# AFN Now — user reviews > 207 indexed App Store user reviews of AFN Now by Defense Media Activity, rated 1.40/5 from 559 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afn-now/id1641316094/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afn-now/id1641316094.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 38 · 4★ 5 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 492 ## What do users think of AFN Now? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - ⭐ Great for watching sports overseas - 🙌 Excellent free content for service members **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 🔌 Unreliable connectivity and login issues - 🤔 Limited content selection beyond sports - 📺 Poor streaming quality and playback controls **Commonly reported bugs** - Blank screens and content not loading - Constant log-outs and session limit issues - Incompatibility with overseas locations **Most requested features** - Expand content beyond just sports - Improve stability and reliability - Add Chromecast/AirPlay support - Provide better playback controls ## Newest reviews (20 of 207) ### 2/5 — Streaming quality *2026-06-29, version 2.1.1* I have gigabit fiber in Okinawa and the stream keeps buffering. Also there is quite a bit of programming that AFN doesn’t have the streaming rights to. Shutting down direct to home satellite was the worse decision until they worked out all the kinks and upgraded the servers to handle the bandwidth. If I had speed issues from my ISP I would understand. ### 2/5 — LG tv *2026-04-25, version 2.1.1* Not available on the LG tv App Store ### 1/5 — Only the Rest for the Best *2026-04-07, version 2.1.0* Total garbage, pain in the (back side) to log in, need to re-login every few hours and then when logging in again you receive a multi session error that kicks you out. Black screens, frozen screens. Even had my TV lock up and had to unplug the TV to reset things. ### 1/5 — Rating of 0 zero *2026-03-14, version 2.1.0* This app on the TV is not ready for prime time. I have to rescan a QR code every time I want to watch. And now it won’t even give me tat. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled three times. I also can’t mirror to my TV from my phone, why? AFN is not ready for 22 March. Big fail AFN! ### 1/5 — Pitiful *2026-03-02, version 2.1.0* I missed a lot of big events of the Olympics because the app refused to work. I would often get the audio, but not the video. You also cannot mirror the app from your phone to your smart TV. Poorly done. ### 1/5 — Please outsource and start over *2026-02-28, version 2.1.0* This app sucks the life out of anyone trying to use it. Horribly ineffective, it gives America’s enemies hope to overcome our military if this what they would encounter in the battlespace. There is no joy in using this piece of garbage. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-02-10, version 2.1.0* I can’t even get past the login screen. Eventually deleted it. lol, went back 3 years and the majority of the reviews are all 1 star. You would think that within 3 years they work on this app and have it up and running. ### 1/5 — Absolute Garbage App *2026-02-09, version 2.1.0* So now my two $200+ decoders with 500 GB hard drives are now worthless and are being replaced by a non-functioning app? Here’s your fraud, waste, and abuse. ### 1/5 — So useless it’s disrespectful *2026-02-09* The app just doesn’t work. Pick a category and the options appear for half a second before they disappear. It’s been like this for years, regardless of whether you’re on WiFi, a VPN, or a data plan. The Defense Media Activity pretends to contribute to the mission and enhance quality of life, but its actions tell a different story. The continued existence of this app in this state can only be attributed to an active disdain for the personnel it is supposed to serve. The best I can say is that it’s so broken that it can’t be described as buggy. It’s effectively a theft of taxpayer dollars that unaccountable leaders continue to allow. ### 1/5 — Apple TV App does not work *2026-02-08, version 2.1.0* I am stationed overseas in Japan and downloaded the app to my Apple TV to watch the Super Bowl. The app logs in, but does not display anything. I am on the same WiFi network as my phone. The app on my phone works just fine; however, I want to watch it on the tv and not my phone. The phone app does not allow you to cast it to your tv either. ### 1/5 — OIG needs to look into this contract *2026-02-04, version 2.1.0* Never encountered a more obvious example of waste, fraud, and abuse. I don’t even want to think about how many taxpayer dollars were wasted on an app that just does not work. iOS = broken. Roku = broken. Major acquisition reform is needed. ### 1/5 — Less than adequate *2026-02-01* This is probably the poorest video streaming app available in the App Store. I constantly have to log back into it every time I use it. The live TV option doesn’t have a real guide for upcoming programming, meaning there may be several college basketball or football games on at one time, and you can only tell which game is currently on, you can’t look forward to any future games and see who’s playing. You can’t switch between channels, you always have to get out of one stream and click several buttons to get to another stream. There is no picture in picture option or multi stream option (such as multiple games showing simultaneously in a tiled display). Finally, some of the sports programming that is listed under live TV isn’t even available because they don’t have the streaming rights for it, only the satellite broadcast rights, so having the app doesn’t do you any good. ### 1/5 — Such a Waste *2026-02-01, version 2.1.0* Can’t get it to work. Should be an embarrassment. ### 2/5 — No Lightning to Digital AV Ability *2026-01-20, version 2.1.0* The App will mimic video normally through the Lightning to Digital AV adapter to my TV but once a program starts to play, it will stop mimicking the display to my TV and only display video on my phone. ### 1/5 — Works 70% of the time *2026-01-20, version 2.1.0* Update: Failure again! Can’t watch Indiana v Miami. This app is so irritating. This app is very frustrating. It is clunky and has a strange set up that tries, but fails, to mimic the functions of primary streaming apps. We usually only use it on weekends for sports and i end up screwing with it for about an hour and usually give up just like tonight. Stationed in Germany. Come on AFN! Please do better. Tired of missing these games. ### 1/5 — Suck *2026-01-18, version 2.1.0* You guys gotta do better. Take away satellite boxes and make us use this piece of garbage that cuts out 50% of the time. ### 1/5 — A fine example of going with the lowest-bidder *2026-01-18, version 2.1.0* This app doesn’t work reliably, and often sends you into a doom loop when you try to use the QR code on your phone to register and play on your device. And once it’s registered on the device, it works about half the time. AFN’s motto motto may be “We Bring You Home”, but the only thing it brings is disappointment and regret. Do better, guys! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t even work *2026-01-11, version 2.1.0* I have downloaded this app went through about 3 loops to get access to then not load a single thing on the app trash app fix it AFN you tell people to download it an then don’t make it work. Not your best moment DOW ### 1/5 — Lowers my morale *2026-01-11, version 2.1.0* This app does not work off base, has no ipad version and is not reliably installed on smart tvs sold on the base exchange. Beyond frustrating to vainly troubleshoot to try and watch a live game that is freely broadcast in every bar and house stateside. With a annual budget of 300 million the app should work. AFN actively lowers my morale by giving false hope to connect me back home and failing to support service members. ### 1/5 — Barely works with live events. *2026-01-10, version 2.1.0* Fix your servers to facilitate the customer base. It’s about what you’d expect from a country that turns on its allies and couldn’t care less about anyone from the upper class and down. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — So-So app until now because I can’t log in on my iPad or iPhone *2026-07-14, version 2.1.1* Mobile app frozen on login screen on both my iPhone and iPad. Still works on Apple TV, but that’s it. ### 1/5 — Worthless app *2026-07-14, version 2.1.1* A mildly incompetent team could still produce an app better than this. ### 1/5 — Is it Chinese? Seems cheap! *2026-07-11, version 2.1.1* Doesn’t work well. Tapping a button doesn’t often work or are laggy. The interface isn’t intuitive. Don’t rely on this as it seems to cube cheaply built, probably lowest cost bidder with no testing whatsoever. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-07-05, version 2.1.1* Its an app that doesnt let you log in and when it does it just sends you to the website so whats the point of the app ### 1/5 — Junk *2026-07-02, version 2.1.1* Very buggy. Makes you sign in again when you’re right in the middle of watching something. Real POS app, but not surprised. ### 1/5 — Bricks constantly *2026-06-20, version 2.1.1* Worst streaming app. Please invest a little into the stability and reliability of this app. ### 1/5 — Worthless app *2026-06-18, version 2.1.1* The app currently says the content is only available to overseas military installations but I’m overseas, not using a VPN, and have my location on. They need to do better. Developer doesn’t heed the 1 star reviews, they’re there for a reason; morons. ### 1/5 — Evidently only works when connected to MWR wifi (but they keep that a secret until you call) *2026-06-03* When the app loads, it just shows a blank screen. After calling support number, they said that this was because my cellular data is a US company and it will only work when I connect to a wifi network on base. The support person seemed annoyed that I was calling, but they could just put that information on the app. Obviously it would be better if they could fix the app to use better geolocation than that, but in the meantime, they could just have a message appear clarifying the problem instead of a blank screen. Just another example of how communism is bad. AFN has no motivation to explain itself so it doesn’t occur to them to explain themselves. ### 1/5 — Give us back the box! *2026-05-12, version 2.1.1* I’m sitting here watching a green screen. Yet again it’s not working and no one answers emails for assistance. Please give us back the boxes. The app is awful and was not ready to be the only option for those living off base. ### 1/5 — Bring back FEN! *2026-04-19, version 2.1.0* This app is absolutely the worst I have ever experienced. From a satellite to online and basic TV shows like ABC News all of a sudden don’t have viewing rights. I have very fast internet, but that doesn’t stop this app from stopping constantly, and the picture quality is close to the 1920s. This is disheartening and AFN needs to do better for its military members and their families! Straight trash!! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works great *2025-04-28, version 2.0.1* Utilized on both Apple devices as well as a Fire Stick with no issues. Understand it is a free service if qualified for and you get what you “pay” for. ### 5/5 — Great for any overseas sports watchers *2024-12-22, version 1.9* It’s where I’ve been watching all my sports this year. And it has allowed me to catch all of my Ravens games and even rewatch the ones I missed. ### 5/5 — Don’t read these ratings. Just try the app *2024-11-28, version 1.8* It offers a lot of free content that you would normally need a monthly subscription for. ### 5/5 — Easy to set up but also backup plan *2024-09-21* AFN Now was easy to set up. Ensure you contact AFN Now first with the required information to register. My co-worker had connection problems after registration. He just called the AFN Now contact number, they walked him through setting it up. He is a happy viewer now too. ### 5/5 — Don’t read these ratings. Just try the app *2024-09-11* There are hundreds of morons on here saying this is a bad app and/or it doesn’t work correctly. That would be user error. This app is GREAT. There will never be a free app that offers what this does. Not even close. Also it works just fine. ### 5/5 — Once it’s loaded it’s great! *2023-11-05* It was a bit challenging to get working but the support via email and phone was super helpful in getting my comms up! Now I am good to go and watching some excellent programming! ### 5/5 — Great app! *2023-10-28* I love this app. It has a few issues but I see them fixing things all the time. Cannot beat free NFL and other sports. They have HBO shows too. Such a great FREE app. Excellent response to feedback. ### 4/5 — Solid performance, will the content grow? *2022-09-19* The app performs well and the interface is pretty intuitive. The live news is actually the AFN news channel, so lots of cable opinion shows on repeat. Hopefully the full launch will include some access to the actual networks. My biggest wish is for the NFL to allow live streaming on the app, but thus may be too much to hope for since they have their own streaming apps. ### 3/5 — Don’t expect to cast to your TV *2025-01-06* The app seems to be working much better than the previous reviews indicate. I was incredibly disappointed to find that the app does not allow the use of casting, screen share, or apple play. It sure would be nice if the developers listed that in the app settings so customers did not spend hours to try to get it to work. Bottom line, you have to have a fire stick or similar device or you will be stuck watching it on your cellphone. ### 3/5 — Signing in every time *2024-11-03, version 1.8* I love having AFN living off base. The only issue is having to input an access code every time I want to watch it on my TV. Help! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*