We analyzed 79 negative reviews from the top 5 Cultural Exchange Companion apps on the App Store. Here's what users hate most.
Ranked by frequency — how often each complaint appears in negative reviews.
38% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"All the women accounts are fake. They try to get you to buy them characters or gold coins. They claim they are from towns close to you but are not."
"I've met three people on here, and they were all 'Romance Scammers'. If you look closely, and do your homework, you'll see that many of the images are stolen from others"
32% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"They charge for each letter you type. I paid for 500 per day…that doesn't last long! So she pressures me to get a 'VIP', $170 per month for unlimited characters"
"I bought $75 in 2000 character translation credits and it lasted less than 12 hrs.... F'ing ripoff!!!!"
20% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"If you don't have a Korean phone number this app is useless don't even try it. What's the point of making it available to download here in the USA WHEN WE CANT EVEN FRICKEN USE IT?!!"
"This app doesn't provide service outside of Korea and it's still on the US App Store to get more download counts"
15% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"The fact I have to spend points to chat with someone who I Amy not even click with and the conversation may go nowhere….then I gotta buy points…it's a ripoff"
"I like that I can see other users only wish I didn't need points to start chat"
11% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"This app is a total scam, ignore all the positive reviews since those are probably fake also."
"All reviews that are not a 1 star (notice they are all 5 stars). Read them and you can see a pattern."
9% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"They have plenty of pictures, but never wish to meet up. Great sex talk, quickly followe"
"If they agree to meet they don't show or excuse out. Total expensive scam, stay away"
Design and usability issues driving negative reviews.
Users frustrated with multi-step process to leave conversations
"It's pretty annoying to have to go thru 3 steps just to leave a single chat, as opposed to the slide to delete thing that most others have."
App rejects valid international phone numbers without clear formatting guidance
"Please find a way to fix the way it takes phone number. It doesn't accept my valid phone number, therefore I wasn't able to access the app. If you need it in a certain format please mention it."
Users experiencing sudden profile resets with no communication
"Upon opening app today, my profile pics and ABOUT info are completely empty. Even my NICKNAME has been changed to some generic code/numbers. This is unacceptable and there has been no communication"
Users invest in conversations without knowing if they'll get replies
"The fact I have to spend points to chat with someone who I Amy not even click with and the conversation may go nowhere….then I gotta buy points…it's a ripoff"
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