# Smithsonian Magazine — user reviews > 104 indexed App Store user reviews of Smithsonian Magazine by Smithsonian Institution, rated 4.70/5 from 420 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithsonian-magazine/id484193368/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithsonian-magazine/id484193368.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 346 · 4★ 46 · 3★ 9 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 15 ## What do users think of Smithsonian Magazine? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to navigate - 🔍 Great content - 👍 Intuitive interface **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes frequently - 🔒 Difficult to authenticate subscription - 💰 Requires separate digital subscription - 🔧 Clunky and buggy - 🗂️ Loses downloaded issues - 📵 Drains battery quickly **Commonly reported bugs** - Unable to download new issues - Fails to remember last read position - Incompatible with newer iOS versions - Incorrect issue labeling in library **Most requested features** - Allow login with existing subscription - Restore previously downloaded issues - Improve stability and performance - Provide better customer support ## Newest reviews (15 of 104) ### 2/5 — Disappointed with this app *2022-10-10, version 4.3* Requires a separate purchase to access digital version of magazine, even if you are a print subscriber. App is clunky, doesn’t remember your progress and starts over at the beginning of an article every time you reopen the app. Two stars because the content is top-notch, but an otherwise disappointing experience using this app. ### 3/5 — Loses your last viewed page *2021-08-07, version 4.2* Great content. Lousy app. Can’t keep track of what is your last viewed page in an issue. Very frustrating having to remember where you were. ### 3/5 — Inferior to previous version *2020-06-12, version 4.0* The newly updated version of this app is distinctly inferior to the previous version. You can’t set bookmarks any more, so unless you read the entire magazine in one sitting, you have to remember where you were. Also, in articles where you should be able to see multiple pictures by touching the picture or swiping left or right, you can only see the initial picture. There’s no way to see the others. ### 1/5 — No longer offering digital *2018-04-26, version 2.0.0* What Smithsonian says if you call their 800 number is they no longer offer a digital version. They also say the digital apps are provided by your device third party developers and are not part of the Smithsonian, therefore, are independent. That is why I would have to pay twice - once for a third party app and once for the real (print) deal. No thanks-not getting either. Only want digital offered by the real deal. ### 1/5 — Crap *2018-03-23, version 2.0.0* Awful, won’t let me access ### 1/5 — DO NOT GET THIS APP *2018-02-21, version 2.0.0* Used to work fine but then stopped downloading new issues. Only gave me the first three pages. Smithsonian won't take responsibility. Says it is an Apple problem. Apple says all my other apps work fine so it is a Smithsonian problem. Smithsonian says their IT will address and call me back but they never do despite repeated calls from me. Smithsonian Customer Service says nothing they can do, no offer of refund, no "what can we do to make things right". I've been a member for more than 25 years but no more. Worst example of customer service and giving the finger to a customer I've ever had. What a joke!! ### 1/5 — Already have subscription & not going to buy twice! *2017-11-15, version 2.0.0* When I renewed my paper subscription, I figured I would like to also be able to view the digital copy. This app doesn't allow me to connect to my subscription. I am not buying the magazines twice! ### 3/5 — Ate the end of 2016 the update sent this down to one star *2017-11-05, version 2.0.0* Since then the app has been clawing back the stages slowly from what it was before that improvement it wen from a 4 to 5 star magazine app to at best a one but it is now back up to a 3 to perhaps a 3.5 it is once again able to be read with minimal issues ### 4/5 — I like it! *2017-08-26, version 2.0.0* I am surprised by all these poor reviews. I quite like the app and the functionality - easy to navigate and easy to read the magazine. The only thing I'd like is the ability to pinch in and out to expand the text side as needed. ### 1/5 — Loses subscriptions *2017-06-28, version 2.0.0* Worthless app. Loses your subscription and has no ability to restore it without deleting the app and starting over. ### 1/5 — Pathetic *2017-06-25, version 2.0.0* Having to pay extra for digital when I already pay for the print version. Insane and pathetic. I will not renew. Read your customer feedback and wake up. ### 1/5 — Shortsighted, greedy rush for the bottom *2017-06-23, version 2.0.0* I have been a member of the Smithsonian for decades. I enjoyed the print version of the magazine (included with membership) for as long as I can remember. The original magazine app was excellent. It was a very good adjunct to the print version. And I'd already paid for it. Then someone at the Smithsonian got a) greedy and b) stupid and took control of the app away from the print magazine publishers. This was done with no notification to the Smithsonian members. And (also without notice) our paid membership no longer included the app. And by the way, as commented on here over and over, the new 'app' is junk. So we got robbed of a great app, without being told what was going on and the replacement is miserable and we're supposed to pay for it? a) greedy & b) stupid. You haven't treated your members as if they matter and you haven't done anything about it. You've ruined your brand and alienated your members. I won't be re-joining. ### 3/5 — Improved *2017-05-20, version 2.0.0* I'm really enjoying the updated app for Smithsonian magazine. Only wish they had more interactive features like Natgeo. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2017-04-03, version 2.0.0* This app won't allow me to access my magazines. It wants me to pay for them again when I already have a subscription. ### 4/5 — Maybe.... *2017-02-22, version 2.0.0* The magazine itself is terrific. But since I am going blind, I could no longer read the magazine and was no longer able to download it as previously. I called and found out the policy had changed. So here I am paying for a new digital subscription, and hoping it's OK. BUT it didn't start out well because it's rather fussy about passwords... requiring my Apple rather than Smithsonian password. I understand the need to keep non=payers out, but for those of us disabled, it becomes very difficult to keep this stuff straight. I don't put up with it from most digital magazines, but do with Smithsonian because the magazine is so good. Marie Barry, Beverly MA. 01915 ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Can’t access my subscription *2026-03-19, version 7.4.10* Purchased print+digital version, I cannot access the digital version with this app. Tries to force me to buy new subscription; horrible app. ### 1/5 — Digital Subscription Access *2025-12-10, version 7.4.7* This app doesn’t access the digital subscription purchase from Smithsonian Magazine. If you already have a digital subscription you will need to purchase it again through this app. ### 1/5 — Misleading *2024-08-25* You have to install the app to realize it's a subscription based version of the magazine. Mention about in-app purchase is missing. Deceiving. ### 1/5 — The “Tap to Subscribe” button is off the screen *2024-06-25, version 5.0.1* As much as I’d like to get a digital version instead of killing trees to have a paper edition, I can’t subscribe because the stupid button to double click is off the screen. Good web design, Smithsonian! ### 1/5 — Old Magazine issues gone *2020-07-21, version 4.0* Ever since the app was updated, the magazines I’ve been saving from January 2012 to today have all been erased. The pages are gone and if this doesn’t get fixed, I’ll look for something else that will. ### 1/5 — WARNING! DELETE THIS APP OR IT MIGHT BRICK YOUR IPAD! *2020-06-10, version 4.0* Saw that Smithsonian now says you can read the print magazine on your iPad, if you subscribe, which I do. Great, I thought, update and try it. Not only did this not work, it nearly bricked my iPad. Finally got it working again after some effort. THIS IS A DANGEROUS APP AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED BY EVERYONE! I cannot understand why the overwhelming majority of magazines have useful apps where I can read my print subscription and Smithsonian has been a major fail in this area literally for years. I doubt the app developers ever read these, but if you do: Shame on you. FIX THIS!!!!!!!!!M ### 1/5 — June issue missing *2020-06-04, version 3.1.0* I have reported twice within this app that the June 2020 issue is missing but have had the courtesy of a response ### 1/5 — Sorry app. *2019-09-20, version 3.0* Tried to contact Smithsonian people many times! No answer of any sort!! Very misleading and underhanded to make subscriber believe digital magazine included!!! WILL NOT RENEW!!!!! ### 1/5 — Poor app *2019-01-13, version 3.0* As others note, you can't activate your account, so this is worthless! Time to cancel print sub as well ### 1/5 — Don’t bother *2018-07-13, version 2.0.0* This is a terrible app. I have to download the same issue every time I want to read it. It does not remember where I was when I quit reading the last time. It’s completely user unfriendly. You’d think Smithsonian could come up with an app that works. I love reading the magazine when I’m traveling, but this process may make me drop my subscription. A previous version was great. This one is awful. What a waste. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — App crashes *2024-07-08, version 6.0* App crashes whenever I try to open it. Please fix immediately. ### 5/5 — Please Show TOC *2023-01-15, version 4.3* The magazine is great and the app is really good, too. But, could you please allow us to look at each back issue’s table of contents before purchase so we can tell exactly what we’re buying? It’s very hard to tell from just looking at a thumbnail image of a magazine’s front cover, even on an iPad. ### 5/5 — ✨👌🏼 *2021-09-12* Excellent tout simplement ! Permet de maintenir son Anglais avec des sujets intéressant s, je recommande ! ### 5/5 — Great Magazine, lame ap *2019-12-14, version 3.1.0* I have been reading the magazine for decades and usually find the subject matter of the article’s interesting and informative. The writing is always top notch. The ap, however, is pretty minimal. You see pretty much a copy of the printed version, in portrait mode only. My complaint is you get no control over the page presentation - no scaling or other controls are offered. Fine for those with 20-20 vision. The ap doesn’t take any advantage of the digital medium. ### 5/5 — The best general knowledge magazine in the universe *2017-02-11* Please keep this going. For anyone curious about the world, your magazine is fabulous. Your contributors are the absolute best. You could do a bit more on India, though. We're over a billion people and a 3000 year old culture. Maybe we deserve a page or two? If you need contributors, let me know. I do comedy history. ### 5/5 — Disaster *2016-12-30, version 2.0.0* Bring back prior version ### 5/5 — Always excellent *2016-12-22, version 2.0.0* Using the Smithsonian magazine app has greatly increased my overall enjoyment of the magazine itself. The app has so much more including videos and sound and features that you do I have in the print magazine. ### 5/5 — Disappointing *2016-12-18, version 2.0.0* The content of this magazine is outstanding. The presentation in the app is not. Very unfortunate 😕🙁☹️! ### 5/5 — The Best Magazine Ever! *2016-12-03, version 2.0.0* I'm a trucker and getting my e-version of the Smithsonian is the highlight of my month. I wouldn't be without it! ### 5/5 — The current format is lousy and confusing!!!!!!!!! *2016-10-25, version 2.0.0* Copy National Geographic's format. It is the best! The new format still stinks!!!!!!!!!FIX IT OR CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION.....I WOULD THINK THAT IS NOT TOO HARD FOR THE SMITHSONIAN TO DO????????? HOW ABOUT IT??????????? --- *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 2026-09-09.*