We analyzed 26 negative reviews from the top 5 Hydroponics apps on the App Store. Here's what users hate most.
Ranked by frequency — how often each complaint appears in negative reviews.
31% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"Never written a review before, zero correct plant id's out of 22, not good!"
"Everything I pointed to was some of basil or thyme, it called a lilac tree basil."
23% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"Every time I open the app I get a pop-up to sign up for the news letter, buy more plants, push promotions, etc."
"App is knock off of web site so that annoying sales rep popup asking to chat interferes with what you are trying to do."
27% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"This app used to at least work and be semi-navigable. since the update, there are SO MANY BUGS. Ill set up my farmstand with plants etc one day, then the next everything has changed… Errors and crashing all over the place"
"Can't even log on because the app jumps off the screen. Ridiculous."
15% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"My wife signed up and forgot her password. I downloaded this app and requested a reset email for the password. They said it was sent to my inbox. Nothing there. Nothing in the junk folder either."
"Would like to be able to log into my account but every time I do, I get an error message"
12% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"Smart Timer rims much but. Does not work with IPhones with IOS 18. Waste of money. Smart timer does not work with the app and IOS 18"
"The Lettuce Grow app is buggy, disconnects constantly, and often won't stay connected long enough to control basic settings like the timer."
12% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"I can't update my first name or last name, add my phone number, or add/update my address in the app—so how am I supposed to order seedlings?"
"The ap does not recognize my order so I can't track anything. I have 24 plants but the ap says I have zero even after adding my order number repeatedly."
Design and usability issues driving negative reviews.
Core features open external web pages rather than being built natively, creating friction and exposing users to sales popups
"The app links out to the site rather than housing information and pages on the app. This means you have to deal with site things like the sale and sign up pop-up windows"
Privacy and performance concerns from constant camera access
"The app is always accessing the camera in the background while it's open, not just when you move to the part of the app to scan the plants. Also it's just slow."
User configurations and plant setups reset or disappear between sessions
"Ill set up my farmstand with plants etc one day, then the next everything has changed… Errors and crashing all over the place"
E-commerce functionality fails with videos and navigation issues
"This app is a disaster, if you try to purchase anything through the app, it continually shows videos doesn't take you to where you would like to go and is basically a buggy mess."
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