# BirdGuides — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of BirdGuides by Warners Group Publications PLC. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227.md ## What do users think of BirdGuides? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Fast and functional - 📊 Excellent information and directions - 💻 Great app overall - 🤝 Recommended for birders **Cons** - 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable - 🔄 Frequent login issues - 📍 Lacking location details - 🗺️ Poor map functionality **Commonly reported bugs** - Notifications not working - Sightings not updating properly - Crashes and freezes after updates - Subscription issues after updates **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Improved map with precise locations - Ability to set alerts for specific counties - Better sorting and filtering options ## Newest reviews (16 of 51) ### 3/5 — Loss of functionality *2025-09-06* Since the update the app has stopped showing the location details and the map no longer updates when zooming in despite using the refresh button (iPhone 15 iOS 18.6.2) Can you please rectify as the app is useless otherwise. ### 2/5 — New update *2025-07-19, version 3.0.2* The new map isn’t as good. The pins would show what bird species it refers to so it was quick and easy whereas now you have to click and sift through each one. A quick task has now turned into a chore. ### 3/5 — Issues since update *2025-07-18, version 3.0.2* It's ok , but now won't refresh and not showing bird's that bird alert does in the same area like how it used to ### 2/5 — Needs attention urgently please *2025-07-10, version 3.0.1* I’m not interested in in what birds are about in Scotland…..how do I set up birds in my local area ? Advice please. ### 4/5 — Nice app but! *2024-09-06* This app works very nicely providing bird sitings. Unfortunately it has the habit of losing its internet connection and freezes. Only reinstalling the app solves the problem which is a bit tedious. Hope it can be sorted. ### 2/5 — Bird guides review *2023-09-06, version 2.1.1* Poor site, locally very little postings and some of days earlier, offered posts but never been used. Still find most info on Twitter ### 4/5 — Good app *2023-01-19, version 2.1.1* Very good app.Please make the map service free as before all the info about the location of the birds were”Northumberland” which is no use at all. ### 4/5 — Information *2022-11-13, version 2.1.1* Hi guys , sometimes the whereabouts report is very sketchy on the write up . ### 3/5 — Good potential *2022-09-27* Good potential, but no exact location function on the iOS version unlike the other app. Would be 5* if it could be brought to iOS the same as other platforms ### 4/5 — Great app *2021-11-05, version 2.0.6* Great app, but needs updating- sometimes slow to respond ### 5/5 — Great for up to the minute news! *2021-10-09* Several birders I know use other sources for their up-to-date news but I find that BirdGuides always has accurate and rapid information on tap!! ### 5/5 — Best bird news app *2021-09-18* This app is the best one around for getting news on rare birds, notable local birds, mammals and insects. It’s really easy to navigate and set up filters to match your interest or ‘most wanted bogey birds’. The mapping and directions keeps improving with lots of great info provided. It’s really good value too. A must have for any birder in the UK! ### 5/5 — Imperative when in the field *2021-04-13, version 2.0.6* Instant reference and map guidance a real bonus ### 3/5 — M Giles *2021-03-15, version 2.0.5* I find it quite annoying when constantly required to re-sign. ### 5/5 — Best Birding Site *2021-03-01, version 2.0.5* Brilliant information and directions. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Snobbery? *2020-12-01* I am getting rather annoyed with this app. I have been birdwatching for nearly sixty years and am quite knowledgeable about birds and animals. If I can’t correctly identify a bird, I discount it and move on. But if I identify an unusual bird, I double check it and attempt to put it on the app so that other bird watchers can be informed. I’ve had the app for a few years now. So far, I have tried to put around ten sightings, of which I am certain they are correct, on to the app. None have been accepted or published. Why? Because I’m a woman? Because I don’t post every day? Because I don’t run in the right circles? I don’t know, but I’m feeling victimised! I think there’s a lot of snobbery in birdwatching and I suggest this site promotes this attitude. Take note! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Advertised functionality doesn’t work *2026-06-21* Sadly the app isn’t functioning as expected. Reports of sightings do not get logged and the filters for alerts just fails on every attempt at setting up. Happy to change the review if these get fixed but not holding out too much hope at this stage. ### 1/5 — What happened to location? *2026-02-25, version 3.1.2* Was really happy with this app but over the last few days, location data has disappeared. Not much point to it now. What happened? ### 1/5 — No features as advertised *2022-01-05* I don’t know if it’s me but the screen shots in the App Store show locations in maps and text. I cannot see anything like that in the app, it only gives the county. There is no map functions. Am I doing something wrong? Is there an in app fee to switch them on? ### 1/5 — Pointless app *2021-12-09, version 2.0.6* The location gives a county but it’s not possible to get any closer … providing a map with a genuine location would be good, or is the app just not working properly? ### 1/5 — Not as Free as it seems *2020-07-26* Installed this app in the hope it would show me where birds had been sited depicted on the map, as illustrated in the App Store. But the map comes up blank. Have tried searching a particular species and still no locations of sitings indicated on the map. It would appear that a subscription is needed to do this. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS IN THE APP STORE. No indication of how much it will cost. This is bad for an App which is to all appearances Free in the App Store, yet shows screen grabs of something you cannot see without a subscription. ### 1/5 — Can’t register only lets you login ?! *2018-02-03, version 1.0.3* Unusable at the mo please fix Can’t register only login, no firgotten password either ### 1/5 — A downward spiral *2017-11-20, version 1.0.3* This app was basic but good. Then came the 'upgrade' and it's become harder to use, unreliable and they put the prices up! ### 1/5 — Useless *2017-09-22, version 1.0.3* Doesn't work. I've paid for a subscription and lost 2 months of it ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2017-09-03, version 1.0.3* Can I have a refund please? ### 1/5 — Update *2017-08-18, version 1.0.3* Since the new revamp, notifications have stopped working, seems featureless compared to the last version. Won't be re subscribing. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Decent update *2025-07-07* I updated to the new app today. Bad news, it kept crashing. I uninstalled and reinstalled it, and it now works as it should. It is a decent update, if not quite as exciting as the publishers promised. ### 5/5 — Dark mode icon please *2025-02-13, version 2.1.1* Great app. Can we have a dark mode icon please? ### 5/5 — Great service *2025-01-15, version 2.1.1* Amazing degree of information ### 5/5 — Trying to put a password bin has failed *2023-02-14* How do you register for this app ### 5/5 — Maps *2022-09-17* Great value for money bird news. Map within the app is good but let me down a couple of times in last week. So perhaps depends on input by bird finder ### 5/5 — Great app *2022-09-04* Really good for receiving news & seeing what's about. Links to google maps which is useful for getting directions. Would be even better if it was possible to get daily "first reports" for rarities to know whether something is still present ### 5/5 — Outstanding *2022-08-19* Have used this app everyday for a few years now. To me it’s a 5 star essential for birding. ### 5/5 — Good app with fascinating information *2022-07-15* I took out the generous free trial to this service to see if it might be of interest to an ‘ordinary’ birdwatcher. Actually, it is! Even if you have no interest in travelling distances to see unusual birds, it is great to know when something special turns up on your local patch, or to prompt a weekend away to an area that looks interesting. It’s also just fascinating to me to see what is appearing where even if I’m unlikely to see it. Thanks to the app I was able to time a weekend to Bempton Cliffs to try and see the albatross there to also take in another unusual bird, and I have seen (and also missed) birds on my own patch that I might have been unaware of. ### 5/5 — Satisfied Customer *2022-02-10* I find this app very beneficial, not for the purpose of racing here there and everywhere but to see what is about and what is local to me. It would be nice if people would enter the time of their sightings. All in all I am a satisfied customer. ### 5/5 — Simply Easy *2021-10-10* I have had been using longer than I can remember. It is foolproof and is linked to my ID apps. Recommended. --- *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 2026-09-07.*