# Bon Appetit — user reviews > 150 indexed App Store user reviews of Bon Appetit by Advance Magazine Publishers Inc., rated 4.40/5 from 270 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bon-appetit/id453809428/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bon-appetit/id453809428.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 208 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 31 ## What do users think of Bon Appetit? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Visually appealing design - 🚀 Smooth navigation - 💡 Interactive features - 🌟 Great content and recipes **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable app - 🔍 Difficult to find and access recipes - 📱 Not optimized for larger screens - 🔑 Login and subscription issues **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes and freezes - Inability to download or access issues - Login and subscription problems - Incompatibility with certain devices **Most requested features** - Ability to save and bookmark recipes - Landscape mode support - Better recipe search and organization - Seamless integration with website and other platforms ## Newest reviews (19 of 150) ### 3/5 — Need full screen mode *2026-06-02* I like this magazine, but the reader app is not great. It wouldn’t take a whole lot to really make this a much better app. Can you simply just enable it where you can have a full screen mode or you don’t have a toolbar at the top or anything else to where you can focus just on the magazine. ### 2/5 — Digital version of the printed magazine *2025-02-15* This app is a PDF copy of the printed magazine that I received in the mail. I could not figure out any links to the actual recipes that are in there and it does not give you access to the whole Bon Appetit website with all their other recipes. The app is useless if you already get the printed magazine ### 1/5 — Not impressed *2024-12-03* I got this app last year to replace The NY Times cooking app. Apparently I’m good without either. I barely used the Bon Appetit app, then a year later awaken to a renewal charge of 42. I spent a week and half trying to get them to refund me before I just told my bank I didn’t approve the charge. I got charged the renewal fee on 11/20 and just now after two emails and two voicemails I’ve left are they calling me asking about my satisfaction w their service. Nah I’m good. Maybe a warning email before renewing a subscription would be a better approach. This was unimpressive through and through. ### 1/5 — Not worth subscription price *2024-10-10* I have been paying full price for BA subscription for years, but this app won’t even let me read articles or view recipes without subscribing further for additional price and email clutter - am deeply disappointed - thinking about canceling my subscription. ### 2/5 — Not the magazine it once was *2024-09-29* Issues get thinner and thinner. The magazine no longer includes recipes that home cooks can easily attempt. The ingredients are not always easy to find and the recipes are entertaining worthy. I enjoyed the magazine when it included real life entertaining tips and recipes. ### 2/5 — What’s with the banner across the top?? *2024-09-09* Have to move page up and down to see entire page in portrait. Why? The idea of the exercise is to feel like reading a magazine. This is dumb. ### 1/5 — FRAUD *2024-08-25, version 5.8* This is a fraudulent App. NOT associated with Condé Nast or Bon Appetit at all. Pay attention to the actual company’s name before subscribing to anything. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work!! *2024-06-07, version 5.8* I tried to log in with an existing account and it said no subscription found. Sat on customer service for 30 minutes with people who could not understand what was going wrong because they DONT SPEAK ENGLISH and thus could not help me. Fix your broken websites Condé Nast!!!!!! ### 1/5 — So bad it’s shocking *2024-05-16, version 5.8* This app is actually unusable. It organizes everything by magazine edition which is very odd. You have to sign in to search for recipes but you can’t sign in because that feature is broken. Really terrible and pointless app. ### 1/5 — USELESS APP, NO REFUNDS POLICY *2024-05-16* This app is completely useless. It’s literally just digitized copies of their magazine. You have to use the Epicurious app to find recipes, which is also a terrible app. I asked for a refund within two weeks of purchasing the annual subscription and was denied. The recipes are simple ones that you can find on any other website for free such as meatloaf, chicken piccata, spaghetti sauce, lemon chicken and thyme, etc. Furthermore, the ethnic ones are not authentic at all. I tried a Japanese yakisoba dish and it was the worst food I have ever made for my family. I followed the recipe exactly but while it was cooking, we were all holding our breath because the sauce stunk so badly. I’m Vietnamese and cook with oyster sauce and fish sauce a lot, so that wasn’t that problem. The chicken wasn’t expired, either. The flavor was just as awful as the smell and we ended up throwing it all out and eating a frozen meal instead. This website has nothing unique or good. I suggest trying something else. ### 1/5 — App doesn’t recognize accounts *2024-05-04, version 5.8* I subscribe to Bon Appétit, yet every time I try to sign in on this ridiculous app, I tells me “no subscription found.” And yet, I go to the Bon appetite WEBSITE and voila, there’s my account, all signed in and everything, claiming I have access to “thousands of recipes on Bon Appétit and Epicurious.” The app needs some serious work if it won’t recognize users’ existing subscriptions. It also seems to only have digital copies of the magazines- available for purchase, since I’m unable to log in… Sigh ### 4/5 — Access *2024-05-02, version 5.8* I like the app, but it would be really nifty if access to the website or online recipe library could be included with subscription. ### 4/5 — Access *2024-04-04* I like the app, but it would be really nifty if access to the website or online recipe library could be included. ### 1/5 — Around and around *2024-04-01, version 5.8* It asks for a password, I put it in, it says it is wrong, I try to reset it, it says the email is not a known account, I try to set up an account using the email…you guessed it, now the email is already in use. ### 1/5 — Where are the recipes? *2024-03-12, version 5.8* I thought I was paying for a collection of Bon Appétit recipes, not a back catalog of magazines. ### 2/5 — No overall recipe search *2024-01-25, version 5.8* So far searches yield magazines. Their magazines are fabulous but when I’m searching it’s for a recipe not an issue. ### 1/5 — Infuriating app *2023-12-05, version 5.8* I never rate apps because no one needs to hear from me, this one has finally pushed me over the edge. Ever since this moved to a subscription-based model it has been nothing but glitchy. The content is great, but only if you can access it before the app crashes on you. I use several subscription-based apps and have never seen anything malfunction like this app. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Why no PDF version? *2023-11-25* It used to be that you could choose either pdf (so like the print version) or the terrible format where you have to scroll up and down pages. Also the layout of the magazine gets worse all the time - bad 1960s and 70s. ### 1/5 — WAIT why is this portrait mode/pdf-like?? *2023-11-09, version 5.8* I love the magazine/content, and was looking forward to having access to it via ipad app. Immediately turned off by the portrait-only, copy-of-print-magazine-only. I use a bluetooth keyboard / case and I rarely use my ipad in portrait mode! I want to be able to search content, etc., as I can on the Bon Appetit website. What gives?? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Could be great *2026-07-29* I really wish this was a good app because I love the recipes and I’m getting frustrated with the website and all their ads despite subscribing for their subscription. Yet this app is a huge letdown with only access to the magazine really and a silly interface. ### 1/5 — Download *2026-07-02* I have to continually download editions because I get signed out. When I sign back in, I have to start the process all over again. I’ve done this more times than I care to count. ### 1/5 — Please help yourself Bon Appetit! *2025-12-20* The user experience on this app is horrendous. I love Bon Appetit so much, but am so surprised at the lack of proper UX / UI design here. You have an incredible - legendary! - archive of recipes and they are nowhere to be found here! Surely a simple copy paste of the website is an MVP for a better app. Lift and shift! Let me help you, help us! ### 1/5 — A dud *2025-08-05* I pay for a subscription and every time I log in I am told I don’t have an account and to call an 800 number. Who has time for that? I will have to keep using the site. ### 1/5 — Most Frustrating App *2025-06-18* Every time I’ve tried to log into this app it boots me out. I reset my password and then I can get in. I’ve given up on Bon Appetit. It was a great magazine but that’s fine downhill as well. I finally let my account expire - and won’t be coming back. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t Work! *2025-05-22* I have a Bon Ap subscription, yet the app doesn’t recognize mine even after trying to link. Useless. Guess I have to use the website. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2025-04-19* I just spent $52 to get the app on line and the print edition. Both online and with the app it keeps asking me to buy a subscription again. Within the app, even though I’m signed in and it says success it won’t let me search for anything this is an absolute joke and a waste of money and I’m going to have to spend God knows how much time Conde Nast to figure out how they can fix it. ### 1/5 — Won’t link print subscription *2025-03-16* No matter how many times I log in with my correct subscription info. The app says it doesn’t exist. Useless! ### 1/5 — Signed up but can’t see anything keeps wanting me to pay yet again! *2024-12-27* Signed up for a year and can’t get into my account ### 1/5 — Not optimized for iPhone *2024-12-05* An awful experience. Do better. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — My go-to app *2025-01-05* I love being able to find back issues and recipes! ### 5/5 — Janette Hill *2021-07-09, version 5.2* I love this publication…love the layout and the content! ### 5/5 — Updated app worthless *2020-06-17, version 5.2* I’ve been a Bon Appétit subscriber since 1992. Loved the app until the last update which essentially turned the magazine into a PDF which can be read on an iPad - if you expand it to show about 20% of the page at a time or can read microscopic print. What’s the story on that? Bring back the features. ### 5/5 — Fantastic! *2020-05-04, version 5.2* Every recipe that I try is great and my partner love them. Love reading all of the recipes and growing my cooking knowledge! ### 5/5 — I’m all in. *2020-03-28, version 5.2* Podcast, website, YouTube, digital. That’s how I Bon Appétit. I digest it all. My kitchen is my church and Bon Appétit is my bible. Can I get an amen? More like can I get a Bon Appétit. ### 5/5 — Favorite Recipe go to *2020-03-15, version 5.2* Bin a long time subscriber to print and digital bought first 2 gourmet books 1965. Neither gourmet or Bon Appétit disappointed me. As a young bride and cook.my first dinner party was stuffed Veal roast with carrot lemon purée, potato gratin and baked Alaska. As a novice cook I totally under estimated the time it took for prep and brining it all to the table. Started at 6 pm all done around 10:30pm all my 8 guest including my were as drunk as can be ### 5/5 — Ruined digital format *2019-11-15, version 5.0* I love BA the one star is for the change in the format of the digital content. There used to be a recipe page in the beginning with pictures next to each listing . I hate that fact that they removed that feature. When I plan my meals I often referenced that page . Bring it back ### 5/5 — Format Good - Type size TERRIBLE *2019-10-27* I was a long time subscriber of Bon Appetit’s print version until I grew weary of stacks of magazines and recycling. This morning I decided to try subscribing to the digital version. I read other reviews and decided I could work around the small type by printing the recipes I want to use only to discover this is not possible. Well, I can take a screen shot, edit it and then print a photo. Not very practical. I like the simple layout of recipes, but reading articles gives me a headache. Without a change to the app I won’t be renewing next year. Too bad for both the magazine and myself. I gave the app three stars because I love the content. ### 5/5 — New App *2019-09-07, version 5.0* I can’t believe the new app is considered an upgrade. Totally un user-friendly. I miss the index for the recipes. The print was large enough that I could read it without my glasses. Now I can’t even blow up the recipe on the page to make it legible. Super annoying!! I’d like to give it zero stars! I have to re download all of my issues!! ### 5/5 — Never write reviews but... *2018-02-19, version 4.6.7* This is more than just thumbing through a magazine. Very clever integration/imbedding of recipes and info on the pages. I’m hard to impress! I really like this. Downloading the app and getting it to start up was tricky but doable. It’s the interactive pop-up book for adults! Read the complaints; nah. --- *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 2026-08-27.*