# Foraging with the "Wildman" — user reviews > 106 indexed App Store user reviews of Foraging with the "Wildman" by Steve Brill, rated 4.00/5 from 22 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foraging-with-the-wildman/id431504588/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foraging-with-the-wildman/id431504588.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 13 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Foraging with the "Wildman"? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 📚 Comprehensive plant database with 250+ species - 📸 High-quality detailed photos and illustrations - 👨‍🌾 Expert knowledge from experienced forager Steve Brill - 🍳 Extensive recipes and culinary uses included - ⚠️ Clear warnings about poisonous lookalikes - 🗺️ Region and season filtering for identification - 💊 Medicinal uses and nutritional information - 😄 Entertaining and humorous writing style - 📖 Detailed plant descriptions with multiple sections - ✍️ Field notes capability for recording findings **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing issues - 📧 Error email dialog that won't close on startup - 💾 Extremely large file size (2-3.75 GB) - 🌐 Images fail to download or load slowly - ⚠️ Inconsistent color coding (e.g., poison ivy in green) - 🔴 Limited plant coverage for western/non-eastern regions - ⏱️ Slow performance on older devices - 🚫 App becomes unresponsive and unusable - ❌ Offline download feature advertised but non-functional - 🔌 High data usage during initialization **Commonly reported bugs** - App fails to open or opens to blank page - Error email dialog appears on startup and cannot be dismissed - Critical error: zip file did not unpack - Images won't download or display - App crashes when viewing warning symbols - No way to exit warning screens without force closing - Email support feature creates infinite loop - App incompatible with iOS 12 and iPhone XS - Slow image loading even on high-speed WiFi - App becomes stuck in initialization process - Recent update made app worse or completely non-functional - Glitchy behavior with latest iOS updates **Most requested features** - Bookmark or favorites list for frequently checked plants - Widget for quick phone access - Offline download capability that actually works - Expanded plant database for western and southern regions - Better search and filtering by characteristics - Geographic tagging system for found plants - Selective regional downloads to reduce file size - Improved navigation with table of contents or alphabet bar - Continuous scrolling through plant sections - More poisonous plant entries for comparison - Social media sharing features - Support for international/non-US regions ## Newest reviews (13 of 106) ### 3/5 — Poison Ivy *2024-04-28, version 3.0.2* I’m confused why poison ivy is color coded in green and not red when it’s poisonous? 🤷🏻‍♀️ ### 2/5 — No Place To Write Notes or Bookmark *2024-03-23, version 3.0.2* The app says there’s a place to write field notes but that’s not true. There’s also no way to bookmark any plants you’ve found to quickly access them later. I was hoping I could use this for items I forage frequently for a quick double-check but the list is also missing some very common plants. It’s unfortunately not very useful. This app could be really great but it really falls short on a lot of simple things. ### 4/5 — Great app *2024-01-18, version 3.0.2* Wish it had a widget for my phone ### 3/5 — Good App , but… *2021-10-01, version 3.0.1* The app has a section that says there is an offline download available but There is no way to download the app contents for offline use. Other than this the app is good. ### 2/5 — Minimal plant information *2021-08-09, version 3.0.1* I’m getting big into wild edibles. I have two Steve Brill books, but this app sucks! Something common like the “self heal” plant isn’t in there. There have been so many common wild edibles I’ve found that aren’t on this app. Better to download a couple free apps than buy this one ### 3/5 — It’s great when it opens properly *2021-01-05, version 3.0.1* I actually really enjoy the app so far and have been excited to get into foraging, as it’s something I’ve been meaning to do for awhile. I’ve noticed though that sometimes when I open the app it just opens up to a blank page and I can’t do anything with it. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling and it worked for bit but now it’s doing it again. ### 1/5 — Too bad... *2020-06-21, version 2.9* Sadly, the app doesn’t work and crashes. ### 1/5 — Stuck in msg send *2020-06-11, version 2.9* Git app. First time to use it got stuck trying to send an email about support. Coyld not send, could not cancel, could not save draft (all the options). Where is the quality testing? Deleted app ### 1/5 — Are great reviews here by Brill’s friends ?! *2020-06-04, version 2.9* This app has more bugs than a stagnant pond and despite reviews stating the existence of wonderful photos, none are downloaded that my iPhone X could access and the last time I could actually use the app(3 years ago) Brill lauded the usefulness of his black and white drawings. I do not share his enthusiasm. While I grew up on Peterson’s guides, which are indeed drawings, the inclusion of color was essential, as was a very accurate and life-like rendering, which Brills drawing skills are not alas up to. Not worth the money ! I threw out this app a week after I paid for it and re-downloading it again has not shown it to have improved an iota. ### 1/5 — Complete Waste! *2020-05-14, version 2.9* App takes forever to load opening page and won’t load if I go outside! Can’t load any of the extra pictures, so there is just the written identification to use. Useless to a newbie. ### 1/5 — terrible buggy app! *2020-05-13, version 2.9* DO NOT BUY/DOWNLOAD! The images do not download and then the app goes into a loop of trying to send an email log that prevents the app from starting Extremely frustrating!! ### 1/5 — Can I be Refunded?!?!?! *2020-05-07, version 2.9* If I could give this app zero stars I would. After paying for the app, I can’t even use it. I try to open it, and the content has some error downloading and an email screen pops up to send an error email to support. I try to press the send button, but it won’t even let me do that!! And when I try to press cancel on the email tab, it won’t let me!! I have to force close the app to get out of the screen. So not only can I not access the app AT ALL, but I can’t even send a support email!! What a WASTE of money. This is the first ever app review I’ve actually written because I am just livid for throwing money in the garbage for this buggy app. I pray someone on your tech team reads this and issues me a refund if they can’t at least fix this. Straight up practically stole my money. ### 1/5 — Avoid and Move On *2020-05-04, version 2.9* This app was always glitchy but provided wonderful information and images for foraging. But it hasn’t worked AT ALL for years and each of the many, many message I’ve sent to the developer has gone ignored and unanswered. Every six months or so, again, for years now, I test the app and hold my breath hoping, just hoping it will work. But it never works. Don’t waste your time and money. Zero stars. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App fails to open 90% of the time *2021-02-12, version 3.0.1* I was really looking forward to using this app but it’s nearly unusable. Content seem to be pretty good if I could ever get to it reliably. Hoping I can get my money back at this point or maybe 9/10th of my money. Possibly the most disappointing app purchase ever. ### 1/5 — St stock and will not budge vs *2020-10-03, version 3.0* This app has some disclaimers that come up when you open it but it gets stuck in one of them every time and I cannot get any further ### 1/5 — Not working! *2020-09-26, version 3.0* This update did nothing but make the app worse! Doesn’t work AT ALL!! ### 1/5 — Update doesn’t work *2020-09-24, version 3.0* I’ve enjoyed this app for sometime but since the recent update it just doesn’t work. Disappointing. ### 1/5 — Does not work anymore! *2020-08-31, version 2.9* I really wanted to use this app — but it completely does not work anymore. When I start it up for the first time, and it is downloading content — an auto-email is created to send the error logs to the developer... the problem is the email can’t be sent, and it crashes :( ### 1/5 — Poor app *2020-08-13, version 2.9* I never had a app that I bought but I can’t even open . It automatically just sends me to an email that tells me there’s problems but does send. I have an iPhone X with all the latest updates don’t bother with this app ### 1/5 — Bad App *2020-08-04, version 2.9* This App sucks. Cannot do anything with it. Should be totally refunded by AppStore. ### 1/5 — I wish it worked *2020-07-13, version 2.9* This app was such a letdown. It looked great, but one I opened it, it made it so that the only way to actually use it was to send myself a weird email with a bunch of nonsense in the body. I could not exit out of the email, so I never got to use the app I paid for. Every time I opened the app, all I got was the page where it tried to make me email myself. It made no sense! I want my money back. ### 1/5 — Wow. Should’ve listened to the negative reviews *2020-07-06, version 2.9* No matter how good the information may be in an app, if you can’t retrieve it or open the app, what’s the purpose? Someone, somewhere, just received a $5.99 donation from me. Ugh. Waste of time and money. ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2020-07-05, version 2.9* I have taken classes Steve in the past and was looking for this to be a great app. They still have the email that pops up and I didn’t find the information helpful. I am going to request a refund, expensive for an app that doesn’t work well. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great reference! *2025-02-28, version 3.0.2* I frequently use this to help with identifications and the numerous great recipes! ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2024-06-08, version 3.0.2* Very helpful for wild foraging, helps to identify edible and toxic plants 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ### 5/5 — Amazing App! *2022-09-16, version 3.0.1* This is one of my favorite apps. I’ve used it countless times and have had no technical issues with it. It has over 250 plants, but I wish it had more. ### 5/5 — Best wild foraging app. Period. *2020-12-13, version 3.0.1* This is amazing. I’ve always loved this app. I have had it for years but sadly watched it slowly stop working as no new updates were made. Steve Brill and crew are finally back, baby! A working app with the most in depth details about this stuff you will find anywhere. ### 5/5 — It’s back and again my go-to source for wild edibles! *2020-10-05, version 3.0* This app has been my trusted go-to for 10 years! With Apple updates breaking past versions, it now works seemingly and is rock solid and full of valuable info , i.e., identification, harvesting guidance, recipes... I highly recommend this app for beginners and advanced foragers. Happy hunting. :-) ### 5/5 — Amazing App *2020-10-01, version 3.0* The app was recently updated and I love it. It’s so easy to use and a recipe feature was added...hundreds of delicious wild food recipes. I recommend this app for beginners as well as advance foragers. Happy foraging!!! ### 5/5 — Love the new look! *2020-09-29, version 3.0* I purchased the app a while back before the update. There was a lot of great information, but it was a little buggy. The new version seems to work much better and looks great! Definitely was worth waiting for. Would recommend this app to anyone with an interest in foraging our culinary uses of wild edibles. ### 5/5 — Great, trustworthy, useful information! *2020-05-04, version 2.9* More than 30 years ago, I used to go on ‘weed walks’ in New York Central Park and Brooklyn Prospect Park, led by Wildman Steve Brill. I haven’t lived in NYC for 15 years and I’ve often wished I could get him to do another ‘weed walk’ where I live now. I am so pleased with this app! You tell it what region and season you’re in and it tells you what’s growing. You can also search for a plant by name. There are recipes and also the humorous asides I fondly remember. ### 5/5 — Critics Are Misguided *2018-07-22, version 2.9* The critical notes about the technology really miss the absolute wealth of information here that guides the amateur and expert foragers. All of the images and more information that you could hope for all at your mobile fingertips while you’re out and about on your foraging adventure. Unimaginable just a few years ago, and unparalleled in breadth of information, this app is a vital resource to keep in your pocket on your next woodland hunt. ### 5/5 — A Great Reference for the Field *2017-05-08, version 2.8* This app is a very handy guide to have if you are getting into foraging. Mobile yet detailed, it has a lot of great features that will help you learn and record your findings. I have had little trouble so far with the minor bugs mentioned. I am looking forward to social media being added so users can share info. If you get an opportunity to join one of "Wildman" Brill's foraging walks, for goodness sakes, don't miss it! It is a great experience. --- *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 2026-09-07.*