# Dumb Phone — Launcher & Themes — user reviews > 110 indexed App Store user reviews of Dumb Phone by Yevhen Tretiakov, rated 4.20/5 from 223 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumb-phone-launcher-and-themes/id6451376191/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumb-phone-launcher-and-themes/id6451376191.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 158 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 10 · 1★ 27 ## What do users think of Dumb Phone? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 👍 Minimal, clean aesthetic design - 💡 Highly customizable appearance (fonts, colors, spacing) - 🎯 Effective for reducing phone addiction and screen time - ⚡ Lightweight and simple to use - 💰 One-time purchase option (no subscription required) - 🔧 Good developer responsiveness to bug reports - 📱 Works across iPhone and iPad - 🎨 Flexible integration with iOS Shortcuts **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent widget breakage after iOS updates - 😤 Widgets disappear or stop functioning regularly - 💸 Controversial shift to subscription model for existing users - 🔄 Requires manual widget recreation after updates - ⚠️ App becomes non-functional without subscription payment - 😞 Poor communication and support responsiveness - 🚫 Shortcuts fail to launch apps (opens app instead) - 📉 Stability issues across multiple iOS versions **Commonly reported bugs** - Widgets break after major iOS updates - Shortcuts fail to execute, only open the app - Custom app URL scheme testing resets the form - All widgets selected when trying to select individual custom apps - iMessage opens to new draft instead of app - App text defaults to black, becoming invisible - Widget configuration lost after uninstall/reinstall - App stops working entirely on iOS 18 and iOS 26 - Subscription paywall appears after reinstall despite previous purchase - Touch gestures interfere with widget functionality **Most requested features** - Larger widget size options - Custom background images or themes - Line breaks between list items - Icon theme selection (square or circular letters) - Gradient or preset background options - Better preset app list with more popular apps - Ability to hide other apps completely - Batch app import functionality ## Newest reviews (10 of 110) ### 2/5 — Paid money to pay more money *2026-07-08, version 4.8* Love this app, but annoyed at the removal of existing features and blocking them behind a paywall :/ I used to be able to have two widgets now I can only have one unless I buy the subscription. ### 3/5 — Good app, one big problem *2026-04-01, version 4.7* Yea this app is very good, if and when it works. Every update your widgets will break completely or disappear. Not at all what I paid for. Edit: like I said, the app itself functions very well. But even one of the recent updates broke all of my widgets. It’s annoying to have to spend 10 mins fixing it each update. That being said, the developer is easy to contact with any issues. I wish there were less bugs, but yevhen is quick to help when there are problems. ### 4/5 — Honest Review *2026-01-26, version 4.5* The app is overall great whenever it’s working. It’s very effective. Post the most recent update (currently 1-26-2026), my widgets all fell apart. I paid the fee that was necessary. Every time I created a shortcut to open the app, it lead me to the dumb phone app instead of the app the shortcut was designed for. I would love to use this app again. ### 5/5 — 程式與系統捷徑互相干擾bug *2026-01-20, version 4.5* 為了更絕對的戒掉社交媒體，我將手機開啟灰階濾鏡，並且應用iphone捷徑設置：當相機、相簿開啟時，關閉灰階濾鏡；當兩者關閉時，開啟灰階濾鏡。但當我開始使用後，從Dumb phone開啟相機變得不可行，這讓我感到有點挫折，難道只能在戒手機和把相機當成黑白底片之間選一個嗎🥹。希望在將來可以改善，與捷徑系統做更好的連結。 應用程式的設計初衷以及教學都十分詳細，謝謝開發者！ ### 2/5 — Stops working *2026-01-15, version 4.5* App randomly stops working often and the apps launcher stops launching apps. Super annoying. When it works it’s cool but frustrating when it stops doing the only thing it’s supposed to do. Especially for 10$ ### 3/5 — 使用上變很複雜 *2026-01-12, version 4.4* 在ios 26.2使用變很複雜，我的設備是iphone 15 pro max，在捷徑的設定上無法設定開啟應用程式時啟動dumb phone ### 1/5 — Постоянно слетает при обновлениях. Слетела подписка на плюс. *2026-01-10* То, что каждое обновление приложения скидывает стилистические настройки - Я с этим смирился. Но тот факт, что последнее обновление в итоге отменило мою покупку Плюс версии - это зашквар. И просить 7000 единоразового платежа для приложения, которое настолько нестабильно - это просто за гранью наглости. **Developer response:** Напишите мне на почту help.dumbphone@gmail.com и я выдам вам промокод пожизненный неслетаемый на Plus версию. ### 5/5 — Very very good *2026-01-09, version 4.4* Been using this for about a year now. Really limits my app usage ### 1/5 — They ruined it *2026-01-09* The app was great but the last update completely wiped all the widgets (and I had several that I’d put a lot of thought into) and then this most recent update makes it so that it only opens the app rather than triggering the shortcut. So it’s now completely useless. I’ll hold out for a minute to see if they fix it but after that, I’ve learned my lesson and I’m not going to update this app ever again. And no, recreating them doesn’t fix the problem. **Developer response:** Delete the app completely and reinstall the latest version from the App Store, and everything will work. I’m also working on something really cool for the next update — hope you’ll update it too :) ### 1/5 — Very unreliable *2026-01-09* I like the idea of the app. When it is working I really enjoy its look and feel. However, every update breaks the functionality, only opening the dumb phone app but not the apps themselves. In order to get the app to work on the most recent update the usual (and very tedious) strategy of remaking all of the widgets didn’t work and I had to uninstall and reinstall the app. When I reinstalled, it took away my plus membership and is now prompting me to pay. From the most generous point of view this is extremely incompetent, and from the least generous it borders on scam. **Developer response:** Contact me via email at help.dumbphone@gmail.com, and I’ll provide a promo code to permanently stabilize your Plus plan. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — 課金必須 *2026-08-03* 入れてアプリ設定したらすぐにサブスク要求。 月800円 年5000円 実質詐欺。ホーム画面をまとめるために課金するわけないやん。 ### 1/5 — Can’t get past paying for it *2026-04-13, version 4.7* Once I purchased the one week subscription, I was completely blocked from continuing. I can’t hit continue no matter what. I hardly even got to set up the app. I’m so sad, I was really hoping for this to work ### 1/5 — Deleted it after the latest update. *2026-03-30, version 4.6* “Bug fixes and improvements” actually meant hiding the most useful feature behind a paywall. I’m not paying $4.99 a month for a launcher. ### 1/5 — Paywall obwohl ich bezahlt habe? *2026-03-28* Ich habe die App in einem bundle für 6 Euro oder so gekauft - dennoch ist sie non stop in weiterentwicklung und jedes mal wenn sich etwas ändert muss man sein gesamtes setup wieder neu ausetzen. jetzt heißt es man muss zahlen obwohl ich die app innerhalb eines bezahlten bundles gekauft habe - jetzt kann ich sie nicht mehr in vollem umfang nutzen?! Also ich hab langsam keine Lust mehr **Developer response:** Please uninstall and reinstall the app — this should fix the issue. If you previously purchased the app but no longer have access to the Plus plan, please contact me at help.dumbphone@gmail.com, and I’ll provide a promo code to restore your Plus plan permanently. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work properly *2026-03-27* Used to like the app, but oftentimes it’s not working and you have to set up everything again **Developer response:** Sorry about that — there were a few major updates recently and some setups didn’t carry over correctly. It’s now fully stabilized, so this shouldn’t happen again. ### 1/5 — Used to be great. It now no longer works *2026-02-11, version 4.5* Updating to the IOS 18 caused the app to stop working. It’s been a few months, and I can’t recommend paying anything until the developer fixes their app ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-01-22* Paid for app a while ago and suddenly stopped work as of recently. Deleted and reinstalled and met with a new subscription model. No restore purchase option, thanks for stealing my money. Don't pay $80 a year for it, was barely worth it when it was a one time payment of a few bucks. It doesn't function like a finished product and has issues constantly. **Developer response:** Contact me via email at help.dumbphone@gmail.com, and I’ll provide a promo code to permanently stabilize your Plus plan. ### 1/5 — Developer deleted my first review…. *2026-01-20, version 4.5* Yea this app is very good, if and when it works. Every update your widgets will break completely or disappear. Not at all what I paid for. Please offer a solution before you take this down my widgets aren’t even functioning now. ### 1/5 — Every update breaks it *2026-01-11, version 4.4* Really liked the simplicity of the app and used it regularly for 6 months only for a new update to get pushed to break it. I’ve had to replace every widget by hand at least 4 times, now it no longer even works ### 1/5 — Unfortunately not good anymore. *2026-01-10* The app was free in the beginning. Now they want up to 90€ for a lifetime version. After every update all data is gone. Deleted the app. **Developer response:** Sorry about that — there were some big updates recently and a few setups didn’t carry over correctly. It’s now stabilized, so this shouldn’t happen again. The app still has a free version, and lifetime is optional. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 👍🏾 *2026-07-11* Super sleek. This has helped me at various times to rein in my app scrolling and focus my attention to the apps I actually use regularly. ### 5/5 — Reclaim your cognitive clarity *2026-07-08* God bless the creators of this app. It is one of the best apps ever to make your phone simpler and kill the phone addiction. ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2026-06-30, version 4.8* Very helpful, just not for me ### 5/5 — Great App! *2026-06-16* I use the app for some months now and I really enjoy having it. Thank you :) ### 5/5 — Unavailable developer *2026-06-10, version 4.8* Worked well at first when I paid for it. But the developer changed it to subscription model and wont reply to email for “complimentary upgrade”. ### 5/5 — Amazing experience!! *2026-05-15, version 4.8* Thank you for making an app that works perfectly and doesn’t ask for subscriptions. The features are all great, customizable and very simple. ### 5/5 — Love a dumb launcher *2026-04-24, version 4.7* These really are the best. Love a minimal look ### 5/5 — Strong developer support *2026-04-06, version 4.7* While the app does occasionally break after big IOS updates, the developer Yehven is receptive and fixes bugs as they come up ### 5/5 — Very well done *2026-03-27, version 4.6* Thank you developers ### 5/5 — Good App! *2026-01-30* I like the idea of the app. When it is working I really enjoy its look and feel. Despite some slight stability issues (that the developer helped me fix below), the app itself offers more customizability than any competitor, and the developer is very helpful and responsive. I believe it is the best DumbPhome app on the market. --- *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 2026-08-13.*