# Newman’s Birds of Africa — user reviews > 78 indexed App Store user reviews of Newman’s Birds of Africa by Newman's Birds Pty LTD. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newmans-birds-of-africa/id722185873/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newmans-birds-of-africa/id722185873.md ## Newest reviews (17 of 78) ### 2/5 — Life list not working *2025-02-09, version 4.0.6* When accessing the life list, no previously sightings appear. You need to close the app and restart it. It can’t save current sightings as well. The closing of the sound clip is also a hastle. ### 1/5 — Does not work. *2023-12-21, version 4.0.4* The new app prompts you to download and store all the pictures, calls and accessories so you can use the app offline. It goes through the motions (and data) of downloading it, only to not save or store it, no matter how many times or combinations of delete and reload you try. So you are simply left with an app that has no pictures, no calls and not much else….. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2023-12-20, version 4.0.4* After the last update the app stopped working altogether. Supposed to tap a button on the opening screen. There’s no button. Frozen screen. Stuck. Fortunately I have a printed copy of Sasol birds. ### 1/5 — Terrible app without any support *2023-12-10, version 4.0.4* Please do not download this app. As the previous reviewer has said: content does not download as it should resulting in absent images and sounds. Even after deleting, clearing the cache and reinstalling the same problem recurs. Emailed support more than 3 weeks ago with no answer. Would love my money back to rather buy Roberts. ### 1/5 — Latest Update *2023-12-09, version 4.0.4* Cannot get past the welcome page after downloading the app. Screen freezes so cannot scroll down to tap the continue button. Very disappointed that I can no longer use my Newman’s app. Please fix ASAP. ### 3/5 — New content fails to load on iPhone *2023-11-01, version 4.0.1* Took 2 tries on my iPad mini to successfully load new content but 3 tries on iPhone 7 failed to load all content. ### 4/5 — Initial usability challenges *2023-03-27* I have the the Sasol, Roberts, EU Bird Guide Apps. By comparison the other are a little more simple to use because they work the same as a paper guide. This app is great in terms of content, has become my starting point, but it takes a while to become familiar on how it works. ### 4/5 — Newmans birds *2022-08-09, version 3.6.2* For a birding neophyte this is an excellent book that has helped me identify many local species. The various search options narrow down all the LBJ and raptor confusion. Well laid out with lots of different pictures of each species and really cool to be able to play the bird calls. ### 3/5 — Good tool *2022-03-12, version 3.6.2* Excellent tool in the way the birds are classified into their types. Makes it easier to find and identify the birds. However, photos of actual birds would be great too. Many thanks for a good app. ### 1/5 — No support *2022-03-01, version 3.6.2* Bought this app three years ago, have not used it much and its not received any updates. The data set is incomplete (many birdcalls missing) Then it stopped logging sightings. Takes you through all the motions and does nothing. An email to the developer remains unanswered (1 month later) messages to the FB page. Remain unread. Dissatisfied! ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2021-03-22, version 3.6.2* This app is a disaster. Search is really difficult and life list didn’t work. Reinstalled the app, forget password functiondidn’t work. Tried to sign up from the beginning, surprise surprise that didn’t work either. Emailed developer from the website, guess what?? Email bounced back. How do I get a refund? ### 3/5 — Average *2021-01-10, version 3.6.2* I think this app is average compared to Sasol having compared both side to side. I am not a twitcher so it suits my needs fine. I would have liked to create various lists based on area and added sightings to that area. ### 2/5 — Unable to view my logbook *2020-10-08, version 2.2* The app does not download your list, it leaves a blank form. Furthermore the list has a glitch in calculating the total number of bird species you have logged. A good guide but frustrating not being able to use the logbook function effectively. ### 4/5 — Fairly new to the app *2020-10-05, version 2.2* I have come across a few bugs, sure to be addressed over time. I suggest an indicator to reflect if a particular bird is on the life list before delving deeper. Eg, cranes family page could reflect which cranes are on the list ### 4/5 — Search *2020-09-08, version 2.2* I am battling to find a Maribou Stork. I have not found an index of common nor scientific names as in the book form. The search mechanism I find is very cumbersome and even frustrating. Maybe I have missed something. ### 4/5 — Thoughtfully designed birding app *2020-05-03, version 2.2* I appreciate the way the app is designed but would suggest a more consistent presentation perhaps with subheads identifying feeding habits, breeding, plumage & other identifying features, habitat, etc. Still, kudos on the app! ### 4/5 — 8.5/10 great but could use some better UX *2020-04-27, version 2.2* Really great resource, needs a few fixes from UX perspective. - search functionality could be better, upon search I would like to see a list/grid of all the birds, not the individual groups that you must open - some of the names are new/ don’t match in the book. - I think it would be great if you could view ALL the birds on one scrollable page. Would make it easier to use. - would be good to have an interactive map, can click on an area and will tell you likely species to see. Not just current location. - I think creating a comment forum on the app would be great, to be able to upload images/questions and the community can help answer and ID. Great app otherwise ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Tears *2026-06-20, version 6.3.14* App is not viable. One buys your bird app based on your physical book. Very disappointed that this app is still so poor after all this time. ### 1/5 — Cannot log in *2026-01-25, version 6.2.8* Had this app for a while now and the problems using it just keep on coming. Have been able to log in for ages then it won’t let you. Reset. No luck. Navigation of the species is also terrible. Clunky and difficult. ### 1/5 — Logged out *2025-11-08, version 6.2.8* So maddening to be logged out and then cannot log life list as it won’t allow me to log in. Even when updating the password. I know all my credentials are correct! ### 1/5 — It’s given up the ghost *2025-09-26, version 6.2.5* I don’t know what is happening, but the app no longer works. I purchased it years ago and yesterday I could not login so I changed my password, now it really doesn’t log me in, plus each time I choose a class of birds I get a value of ZERO (0) returns, no matter which classification I use (i.e. waders, or birds of prey etc.). It was working fine at least 2 weeks ago! I’ve tried to offload the app and then reinstalling it but it is still the same. I tried to download assets, nothing happens either. I don’t want to lose my lists plus I paid for this app, so I expect it to work. This is very inconvenient. I don’t know what you’ve done to the app but this glitch needs to be fixed ASAP. ### 1/5 — Previous App was better *2025-01-04, version 4.0.6* The previous app had a great search function. The current version is still clumsy. I hope they can improve this soon. ### 1/5 — A disaster *2024-12-28, version 4.0.6* When I first bought this app I was assured that the developers were aware of the bugs and things that were not working. Three years later it still isn’t working. Sometimes part of it works. Most of the time very little works. The list of sightings hangs and does not load, as a result my previous trips appear to be completely lost. I intend to upgrade but not to this app! ### 1/5 — It was great before the “update” *2024-11-09, version 4.0.6* Now- I can’t enlarge the pics… It’s not user friendly anymore . Going to just buy something else and start again. 0/10 would not recommend ### 1/5 — New version terrible!! *2024-06-08, version 4.0.6* This app used to be amazing! The new version is completely user UNFRIENDLY!! Can’t navigate anything, keeps saying the audio and content needs to be downloaded but everytime I do it, it does not save the downloaded content. Absolutely useless app now! Rather download the Robert’s Bird App. I am now sitting with an app that I paid for and cannot use!!! ### 1/5 — This app does not work *2024-01-13, version 4.0.4* When opening the app it displays a screen asking you to tap the button below to proceed, but you can't scroll down to the button that you are supposed to tap. Don't waste your money. This is a scam. ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2024-01-05, version 4.0.4* I love the Newmans App but something has gone wrong and it does not function like before. When I open the app it has a cartoon picture of a bird with text below thanking me for downloading the latest version of the app. There is more text followed by an instruction to ‘tap on the button below’ but it is not possible, as the page does not move up or down! Now I have an app which I’ve paid for but cannot use! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent for bird calls *2025-10-02, version 6.2.6* Worth the money spent ### 5/5 — Now a great app with very welcome improvements! *2024-07-12* This app always had great content, but the user interface and experience was awful: until the recent refresh. What a positive change! You can’t even call this an update; it’s a complete and very welcome overhaul. This is the interface that the content deserved, well done! Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Perfect! *2021-07-21, version 3.6.2* I’m able to search for birds without needing my glasses. It’s so good to have the picture and a photo. Love that I now have an electronic life list. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2020-03-13, version 2.2* Great app, easy to use. I would highly recommend for amateur birders as it groups species and families nicely which other bird apps don’t do. The calls are good and pics are good. The only thing I would recommend for the app is updating the new species seen in Southern Africa which aren’t yet on the list ( such as white tern etc...). I would also try add more bird calls that are absent. ### 5/5 — Amazing app *2019-03-02, version 3.4* Very comprehensive and intuitive to use. Well worth the buy 😁 ### 5/5 — Met my initial expectations. *2018-08-01, version 3.3* Recommended to those who are keen to have bird ID info during a safari or even otherwise. ### 5/5 — Loving the app *2018-03-26, version 3.3* I’m really enjoying the app! My 6yr old daughter and I have been fastidiously adding new sightings to our list every day. It has made me much more aware of all the birds around me...I’m even noticing the calls of the birds (that I can’t see). Love how easy it is to navigate too. ### 5/5 — Safari Live *2018-03-04, version 3.3* Great app for tracking and learning about birds on Safari Live! ### 5/5 — Great App for safariLIVE! *2017-11-30, version 3.1* I got hooked on safariLIVE many months ago and this app is an awesome guide while they are “Birding” on the Safari drives and walks! Very comprehensive app, but very easy to navigate and use, as well! Guides you through the many, many species of African birds! Pictures are very clear and well-defined for adding sightings to your list! Well worth the cost... ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2017-11-01, version 3.1* Got this after buying a more expensive app which although more comprehensive did not have a user friendly search function to identify birds. This app I have found has an excellent search function and is very easy to use. Well worth the price and is exactly what I was looking for. --- *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 2026-08-15.*