# DISCOVER Magazine — user reviews > 137 indexed App Store user reviews of DISCOVER Magazine by Discover Magazine Inc., rated 1.50/5 from 47 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/discover-magazine/id538436293/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/discover-magazine/id538436293.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 40 ## What do users think of DISCOVER Magazine? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📚 High-quality, informative science content - 👍 Magazine layout replicates print edition well - 📖 Accessible science writing for general audiences - 💰 Affordable subscription pricing - 🎨 Beautiful photography and visual design - 📱 Works on multiple Apple devices **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes - 🔐 Subscription access issues and authentication failures - 📵 Poor text scaling and readability on iPad - 🔄 App loses reading position between sessions - ⚠️ Requires internet connection to read offline content - 🚫 Broken app support links and poor customer service - 📥 Download failures and missing issues - 🎯 Confusing navigation and interface design - 💳 Charged twice for same content - 🔀 App jumps and flickers during scrolling - 📋 No bookmark or progress tracking feature - 🗂️ Unclear which issues are downloaded vs. available **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes immediately upon opening - Restore purchases function freezes or fails - Login fails with valid Apple ID credentials - Text size changes revert to default - Page scrolling causes jumping and flickering - App loses subscription recognition after renewal - Issues fail to download with file missing errors - Black screen appears when opening issues - App unresponsive and slow to load - Archive skips issues or displays incomplete history - Notification badge shows incorrect count - iOS 13+ compatibility issues **Most requested features** - Bookmark or page position memory feature - Improved text scaling without layout jumping - Better archive organization with clear date labels - Dashboard menu for managing downloaded issues - Offline reading capability - Complimentary digital access with print subscription - Table of contents for quick article navigation - Dark mode option - Responsive design for different device sizes - Subscription expiration date display ## Newest reviews (20 of 137) ### 4/5 — 待解决 *2024-10-26* 为什么近日无法打开？ ### 3/5 — 打不开 *2023-06-10* 国内是封了吗？ ### 1/5 — Absolutely terrible, and Apple is no help either, *2021-02-19* I have had the same issue that many have had here. I have paid for the subscription through my iTunes account and have no access to the content. Inquiry to both Apple and Kalmbach publishing, resulting only in incredible frustration. This seems to have been a known issue for the past year or more, and Apple has done nothing to help its devoted customers from being ripped off by paying money, albeit, be at to a third-party, but not receiving content that was promised and paid for. To me, this is equivalent to theft. After a discussion with Apple, my only recourse was to cancel my subscription and ask for a full refund. This experience diminishes my trust in Apple and will think about this the next time faced with paying their higher prices, which is only justified by higher quality of products, services, and customer service, all of which were seriously lacking in this experience. The publisher, Kalmbach publishing, should be in someway, held accountable for this! ### 1/5 — Very disappointed *2021-01-20, version 7.0.3* Just to echo the other comments here. App lost my subscription, doesn’t recognize my Apple ID, App support link goes nowhere. Been a subscriber for 10 plus years. No more. ### 1/5 — Cant access my subscription or contact them *2021-01-17* I paid for a year in oct 2020 but cannot access anything after December. No obvious way to contact them, but they didn’t have trouble taking my money. Restore purchases function freezes. So frustrating. ### 1/5 — Canceled my subscription *2020-12-25* It is impossible to read Discover magazine with this app. It constantly forgets my subscription and locks me out of issues I’ve subscribed to. When I try to restore purchases, it won’t recognize my Apple ID or it freezes up. I finally just canceled my subscription, which is too bad, because I like the magazine content. I’m considering subscribing to the print magazine, which seems like an insane thing to do in this day and age, but I’m at my wits’ end. I see lots of other reviewers here who’ve had the same experience as me, and I find it shocking that Discover has done nothing to fix the problem. They’re losing customers and readers. ### 1/5 — Unsubscribing. *2020-11-26* I’ve read Discover for decades. But I’m canceling my subscription. This app is horrible. I’ve seen other reviews with the same complaints. On-line requirement, doesn’t remember where you were in an issue, requires you to accept cookies EVERY time you open it. They should be embarrassed by this app. I guess if enough people cancel their subscription maybe they’ll notice. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2020-10-21* I cancelled my digital subscription 2 years .... I just came cause I got a new iPad Pro and thought maybe I’d try it out again cause it was horrible last time .... after reading the reviews I’ll wait ... it’s a shame they can’t do this right ### 1/5 — Can’t access subscription on app *2020-10-06* I have a subscription to Discover magazine and can login just fine on the website but not the app. I keep getting “Failed to log in”. Sad. ### 1/5 — Lost access *2020-08-03, version 7.0.3* Handled by the same company that does astronomy. Same story there. iTunes subscription does not work company says to use Zinio app. No ### 1/5 — Going back to paper *2020-05-16, version 7.0.3* I am going back to a paper subscription. Not sure why Discover Magazine can’t make the app useable. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2020-04-18, version 7.0.3* This App used to great (the magazine is). But whoever updated it should be fired. It’s non-responsive, refusing to open, unless I delete it and then download it again. ### 1/5 — Needs some updating *2020-04-11, version 7.0.3* This was probably a nice app 10-12 years ago. Now? I really see no reason to use it. I downloaded it. Looked at it. Deleted it. ### 1/5 — Long time subscriber will delete *2020-04-09* The new app is useless as others pointed out. I have been a digital only subscriber for several years now to help the planet by omitting the print copy. Now I can’t even access the magazine on my phone. Until it’s fixed, I am deleting it from my phone and suspending my subscription. It’s a bummer. ### 1/5 — Can’t open on iPad mini *2020-03-27, version 7.0.3* I have been paying money in vain for past 6 months as I cant app to get open on my iPad mini. I got a latest mini from my work and app doesn’t open on that either. Still trying to get this sorted as I love the magazine so much ! ### 1/5 — With all the bad reviews, it no wonder you can’t find a way to unsubscribe *2020-03-23, version 7.0.3* Been reading this magazine for as long as I can remember. I just dont have time any move. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2020-02-12* I'm an advanced computer user and I can not understand this app. It's slow as can be even with 400mb internet service I have. The icon shows a notification of 2 and I have no idea why. Scrolling through the archive list does not clarify which issues are loaded and which are not. Terrble. ### 1/5 — App freezes on opening screen *2020-01-04* App freezes on the opening screen on my IPad, but sometimes works on my IPhone. Also agree with all negative comments made since this app was last updated. ### 1/5 — App Not Functional , ver 7.03 *2019-12-19, version 7.0.3* App just sits on opening screenshot, never proceeds. I have an App Store subscription for last 4 years. App used to be functional. iOS version is 13.3. Please hurry fix. Love magazine. ### 1/5 — Shoddy update *2019-11-27* With this current update the app locked up once I did a Restore of my purchases. It now is impossible to read my magazines. Beware! Kalmbach could care less about their customers. It’s very obvious that once they have your money, that’s it. There has been no attempt on their end to rectify the problem. Apple and customers should do a class action lawsuit against them. Disgusting! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Nearly unreadable on iPad *2025-06-11* I have been reading Discover Magazine since it was Science xxxx(the year). I switched from paper to reading on an iPad more than a decade ago. The current version is next to impossible to read on an iPad. I am getting older and I need to increase the size of the text. When I do that and try to scroll, it won’t stay put where I want to read. It jumps around and flickers and puts up a spinning ball. It often jumps back to the default small text. The content is wonderful but the execution of the app is abysmal. ### 1/5 — Cannot restore purchases *2024-01-05* Since the newest update I am unable to restore purchases even if I delete and re-download. It simply sits idling forever after tapping “restore purchases”. Since the support page for this app doesn't seem to exist anymore (bad link?) I am unable to contact anyone about this so therefore will most likely have to terminate my subscription. ### 1/5 — Upset about it *2023-08-10, version 7.0.3* I’m paying for Discovery Magazine App the won’t open ### 1/5 — Doesn't Work! *2023-03-02* I bought the subscription. Can't get into the App, there's no support. When you click on App Support it takes you to a page telling you this doesn't exist. Apple Support can't help with it. Very poor app for what I thought was a pretty big publication. ### 1/5 — Don't waste your time or money!!! *2021-12-23* This app has failed to work for years. I can't access my issues; I get asked to buy the current issue instead. Reinstalled the app and no change. Called customer service and they were absolutely useless! Really pathetic that a publication dedicated to science can't figure out how to fix their technology problems. Do not buy this magazine!!!!! ### 1/5 — Terrible as noted below *2021-10-16* Obviously the software supplier is just stealing the discription money. No access to anything. I phone says I have my subscription but no help . Could no be more disappointed October 2021😐 ### 1/5 — Ap support link doesn’t work *2021-03-07* Can’t download latest issue, ap support link is broken. It seems like the company works on a non-support model ### 1/5 — Don’t waste your money *2021-02-26, version 7.0.3* This app doesn’t work and apple doesn’t seem bothered. Huge waste of money! ### 1/5 — Active Subscription; Unable to access issues! *2021-02-25* I have an active digital subscription that ends August of 2021. For some reason I cannot access any issue, nor can I **Restore Purchases** as per the disclaimer here. I contacted Apple Support and they referred me to the “App Support” link that is found on this app review page. I did that and the link is either broken or inactive because it does not provide a means of asking for assistance. So I drilled down to the *Contact Us* link in the customer service section of the magazine’s web site and sent an email request. This was 4 business days ago and no response. So, I contacted Apple Support and requested a refund, which was not provided. So, this makes me upset at both Discover Magazine and Apple itself because I am not the only customer who seems to have to recourse to this problem. If services and products are not rendered AFTER payment has been provided, there is a problem. I don’t care if it’s over $30 or $3 or $300. Lousy Customer Service all around here. Keep this in mind if you are considering subscribing. ### 1/5 — Discover app doesn’t work *2021-02-24* Worst app I have come across. For a number of years every time my subscription renews I have had to delete the app and reload the app and tell it to restore purchases. Now that doesn’t happen. After my latest renewal I can’t open any issues. Apple tells me to contact the magazine. The magazine tells me they don’t know who I am and to contact the people who designed the app. The app doesnt reply. So now I spent $20 for a magazine I can’t read. Obviously the publishers of Discover don’t care about their app. They just take the money. Laughing all the way to the bank. DO NOT BUY THIS APP! Waste of money. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Just awesome! *2019-02-16, version 4.0* What a great magazine! Massively insightful, articulated very well, delivers information into a wide range of science and is very affordable on a 12 month subscription. Have subscribed for years, and will continue to do so! ### 5/5 — I love reading Discover *2018-05-13* Every article is full of information and many times fascinating. I read the magazine end to to end as every article is relevant! ### 5/5 — Discover *2017-12-23, version 4.0* I love this format. I used to subscribe to physical editions years ago, and have always missed this magazine. Now I can look at it anywhere without wifi, and backlit. I read it much faster this way. ### 5/5 — Cool app :) I like it! *2017-08-09* I read when I have free time and kind app for anyone. ### 5/5 — Great app *2017-07-24* It's very interesting & great ### 5/5 — 评分 *2017-03-31* 要能免费一些就好了 ### 5/5 — 好评！ *2017-02-02* 用来当练习阅读的材料了 ### 5/5 — The discovery *2016-11-14* Great, helps us a lot! ### 5/5 — Discover Magazine *2016-05-18, version 3.1.3* Great mag. I read from cover to cover every edition. Great work, keep it up ### 5/5 — good *2016-02-08* good --- *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.*