# BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine — user reviews > 110 indexed App Store user reviews of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine by Immediate Media Company Limited, rated 4.80/5 from 235 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine/id487737555/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine/id487737555.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 208 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📚 High-quality, informative gardening content - 📸 Beautiful, vibrant photography and illustrations - 🌍 Accessible globally for international subscribers - 📖 Well-written articles by expert contributors - 🎯 Useful practical tips and seasonal advice - 📱 Digital format convenient for travel - 🔖 Ability to bookmark and flag articles - 📺 Great companion to the TV show - 💚 Biodiversity and wildlife-focused content - ⭐ Excellent value for gardening knowledge **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes - ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times - 🔓 Subscription not recognized after login - 📥 Painfully slow download speeds - 🔄 Constant need to re-login repeatedly - ❌ Cannot access paid content despite subscription - 🚫 Secret Garden feature inaccessible - 📱 Poor optimization for mobile devices - 🔌 High battery consumption - ⚪ Dark mode text visibility issues - 🎨 Jittery/laggy page scrolling - 💳 Unexpected billing and refund issues - 📧 Excessive subscription reminder emails - 🔗 Broken support links and pages - 🖼️ Advertisements freeze the app - 📉 Reduced content in favor of ads - 🔐 Lost access to back issues after updates - 🎁 Digital subscribers miss free gifts/seeds - 💔 Print subscribers cannot access app - 🌐 Misleading free app claims **Commonly reported bugs** - App stuck on introductory/login page loop - Subscription code not recognized - Download freezes at 99% completion - Issues disappear from library after updates - Restore purchases function not working - App crashes when opening articles - Pages fail to load or scroll - Night mode switches to bright white randomly - Close button (X) closes entire app - Videos in issues not playing - Bookmarks lost after app updates - App incompatible with iPad and iPhone simultaneously - Payment charged after cancellation confirmed - Support page returns 'server not found' error - In-app support page displays blank - New issues not appearing in library - Unable to access Secret Garden despite valid subscription - Subscription number not provided after purchase - App requires re-download of all issues after reinstall - Inconsistent behavior across Apple and Android platforms **Most requested features** - Searchable library of back issues - Automatic issue downloads - Persistent bookmarks across devices - Offline reading capability - Secret Garden access for all subscribers - Free gift/seed access for digital subscribers - App access included with print subscriptions - Faster, more reliable downloads - Better customer support responsiveness - Improved dark mode implementation - Reduced advertising in content - Subscription number visibility in app - Cross-device synchronization ## Newest reviews (16 of 110) ### 2/5 — Only sells you issues *2025-11-15* This is a shell to sell you issues of Gardeners World for $6.99 each month or a subscription. If you don’t plan to buy Gardeners World reading material then there’s nothing in this app for you. I gave it 2 stars because the images appear well done and professional. But. I’m deleting the app . ### 4/5 — mike *2025-09-01, version 8.7* can i get the magazine online via the app - i have a magazine subscription but do i need to pay for an online one as well? ### 2/5 — great content, terrible app *2023-05-09, version 8.2* No complaints on the content but the app is a car crash. Several updates over the years have made it close to unusable, terrible load times that really spoil the experience. I notice similar feedback and developers asking for screenshots but they know this is bad, the diagnostics must be shocking and it really is dated. You’d be better off getting the magazine, printed on paper, from trees. The irony. ### 2/5 — Somehow gets worse? *2023-02-25* I’ve been reading the magazine for years, and for the most part enjoy the content. The app can be frustrating at times and I’m being nice about it. Pages don’t load and I have to exit app, close app and reload and sometimes redownload app. Frustrating. ### 2/5 — Continually have to sign in *2023-02-23, version 8.2* Every time I open the App or follow links from emails my subscription isn’t recognised and I have to work out how to sign in all over again. This is really tedious. This App is most definitely not user friendly. Still waiting for free gifts offered when I paid my annual subscription ### 1/5 — Does not work *2022-08-22* Having paid for subscription through buy subscriptions this is impossible to access digital and access the secret garden sector, initially it started off well, however now it constantly prompt you to either sign in or register , once complete it then returns to sign in prompt again, no response from the app provider or even from the subscription service! No one wants responsibility, it’s very frustrating! Fixes need to be put into place rapidly! I contemplating on possibly cancelling I even lost a magazine issue and now cannot retrieve it! Grrrrrr **Developer response:** Thank you for getting in touch. Apologies you're having trouble with your App, if you would get in touch via this form https://www.immediateapps.co.uk/digital-contact-form/ we can troubleshoot this issue. Many thanks ### 1/5 — AS *2022-07-28* Purchased subscription but so far two out of two issues unable to read. Just keeps wanting me to pay for the issue. Reinstall apps, signed out and back in, nothing works. Customer service is not responding. Great magazine if you can get it... Not getting what has been paid for. Appreciate the response but the link does not work. This is just in line with all the other issues. If this is the same link from with the app I have an open ticket. Still waiting on my help other than answers cut and pasted from the FAQs. So far I have paid and not getting what has been paid for. **Developer response:** Please contact us via this link so we can help you resolve your issue https://www.immediateapps.co.uk/digital-contact-form/ Many thanks ### 2/5 — Used to enjoy this *2022-06-04* Recent changes to the format have made the experience of reading this magazine more frustrating than enjoyable. It takes forever to load content, and seems to freeze on the advertisements. The layout also makes it feel less like a magazine and more like reading a web page (for some this may be a plus, but for me it has detracted from the experience). Actual content seems to have reduced in favour of ads and photos with little text, or recycled videos from the tv show. For the last two editions I’ve found the experience of trying to read the magazine so frustrating that I’ve just given up (and will now be cancelling my subscription). **Developer response:** Thank you for getting in touch. Apologies you're having trouble with your App, if you would get in touch via this form https://www.immediateapps.co.uk/digital-contact-form/ we can troubleshoot this issue. Many thanks ### 1/5 — New app is awful *2022-05-27, version 7.0.0* New app is awful, slow and keeps crashing, eating the battery on a new iPad. I won’t be renewing unless it’s fixed ### 1/5 — What have you done ? *2022-05-18, version 7.0.0* The new version is unusable I’ve been an avid user for the past 2 years and even downloaded the back catalogue which has been very useful But ever since this update I can barely use the system The app is either super slow or just crashes Please revert to the previous version whilst you fix your bugs ### 1/5 — Rubbish new update! *2022-05-16, version 7.0.0* The new update makes the app almost impossible to read. Extremely slow to load, page turning is difficult and crashes. Going to have to unsubscribe! Sad really. ### 1/5 — App took my money but I can’t open the articles *2022-04-18, version 7.0.0* Every time I click on an article I’m asked to subscribe before I can read it, but I have subscribed and the money has left my bank account. There is a feedback option but that doesn’t work either. I want my money back! 😠 ### 1/5 — Abysmal Update *2022-04-09* The update is awful, the App is slow and unresponsive, the low light mode has random dark text on a dark background, the ‘X’ to close a page closes the App and leaves a white screen, the only way I can get the App back is to delete it from my device and download it again, this then requires all the back issues to be downloaded again. Please resolve the issues or I will be cancelling my subscription. **Developer response:** Hi there, thanks for your feedback, we’re sorry to hear you’re unhappy with the new app. Please email us at appsupport@immediate.co.uk with screenshots of the problems you are experiencing and details of your device and we shall investigate further. Many thanks ### 1/5 — It was never a great app, now unusable!! *2022-04-03, version 7.0.0* The app was never the best, it had so much potential. I got the digital version and all of the back issues because I thought it’d be great to have a searchable library , but no, this was never an available feature. They have now made an update “a great new app” apparently?? I can’t even view a single issue now, blaming my internet connection which is absolutely fine, and yes, I’ve tried turning it off and back on again. Shame on you bbc. Not good at all. ### 1/5 — Awful update *2022-03-31, version 7.0.0* Gardeners world wrote a mail to all subscribers claiming they have a great new app update. I uploaded it and now can no longer sign in. I have 5 months of subscription left to run and all my back copies have been lost. What a disgrace. What a rip off. After several years and regular problems logging I have now cancelled my direct debit. Take my advice and forgot this ridiculous app and buy the magazine. 😔😔 ### 1/5 — Confusing and not intuitive *2021-08-09, version 5.6.7* The apps features/menus don’t work. I can’t access the secret garden and the app keeps asking me to subscribe! Cancelling my subscription now! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Cannot use the app *2026-03-08, version 8.7* I bought a print and digital subscription and it does not recognise the A subscriber number as they changed from letters to numbers so i cannot use the app - very dusappointing ### 1/5 — I purchased a print and digital subscription and now find I can’t log in to the app *2026-03-01, version 8.7* Like a previous reviewer I purchased a print & digital subscription and now find I can’t log in to the app. Extremely disappointing. ### 1/5 — Can’t read the magazine *2026-02-27, version 8.7* There’s no way to sign in so when you try to read any edition the only option it gives is to buy it ### 1/5 — Frustrated *2026-01-22, version 8.7* Paid for subscription which includes magazine and digital. Finding it impossible to navigate the app. Cannot access the magazine, does not recognise my subscription code and app insists on returning to the same introductory page. Regretting renewing my subscription ### 1/5 — Negative first impression *2025-11-18, version 8.7* What a shame. I’d looked forward to subscribing to the magazine but the experience with this app is a let down, sadly. I have wasted so much time trying to sort it out (still can’t access my digital subscription). Will wait for the hard copy to arrive instead. Stupid phones anyway, who needs one? ### 1/5 — Not working *2025-10-15, version 8.7* App is crashing, coming up with download error, cannot restore my subscription ### 1/5 — Unusable *2025-08-16, version 8.7* Subscribed to the digital edition, received payment confirmation but no ID. Unable to "restore purchase" on any platform without this. Even when logged in, account settings throws me back to login/subscribe ### 1/5 — Can’t view paid content! *2022-11-18* No help from support after days of trying to enjoy yearly subscription I paid for! I repeatedly entered subscription number as instructed. App fails on iPhone and iPad. **Developer response:** Thank you for getting in touch. Apologies you're having trouble using your App, if you would get in touch via this form https://www.immediateapps.co.uk/digital-contact-form/ we can troubleshoot this issue. Many thanks ### 1/5 — Please refund my cancelled subscription *2022-10-31, version 7.0.1* After confirming my request to cancel my subscription, I was really shocked to see sum of £34.99 was deducted from my account today! Please refund my account immediately. So damaging to the brand. ### 1/5 — Dreadful app *2022-09-26, version 7.0.0* Scrolling pages is jittery/laggy. That’s if the pages load at all. I’ve just selected an article and the page won’t scroll down to reveal the information. Every time I change pages it goes from night mode to bright white. Was this designed by a chimpanzee? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Allotment gardener *2023-03-15, version 8.2* Simply superb app well done to all involved ### 5/5 — Gardeners’ World *2022-04-08* I love this magazine. It is so informative on so many levels. Even though I live in New Zealand, it is all great. You just reverse the seasons. It takes me back to growing up in an English village. The only down side is that I am unable to receive any of the amazing offers and free gifts. I subscribe to the magazine as well as the digital version. I travel quite a bit for work and sometimes have time to kill in airports or hotel rooms. The app makes it possible to take all my issues with me on my laptop or iPad. It is on my phone as well but that screen is smaller. Thanks Gardeners’ World. ### 5/5 — Gardened world app *2022-03-18, version 5.6.7* Just received my first issue But not received the free gift The app 10 out 10 outstanding ### 5/5 — Gardeners’ world *2021-07-31* For the new gardener these magazine’s have been invaluable, giving me guidance on how to get the best results from my garden and allotment. I am new to the world of gardening, I would highly recommend purchasing these magazines. **Developer response:** Thank you for the positive review, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. We loved your response so much that we would like to ask your permission to use it as a testimonial across our marketing communications. To confirm your permission, please respond by emailing app-reviews@immediate.co.uk. ### 5/5 — Gardeners’ world *2021-06-13* This app is easy to use and navigate around, if I’m not sure about something I can always find it on the app, I would recommend it to everyone ### 5/5 — Finally! A magazine optimized for reading digitally! *2021-05-22* So many magazines are really just print magazines uploaded page by page. Finally, a magazine optimized for reading digitally! It’s packed with the kind of great content a gardener needs! I also love the show and this is a great companion piece. I’m a happy subscriber from the USA. ### 5/5 — Gardeners world *2021-05-07, version 5.6.7* Great magazine and excellent app ### 5/5 — Value for money *2021-04-28* Love my monthly Gardeners World mag - full of interesting articles which I read over the month . I find the shorter pieces full of useful information about all aspects of gardening . It’s the wise words of experience that I value most as o don’t have my Dad to ask anymore . Thankyou **Developer response:** Thank you for the positive review, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. We loved your response so much that we would like to ask your permission to use it as a testimonial across our marketing communications? To confirm your permission, please respond by editing your original review or by emailing app-reviews@immediate.co.uk. ### 5/5 — ANTICIPATIN *2021-03-29, version 5.6.7* I wait in anticipation for my online magazine since I live in Europe and can't buy a soft copy, I suscribed 3 years ago and cant live without it, its packed with information, easy to turn the pages, clear, vibrant pictures and simply the best! ### 5/5 — Gardeners’ World *2021-02-20, version 5.6.7* I have been a GW reader for over twenty years. Thank you for inspiration, advice and helping me enjoy my garden. I always learn something new and find help with projects. You’ve helped me grow a garden. Many thanks. --- *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 2026-08-26.*