App Showcase: Purple Ocean

What it does

Purple Ocean is a mobile marketplace that connects users with psychic advisors for guidance on various life topics. The app facilitates different types of readings, including pre-recorded videos, live text chats, and live video calls. Users can browse a wide selection of advisors, check their specialties and reviews, and purchase readings directly within the app.

Where it shines

Purple Ocean excels at making an abstract service feel concrete and approachable. The advisor profile screen (01:17) is a key example, structured like a clear service menu where users can choose between different types of readings based on price and urgency. Another standout feature is "Journeys" (03:41), a section where users share detailed stories about their experiences with advisors. This creates a powerful layer of relatable social proof that goes far beyond simple star ratings.

UX highlights

• Clear Advisor Cards: The main feed (01:03) presents advisors in cards that efficiently display their photo, name, specialty, rating, and availability status (e.g., "Available for rush").
• Productized Services: On an advisor's profile, services are neatly broken down into distinct options like "Video reading" or "Live chat" (01:34), each with clear pricing. This simplifies the decision-making process for users.
• Robust Filtering: The search functionality (02:46) allows users to filter advisors by review count, price, and availability, empowering them to find a trusted advisor that meets their specific needs.
• Comprehensive Profiles: Advisor profiles offer a rich set of information, including an intro video (01:28), a detailed bio, and an extensive list of user reviews (01:40), helping to build credibility.
• User-Generated Journeys: The "Journeys" section (03:51) provides deep, narrative-based social proof, allowing potential customers to connect with stories similar to their own.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is based on a pay-per-service model, not a subscription. Users purchase credits or pay directly for individual readings.

• Tiered Pricing: Advisors offer different services at various price points, such as a standard video reading for $1.99 (special offer) or a faster "Rush reading" for $7.99 (01:35).
• Welcome Offer: A prominent banner on the main screen (01:03) advertises a special welcome offer, giving new users a significant discount on their first session to reduce the barrier to entry.
• No Paywall: The app does not use a mandatory paywall during onboarding. Monetization happens when a user decides to purchase a specific reading from an advisor.

Who it’s for

This app is for individuals seeking spiritual guidance, clarity, or advice on personal matters such as relationships, career, and life path. It caters to users who are comfortable with digital service marketplaces and value the ability to choose from a wide variety of vetted advisors. The different communication options (video, chat) also cater to varying levels of user comfort with live interaction.

Notes & opportunities

While the app is well-structured, the mandatory sign-up flow at the very beginning (00:08) creates significant friction and prevents users from exploring the advisors before committing to creating an account. Allowing a "guest mode" for browsing could potentially increase user engagement and top-of-funnel conversion. Additionally, the powerful "Journeys" feature is somewhat hidden in a bottom tab; making this content more discoverable within the main advisor feed could further enhance trust and conversion.