# Marco Polo - Video Messenger — user reviews > 1,361 indexed App Store user reviews of Marco Polo by Joya Communications, rated 4.80/5 from 2,157,621 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,824,088 · 4★ 223,819 · 3★ 68,510 · 2★ 16,398 · 1★ 24,806 ## What do users think of Marco Polo? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Great for long-distance communication - 🚀 Convenient video messaging - 💡 Allows asynchronous communication - 👍 Easy to use - 👍 Helps maintain relationships - 👍 Useful for stay-at-home moms - 👍 Fun features like filters and voice changers **Cons** - 🔒 Expensive subscription model - 🐛 Video and audio quality issues - 🐛 Bugs and glitches - 🔋 High data usage - 🔒 Removing previously free features - 🐛 Inconsistent user experience after updates **Commonly reported bugs** - Videos stopping or going black during playback - Issues with marking messages as unwatched - Inconsistent behavior after app updates - Forced upgrade to paid version without warning **Most requested features** - Add text messaging capabilities - Improve video/audio quality - Bring back previously free features - Add option to save/download videos - Improve navigation and playback controls - Expand emoji and reaction options ## Newest reviews (19 of 1,361) ### 2/5 — It’s too expensive *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* It costs WAYYY to much to unlock most of the features on this app but it’s good if u don’t want to be able to do anything except film videos also i got a cat stand at five below and a Shakespeare book at Barnes and nobles ### 3/5 — Glitch *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I love Marco Polo, but sometimes it glitches ### 4/5 — Marco Polo *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* Marco Polo makes me look so chopped sometimes ngl😭🤣 ### 2/5 — Fix basic issues before you raise the subscription *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I use Marco Polo because it’s the app many ASL users prefer for video messaging. I subscribe because it’s the only way to speed up the videos, but that alone is not worth a subscription increase when BASIC features are missing, ie. NOT mirroring video (why is that not just the default?!?) and better quality video. I have an iPhone 17 Pro Max on high speed internet and my videos consistently look like I’m on an old dialup connection. The stuttering and dropped frames are a problem when trying to communicate via a visual language. Fix these issues and I’ll consider keeping my subscription. ### 4/5 — Fun little app! *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* Very cool ### 4/5 — Marco Polo *2026-08-15, version 0.1587.0* I think Marco Polo is such a fun thing to have for every age to have the are a couple glitches here and there but other wise, I think Marco Polo is great! ### 5/5 — Good *2026-08-14, version 0.1587.0* I mean why not like it ### 5/5 — Yes indeed *2026-08-14, version 0.1587.0* Great way to connect ### 2/5 — Is the app down? *2026-08-13, version 0.1587.0* I’ve been trying to send a video to someone and every time I press record it sends me an error message. Can someone fix this as soon as possible? ### 3/5 — Not if you have any handicap *2026-08-11, version 0.1587.0* We thought this would be good for my mom with vision loss to keep in touch with her hearing loss friends but with the pop up ads that are turned off in different places it was too frustrating. As a sighted hearing person I love seeing what family is doing but other apps seem better. I keep it for the few friends who are still on this app. ### 4/5 — Solution *2026-08-11, version 0.1587.0* can’t recording me at all but blurry and terrible quality for years and years and can’t even use it except viewing from others is only thing that works until I reach to Marco polo and did research through google and found the solution which is relief after 19 years struggle, wish I had my Marco polo fixed way back earlier ### 3/5 — Blocking people you aren’t in contact with option *2026-08-11, version 0.1587.0* I’ve recently found myself needing to block a contact I’ve had in my phone but have not chatted with here on Marco Polo and have discovered that it’s not option and you can only block people WHEN you’ve had a conversation with them on Marco Polo. This could be dangerous for some people and not to mention it’s overall annoying. Please add a block button without having to have been in contact with a person. ### 5/5 — Love connecting *2026-08-10, version 0.1587.0* I love the free version. Love connecting with my daughters , sister and friends! ### 4/5 — Breakdown *2026-08-10, version 0.1587.0* Lots of issues with the app crashing. I have to uninstall and reinstall at least once a month. I hope they’re able to get these problems worked out. ### 5/5 — Connection *2026-08-10, version 0.1586.1* This app has actually improved my life. My dad lives far away and I am closer to him than I have been for years because we Marco Polo. My sisters and closest friends use MP for quick check ins regularly. This app is the only blessing I can think of that came into our lives because of COVID. ### 3/5 — Audio *2026-08-10, version 0.1586.1* I wish they would fix the android auto audio. Whenever you’re hooked up to android auto it plays through the phone and not your vehicle. This has been an issue since I first got the app yet they continue to raise the price each year for the membership and extra features. ### 5/5 — Favorite App *2026-08-10, version 0.1586.1* I have been using Marco Polo since Covid shut the world down in 2020. It was a tremendous blessing to me then, a lifeline in many ways. And it has continued to be such a gift, to bring me close to friends and family who live out of town! This is my favorite app and I’m so thankful for it!!! ### 5/5 — Features *2026-08-09, version 0.1586.1* I don’t like the upgrade, but I enjoy using the app. ### 4/5 — Won’t let me watch *2026-08-08, version 0.1586.1* I love this app but lately it won’t let me watch others people videos like share castes and it makes me mad! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Poor video *2026-08-15, version 0.1587.0* Most of the time the audio comes through. The video is either nonexistent or very choppy/glitchy. Super disappointing. ### 1/5 — Frustrated *2026-08-08, version 0.1586.1* Tell me why I have cancelled my subscription and you’re still trying to charge me???? ### 1/5 — Nearly unusable unless you pay *2026-08-07, version 0.1586.1* I used to love Marco Polo to keep up with friends and even paid to upgrade! But then they nearly doubled the cost for Plus and took away most of the basic functionality from the free version. Want to listen in your car? Nope. Want to save your device battery by turning off the picture? Nope. Want to simply fast forward to hear something you forgot? Nope. I could go on and on. I understand SOME of these features deserve to have a cost, however when I can’t even LISTEN IN MY CAR without paying $80 it becomes a dealbreaker. ### 1/5 — Great idea awful app *2026-08-06, version 0.1586.1* The idea is amazing but the app itself is incredibly glitchy and even if you pay same thing. I’ve contacted support over 20 times they have determined it’s the app itself not my device or os ### 1/5 — Too Expensive *2026-08-02, version 0.1585.0* This app was really cool until they made you pay for everything. ### 1/5 — Fraudulently charged multiple years *2026-07-28, version 0.1585.0* I advise anyone considering paying money towards this app to reconsider. I cancelled my subscription in 2024 after trying to download messages unsuccessfully. Two years later after cancelling, I’ve been billed again for the yearly subscription. After reaching out to support, they said they couldn’t issue a refund and to take it up with apple. Apple has rectified the unauthorized charges but the lesson is never do business with an entity who forced you to go through a third party for a refund. Marco polo is a scam and money grab. terrible service ### 1/5 — Request *2026-07-27, version 0.1584.0* I love this, but me and my friend Gracie were just talking and realized that it’s a little hard to film without being able to pause the video and repost it. I get that going live is one thing but I feel like y’all can add a setting where you cannot go live and you can just film because me and my friend like to Vlog morning routines and fun stuff. I hope you give this attention and respond thank you! ### 1/5 — Used to be great *2026-07-24, version 0.1584.0* Marco used to be great. Though they have taken away the few perks on the free version that made it great and now it’s just good, but the penny pinching and attempt to bully people into paying for a subscription makes me feel like they deserve 1 star. I only use Marco to talk to my mom and wife so the paid version isnt worth it for me. However it’s as if they forget that free users help generate revenue as well by word of mouth. I used to tell other about this great app I use and they in turn would tell others which would for sure generate a few subscribers. It’s the typical story. Greed overcomes customer service everytime. I for one will continue to use the app, but will no longer share it with others. I will not help them generate more money when they take away the few liberties the free users had. You’d be better off offering free users a free month when they sign up other people and then maybe they would just sign up and continue to pay. Oh well. Another good app getting worse as they progress. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-07-20, version 0.1584.0* Good idea just managed terribley And i sent and email to the support team and they didn’t even try to fix it and it’s so dumb and now everything is erased bcs of them ### 1/5 — App stopped working due to spam pop overs *2026-07-16, version 0.1583.0* The constant spam was bad enough. Now I literally can't even play a video because the spam pop up blocks it then there's no audio resuming. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — GREAT *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* I wanted to talk to my bff but I don’t have like the call app or text so I downloaded this and I thought this would be a normal text app, NO this is an amazing way to get to talk there is sometimes a bug but I can always work around it! I have had this app for 6 years and I still love it! ### 5/5 — Marco Polo *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* Marco Polo is such an amazing way to connect with my friends even if they live really far away ### 5/5 — Love it! *2026-08-22, version 0.1588.0* Great app ### 5/5 — fun *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* it’s so quick and fun to do ### 5/5 — Great tool *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I love that I can keep up with friends and family, see their faces, hear their voices, and listen/watch when I can. Better than email- Videomail ### 5/5 — TLC went into this App and it shows *2026-08-20, version 0.1588.0* Genuinely such a great way to stay in touch with friends on a consistent and convenient basis! I know FaceTime has a voicemail system, but not everyone has an iPhone. You also don’t get cool features like you do on Marco Polo like video responses, the video speed options, and the notes section. It’s great that they have a free and a paid version, once I tried the pro version, it clearly showed the value and I haven’t looked back. ### 5/5 — I love this *2026-08-19, version 0.1588.0* I live this ### 5/5 — Thankful for this! *2026-08-19, version 0.1588.0* This has been such a great tool for communicating with friends. It’s so hard to nail down time for phone conversations, I appreciate being able to chat and pause as needed. The paid account is definitely worth it to be able to pause and fast forward ### 5/5 — LOVE IT! *2026-08-17, version 0.1587.0* Me,my friends and my family use this app to communicate all of them love the app too! ### 5/5 — Easy to send messages *2026-08-14, version 0.1587.0* Fun and cool --- *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 2026-08-29.*