Waite Tarot app included - exactly as we would to anyone else's.
If you are comparing apps, use the methodology on this page as your own checklist. It takes ten minutes and saves you from the subscription trap.
FAQ
Ready for the full experience?
These guides work with pen and paper, but a digital tool makes them faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you get paid for reviews?
No. We never charge for reviews, never accept payment for placement, and disclose any relationship - including when the app is our own - in the review itself.
Do you review your own apps?
Yes, and they are held to the exact same seven steps. If anything, we are harder on ourselves because the stakes are trust.
Can an app fail the methodology?
Yes, and it has. Apps with irrelevant permissions, hidden subscriptions, or broken offline modes are rated down regardless of how pretty they look.
References
- Google Play Developer Policy on deceptive behavior (2025)
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (2024)
- FTC Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials (2023)