# Olyns — user reviews > 155 indexed App Store user reviews of Olyns by Olyns Inc, rated 3.80/5 from 406 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olyns/id1495789093/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olyns/id1495789093.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 244 · 4★ 36 · 3★ 16 · 2★ 17 · 1★ 93 ## What do users think of Olyns? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Convenient recycling - 💰 Instant cash payouts - 🌎 Eco-friendly service **Cons** - 🚨 Machines frequently full or broken - ⏱️ Slow and time-consuming process - 🤔 Inaccurate app information - 🔍 Limited machine locations **Commonly reported bugs** - Login/account verification issues - Inconsistent container recognition - Machines freezing/malfunctioning **Most requested features** - Ability to favorite/track specific machine locations - Real-time machine status updates - Increase glass bottle capacity - Expand operating hours ## Newest reviews (20 of 155) ### 4/5 — A work in progress *2026-06-13, version 3.0.5* Olyns is in a test phase before a wide rollout, so I appreciate the opportunity to offer feedback that may be helpful. The app should prioritize nearest collection locations that are not full, or at least offer it as a search option. Due to weight and volume constraints, Olyns’ glass collection bags fill up quickly. That’s another issue but finding an available glass collection location just beyond my app-defaulted home area now takes a lot of non-intuitive phone screen tapping and swiping. I know users may have an option to bring recyclables inside the store hosting the location but supermarket managers are rarely just standing around the customer service counter waiting for something to do. I would rather just go to the next closest location that the otherwise helpful status bars show as open and well below capacity. ### 4/5 — A new way to recycle added to my way of recycling. *2026-06-04, version 3.0.5* Almost got a five star but instead it’s a four star. Why? Well after doing the recycle with the cube, I’m looking to cash out and the app tells me that there’s some type of error and to try again later. Multiple times it’s happened and sometimes it won’t cash me out till the very next day. The longest it’s done that to me was 2 days. There hasn’t been a time I was not paid cause when the app is working right it definitely will pay, regardless it took 1 or 2 days. Next and my only gripe would be the time it takes to recycle your containers… one at a time takes up most of your time and they don’t always get it right when placing a good uncrushed drink crv container. Like they say on the Apps FAQ’s the A.I that does the separation of containers in the cube will make mistakes. Damn straight it’ll make mistakes, it’s a damn program or some artificial blah blah blah. Other than that I separate my crushed containers to be taken to a recycle spot at another time. While my uncrushed will be taken to an Olyns cube near me. ### 1/5 — Cant cash out *2026-05-12, version 3.0.5* Tried this for the first time. Made a whopping $3.70 for the 20 minutes it took to load cans one at a time. Then when I attempted to cash it out to PayPal it is not working. ### 1/5 — Scam alert *2026-05-12, version 3.0.5* The concept of this app is great, but the execution is a total failure when it comes to the only part that actually matters: getting paid. I’ve built up a balance, but cashing out is impossible. Every time I click the PayPal verification link sent to my email, it redirects to a 404 page. It creates an endless loop where you do the work of recycling, but the app blocks you from accessing your money. When the core functionality of a "cash-back" app is this fundamentally broken, it starts to feel less like a service and more like a data-harvesting scam. Until they fix their redirect links and payout infrastructure, stay away. Your time is worth more than a "balance" you can't actually touch. ### 1/5 — Really useless *2026-05-08, version 3.0.5* Every time I try to Post this review somehow it doesn’t get posted. And Olyns has TONS of terrible reviews yet their rating is 3.6? What’s going on here? Every time I try to use one of the Olys vending machines, I waste lots of time and half the visits I leave without depositing my cans. because the machine doesn’t work or the app doesn’t work or the machine is “closed” or who knows what other excuse. When you call the Help phone number you just get a recording to delete the app & all your data & download it again. I did that twice and it still didn’t work. Olys is just a USELESS WASTE OF TIME. It’s a lame excuse for stores no longer accepting recycling cans that they sold to you & charged you a fee that you’re supposed to be able to get back. ITS A TOTAL SCAM. We need to get congress to demand that stores accept recycling. ### 1/5 — Terrible UI *2026-05-04, version 3.0.5* Terrible can’t even sign in because my phone number apparently does not seem to verify tried multiple times and still could not verify ### 1/5 — Can’t register *2026-05-03, version 3.0.5* The app complains that it can’t verify my phone number (which IS correct, BTW) but gives me no recourse for correcting it or getting help. ### 1/5 — Always full *2026-04-08, version 3.0.5* Worst option better and faster to go to retailer ### 1/5 — Always full - app too slow to update *2026-04-07, version 3.0.5* Machines are always full. App doesn’t update quickly enough so machines will show there is room even when they are full for a quite some time. Frustrating system. Need more machines, emptied more often. ### 1/5 — Garbage collector, ppl are garbage *2026-04-01, version 3.0.5* Why 20 minutes a session? Ppl are abusing it. I saw ppl take 4 large bags to deposit. Location: bay area ### 1/5 — Waste of time! *2026-03-31, version 3.0.5* I’m done with Olyns! The cash-out feature broke so I couldn’t get paid. Machines are often full, out of service, or closed. The glass compartment is perpetually full. The entire point of a self-service kiosk is 24/7 availability, yet Olyns kiosks, take off evenings, nights, early mornings, and holidays like fat-cat bankers. The process is painfully slow, taking forever for even small loads. Overall, it’s unreliable, frustrating, and not worth the time. ### 1/5 — Awful avoid at all costs *2026-03-28, version 3.0.5* Can not say enough bad things about the experience trying to use one of these machines. ### 1/5 — Frustrating, time-wasting, thieving, and undignified *2026-03-27, version 3.0.5* Tried to deposit cans once but it was full. Returned a week later when the employee at Lucky indicated to do so, set up the app etc., deposited my 20 cans and plastic bottles (glass was full - others seem to experience this issue constantly also) and was rushed out of my session by the kiosk and app (clock jumped from 17 minutes remaining to 20 seconds with no clear instruction on concluding session, etc). There was critical inconsistency between app and kiosk screen - the app asked for access to my camera to take a picture of my receipt on the kiosk screen, but nothing resembling a receipt was visible, and I was timed out before I could troubleshoot. My portal in the app said I had saved 5kg of CO2 that day - yet had $0 and 0 credits available? Horrible app experience, abysmal real-life experience, will cheerfully go miles out of my way to avoid ever interacting with this "service" again. Other reviewers indicate the company must be having cash flow issues, which isn't difficult to believe based on our experiences, yet their cash flow is in no way our problem, and I want my money. This company and the supermarket chains that host their kiosks are in violation of state law by making it prohibitively difficult to return our cans at locations that are legally mandated to accept them and cash us out. Olyns also owes a lot of us money!! This experience was truly such a ritual of indignity and humiliation, so convoluted and dysfunctional and needlessly intervened-upon, that I've considered devoting my spare time to eliminating these useless junk bots. Please bring back actual bottle redemption. ### 1/5 — Cash out not working *2026-03-21, version 3.0.5* If you’re thinking of downloading this app I’d suggest not to at this time. Cash out isn’t working and hasn’t been for days. You won’t be able to get your money out. No communication from the developers except a single useless pop-up within the app. Avoid this app until they get their act together. Or avoid it all together. This smells of a sinking ship. ### 1/5 — This APP cannot be registered at all. *2026-03-20, version 3.0.5* This APP cannot be registered at all. ### 1/5 — Message from Olyns customer service *2026-03-14, version 3.0.5* Olyns doesn’t use IRL people for customer service, only automated voice so they will send an automated message then hang up ### 2/5 — I think they’re having money issues *2026-03-14, version 3.0.5* I’ve been using them for about a year. I think they’re having growth or money issues. After my most recent experience recycling with them, I can’t seem to get reimbursed for recycling. It’s been four days now without success. They did send a notification through the app that payment was not working and to try again later. That was days ago. This also happened about a week ago and I couldn’t get reimbursed for a day. Meanwhile the kiosks have shorter hours, are closed holidays, almost never accept glass and report that they’re full most of the time and can’t accept recycling . It feels like the company is struggling to operate. ### 1/5 — App Is Trash *2026-03-11, version 3.0.5* The withdrawal feature is broken at least twice a month. Never any room for glass containers in the machines, just such a time consuming method to recycle goods. ### 1/5 — Can’t create account *2026-03-07, version 3.0.5* Can’t create account..says can’t verify phone number… So can’t use the machine… ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-03-03, version 3.0.5* Beyond terrible. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — It could not verify my phone number *2026-07-11, version 3.0.5* I could not register. I went to another recycling center instead. ### 1/5 — Bug NOT fixed *2026-07-09, version 3.0.5* Require to have my phone number verified before I can cash out, but always run into the same error when attempted to send the verification code. No human customer service. Digital assistant is stupid and totally useless. Basically got my money and refuse to pay me. Complete junk! Don’t use. ### 1/5 — Second time it’s not working *2026-07-01, version 3.0.5* This app + the machine is terrible! This is the second time it fails back to back. One time it was full. This time around it keeps asking me to login the app (I am logged in.) Asked to add it to my Apple wallet (done.) It asks me to hold near the reader. Been trying this for 10 mins to no avail. Seriously? It’s a waste of my time. (This is the machine next to the Safeway in Walnut Creek on Ygnacio Valley Rd.) ### 1/5 — Good Idea-Bad UX *2026-06-23, version 3.0.5* Update June 2026 Decides to give it another try. They did not disappoint. Still horrific customer experience. I just gave up on them and threw my bottle in a nearby trash can. Tried this today and was surprised at how such a great idea could be turned bad with an ill planned customer experience. The app doesn’t seem to actually know about all the machines. When you search it gives you a list. The first one on the list for me was several hundred miles away. I switched to map view and it showed the whole state. When you arrive at the machine, there is now instructions for use. Like why now make the Home Screen say open the card in your phones wallet and tap? And the machine was “closed”. Yes. A vending machine June has hours of operation! Shame. Such a great idea. ### 1/5 — Scam cash out verification does not work *2026-06-20, version 3.0.5* Scam cash out verification does not work ### 1/5 — ALWAYS FULL *2026-06-13, version 3.0.5* I’ve reached out to Customer Service about the machines ALWAYS BEING FULL, they just give me a generic answer. I tried to be patient with this company and almost a WHOLE MONTH the machine has been FULL. I’m so over this. It’s a great concept, but if they don’t know how to keep up with demand then y’all will lose customers. ### 1/5 — Interesting concept, but sadly disappointing and frustrating waste of time *2026-06-12, version 3.0.5* Most telling is that they are not fixing or improving anything over time. Their machines are full more time than they are not. They are not emptied regularly. The machines only work smoothly about half of the time, and they are not being maintained, so are just getting worse. A machine being shown as not full may actually really mean that it just isn’t working, so obviously can’t get full. And apparently no one thought to have any fault detection in their “connected” machines. The app sometimes does not show accurate information, or simply hangs. Have to back out and then redo. Overall just a sad huge waste of time. ### 1/5 — Recycling made impossible *2026-06-06, version 3.0.5* They make you jump through so many hoops just to recycle some bottles or cans for chump change. Not worth it at all. ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-06-05, version 3.0.5* This app is actually design by someone who doesn’t know UX. Don’t even get me started on the actual machine. Deleted instantly. ### 1/5 — This app is SO bad *2026-05-26, version 3.0.5* oh dear lord where do i even begin this app’s ui is atrocious and it seems like nothing functions. other then that when it comes time to cash out i always get hit with an error message, and that’s without mentioning that the only way to cash out is through paypal (which seems legally dubious) so it’s a whole process to set up. this whole system is jank. how is is that in europe they have machines that give you the money instantly and are able to process cans and bottles at quick speeds while in california we have this nimby excuse for a recycling system. i’m all for the can tax and limiting pollution, but 5 cents as an incentive honestly does nothing for the regular person and this company is not making it any easier for the ones who want to contribute to the cause. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — pretty cool! *2025-06-22, version 2.8.4* Neat idea and seems handy to drop off a few cans every time I run to the store; it took about 5 seconds per bottle to process and there was the occasional error that needed us to take it out and put it back in but still overall very convenient. the cash out was instant too, neat! ### 5/5 — Best side hustle ever! *2025-01-12, version 2.8.0* I’m a recologist . recycling this way is the best way to turn stinky trash into cash! I get back exactly what I paid for in crv. this is the best solution since other recycling companies rip you off by weight. ### 5/5 — Working Quite Well, 1 Suggestion *2024-09-18* This has proven to be a very convenient way for me to redeem the cans and bottles for which I have paid a recycling deposit. I have a redemption machine within walking distance and I can check its full status on the app. If it has enough space to take my cans and bottles I can schedule a walk by it. Otherwise, I can go by another day. Today for the first time, I tried the transfer to PayPal feature, and it worked immediately. What I would really like to be able to do is to set this particular machine as my favorite, or default, redemption machine, but so far I cannot do that it appears. ### 5/5 — Logging on *2024-08-28* The first two times I had trouble logging on. I placed my phone flat against the wireless symbol but discovered that it wasn’t necessary to touch the machine, only pointing the iPhone at the symbol was sufficient. Today I discovered that the apple wallet was asking me to double click to confirm. The machine is a great service to the public. Before I discovered Olyns I waited until I had several bags, usually several months, before hauling the lot to a recycling station, where I waited in the sun for my turn. Now I get cry back in almost real time. No more unsightly piles of cans in the back yard! ### 5/5 — Works as advertised *2024-08-12, version 2.7.25* If you’re in an area where the machines are around, this is a pretty easy way to collect the crv on them. The payout is digital and instant. ### 5/5 — Recycling is trending *2024-07-17* I downloaded this app in April and was able to drop off some recycling on each walk to the grocery store Now it’s getting a little more difficult as the machine will be full and unable to accept my recycling more often I’ve had to start checking on the app whether my local machine has space for my recycling. On the hole, that’s a good problem to have! ### 5/5 — Brilliant ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ *2024-06-03, version 2.7.25* Recycling easy and convenient. Here’s why I love it: I can recycle when I go grocery shopping. Recycling is self-serve. I get my CRV refund through PayPal ( not a handful of coins). The app is intuitive and easy to use. Well done Olyns! ### 5/5 — Future Recycling Legit *2024-05-20, version 2.7.23* this is the future of recycling, legit, and paying highly recommend ### 5/5 — Works well when you get used to it *2024-04-24* I came across this machine while walking past my local Smart & Final. Downloaded the app and started putting some of my empties in a shopping bag as I passed this machine on my daily walk First time I tried using the machine. It was a little difficult. What you have to know is not so much to open the app to start but to open, your “Wallet” and select the Olyns “card “and with that open bring your phone close to the machine so that it will sense it and ask you to insert your empty, undamaged, redeemable container into the hole. once I learned that, it has become my regular practice to put a few cans in my bag and drop them off at the nearby machine. ### 5/5 — A must have app ! *2024-04-16* Legit earning recycling app of the future! --- *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.*