# Sainsbury's SmartShop — user reviews > 339 indexed App Store user reviews of Sainsbury's SmartShop by Sainsbury's, rated 4.80/5 from 379 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sainsburys-smartshop/id976551005/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sainsburys-smartshop/id976551005.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 335 · 4★ 24 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 11 ## What do users think of Sainsbury's SmartShop? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Convenient and easy to use - 🚀 Quick scanning and checkout process - 💰 Applies Nectar discounts automatically - 📱 Integrates well with Nectar app **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues and app crashes - ⚠️ Unreliable scanning and item recognition - 🕰️ Longer checkout process due to random checks - 🔒 Concerns about security and potential for overcharging **Commonly reported bugs** - App fails to recognize Nectar card and account - Inconsistent scanning performance across devices - Basket issues like duplicate items and missing items - Checkout process not working in some stores **Most requested features** - Allow payment with gift cards and Nectar points - Improve integration between shopping list and basket - Add option to permanently skip onboarding instructions - Provide in-app receipts and transaction history ## Newest reviews (17 of 339) ### 3/5 — Check at till *2026-08-10, version 3.41.0* Very good idea but getting fed up with the quick check at the till. Makes you feel like you’re committing an offence. ### 2/5 — Unreliable *2026-08-09, version 3.41.0* This app was reliable for ages until it crashed at the checkout, and even with the assistance of a staff member, an entire shop could not be retrieved. Soon after, an ID/password issue rendered the app unusable for weeks and, of course, my shopping list was inaccessible. Although this was eventually resolved, I have to use mobile data when shopping with the app - never the store’s WiFi which always freezes the app. A shambles, quite honestly. ### 3/5 — Shopping List to Sainsburys App *2026-08-04, version 3.41.0* Hello. Please can you transfer over the shopping list option when you post it all over to the sainsburys app - it’s really useful and can’t see it at the moment… ### 3/5 — Not Enough Hands *2026-07-31, version 3.41.0* Great idea .. as scanners not working . However need somewhere on trolly to put the phone . Not enough hands to scan , pack & tick off the list . ### 3/5 — fix change nectar card pls *2026-07-20, version 3.40.0* Cant able to change my nectar card !! also more too many errors pls fixxxxx ### 3/5 — Glitchy *2026-06-26, version 3.39.0* When it works, it’s fab. Sadly, despite having internet connection it glitches and stops adding things and says there is no internet connection (bars are seen). It times out and wipes an entire shop leaving you to rescan everything that you’ve already bagged. Today was a total gem, I had scanned, it was buffering and when it loaded I checked the last 3 items. I thought yep they all scanned and then when at the checkout I got a random check one of the items hadn’t scanned. Meaning a rescan of the entire shop. I wish supermarkets would go back to the way they were before. ### 2/5 — Poor in store connectivity *2026-06-03, version 3.39.0* Great concept, but my local store has poor O2 mobile connectivity and very poor WiFi. Spending too long to connect on entry and laggy whilst shopping. Love it when it works. ### 2/5 — Suddenly become very slow *2026-05-31, version 3.39.0* This was working fine but lately has been very slow. Used on 5G and in store Wi-Fi and the same issue so it’s not the connection - slow to load up, delays after each scan, “preparing your shop” messages constantly. Pretty sure the anomalies are also causing me to have manual checks at the checkout as frequency of these have also increased dramatically. It’s quicker to scan everything at checkout now. ### 1/5 — So slow *2026-05-29, version 3.39.0* This app is so slow it is quicker to scan at a till ### 1/5 — List feature upgrades required *2026-05-27, version 3.39.0* Love using SmartShop but this app needs some very basic features for the list function like the option to sort entries alphabetically and edit existing entries! ### 1/5 — 34009 Error. Developers sort this out! *2026-05-17, version 3.39.0* Changed phone since then unable to set my nectar account. Constant 34009 error. Tried deleting and downloading app on the new iPhone. Tried connecting with WIFI on and off. Off to Tesco now for my shopping, their card still working fine. ### 1/5 — Bugs *2026-05-13, version 3.39.0* Offers activated on Nectar often don’t come out, staff in stores don’t know how to handle ### 1/5 — Can’t load *2026-05-13, version 3.39.0* Got a new phone, app won’t load my Nectar card to it. Tried deleting the app and reloading. Useless FAQ’s in regards to this and going around in circles in the Help section. ### 1/5 — Will not scan my Nectar card - no auto connect to store WiFi either. *2026-05-12, version 3.39.0* Ever since the update I’ve not been able to use the SmartShop app as it returns an error when scanning or inputting my Nectar Card details. Also they done an update which means my phone no longer auto joins the free wifi in store which prevents me from using my phone to scan ### 1/5 — Won't work with wifi? *2026-05-08, version 3.39.0* Is a cumbersome little tool compared to a number of others. You can't see the shopping list and scan items.. It doesn't seem to work with Sainsbury's Wi-Fi. And there's no hints to which aisle you can find items in. Seem to have changed very much for the last couple of years. In summary a bit dated. ### 1/5 — Double charging!!! *2026-04-23, version 3.39.0* Only use this app if you don't mind scanning each item, the item not coming up on the list of scanned items so you scan it again then find out you've been charged more than once for each item. Then, following a web chat where they give you the number for Smart Shop customer services for a refund you are then told by Smart Shop customer services to go back to the store!!! Then they eventually agree to email you a gift card to refund your overspend in 3-7 WORKING DAYS!!! ### 2/5 — Tracks you *2026-04-20, version 3.39.0* I just wanted to use my Nectar discounts at a Sainsbury’s local, but was told I had use this app at a local one. Absolute no reason for this, discount respects discounts at the local shop. App demands apple or android pay only, no debit/credit card, and location has to be one- this so the phone can be tracked with Face ID tracking cameras. Pointless app, there should only be one app like Tesco. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Today was rubbish… *2026-08-22, version 3.41.0* Usually use the scanner which on the whole I haven’t had many issues with. Today, tried 2 hand sets, neither would unlock my nectar offers, despite allowing them on the app first. Resorted to using my phone for the 1st time which I really didn’t like as I usually have my phone tucked away & don’t need to connect to the store’s WiFi to enable me to use the app with poor quality network signal. I also prefer the fact you can put the scanner in the cradle on the trolley to enable hands free shopping. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-08-14, version 3.41.0* It doesn’t work now, I appreciate you’re trying to incorporate it into the main app, but it’s not prominent enough on that at the moment, also unable to write a shopping list which was handy. ### 1/5 — Zero notice to swap to Sainsbury’s app *2026-07-29, version 3.41.0* Used the app on Monday with no issues. Now on Wednesday get a notification that this app is now redundant. Would have been handy to get a bit of notice you need to swap to the Sainsbury’s app. Not the end of the world but a bit of simple admin would have been handy ### 1/5 — Error 34009 *2026-07-22, version 3.40.0* No longer able to use this due to the error code, it was really handy and better than using the handhelds, but cannot get the app to work anymore no matter what I do! ### 1/5 — Unable to setup *2026-07-09, version 3.39.1* Completely fed up with the app. It would appear after several months they’ve not yet ironed out the 34009 error on set up rendering it useless no matter what I do. Using iPhone 15 pro max and version 3.39.1 ### 1/5 — Heading to Waitrose instead *2026-06-30, version 3.39.0* Have been using smart shop for a lot of years. Today, it was as if I was a total stranger. It said scan my nectar card( which I no longer carry as I have ( had) smart shop. So I have voted with my feet. ### 1/5 — Reduced items. *2026-06-16, version 3.39.0* Unable to remove reduced items from your basket. ### 1/5 — Rubbish signal *2026-06-11, version 3.39.0* Everytime I go to local store I have to reload the smart shop app. If the WiFi is working then the smart shop is very slow to load, many times the WiFi isn’t working and local store is in poor mobile signal area. ### 1/5 — Too slow *2026-06-07, version 3.39.0* When the app works it’s great. However as I typically spend 10 minutes walking around the store waiting for it to load whilst connected to the store wifi it is broadly pointless. ### 1/5 — Lost the will to continue *2026-06-03, version 3.39.0* Ios26 iphone: Tried to register several times - each time shown a modal dialog demanding that I update. This goes to download page. Clicking update/open returns to the app with the modal dialog still up. This loop persists through swipe-closing the app etc. Eventually deleted and re-downloaded app. Got error 34104 during registration and decided I’d rather waste my time writing this than waste it trying to fix. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Keep the app *2026-08-15, version 3.41.0* Can we please keep this app the version on the main Sainsbury’s app is useless in comparison ### 5/5 — Sainsbury’s Grocery *2026-08-07, version 3.41.0* Where is the SmartShop part in the Grocery app. When’s SmartShop moving into the grocery app? So annoying as cannot use SmarrShop app in the local Sainsburys store near me ### 5/5 — Shelf locations *2026-04-29, version 3.39.0* It would be even better if you could look up aisle & shelf locations for particular products as you can on the Morrisons app ### 5/5 — Back working *2026-03-12, version 3.39.0* A glitch that kept causing the app to ask to reset password has been fixed….hurrah! Normal shopping has resumed. ### 5/5 — New ID requirement *2026-02-24, version 3.39.0* I have used Smart Shop for years without any issues. Then got notice new ID was required. My password was deemed incorrect so couldn’t use the App for 3 weeks until my daughter sorted it out on my phone. No option to reset password. Not impressed ### 5/5 — Superb *2026-02-22, version 3.39.0* Great when the scanners are all out ### 5/5 — MyID password request has broken this app *2026-02-17, version 3.39.0* Regularly use this app, but new password update request has broken it. I use FaceID. So don’t have a password. There’s no “forgotten your password?” link so locked out and unusable. Without associated Nectar discounts, Tesco is suddenly looking more attractive! ### 5/5 — Helpful assistant *2026-02-16, version 3.39.0* I love using my smart app and was very disappointed when I found I was having technical issues. Thanks to a very patient and helpful person at the call centre I was able to use my app again ### 5/5 — Unable to reset password if you lose your current password *2026-01-28, version 3.38.0* Love the app but now it’s unusable because it’s forced me to reset my password but it didn’t accept my new one but in the meantime I overwrote the old one. Website password details aren’t the same as the app. There is no “forgot my password “ option on the app ### 5/5 — Very to easy *2026-01-02, version 3.37.2* So so good --- *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 2026-09-06.*