# Fine Homebuilding Magazine — user reviews > 90 indexed App Store user reviews of Fine Homebuilding Magazine by Taunton Interactive, rated 4.20/5 from 340 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fine-homebuilding-magazine/id553178973/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fine-homebuilding-magazine/id553178973.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 232 · 4★ 45 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 53 ## What do users think of Fine Homebuilding Magazine? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Fast and responsive app - 👍 Convenient digital access to magazine content - 📚 Ability to view back issues **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 🔒 Issues with login and account access - 💰 Paywall for accessing content despite subscription - 📥 Difficulty restoring previously downloaded issues **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes on launch - Login failures and account access problems - Inability to view previously downloaded issues **Most requested features** - Offline viewing capability - Seamless integration with print subscription - Improved navigation and user interface ## Newest reviews (20 of 90) ### 2/5 — Have subscription but always wants me to pay for newest issue *2023-06-10* I have a yearly subscription but when I try to use the app it always wants me to pay for the newest issue. Later on it will become available. Very annoying and will most likely be canceling ### 1/5 — Beware! *2023-03-14* Purchased a digital content subscription, thinking that it would allow me to view and search previous issues. That worked okay on the website. Not great but okay. But when I tried to look at archived issues from the iPad app it wanted me to pay! Called support and they told this is how it works. Unbelievable. I’m still in disbelief that this is true so if anyone knows otherwise I’d love to know. The description says “if you are currently a print subscriber you can get access to digital editions FREE - - absolutely no extra cost “ They don’t point out that is only true for very recent editions! The print magazine is wonderful but I’ll stay away from this nonsense until they come to their senses. ### 1/5 — DOESN’T WORK *2023-01-14* Magazine is excellent…APP is GARBAGE! Won’t let me access new issues or special issues. Customer service doesn’t know how to fix the problem, only suggests deleting and re downloading the app. FIX THIS OR GIVE ME A REFUND!!! ### 1/5 — Login issues *2022-11-12* Will not let me log into my account to view mobile magazines. Pop up says “log in failed. Operation could not be completed. Unsupported login type. ### 2/5 — Amateurish developers *2022-09-19* It works, mostly. But I’ve reported a problem about not having access to one issue three times over three months and the response is always “we’re very sorry. There’s a known issue and our developers are working on it.” ### 1/5 — Broken app *2022-08-28* Cannot even sign in because there is no space to type the password. Basics people! ### 1/5 — Broken *2022-07-21, version 20.2.11* Taunton Press should take some master classes from “Fine Software Engineering” ### 1/5 — Bad *2021-10-27, version 20.2.11* Worse than useless ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work. *2021-09-18* I paid for my subscription on the website and went to sign in the app with my email as I was instructed to do and I cannot view the magazines without paying again. Hopefully when Monday comes their customer service can fix the problem.. ### 1/5 — app is wack otherwise great magazine *2020-12-31, version 19.3.3* app is useless, doesn’t recognize my subscription and asking to purchase every issue i try to read ### 1/5 — Poor execution of a simple app *2020-12-14* Seems to be designed to sell ad space and develop internal revenue. Won't link to the account I just purchased, meaning that it's worthless to me as a mobile app. ### 1/5 — Just an ad platform *2019-12-18* Very slow, terrible navigation controls and web links to all of the stupid ads. Eventually you will accidentally click on one then there is no way to return to magazine beside killing the app! ### 1/5 — Listen to the ratings *2019-11-23, version 18.7.7* Don’t waste your time if you are a subscriber looking to download the ‘free’ app. I should have paid attention to the write-ups creating a rating of 1.3 ### 1/5 — App fails to load on iOS 13 device after latest app update *2019-10-25* Something happened with the latest update where the app now just crashes shortly after launching. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2019-04-20, version 18.1.6* Fix your app. Unreal. ### 1/5 — Subscription generator? *2019-01-14* I can barely differentiate sponsored content from member content. While the interface is littered with links to subscribe, it’s irritating as a member to have to scroll down to the bottom of a long pull down menu to log in every time I want to use the app, only to be directed to a website that returns an error. The app seems designed to sell advertising and generate subscriptions, as a member, it’s just plain insulting. Why not make an app for members to conveniently access content to which they have subscribed? ### 1/5 — No response *2018-11-22, version 16.1.1* This app does not work plus calls and emails to customers service are not responded to. ### 1/5 — No offline use. They can’t restore. Don’t upgrade! *2018-02-08, version 14.1.2* They finally got some of my issues back. But only if you are connected to the internet. No offline viewing on the airplane. Used to work. Reason for digital subscription. .... Lost all of old issues. Do not upgrade. No email support. Tried their email support. Response was to contact iTunes. How, was my response. Then they gave me a case number. Case id: 34207475 Again I ask, who do I contact to get this resolved? What use is a case Id with no poc. I’ve been in contact with them for the past month. They keep trying to restore my 2 years of back issues. They even asked for my iPad serial number. They just can’t do it. They tie it to an email but can’t seem to find my subscription information. Granted it has just expired but I won’t renew if they can’t give what they owe in back issues. 5 magazines restored one measly one at a time starting with the old ones not the recent ones. Painful very painful and only restores one at a time. Though not reliable and why can’t they restore all at once? Missing several years worth. ### 1/5 — Taunton-How could you!? *2018-02-02, version 14.1.2* This update is completely unsatisfactory. I have lost all my previous downloads and cannot view ANYTHING offline. Be fully advised, I will be contacting your advertisers. ### 1/5 — Terrible Update *2017-10-24* I updated two months ago and lost all of my previous purchases and am still unable to log on, emailed customer service no response....great magazine but total amateur hour when it comes to the app ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — John Fox *2025-03-23, version 26.0.0* In your app conversion I have lost most of my back issues. ### 1/5 — publisher 👉👈 app developer *2025-03-23* The app doesn’t give subscribers access to the archive library even if the subscription includes it. The publisher and app developer just point their fingers at each other instead of taking ownership and fixing a stupid situation. ### 1/5 — New app *2025-03-09* Zero stars in execution of new app!!! In the digital age it shows how little the publisher it has interest in the customer experience by how new app Integration with account data is basically non existent and puts customers into hours of work to access their account and content ### 1/5 — Subscriber for years *2025-03-05* The old app worked great .. this app wants you to pay for issues .. ### 1/5 — The worst app on the iTunes Store *2025-02-11* Do not under any circumstances download this app as it will take your money and then not allow you access to the issues you have purchased. I have been a subscriber since September 2012. like all of my magazines that I purchase, I prefer to have the issues on my iPad so that I can easily refer back to them when I am not on a Wi-Fi network since the last update, the app does not allow me to access my issues, and even though I have contacted their support, they have not resolved this problem with the result that I have paid hundreds of dollars to Taunton or Zinio or whomever is providing this substandard app and have nothing for my money ### 1/5 — Paid for special issues are gone *2025-01-20* Only getting the current issue. This is a fresh start. Not exactly what I want. ### 1/5 — Can’t log in, my purchases inaccessible *2024-03-16* Not only can I not login to view my purchased special issues, I also cannot send a service request. The app just says that’s not available and my letter for help disappears. Find homebuilding is amazing. But this app is a huge disappointment, and the support for the app is appalling. ### 1/5 — Caution *2024-03-15, version 22.1.0* This magazine auto renews if it auto renews and you immediately stop the subscribtion they will NOT refund the amount paid. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH ANY TAUNTON PUBLICATIONS!!!! ### 1/5 — New software *2023-10-19* I longer have access to my subscribed account with this software update on my iPad. Can only use it with my phone. Can you fix this bug. Will not load. Thanks ### 1/5 — This App Is A Disaster *2023-05-13* Expected a MUCH better digital experience from Fine Homebuilding, which is an excellent magazine - but this app is a disaster (and apparently has been for years). When you try to log in with your Fine Homebuilding account you get an error and cannot, even though their help section says print subscribers can enter their “email address and last name” to gain access to digital versions of issues. In fact, there is no verification of your Fine Homebuilding subscription whatsoever - all you have to do is create a NEW account in the app, with ANY email (that you can check a verification message for) and password, and once you click that confirmation link in that email you can sign into the app and read a couple years back of issues! What happened here?! Did they have so much trouble getting it to work for paying subscribers that they just opened it up to anyone with a working email address (in other words everyone in 2023)?! Why are we paying for (quite costly, as far as magazines go) subscriptions to this magazine when anyone can install this app, sign up for free and read not just the current issue but the last two year’s worth?! I don’t know what they’re doing with all that subscription money, but they sure as heck aren’t putting even a small fraction of it into their app development. This is an embarrassment for an otherwise superb magazine. *UPDATE* You don’t even need to register or log in AT ALL. You can just install the app and you’re able to read the last year-and-a-half worth of back issues. Again, why are we paying for subscriptions when we can just read for free here??? Also, an IMPORTANT NOTE: The support email address listed in the app IS NOT the Fine Homebuilding support address listed on the website. I don’t know if the address in the app is intentionally wrong or just different, but emails to the address listed in the app go ignored/unanswered, while messages sent to the address listed on the website are actually read/replied to. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great update *2017-08-16* I like the new interface. Very responsive when interacting with magazine pages. Downloads seem faster too. Thanks! ### 5/5 — Great app! *2017-03-19, version 6.2.8* Love the magazine and now it's handy to have several months stored to look at anytime that I want. ### 5/5 — Great way to read a technical magazine *2017-01-15* I love FHB on my iPad. Great vivid pictures and links to advertisers. Clever. Also don't need a stack of magazines lying around. ### 5/5 — Inspirering *2016-04-25* I take many of my abilities from reading the Fine Homebuilding magazine. ### 5/5 — Excellent app with great support *2016-01-13, version 6.2.8* I have found the Fine Homebuilding app to be a great replacement for the paper magazines which I kept misplacing. When I did have a problem with the app because of an iOS update, the Customer Service was incredibly good and very responsive. I can't say enough good things about both the app and its content. ### 5/5 — Thumbs up *2015-12-20, version 6.2.8* Love the magazine! Always have. The app is easy to use and read. Provides URL's for each product in the magazine, and just by touching the products in the magazine, it instantly takes you to the web for more information. Very convenient. Would love to be able to read articles from the Fine Homebuilding website straight from the app. That would be a great improvement. ### 5/5 — Great App and publication! *2015-11-22, version 6.2.8* By far and away my go to publication for our home. Immersive content and top notch writing. ### 5/5 — One of the best magazine apps around *2015-08-24, version 6.2.8* Very well executed, this app makes reading FH a pleasure on my iPad. ### 5/5 — FH is the best *2015-06-28, version 6.2.8* Reference magazine on the market, a bit pricey tho worth it if you are DIYer. What separates from others is the details and tips of the articles. If you haven't seen or heard of the magazine do yourself a favor a pick one up. Just started to use the online/app version so I really don't have a opinion them at this time... ### 5/5 — About the Guild *2015-06-22, version 6.2.8* I'm a home builder and truly enjoy the guild that fine home building has also the new trends that has hit the streets I have and will continue to recommend both fine home building and fine woodworking to all who shows interest. A D Banks Sr. Schertz, Tx --- *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 2026-08-21.*