# Private Kit — user reviews > 59 indexed App Store user reviews of Private Kit by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, rated 3.70/5 from 121 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-kit/id1501903733/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-kit/id1501903733.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 65 · 4★ 7 · 3★ 14 · 2★ 15 · 1★ 20 ## What do users think of Private Kit? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 💡 Great idea for contact tracing - 🔒 Private data logging - 👍 Appreciated effort by MIT - 🚀 Potential to slow virus spread - 👍 Can log location without app open - 👍 Can export data for contact tracing **Cons** - ❓ Confusing and unclear UI/UX - 🐛 Frequent app crashes - 🤷 No idea how to use it - 📉 Poor execution and polish - 🚫 No support or response - 📉 Data import not intuitive - 📉 Map lags and shows no info - 📉 GPS data not accurate - 📉 App doesn't log trips consistently - 📉 UI elements are hidden or off-screen - 📉 Location data clusters or shows incorrect locations - 📉 App doesn't work as intended for many users - 📉 Incomplete instructions **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when trying to view movements on map - Map crashes/closes app before loading - App crashes when trying to open map - App crashes when trying to view overlaps - Map shows zoomed out view and crashes - App crashes when visualizing data streams - App doesn't show location - App doesn't log trips consistently - Map doesn't update routes - Import/Export/News icons are hidden or inaccessible - Three vertical dots (menu) are off-screen - GUI displays incorrectly on smaller screens - News button does not work - Import button shows 'Rolling out soon' - Export button text is cut off - Description box covers half the screen - Latest update broken for some users - Latest update forgot previous weeks log - Update from two days ago prevents tapping start logging button - GPS data not accurate, shows incorrect locations - Map overlay shows incorrect wandering - Cannot access three buttons (import, export, news) due to screen size - The 'for more information' box hides import/export/news buttons - Location logging clusters locations in one spot - Location data placed at locations never visited - Map is zoomed out by default - Cannot get import/export/news icons - Cannot access three vertical dots upper right hand corner - App not optimized for iPhone SE screen size **Most requested features** - Better howto and help information - More rigorous and robust app development - Simple notebook feature for user contacts - Clearer explanation of map features (green targets, red pins) - Option to add locations when without phone - Explanation of what a 'Hit' looks like - Make data-sharing opt-out instead of opt-in - Consider implementation on existing platforms like Facebook - Explanation for the number in the circle on the map - How to input a positive test result - Default map view should be zoomed to data limits - Make GUI elements fully accessible on smaller screens - Explanation of import/export/news buttons - More detailed documentation for data import/export - Option to add manual entries for contacts - Clearer explanation of data sources and trusted authorities ## Newest reviews (16 of 59) ### 2/5 — Data import not intuitive home screen always says not enough data. No support *2020-05-19, version 0.5.19* Tried numerous time to import locations data from google with out success. Documentation is thin on how to do this . Preferred file type . What to do if you encounter problems . Good idea but need polish to be useful ### 2/5 — Great Idea - Poor Execution *2020-05-01, version 0.5.19* Always On makes no sense. There are very specific times - vector points - that need to be tracked. Please put more resources into developing a more rigorous and robust app. ### 2/5 — Needs work *2020-04-30, version 0.5.19* Great at logging my movement, keeping my data private, and exporting these data if I ever need to do that. UI needs work. It also crashes when I try to view my movements on the map on my iPhone 8. ### 3/5 — Good idea, still lots of bugs *2020-04-22, version 0.5.19* Every time I try to open the map it crashes/closes the app before loading anything. I think this app is still in beta stage, so I’m expecting bugs. However it’s not very usable at this stage. I’m keeping it so it’s still recording my locations Incase I need them, and hopefully the next updates will make it useful. The previous version didn’t crash, but it didn’t display any data on the map either. ### 4/5 — New update *2020-04-16, version 0.5.19* So when you click on the visualize data streams button, it shows you a piece of a map momentarily before booting you out of the app. Looks like another bug but hopefully you guys know this by now. And also would like more info about choosing an information source. Are we supposed to look up our local and any other .gov website that supposedly does testing for COVID-19?? Kinda confusing, well a little bit. ### 3/5 — Import location history good - did it work???? *2020-04-16, version 0.5.19* The new version allows us to import our location history but there is no indication that it actually worked. Did I do it right? Who knows. I downloaded the data, got a long string of odd characters, but did that import my location history into the app? Please add something to show “we have location data from X to Y” or something to tell us that the data actually imported into the app. The ability to “Visialize data streams” crashes the app. ### 2/5 — What is the point? *2020-04-14, version 0.5.14* First, I thought I was signing up to help with a potentially new way to track our current situation, but never did learn the tricks. For the first few weeks, I noticed the circles around where I went and the potential intersections with others. Never understood how it could be useful, for example, when we drove along rides where bicyclists and pedestrians were walking, yet I was overlapping with people. Now, that doesn’t appear at all and the map page locks up when clicking the button to see my overlaps. I don’t understand how if it isn’t shared with anyone, how do I see their overlaps? Is this helping anyone or any organization? ### 3/5 — One suggestion, 2 criticisms *2020-04-14, version 0.5.14* 3 stars for effort, but less for usefulness now. Suggestion: Many many people want to be able to do something and helping with their own contact tracing is a good start. Too much of the current contact tracing method relies on patient memory, which gets less precise as you go back in time. I suggest this app add a simple notebook feature where users can enter their own contacts. An easy interface to select the date & time and make a note if it was a public place (grocery store, work) or a private encounter including names __________ (eg met with 2 friends ____ & ____ for whatever activity). The info gets dropped out once it’s 15 days old. Should be easy coding and zero privacy issues since it’s user input and doesn’t get sent out anywhere. If the user gets the virus, they’re well prepared for the contact tracing interview and if they hear of someone getting it, they can scan their own history list to see if they should self isolate. Criticisms: 1. Why is the “trail” marked with giant green bodies instead of just a line connecting dots? Simple dots would far better pinpoint locations where there may have been a stop (eg grocery). 2. It doesn’t seem to work well in our rural area. The ‘public data set’ is far from matching our state’s map of reported cases. But maybe that’s one of the parts under development. ### 3/5 — Worked good until update..... *2020-04-13, version 0.5.14* After last update I can no longer see my trail. It shows the map zoomed way out and then crashes. ### 3/5 — Needs at least a minimal user manual *2020-04-13, version 0.5.14* I hope this app is giving the developers useful information; that’s why I continue to give it my location data. But as a user, it’s frustrating to not have any information on what, export, import or load data do. At least where I live in the SF area in California, loading public data doesn’t seem to reveal anything on the map. ### 2/5 — Other countries? *2020-04-12, version 0.5.14* Will this work if I'm in Canada? ### 2/5 — Been using for 25 days *2020-04-12, version 0.5.14* I’ve been using this app for 25 days now. Sometimes it shows my location. Most of the time, it doesn’t. Now it is not showing anything on the map. No logging of location, no trace data, no COVID overlap, nothing. And I’ve imported my Google information 4 times now over the past 25 days hoping it would give me something. I really do not see the point. ### 2/5 — Good intentions, poor execution *2020-04-11, version 0.5.14* I really want to like this app and use it for the greater good, but every time I go to “Check Overlap” I see a zoomed out map briefly before the app crashes. Because of these hard crashes, it’s hard to even know if my location is being logged at all. How do I know that the app is working properly? I really appreciate the effort and will continue to allow the app to log my location, but I would also appreciate a fix to the map feature so I know the app is doing what it claims. ### 2/5 — No clue *2020-04-10, version 0.5.14* I read about this app and want to support and use it but I have no clue how it works. Its very unclear and confusing. I am sure it was rushed to get it out. Hoping future updates will make it MUCH clearer how to use it properly. ### 2/5 — Not Clear What It’s Doing *2020-04-08, version 0.5.11* When I look at my city I see one giant purple circle. Is that a bunch of people or just me? Then around Seattle I see 4 big purple circles and 2 small darker purple circles. Then in Los Angeles (I assume) I see 3 large purple circles and 2 small dark purple circles. Am I to understand that only 12 people are using this app? If not, this doesn’t seem to be very easy to understand and if so, you need a better marketing team. Great idea though, from a trusted institute!! ### 3/5 — I want to use this app BUT... *2020-04-07, version 0.5.11* Similar to what many others have said, I really want to use this app, for myself and for the greater good. But... I mean, what even is it? I have zero clue what it is doing, the instructions/information is nonexistent, the UX/UI is completely unhelpful (check overlap? with a bunch of overwhelming red circles everywhere? and I guess theres supposed to be some green trail?)... I mean what even is this app? I downloaded it because I figured MIT was up to good things... and I am sure they are, but as it stands now I can’t see the point in this app and there is no clue given to me about any potentially hidden benefits, the vision of what it hopes be or really any context at all. I reached out and offered to help with the design and haven’t gotten any reply (I have no doubt they are busy but just let me see how I can help!). I have deleted the app once already and will likely delete again now. If they want us to participate then they really gotta do a better job telling us about what this obtuse app we are allowing to track us at all times is even doing. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Too complex *2020-06-19, version 0.5.19* I simply cannot figure out how to use it. ### 1/5 — Needs better howto and help info *2020-05-27, version 0.5.19* No idea how to add health authorities. This app needs much better howto and help info so users know what to do with it, how to configure and operate it. Seems potentially useful. ### 1/5 — No support *2020-05-01, version 0.5.19* Is this app working as intended anywhere; for anyone? I emailed various staff and received two replies. I provided feedback over at least two updates, again no response. Incomplete instructions such as : select trusted authority but no explanation or source list for one near by. And the import your google movements is useless without cheater instructions. At the top the app states: open this place again and the download will automatically import. So get with it team or go back to gaming. Thanks ### 1/5 — Huh *2020-04-26, version 0.5.19* Doesn’t work, confusing instructions, map lags and shows no info ### 1/5 — Great Idea with poor system workout *2020-04-18, version 0.5.19* It looks as an App done by some MIT students in their free time. I can not see my routes, and the intersection information, as tested against my friends here - are simply nonexistent. Reporting is not obvious and data fidelity overall seems unreliable. ### 1/5 — Does not Import Past Locations *2020-04-18, version 0.5.19* It downloads my past locations but will not upload them to the app. Without location history you get a message that says, “Not enough data,” which makes the app useless. ### 1/5 — Poor design and does not work *2020-04-13, version 0.5.14* The U/X does not exist. The user does not know what he/she is using the app for. There are giant purple blobs (supposedly your locations) and no green trails (as claimed) on the app. Furthermore the purple blobs (my supposed locations) are also showing up in areas I don’t even visit. Maybe GPS triangulation errors? I deleted the app and won’t bother downloading it as Apple and Google are working in contact tracing techniques which I am sure will be better implemented in the phones. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2020-04-12, version 0.5.14* It didn't log my first trip. After making sure the app was open, it logged my second trip. After my third trip, it shows no trip. Google does much better in maps. ### 1/5 — Bugs — not working *2020-04-08, version 0.5.11* Sadly your app is not working at all. It does not even show my location. I have tried to reach out and there is no response. I feel defeated in my attempt to try to make this work in my local community. Disappointed. ### 1/5 — Bad updates *2020-04-01, version 0.5.10* The update from two days ago happened just after I downloaded this. Now it wont let me tap the start logging button. It is behind(but still visible) the note verbage. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — I leave my Iphone at home & mostly use Apple Watch?? *2020-04-13, version 0.5.14* I have the app running on my I-phone. But I mostly only wear my Apple Watch when out of the house. Will my watch serve as a suitable substitute for my phone? Thanks John ### 5/5 — App is GREATLY improved since ~April 10 *2020-04-11, version 0.5.14* The maps are very easy to see and understand now. I'm very happy for this recent app update. The app was improved for both Apple and Android (if you know anyone with an Android and they have this app, tell them to open it and look. Please spread the word ### 5/5 — YOU GOT THIS *2020-04-08* The project is one of importance. This must be done. I must share and I encourage others to share to their social media’s. ### 5/5 — Great idea *2020-04-03, version 0.5.11* Appreciate this work in progress. The latest update has broken it for me unfortunately. The map to check your movements is now zoomed out and it’s very difficult to zoom in to check your visited locations if you’ve not moved too far. Previously the map was zoomed in to begin with. This latest update has not logged/does not show my movement and has somehow forgotten the previous weeks log of movement. Also there is a description box that covers half the screen and could be used to display the map instead. If it would go away once we’d read it it would give more screen real estate to map. Maybe if you guys got some funding and got an app developer to fix this app it would undoubtedly be a great help and save lives ### 5/5 — Just what I wanted *2020-04-02, version 0.5.11* What I was looking for is an app that would track my location without needing an online account and without having to have the app open. This does that. 👍🏻 If I get sick, I can send this data to someone to show where I’ve been (leading to who I may have infected) without having time remember. ### 5/5 — Scary! *2020-04-01, version 0.5.10* Only one day and I have seen the numbers going up close to me almost on real time. Don’t overuse! ### 5/5 — Yes! *2020-03-29, version 0.5.6* Leave it to MIT to solve real world problems with realistic solutions. Happy to be running this app and throw in with the rest of my community. ### 5/5 — Bump this to top of charts *2020-03-27, version 0.5.6* I know reviews help. Let’s use our phone addiction to actually do some good. ### 5/5 — Great idea but don’t know how to interpret the map *2020-03-25, version 0.5.6* I can see numbers and red location tags, but there is no key or explanation on the website or in app to explain what that means. ### 5/5 — Let’s get this going *2020-03-20, version 0.4* Time to stop COVID! --- *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 2026-08-16.*