We analyzed 29 negative reviews from the top 5 Meal Finder 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.
"Classic bait and switch. You can download the free app, but you can't actually get to the recipes without subscribing and paying."
"You pay for a subscription yearly then every thing in the app cost to see. Not worth it and it's recipe you can get free!!"
21% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"App redirects me to webpage to log in or sign in, webpage says there is an error and redirects me back to the app, which again prompts me to sign in."
"You force people to register, which I already object to, then when I try three different ways to do so, you won't let me into the app."
17% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"After the last update, none of the cookbooks are opening. Th app just forces close. Frustrating! Please fix"
"Installed the app on iPad mini then run the app but crash."
14% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"I log in to my good food app everyday. Today I open the app and a lot of the recipes I had carefully saved over the years have disappeared. I have whole empty folders now."
"Recipe books are suddenly deleted and replaced with paid for versions that you have to download and then won't even open in the new update."
10% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"While the app is working, it seems fabulous. But I keep getting server errors. I'll go to save a recipe and all of a sudden, my collection isn't there. I'll do a search and getting errors. It seems to be server timeout errors?"
"It won't download...please fix!"
10% of negative reviews mention this issue.
"I have never heard of another publisher unilaterally denying access to old issues if you don't renew a current subscription."
"Recipe books are suddenly deleted and replaced with paid for versions that you have to download and then won't even open in the new update."
Design and usability issues driving negative reviews.
Recipe data quality issues with missing measurements making recipes unusable
"Trying to follow a recipe with ingredients like 1 olive oil or red curry paste doesn't really help. See Easy Thai Prawn Curry for example."
App requires login/registration immediately without allowing users to explore content first
"You force people to register, which I already object to, then when I try three different ways to do so, you won't let me into the app."
Saved recipe organization breaks with categories vanishing despite containing recipes
"Some of my categories disappear from view even though the app tells me the[y exist]"
Users frustrated by disruptive ads even in paid versions
"Running iOS 15 and app updated. Also, if there is a subscription version out there, would prefer that. Hate the annoying, disruptive ads."
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