# Fat Llama — user reviews > 117 indexed App Store user reviews of Fat Llama by Fat Lama, rated 1.00/5 from 1 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fat-llama/id1235535680/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fat-llama/id1235535680.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 0 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1 ## What do users think of Fat Llama? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use platform for renting and borrowing equipment - 💰 Cost-effective way to access expensive gear without buying - 🌍 Great for finding local rental options nearby - 📸 Perfect for photographers and creative professionals - 🤝 Supportive community and professional interactions - 🔒 Insurance coverage and protection for rentals - 💡 Innovative sharing economy concept - ⭐ Transparent pricing and fee structure **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing issues - 📱 Poor app performance and reliability - 🔐 Verification process is overly complicated and time-consuming - 💸 High commission fees (25-50% per transaction) - 📧 Slow customer service response times - 🗺️ Removed map search feature in recent update - 💬 Messaging system is unreliable and buggy - 🔔 Notification system doesn't work properly - ⚠️ Insurance claims are difficult to process and rarely paid out - 🚫 Social media activity requirement for lending is unreasonable - 🔄 Payment delays and payout issues - 🎨 Confusing and cluttered user interface design - 🔑 Login issues with Facebook and Google authentication - ⏱️ Slow verification approval times despite promised timelines - 🔍 Search functionality broken and returns irrelevant results **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes frequently and becomes unresponsive - Messages fail to send or arrive with significant delays - Login functionality broken with Facebook and Google authentication - Search function returns blank screens or irrelevant results - Notification badges don't clear even after viewing messages - Messages not visible in inbox despite notifications - Messaging feature completely unavailable at times - Text cursor jumps around while typing messages - App crashes when typing messages - Rental dates randomly switch to different dates during booking - Holiday mode still receives requests without notifications - Listings publish but don't appear in active listings - Payment information displayed incorrectly in booking modals - Forced logout occurring randomly - Message sending failures and delayed message delivery - Verification process hangs with certain document types - App performance inconsistent between iOS and web versions - Bottom sheet dismiss animations are abrupt - Tab bar icons have insufficient padding on iPhone - Earnings summary removed from account screen after update **Most requested features** - Fix and improve app stability and performance - Restore map-based search functionality - Improve messaging system with better notifications - Redesign user interface for better clarity and usability - Add message filtering and grouping by rental status - Implement persistent filter settings - Add 24-hour booking option instead of full-day increments - Create better holiday mode that pauses notifications appropriately - Improve search algorithm and filtering options - Add custom quote generation directly from app - Simplify verification process - Reduce commission fees - Improve customer service response times - Add copy-paste functionality in messaging - Display earnings summary on account screen - Add reminders for required rental completion steps - Implement automatic payment upon item return rather than delayed payout ## Newest reviews (10 of 117) ### 3/5 — Transparent pricing? *2025-10-21, version 12.3.8* Please make pricing transparent, what I charge and client what they pay when I’m trying to change how much I’m charging for items, it’s a nightmare how I have to keep changing my price to meet their cost. ### 3/5 — Great idea for items sitting around the house *2025-06-16, version 2.1.19* The App helps to simplify and safeguard the process of renting out your items it’s great. ### 5/5 — Fat Llama is a brilliant platform *2025-05-28, version 2.1.18* Fat Llama is a brilliant platform for renting gear. The app is easy to use, and the whole process, from browsing listings to arranging pickup and return, is super smooth. I’ve used it to rent both camera and drone equipment, and every experience has been reliable. Communication with lenders has been professional, and the items have always been as described. Highly recommend for creatives and professionals who need access to quality gear without the commitment of buying. ### 4/5 — Really good platform for renting out stuff *2025-05-15, version 2.1.18* Really good - I have rented out a lot of equipment on there, the improvements to the app have made it much better. Only area for improvement is sometimes the speed it takes for them to get back to you when there is an issue and the process for when an item hasn’t been returned or is late ### 5/5 — Invaluable *2025-05-14, version 2.1.18* Always great to have a platform of professionals who you can rent great gear you can’t afford from ### 2/5 — BAD UX *2025-05-06, version 2.1.18* If you go on holiday and turn on “holiday mode” - requests will still come through but you won’t be notified, which will impact your response rating. In what world does that app team think this is a good idea? Please update the app and do something similar to Vinted in this scenario. The “holiday mode” feature should help users, not cause problems. Kudos to the support team though for always helping quickly. ### 3/5 — Annoying to use *2025-04-30, version 2.1.18* I am new to using it - the messaging feature is annoying that it doesn’t distinguish between ongoing rentals and just outreach, you should be able to shortlist and group messages. Also it doesn’t save the filter. It’s overall v clunky ### 5/5 — Amazing slick app. I make £1000s a month renting my gear *2025-04-22, version 2.1.16* I love this app ### 2/5 — Hmm good update guys! *2024-10-04, version 2.0.13* An app which requires communication and you remove the message button. Great idea! ### 5/5 — So helpful *2024-08-28, version 12.0.12* Literally use this whenever I need something and don’t want to buy it. As long as you send your docs properly and get verified, which can be tricky at first, it’s honestly clutch. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous *2025-10-11, version 12.3.8* You need to jump through several hoops to be able to rent a gear! Despite having all my details, not having an active post on social media in six months is what ruled me out. I wonder why being active on social media is the criteria on who can rent out a camera in 2025! Ridiculous. I’d rather go elsewhere! ### 1/5 — Kinda broken *2025-08-17, version 12.2.1* I’ll change my review after these are fixed 1-can view and edit my listings (currently they publish but aren’t in my active listings) 2-tab for local listings (why do i care on the home page if some dude 1609 miles away listed a snow blower?) ### 1/5 — Will not payout for damages *2025-07-16, version 12.1.24* This company states they’ll pay out for damages up to £25,000: they will not. Multiple people have had equipment damaged or never returned, including people I know. With 0 help or payouts. This new update is also absolutely horrible. The whole Interface and use ability is even worse than before when the app didn’t even work! Even some of the language used doesn’t make sense…? DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY OR APP ### 1/5 — Verification issues *2025-05-04, version 2.1.18* Poor customer service - unhelpful responses from customer service, long waiting times for calls. I would not recommend. Wasted my time. Said to me they would call me back after a missed call due to filming and didn’t bother calling back at all. ### 1/5 — Hate this new app *2025-02-20, version 12.1.13* Since the major update this app has been a pain to use. Please please redesign it!! ### 1/5 — If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It! (Lender Perspective) *2024-11-19, version 12.1.7* Fat Llama’s recent major update (around summer) has turned what was once a mediocre app from a technical standpoint into an outright terrible experience, both technically and in terms of user experience. The renting system and process now feel clunky and far less seamless than before. As a lender if you forget to press the new button to signify that your item has been collected and then returned, you will not get paid. Worse, there is no prompt to remind you that this step is required. Even when you do click the button to confirm your rental has been returned, Fat Llama—who used to pay out 4–5 days after your item was collected—now pays out 2–5 days after the item is returned. This means if your gear is rented for a long-term rental, like 30 days, even though the renter has paid and Fat Llama has the money, you won’t get paid until 35 days later. To make matters worse, even when payment is due, you can expect further delays, as I’ve experienced with all of my rentals since this major change. What was once a breath of fresh air for freelancers seeking an extra source of income has now become just another platform stacked against creatives. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! ### 1/5 — Breach of Data Protection 2018 *2024-10-31, version 12.1.4* Appalling. Breach of GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Search your name or a friends or relatives and see how their location for lending comes up. Can promote stalking behaviour. Do not recommended. Staff unhelpful and refuse they cannot hide this. ### 1/5 — Don’t rent out your gear (read) *2024-09-09, version 2.0.13* Fat llama WILL find a loophole to make sure you don’t get your money back in case of theft or not returning gear. They don’t have a US or Canadian address thus making it impossible for you to sue them or even file a complaint. It will be considered a civil matter since it’s referred to as ‘voluntary lending’ and there’s nothing the police will do. They are a third party operating between you and the person renting your gear so you can’t touch the person legally either. They are based out of England and have no physical office in North America as of date. BEWARE! ### 1/5 — Was great, but now... Not so much. *2024-07-25, version 12.0.10* I've been using Fat Llama for years. The app is horrible now. Please look at an applied turo for a good example. Turo also allows for 24 hours booking, rather than paying for 2 days even though I have the item for 24 hours. ### 1/5 — The new app design is broken *2024-07-17, version 12.0.9* Search turns up irrelevant results with very poor implementation of categories (google shows rentals that fat llama search doesn’t), hierarchy of information and data nonsensical, more clicks to do basic things, irrelevant information or just wrong information surfaced (like earnings being consistently misrepresented in booking modals) and removal of earnings summary in account screen, needing to re-review all past rentals,… I could go on. I’m sure it’s hard to rebuild an app while keeping a service live, but FatLlama should get their money back from whatever company did this for them. I’m a long time user of this app, on both sides of transactions, so it’s especially disappointing. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Does the job *2025-12-03, version 12.3.12* Does what its intended to do, perfect for burrowing and lending. ### 5/5 — Excellent experience *2025-10-06, version 12.3.7* Brilliant app for hiring equipment. Very easy to use ### 5/5 — Best way to get what you need in a small time frame and also locally *2025-09-14, version 12.3.5* Great to be able to locate items which are by me that I can rent out. ### 5/5 — Best app for photographer *2025-09-10, version 12.3.5* Easy and practical to rent use it ### 5/5 — The most trusted rental platform *2025-08-04, version 12.2.0* As a freelance photographer, fat lama is perfect for me, flexible and so many options, always covered and great communication ### 5/5 — Fat Lama *2025-06-17, version 2.1.19* It works ### 5/5 — Great resource *2025-06-15, version 2.1.19* Have rented things a couple of times and found it to work really well, at low cost. ### 5/5 — Loving it *2025-06-11, version 2.1.19* So easy to set up. I had hires in no time. Love it. Looking for other things that I can rent out as well speak! ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-06-10, version 2.1.19* I’ve been borrowing and lending on here for years and I think it’s brilliant!! Customer services are wonderful if you ever need them too! ### 5/5 — Great to rent from *2025-06-05, version 2.1.19* Good app to use to save them extra pounds comes with a £15 sign up which basically give you your first rent for free depending the prices of what you’re renting --- *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 2026-06-11.*