# Popular Science — user reviews > 621 indexed App Store user reviews of Popular Science by The Drive Media Inc., rated 4.30/5 from 134 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popular-science/id364049283/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popular-science/id364049283.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 101 · 4★ 8 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 17 ## What do users think of Popular Science? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Excellent use of iPad technology - 👍 Innovative and interesting design - 🖼️ Stunning visuals and photography - 📚 Great content and informative articles **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable app - 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive navigation - 💰 Overpriced issues compared to print - 📥 Slow and problematic downloads - 🔒 Issues with restoring purchases **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes frequently - Unable to access purchased issues - Download progress resets unexpectedly - Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions **Most requested features** - Ability to download issues in the background - Option to adjust text size and layout - Improved table of contents and navigation - Better integration with existing subscriptions ## Newest reviews (16 of 621) ### 3/5 — My app is crashing non stop *2024-10-31* Help me ### 3/5 — Great way to read Popsci *2023-06-23, version 7.7.4* I've been using this app for over a year with no issues. After reading the physical magazine for many years I've completely switched to the app now. It's a fair price for the content in my opinion, especially if you have a yearly subscription. My only complaint is that I purchased the subscription through Apple and it syncs with my phone but not my iPad, which is the device I want to use the most for reading. ### 1/5 — Can’t download subscription *2022-08-09, version 7.6.5* Paid for subscription years ago and never had issues. Subscription renewed in March this year and it will not recognize the purchase. Restore purchases does nothing. App just hangs. Deleted app, reinstalled and same thing. Cancelled subscription. Would like to get a refund but know how that will go. Don’t waste your money. ### 4/5 — How to register? *2022-07-07, version 7.6.5* How to register account? Only can login ### 1/5 — Won’t load subscription *2022-06-13, version 7.6.5* Have iTunes subscription. After not using for several months needed to restore subscription. Spinning wheel of death for infinity. Never could access subscription. Cancelled subscription and deleted app. ### 1/5 — I want my money back, app didn’t work *2022-01-27, version 7.6.2* I bought a subscription yesterday, and it isn’t letting me access the most recent issue. I’d like my money back. I should have looked through the recent reviews before subscribing. ### 1/5 — Never Buy! This is Scam! *2021-11-11, version 7.6.2* I made a subscription for last issue but guess what???? I cannot read. It always ask me to make subscription and I restore my subscription and says that you already have. You are thief! ### 1/5 — It is awful *2021-05-09, version 7.3.3* Is not useful. I subscribed for the latest issue but I can’t read. It always wants me to subscribe and when I click subscribe, it says you have subscription. It is a vicious circle. Hahaha. You should test your app good before release it. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2021-04-30, version 7.3.3* Will not renew can’t read it off line and once you leave the app have to reload it again. ### 1/5 — What? No off-line reading? *2021-03-18, version 7.3.2* Wanted to go on a camping trip and read a few back issues downloaded to my iPad. Turns out, if you’re off-line, the app can’t call home to the mothership to authorize the content on your own iPad. Fail. ### 1/5 — subscription fail *2021-02-15, version 7.3.2* could hardly appreciate the app and the articles, as after paying for a month subscription the app is still offering to subscribe, the articles fail to open. could I get access to what I paid for? ### 1/5 — error opening after purchasing *2021-02-06, version 7.3.2* Bought an issue to try out. Spend $4.99 on an issue. after purchasing I kept getting “ error opening”. Disappointed and won’t return ### 4/5 — Most recent review is I’ve 8ys ago? *2020-09-19, version 7.2.1* It’s a decent magazine, and a fun read, but the app is really...whimsical?....could be much better, and seems like it is not well thought out. Why can’t you just download the PDF version? ### 1/5 — “Not available in my country” for USA? *2020-04-30, version 7.1.1* Can’t open the app, which worked fine on previous version, but now just says “popular science is not available in your country”. I’m literally in one of America’s largest cities and I’m not using a VPN or anything. Seriously? ### 4/5 — Can't get Spring of 2020 mag. *2020-03-10, version 7.1.1* I have been using 'Popular Science' on my old iPad for a few years now. There were problems every so often but restoring my Apple account would correct those problems. You see my subscription is through Apple. And this time restoring didn't work. I can't get the 2020 Spring edition. My subscription is yearly and already payed for this year. Please fix this problem or cancel my subscription and give me back my money. ### 1/5 — Bad App *2020-02-25, version 7.1.1* I have a paid subscription, am signed in, am looking at current print copy, but the app won’t let me look at current issue without buying it...somebody goofed on this implementation! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App No Longer Will Load *2024-08-03, version 8.0.1* I can’t get the app to work anymore on iPad. And even when I did get it to work, I couldn’t see past issues nor would it really save where I was at. Can’t we just go back to print???? ### 1/5 — Won't open *2024-07-30, version 8.0.1* Won't even open now. Sad to see PS fail. ### 1/5 — New update removes a feature I used *2024-07-09, version 8.0.0* I could read and catchup on articles offline while on a flight (airplane mode). I should never have updated to this version as I knew they would be up to some fu-shi (rhymes with duck fit) since they let go so many of their staff and discontinued the issues. Now you can’t read anything offline. Uninstalled and cancelled subscription. Good riddance. I’ll download pdfs rather since they’re now encouraging this. ### 1/5 — Last issue was Fall 2023 *2024-04-30, version 7.7.7* The Fall 2023 issue is the last one I have. Restore purchases does nothing and the publisher did not respond to my email inquiry. Disappointed. I’ve been a subscriber for over 50 years 😢 ### 1/5 — Unable to restore purchases *2024-04-22, version 7.7.7* I can’t download any issues, so I have cancelled my subscription. A lot of apps have gone to requiring one to register an account even though purchased through Apple, I don’t know if that is the case with this, but if it is, then good luck with that, you won’t be getting any more money from me unless I can see the issues that I have already purchased. Update: Apparently I could restore purchases on my iPhone, but not my iPad, which is where I originally purchased the subscription. So bye bye… ### 1/5 — Unusable *2023-07-21, version 7.7.5* I just downloaded this on IOS and am unable to read anything after paying for the 11.99 subscription. Very disappointed. I downloaded this because the magazine is 15 dollars in the store but a year long subscription to the magazine is 12 dollars. Please fix it. ### 1/5 — Fraud *2023-04-23, version 7.7.3* Just paid and want to download the magazine, but when select a magazine it’s still asking to pay ### 1/5 — Can’t get access to the magazine *2023-02-17, version 7.6.7* Hello. after subscribing to the magazine i can't access it. The app, after filling the ID, shows me - failed. could you please show me how to do this. otherwise I’ll request to refund my money. thank you. ### 1/5 — Horrible and disappointing. *2022-12-31, version 7.6.7* Every time I open it, it says Mandatory app update required. So I click which goes to App Store and shows app is up to date. Also I start reading an issue while connected to try to download for later offline reading. Then when I get somewhere with no WiFi, i try to read and the library is empty. I always have to restore purchases every time I open the app. Then offline I have nothing. I like to read on the airplane WHERE I DONT HAVE INTERNET and I cannot read the magazine I paid for. Not to mention how lame the content has gotten in the last couple years. You’ve been doing this mag for 140 years but whoever is running it now has ruined it. I’ve been a subscriber for thirty years but I am about to give up. A year later and IT STILL DOES NOT WORK!!!!! 3/26/2022 Still crappy 12/31/2022! Can’t read the latest issue. Wants me to subscribe when I already do. ### 1/5 — DO NOT SUBSCRIBE!! *2022-11-12, version 7.6.5* Do not subscribe!! It took the money from me but I still can not read it and there is no way to sign up! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Review *2023-09-20, version 7.7.5* Each read is a great education. PJ🍷 ### 5/5 — Great app *2020-07-31, version 7.2.1* I have been a steady reader of PopSci for years, and seen the app change overtime. This iteration is the absolute best and least problematic. ### 5/5 — Why I read Popular Science *2020-07-22* I have been a reader of Popular Science since 1966 . Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to get my hands on the latest issue and commence my reading ### 5/5 — Works Great *2020-04-02, version 7.1.1* The app works perfectly, it’s easy to use and I love the fact that we can change font size, background colors and more with the app. I wish that account information was universal, as in I shouldn’t have to make a different account for the app so that I could access my paid for subscription to magazines. I would like it if all articles could be loaded on the app as well. It would make the explore much fuller and easier to read articles published daily. ### 5/5 — No access to content for print subscriber without paying again *2019-08-17, version 6.2* No print subscriber access without paying again. The support FAQ days they are aware and to log out and back in which doesn't work, but the fact it is in the FAQ means to me no plans to fix and the whole sorry keep trying position feels like a scam. I will gladly change this review if I am contacted with a fix in less than a week, IV waited two already without being able to read what I paid for ### 5/5 — Absolutely Amazing *2018-06-23, version 6.1* I just love this magazine. You really see the joy and passion these people put in every detail. From the researched and well written articles to the stunning illustrations. Just wow! Especially now with the updated app and new features. Good job keep it up! ### 5/5 — :( *2017-09-26, version 5.3.19* Aylık 17, yıllık 39 dolar diyor:( ### 5/5 — Waw *2014-04-15, version 4.4.2* Waw! ### 5/5 — nive *2014-03-20, version 4.4.2* nice ### 5/5 — I like it *2014-03-16, version 4.4.2* It great --- *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.*