# Octopus for Tourists — user reviews > 279 indexed App Store user reviews of Octopus for Tourists by Octopus Cards, rated 2.10/5 from 223 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octopus-for-tourists/id1505492952/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octopus-for-tourists/id1505492952.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 49 · 4★ 12 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 147 ## What do users think of Octopus for Tourists? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 🚀 Convenient for tourists - 🚀 Works seamlessly on Apple devices - 👍 Helpful for getting around Hong Kong **Cons** - 💰 Inflated exchange rates and hidden fees - 🐛 Top-up issues and unreliable functionality - 🤖 Poor customer support and lack of human assistance - 🤷‍♀️ Forced to use non-local currency **Commonly reported bugs** - Transactions failing after initial use - Card not showing up in Apple Wallet after purchase - Inability to transfer existing physical card to app **Most requested features** - Allow payment in local Hong Kong dollars - Improve top-up reliability and stability - Provide better customer support channels ## Newest reviews (10 of 279) ### 4/5 — 还行 *2026-07-07* 明明已经支付成功却不显示卡片 但是几十分钟就退了 **Developer response:** 你好，為進一步了解你嘅情況，請你按此連結https://wa.me/85260377021，我哋嘅在線客戶服務員會提供協助。我哋嘅服務時間為星期一至星期五上午9:00至下午9:00；星期六﹑日及公眾假期上午9:00至下午6:00。如有需要，你亦可以致電八達通顧客服務熱線☎️2266 2222，客戶服務員會為你作進一步跟進，熱線服務時間係星期一至五上午9時至晚上9時，星期六上午9時至下午6時。我哋收到你嘅查詢，會儘快提供協助，不便之處，敬請見諒。 ### 2/5 — Wouldn’t Top Up *2026-07-02, version 1.5.3* Unfortunately, I wasn’t able top up like the other negative reviews. It allowed me to add 100hkd and then after that, nothing but errors. Fortunately, I was able to use ALL of the 100hkd. So I was golden for my short HK trip. However, my cousin said every 7/11 and circle K will top up for you. Might be the next best option besides physical card. I never got around to doing this though and I was afraid they may Include more fees. ### 1/5 — This app does not work for top ups *2026-05-18, version 1.5.3* It’s 2026 and you can’t top up the card with a credit card. It throws and error code and asks you to call the hotline. The hotline said they’d call my WhatsApp but it only works for locals. Zero cs for tourists. They just want you to top it off with cash, but that makes this app useless. They have the facilities for credit cards but haven’t been making it work for some reason. ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-05-13, version 1.5.3* Forces you to pay in foreign currency and charges a 6% (!!!!) FX fee. Just use credit card instead, it’s accepted most places that take octopus card. ### 1/5 — はっきり言ってゴミ *2026-05-09* 払い戻ししようとしたらまずはチャージしてねって強いられ、しかも最低チャージ金額が100HKDとかいうふざけた数字と来た。その上チャージしないとアカウントも消してもらえない。強盗紛いなことするなよ **Developer response:** Sorry for any inconvenience caused. We would like to understand more about your experience, please click this link https://wa.me/85260377021 to find our Online Customer Service Representative via our verified WhatsApp account, we will provide assistance accordingly. The service hours are Mon to Fri, 9 am to 9 pm; Sat, Sun and public holidays, 9 am to 6 pm. Thank you. ### 1/5 — 残金の返金がされない！ *2026-05-07* チャージも無事にでき、 使い勝手はとても良くて旅行中は大満足でした！ が、、 3ヶ月待って残高の返金手続きをしましたが、 半年経ちましたが、返金されてません。 返金処理をするとアカウントも消えるので、問い合わせのしようもない… 次回はアプリではなく物理カードにします。 **Developer response:** Sorry for any inconvenience caused. We would like to understand more about your experience, please click this link https://wa.me/85260377021 to find our Online Customer Service Representative via our verified WhatsApp account, we will provide assistance accordingly. The service hours are Mon to Fri, 9 am to 9 pm; Sat, Sun and public holidays, 9 am to 6 pm. Thank you. ### 1/5 — Приложение дважды списало деньги ни за что *2026-04-22, version 1.5.3* Карта октупус так и не оформилась, зато дважды списали по 20 баксов с карты, офигенное приложение ### 1/5 — Multiple problems *2026-04-22, version 1.5.3* 1) I created an octopus ecard last year with deposit and put it on my apple wallet — now the card is removed from my wallet and all details such as deposit and balance are missing 2) I cannot log into this app! It says service is temporarily unavailable. I don’t like leaving reviews but this is terrible ### 1/5 — Scammy exchange rate *2026-04-21, version 1.5.3* What the title says: you’re only allowed to top up using a currency other than HK$, and the app imposes an excessive 6% fee on top of the mid-market exchange rate you can look up online. Ironically, if you have a CNY balance eg a mainland UnionPay card, there is no 6% fee, because HKers are afraid to take advantage of their Big Brother so blatantly… When foreigners come to USA, Canada, UK, or Europe, businesses don’t charge them more than the sticker price based on where their card was issued. But when it’s the other way round, we have to pay 6% fee for Octopus, 3% fee in mainland (some cases), 3% fee in Indonesia (some cases)… I am sure there’s more, but I talk from my personal experience. I do know that there are hidden fees for cross-border transactions, charged by acquirers, but 1) they are much smaller, like 1-1.5%, and 2) explicitly upcharging foreigners makes businesses look cheap and petty. Many places don’t do that, or even make it illegal to do so, and charge everyone a fixed price. Btw, Japanese Octopus-like cards from Apple Wallet can be topped up with foreign cards and charge no commission, what you reload in yen is what your foreign cards is charged, nuff said. ### 1/5 — Mostly not working *2026-04-01* When the Apple Pay top up actually works it is super convenient. That is if you also feel ok with the a bit poor exchange rate. My advice. Set it up. Then use an atm to take out money and top up your octopus card in 7/11. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — terrible app terrible support *2026-08-17, version 1.5.3* landed in hong kong and added 300HKD, took the money from my account but no account was created. whatsapp ai agent is so useless and braindead wasn’t even useful and customer support was also terrible. told me to wait 2 months for a refund and couldn’t even initiate it yet. what a scam. then it wouldn’t let me add any more money either absolutely terrible app ### 1/5 — Topped up but failed to add card *2026-08-14, version 1.5.3* I topped up 100 hkd with my US credit card but it showed an error while adding it to Apple Wallet, that’s it, and showed nothing after I backed to Home page. ### 1/5 — Mr. *2026-07-22, version 1.5.3* The rating for this app should be 0/5. The currency is radiculous low when you use Apple Pay. Do not recommend using it. ### 1/5 — So bad cannot top up! *2026-07-19, version 1.5.3* Warning! Only works first time top up. After that it will not let you top up the money! ### 1/5 — Absolute Scam *2026-07-18, version 1.5.3* Just tried to set up a card on my iPhone, paid £35GBP (can see via Apple Pay transaction was successful on my card) and NOTHING from the App and NO support! If that’s not a scam I don’t know what is!!! ### 1/5 — Cannot pay using Hong Kong dollars *2026-07-12, version 1.5.3* Perhaps it’s me being difficult, but I have a payments card set up in HKD that I cannot use to pay since the app expects me to use a foreign currency and pay a fee to the bank every top up. Tried setting up the standard octopus app but I need a Hong Kong phone for that. Too bad, I’ll buy a physical card instead. ### 1/5 — High fees *2026-07-04, version 1.5.3* Not worth it, 6% currency spread and over 20% hidden fee during the refund ### 1/5 — Scummy *2026-06-15, version 1.5.3* They don’t accept payment in HKD, so they can charge exchange fees way above market rates ### 1/5 — Charged and got nothing *2026-06-07, version 1.5.3* Was charged $33 (US) and card failed to add to wallet. App has no card or acknowledgment. It just took my money. ### 1/5 — nicht mehr zu gebrauchen *2026-06-01* neuerdings kann ich keiner meiner karten (visa, amex oder mastercard) mehr benutzen um die karte audzuladen ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Worked flawlessly *2026-08-25, version 1.5.3* I’d heard previous versions of this app didn’t work well, so I was planning to buy a physical Octopus card in Hong Kong. But when I arrived at West Kowloon at 10:30 pm and the only kiosk for tourists wasn’t taking credit cards, I sure was glad that I had downloaded this app just in case! It was so easy to use for transportation and purchases, and I was able to top up in seconds from anywhere. I was even asked if I was a HK resident because I was able to top up and pay just like a local! After my trip, I got the balance refunded in just two days without any trouble. I’m very glad that I used the app instead of the physical card. ### 5/5 — Works fine *2026-08-11, version 1.5.3* It actually works pretty well, not sure what the other reviews are about. From australia ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2026-07-28, version 1.5.3* I was initially a little bit hesitant to use this due to the below average rating. My personal experience is quite to the contrary. I was in HK for 7 days and I used it multiple times every single day without any issues. It is very convenient and refilling the account is simple and quick. I literally added funds to the account while waiting for the next bus on more than a few occasions. If you plan on using public transportation in HK, this is a must. ### 5/5 — Good app, mediocre top up *2026-06-20, version 1.5.3* The app is so useful in Hong Kong but there is the issue of topping up. If you have that issue add less money and it should work. ### 5/5 — Topping Up Funds - Using VISA Debit Card *2026-06-17, version 1.5.3* I’ve been coming to Hong Kong quite often for work but always had trouble in the past “Topping Up” my card so I could do laundry. I believe I’ve narrowed down some of my previous mistakes: - Originally tried using Octopus App (not Octopus TOURIST). - When attempting to “Top Up” funds on regular Octopus App it would ask for a local phone number which I don’t have since I live in the U.S. I should have been using Octopus TOURIST app - Added my credit cards to Apple Pay and attempted to “Top Up” using a Visa credit card which wasn’t working for some reason, it seems Mastercard is preferred here WHAT DID THE TRICK: I ended up adding my Debit card to my Apple Pay and was finally successful adding funds to my Octopus Tourist card from there. Apps current 2/5 Star rating is misleading, I was finally able to figure it out and can confirm it works and is legit. Just took some trial and error. ### 5/5 — Niquel *2026-06-03* Télécharger pour quelques jours. Ajout d’argent en quelques clics, aucun problème sur tout mes déplacements et surtout très pratiques. A la fin, j’ai clôturer la carte en quelques clics et j’ai été remboursé du solde en quelques minutes. Les développeurs ont bien amélioré le service. ### 5/5 — It works! *2026-05-10, version 1.5.3* It really works. Very few apps actually work, at all, in 2026, so I am pleasantly surprised that I was able to easily set up my card with Apple Pay ### 5/5 — Works *2026-04-27, version 1.5.3* Idk what’s up with the low reviews but it’s seamless for transit. During my one week stay near Jordan street, it was useful the few times I took a bus, but in hindsight I could have just used metro and Apple Pay. ### 5/5 — Convenient and Simple to Use- bad reviews are outdated *2026-04-14, version 1.5.3* Used this for more than a month while I was waiting for my HK bank account to open and it was incredibly easy to use, I never ran into any problems. You can top up with Apple Pay and the Octopus card itself also shows up in your Apple Wallet which makes using it incredibly convenient. I’d recommend for everyone who plans on using public transportation in HK, but it’s also accepted as payment in most stores/restaurants. ### 5/5 — Works seamlessly for 2026 as US resident *2026-04-13, version 1.5.3* I’m from the US and landed in HK without realizing I needed an octopus card to get around smoothly. I downloaded the app, connected my credit card, added some HKD to start off, and it worked seamlessly throughout my entire trip. It was so convenient to have in my wallet. It provides the same 50 HKD refundable deposit when you first top/load the card as would the physical card. I had to add more money/top off the card multiple cards throughout the trip and it was easy. Definitely recommend everyone to use instead of having to visit a counter or talk to someone. Easy process! --- *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 2026-08-27.*