# Char-Griller — user reviews > 57 indexed App Store user reviews of Char by PREMIER SPECIALTY BRANDS, LLC, rated 1.23/5 from 128 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-griller/id1551650169/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-griller/id1551650169.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 117 ## Newest reviews (14 of 57) ### 1/5 — 0 stars. It’s terrible. Use the old one. *2022-07-02, version 2.0.1* Use the old app. This one doesn’t work at all on WiFi. Barely works on Bluetooth but only has about 10-15’ range. Crazy notifications at temp readings. ### 1/5 — 2.0.1 *2022-07-01, version 2.0.1* Most of the things wrong with the app have now been fixed, except it still sends out multiple notifications of the grill temp reached (even with it unchecked) it just constantly goes off. Edit: Back to 1 star ughhhh The app is back to being odd, still just spamming notifications even if unselected. Now the kicker is it will randomly say my prob temp is 20k degrees and my target grill temp is around them same. Unfortunately I’m caving in and just buying a fireboard to watch and monitor the grill. ### 1/5 — Wow 2.0 is useless *2022-06-26, version 2.0.1* Wow. Everything everyone else says is true. PLUS the chart no longer works. ### 1/5 — Way to fix it *2022-06-25, version 2.0.1* Guys, this app is now worse than it was before. Any plans on getting some one that knows what to do actually fix it? This dose not even work anymore, zero, nada ### 1/5 — It somehow got worse *2022-06-19, version 2.0.1* I know a lot of people complained about v1.0, but I haven’t had too many issues with it other than the occasional connection drop. Version 2.0 is way worse. They actually took away features in the “updated” version. For example, in the original version you could set a buffer for temp alerts, but not in the new one. I had a five minute stretch where I got an alert every 10 seconds indicating my temp has dropped then I’ve reached temp again, then repeat. I even unchecked the push notification for reaching temperature and still continued to get repeat notifications. It really does blow my mind that this was released after testing and that it’s considered “upgraded” ### 1/5 — Don’t bother downloading *2022-06-19, version 2.0.1* The app is useless after the update. It simply doesn’t do what it was designed to do. Until they fix the app, just go outside and look at the grill temp. ### 1/5 — They made it worse *2022-06-14, version 2.0.0* The first version was basic and had some issues, but it worked. Now with the new version, the Wi-Fi connection drops when you switch apps or lock your phone. It does not keep track of the temperature history either as it just shows a blank graph. The app is now un-useable. Please fix it! ### 1/5 — Wireless issues *2022-06-12, version 2.0.0* The Bluetooth and WiFi disconnect as soon as my phone idles for a minute. So the app is useless until this is fixed. ### 1/5 — Absolute Garbage *2022-06-10, version 2.0.0* The last version was bad but at least it worked some of the time. This new version is garbage! Don’t waste your time with this until there is a serious update. ### 1/5 — Completely Worthless *2022-06-09, version 2.0.0* Well, I’ll just add to the list of one/zero star reviews here. I experienced the same issues as everyone else here. Connect to Bluetooth, then wifi, then get disconnected no matter what you do. Then you start the process all over again, so you get nowhere. So ridiculous. I did have the old app that sort of worked, but after connecting to the new app, now the alternative app the offer doesn’t work either.. It just plain refuses to see the grill at all. Fix this! ### 1/5 — Does not work. *2022-06-02, version 2.0.0* If I could give it zero stars I would. Version 1 wasn’t fancy but it worked. When I tried to use this version it wouldn’t hold the connection for very long and I was standing right in front of it. I noticed that when I set my temp my grill would not hold that temp at all. It wasn’t till after I completely deleted the app did my grill go back to normal. Now I have no app for my grill and I have to physically go check on it from time to time to make sure it’s doing what it’s supposed to. ### 1/5 — You made it worse *2022-06-01, version 2.0.0* Terrible will not stay connected ### 1/5 — Won’t stay connected *2022-05-31, version 2.0.0* App won’t stay connected to grill by either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth! Really impacts the value of this expensive smoker. When will this be fixed? ### 1/5 — Makes the whole point of this grill worthless *2022-05-30, version 2.0.0* Fix the app! More disconnects. Doesn’t switch between Bluetooth and WiFi like it did. Can’t find WiFi networks any longer. I’ll be returning this grill if the app is y fixed ASAP. The nonfunction of this app negates the whole benefit of this grill!! Fix it ASAP! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App developer should be publicly ostracized *2024-06-15* I don’t write many reviews, but this app is a clear example of a developer who either doesn’t care about it’s customers (the end user), or has such a strong feeling against the company it developed for (Char-griller) that it willfully wants a bad app. What is the purpose of a phone app for a smoker? So that you can monitor the status of the smoke when NOT next to the grill. Read all of the other reviews - unable to utilize both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth drops when more than 5 feet away. Wi-Fi networks can be seen, but not connected to (when in Bluetooth mode). When disabling Bluetooth, Wi-Fi networks are no longer visible. Next smoker I’ll go back to a stick burner. At least my wireless thermometer app connects. ### 1/5 — Perhaps the worst app I’ve ever encountered *2023-09-11* - Connection drops constantly, even when I’m literally standing right next to the grill. - the graphs for your cook will only update when you’re in range, when you’ve been out of range for a while (which happens frequently), rather than backfill the data that wasn’t recorded, this creates a step-function that’s not very useful or worth keeping. - needs some kind of cloud connectivity so I can access temperatures when out of the house. - wifi handoff is definitely non-functional. Only use Bluetooth, and even that doesn’t work - probably a hardware issue, but wifi can’t connect to networks that don’t explicitly separate 5 and 2.4 GHz bands, which is actually a significant number of modern home wifi networks. All of this adds up to an app that is virtually unusable, which is a shame because the auto-Akorn could be an absolutely incredible product, but with the app as non-functional as it is currently, I cannot recommend it as a product to anyone I know. Char Griller, I have some experience with programming, algorithms, data engineering, etc., if you’re interested please reach out and I will literally consider working for you to fix this app. ### 1/5 — Great… when it works *2023-05-02* The app works quite well when I’m Bluetooth range. As soon as I leave Bluetooth range it’s a wild guess as to how long the Wi-Fi connection will hold. Seems like when the phone screen turns off, so does the Wi-Fi. Quite frustrating to have to constantly reestablish the connection. Other than that, it’s great… ### 1/5 — Needs a Complete Overhaul *2023-02-26* This app used to be somewhat usable but now it barely functions. The wifi drops as soon as you close the app which really takes away from the entire experience of using the grill. I'm begging you to please fix this as this was a very expensive grill and there is no reason the app should be this bad. ### 1/5 — Not Reliable *2023-01-08, version 2.0.5* Same problems as everyone else. It says Bluetooth and WiFi is connected but when you move more than 15/20 ft away, it drops connection. Had to go to the store during a cook and it wouldn’t connect. App has potential, I like the layout and features but it’s useless if you can’t connect to it. ### 1/5 — Poorly executed *2022-12-11, version 2.0.5* Extremely poor executed app. Doesn’t hold Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. Have to go within 10-15 feet to reconnect Bluetooth. Then loses connection again when you step away. App is useless. You can’t trust what it says, because you don’t know if it’s lost connection unless you go to the settings page. Frustrating that Chargriller doesn’t seem to have done much to fix it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t tried. ### 1/5 — Wifi won’t stay connected *2022-12-08, version 2.0.5* This app is garbage. Wifi disconnects within five min no matter how good the signal or router used. I’m using this app with a Char-Griller Auto-Kamado. ### 1/5 — v2 headed in the wrong direction *2022-09-16, version 2.0.5* Although v1 was basic, it was much better than this v2. 1. I keep getting push notifications on every second saying the Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth dropped, which was not so frequent on v1. 2. This I feel is worse, v2 does not keep my cooking sessions stored which I like to go back and see how the temperature held during certain changes and most importantly the probe temps throughout. Please fix these issues!!!!! ### 1/5 — The app needs a lot of work. *2022-08-19, version 2.0.1* It works if the phone is on (not locked) and the app is up. Otherwise it won’t work. The best advice I have is stay in Bluetooth range and turn off all notifications, otherwise the phone will blow up with notifications. The app does have some nice features and ideas, the main issue is the connectivity and notifications. ### 1/5 — Char-griller 980 *2022-08-09, version 2.0.1* With the new app my phone won’t connect with WiFi or Bluetooth ## Most praised reviews (7 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — App works fine *2024-09-10* Whatever issues the app previously had seem to be resolved, works as expected. Akron grill. ### 3/5 — It works ok , good enough for me *2024-08-29* I'm not a grilling pro and that being said this app works just fine for me. The bluetooth connection is ok if nearby, wifi just depends on your own setup. Wi-fi works around my house but I will say Bluetooth and Wi-fi both loose connection at times though it's not a big deal as it usually reconnects. This app gets my through the cool time 😁 ### 3/5 — Glitchy *2022-07-30, version 2.0.1* It does what it needs to do. I can control the grill and check the temps perfectly. However there is little glitches. Like the confirm button is usually in the wrong spot covering another feature or the keyboard doesn’t easily disappear, then the notifications. It allows you to change the notifications settings. That way you only get alerts for certain things. But it doesn’t work. It doesn’t matter if I turn off grill temp reached notification, I still get that notification. Which wouldn’t be a problem except it lets you know everytime it hits the temp. Say I set at 225. Grill drops to 223 then goes back to 225. I get a notification that it reached the desired grill temp. It happens like every other minute. Everything else isn’t a big deal. Just annoying the notification deal is what gets me here. That needs to be fixed. ### 3/5 — Fix please *2022-05-22, version 2.0.0* I’m not sure what happened when you guys did the update but now the app keeps crashing disconnecting and then throwing random readings of 4000°C on my probes the old app worked great not sure why you changed it. ### 2/5 — This app does not deliver *2022-10-30, version 2.0.5* This app could be sooo much more. It does not deliver. First of the timer function does work at all, literally the timer button does nothing when pressed. The wifi works great one session, completely unable to connect the next session. Bluetooth works well enough of you are close to the grill. Fix this app!!!! ### 2/5 — Great Grill Terrible App *2022-10-25, version 2.0.5* Love this grill but the app is pretty much useless for anything other than checking temperature. ### 2/5 — The app keeps sending me alerts *2022-06-19* The app keeps sending me alerts that the temperature has been reached like a million times --- *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 2026-06-10.*