# The Advertiser. — user reviews

> 94 indexed App Store user reviews of The Advertiser. by News Digital Media, rated 1.94/5 from 128 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-advertiser/id399165211/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-advertiser/id399165211.md

## What do users think of The Advertiser.?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Digital paper format
- 👍 Works on iPad/phone

**Cons**

- 🐛 Unstable app
- 🐛 Terrible interface
- 🐛 Biased journalism
- 🐛 Disturbing video previews
- 🐛 Auto-play video nausea
- 🐛 Slow link opening
- 🐛 Difficult to refresh
- 🐛 Regular typos
- 🐛 Cheap journalism
- 🐛 Clickbait headlines
- 🐛 Headlines tease non-existent topics
- 🐛 New banners hide top stories
- 🐛 Few story updates
- 🐛 Latest update horrible
- 🐛 Can't restore purchase on iPhone
- 🐛 Comments approved then removed
- 🐛 Left-wing comment moderation
- 🐛 Never publishes comments
- 🐛 Censorship of opinions
- 🐛 Video ads before news videos
- 🐛 Repeated comments
- 🐛 Ad banners in paragraphs
- 🐛 Video windows open full screen
- 🐛 Frustrating reading experience
- 🐛 Whole screen pop-ups
- 🐛 Jittery scrolling
- 🐛 Main page reloads on exit
- 🐛 Awful new notification sound
- 🐛 Taken back to top article
- 🐛 Photo captions illegible
- 🐛 AI moderators/censors
- 🐛 Customer service sucks
- 🐛 No accountability
- 🐛 Scamming users
- 🐛 Cannot cancel subscription online
- 🐛 Upselling on phone calls
- 🐛 Poorly worded articles
- 🐛 Embedded videos irrelevant
- 🐛 Randomly rearranges stories
- 🐛 Crosswords changed
- 🐛 Getting worse
- 🐛 Controls too small for low vision
- 🐛 Hard to locate controls
- 🐛 Small lettering/symbols missed
- 🐛 Unable to comment/like
- 🐛 What is a 'Premium User'?
- 🐛 Pop-up bar for recipes
- 🐛 Clues unavailable
- 🐛 App freezes on menu access
- 🐛 Broken puzzles UI
- 🐛 Broken dark mode
- 🐛 Intrusive ads
- 🐛 Broken Sodoku number bar
- 🐛 Font adjustment lost
- 🐛 Can't comment as not premium
- 🐛 App freezes, can't use back button
- 🐛 Too much video autoplay
- 🐛 Links to video-only pages
- 🐛 Drains battery
- 🐛 Unauthorised audio background activity
- 🐛 Inconsistent printing
- 🐛 Background activity drains battery
- 🐛 High iPad battery consumption
- 🐛 Crossword clues over puzzle
- 🐛 Needs dark mode option
- 🐛 Interstate stories in SA top stories
- 🐛 Location ambiguity
- 🐛 Poor content quality control
- 🐛 Font size not expandable
- 🐛 Crossword section unreliable
- 🐛 Radio stops when app opens
- 🐛 Notifications for non-breaking news
- 🐛 App crashing
- 🐛 New story presentation format bad
- 🐛 Always logs out
- 🐛 Very left stories
- 🐛 Annoying to scroll one story at a time
- 🐛 Poor layout on top stories
- 🐛 Can't listen to music and read
- 🐛 Slow, clunky
- 🐛 Music stops when app opens
- 🐛 Cannot make/read comments
- 🐛 Subscription not recognized
- 🐛 Hate new format
- 🐛 Crosswords not working
- 🐛 Crashing numerous times
- 🐛 Blank pages
- 🐛 Saturday Crossquiz unavailable
- 🐛 Freezes going back to home page
- 🐛 Covers irrelevant news
- 🐛 Slow and badly constructed
- 🐛 Updated app doesn't work on older iPad
- 🐛 No search function
- 🐛 Too many advertisements
- 🐛 Only 31-day subscription
- 🐛 Small print subscription details
- 🐛 Full screen view button missing
- 🐛 Bright white screen at night
- 🐛 Failure to load comments
- 🐛 Quick crossword is cryptic
- 🐛 Won't download paper
- 🐛 Cannot download for offline reading
- 🐛 Subscription not recognized
- 🐛 Latest update hate new format
- 🐛 Crosswords not working
- 🐛 App constantly crashing
- 🐛 Needs to be fixed asap
- 🐛 Update blocks subscriber
- 🐛 Billing but no access
- 🐛 Pinch to zoom missing
- 🐛 Asks for subscription when subscribed
- 🐛 Members only content unavailable
- 🐛 No online contact
- 🐛 Slow updating latest items
- 🐛 Cannot read stories after update
- 🐛 Takes up too much space
- 🐛 Regularly fails to open/update
- 🐛 Spam emails central
- 🐛 Unsubscribe texts/emails
- 🐛 Takes 3-4 business days to cancel
- 🐛 Dark mode needed
- 🐛 Constantly requires updates
- 🐛 Routine of deleting/reinstalling
- 🐛 Full screen view missing
- 🐛 Needs dark mode
- 🐛 Failure to load comments
- 🐛 Christmas disappointment crossword
- 🐛 Today's paper not refreshing
- 🐛 Won't download
- 🐛 Can't download to read offline
- 🐛 Subscription not working
- 🐛 Hate new format
- 🐛 Crosswords now not working
- 🐛 App constantly crashing
- 🐛 Saturday Crossquiz unavailable
- 🐛 App continues to disappoint
- 🐛 Journalism quality
- 🐛 Slow and badly constructed
- 🐛 Comics not accessible
- 🐛 No search function
- 🐛 So many advertisements
- 🐛 Only 31-day subscription
- 🐛 Small print subscription details

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App unstable
- Terrible interface
- Links take 10 seconds to open
- Difficult to refresh
- Comments approved then removed
- Never publishes comments
- Video windows open over the whole screen
- Whole screen pop-ups appear without warning
- Screen is 'jittery' when scrolling
- Main page reloads when exiting article
- Taken back to the top article when returning from reading
- Photo captions illegible
- AI moderators/censors have ultra-left settings
- Cannot cancel subscription online
- Controls at top screen too small and not contrasting
- Hard to locate small arrow in faint grey
- Unable to make comment or like other people's comments
- App keeps showing a pop up bar across the bottom of the screen
- Clues are unavailable
- App constantly freezes when trying to access the Menu
- Unable to access explore
- UI for puzzles section broken
- App breaks Apple API requirements for display modes
- Links shown in regular mode in dark mode
- Numbers no longer appear in number/pencil select bar
- Font adjustment does not remain in updates
- Tells user they are not a premium user
- Some stories don’t open
- Whole app freezes
- Cannot use the back button
- App has removed ability to comment unless premium user
- Drains battery on iPad through unauthorised audio background activity
- Inconsistent ability to print articles or games
- Background activity drains battery even when turned off
- High iPad battery consumption
- Crossword clues sitting over the puzzle
- Login issues, told not a member
- Cannot read detailed article text, not expandable
- Crossword section unreliable
- Radio stops when app opens
- Notifications for non-breaking news
- App keeps crashing
- New story presentation format bad
- Always logs out
- Annoying to scroll through just one story at a time
- Poor layout on top stories page
- Cannot listen to music and read at the same time
- Music goes off when app opens
- No longer able to make comments nor read others comments
- Subscription not working
- Hate the new format
- Crosswords now not working
- App constantly crashing
- Saturday Crossquiz unavailable
- App continues to freeze when attempting to go back to the home page
- Comics not accessible
- No search function
- So many advertisements
- Only 31-day subscription
- Small print subscription details
- Full screen view option button missing
- Bright white screen when night reading
- Failure to load comments
- Quick crossword is cryptic not quick
- Won't download paper
- Cannot download to read offline
- Subscription not recognized
- Hate the new format
- Crosswords now not working
- App constantly crashing
- Saturday Crossquiz unavailable
- App continues to disappoint
- No search bar
- Too many advertisements
- Only 31-day subscription
- Small print subscription details
- Full screen view missing
- Needs dark mode
- Failure to load comments
- Christmas disappointment crossword
- Today's paper not refreshing
- Won't download
- Can't download to read offline
- Subscription not working
- Hate new format
- Crosswords now not working
- App constantly crashing
- Saturday Crossquiz unavailable
- App continues to disappoint
- Journalism quality
- Slow and badly constructed
- Comics not accessible
- No search function
- So many advertisements
- Only 31-day subscription
- Small print subscription details

**Most requested features**

- Setting to switch off auto-play video
- Button to jump to top
- Improve link opening speed
- Easier refresh functionality
- Stop showing disturbing video previews
- Add setting to turn off auto-play video
- Dark mode option
- Improve comment moderation fairness
- Fix photo caption legibility
- Improve subscription restoration
- Make controls larger and more contrasting
- Add 'Back' word to controls
- Change icon colours for low vision
- Allow comments for all users
- Remove intrusive ads
- Fix pop-up bars
- Improve puzzle UI
- Fix dark mode implementation
- Allow music playback while using app
- Fix app freezing issues
- Add search function
- Enable pinch to zoom
- Improve crossword updating speed
- Allow offline downloads
- Fix subscription recognition issues
- Revert to previous format
- Fix full-screen view option
- Improve battery optimization
- Allow printing of individual games
- Fix background activity issues
- Improve app stability
- Fix subscription login issues
- Improve content quality control
- Expand crossword puzzle range
- Improve font size adjustability
- Fix radio interruption issue
- Fix notification settings
- Improve app performance
- Fix app crashing
- Improve story presentation
- Allow users to choose subscription length
- Fix comment loading errors

## Newest reviews (14 of 94)

### 2/5 — Latest update is horrible

*2026-07-03, version 9.15.2*

Change it back. Stop updating/changing for the sake of giving IT staff something to do.

### 1/5 — Video windows keep opening over the whole screen on my iPad

*2026-05-06, version 9.13.4*

Why do video windows keep opening over the whole screen on my iPad. ?
It is very frustrating and seems to happen every time there is an ad in the article

### 1/5 — Frustrating reading experience

*2026-03-24, version 9.13.2*

I’ve been using the app for years with no real problem but suddenly I’m getting whole screen pop ups appearing without warning and without any input from me. I’ll be reading a story, not even touching the screen, and the whole screen goes blank until I touch it and a play icon pops up. I’ve never played it but have to hit the cross in the corner to get rid of it and back to the story. This happens constantly and is extremely frustrating. Make it stop!

### 2/5 — Notification sound

*2026-02-20, version 9.12.1*

Can you get rid of the awful new notification sound please. It’s too loud and intrusive.

### 1/5 — Disappointing

*2026-01-13, version 9.11.10*

Photo captions are illegible most of the time.  Commenting on articles is highly problematic due to AI moderators/censors ultra-left settings

### 1/5 — This service sucks

*2025-12-21, version 9.11.9*

They can’t deliver a paper, customer service sucks and they take no accountability, they just want your money. Don’t EVER pay this company a cent, they are just scamming you.

### 1/5 — Is this the 90’s ?

*2025-12-18, version 9.11.9*

Putting aside the rampant ads and ai articles, you can’t cancel your subscription online. It’s ok to join online, but to cancel you need to make a phone call….is this the 90’s? Such a practice makes
it immensely daunting for ppl with anxiety. Also, when you do get though, the people in the Indian call centre will try their best to upsell you on a different subscription.

### 1/5 — Had enough

*2025-10-27, version 9.11.7*

I have cancelled subscription, too frustrating now, in this computer age, poorly worded articles, clickbait headlines with no explanation in article, embedded videos that have nothing to do with article. Randomly rearranges stories, so after scrolling and selecting a story, always takes you back to the top instead of continuing scroll. They’ve changed the crosswords both electronic and paper version and neither follow the norms previously used, probably a cheaper supplier now almost impossible to do on a phone as previously. They keep changing for changes sake and not improving anything, actually the opposite its getting worse from what I recall from the years having a subscription. I’ll check abc news, it may be rubbish as well, but at least Im not paying for it.

### 2/5 — Low vision user

*2025-10-15, version 9.11.6*

As a low vision user whilst using the today’s paper section the controls at top screen are too small and not contrasting to the screen colour and hard to locate.
My son had to point out to very small arrow in faint grey near the top left corner of the screen. I found this very hard to as my vision getting worse and small lettering and symbols are easily missed. Please change size and add word “ Back” also changing icon colours may help.
Thank

### 1/5 — What is a “Premium User”?

*2025-09-16, version 9.11.4*

I have been using this app for several years now, but am considering cancelling my subscription.  Of late I am unable to make comment or like other peoples comments about subjects published in this paper.  Why?  How come, all of a sudden, I can no longer make comment and, also, what is a “Premium User”?

### 1/5 — Crossword problem

*2025-07-26, version 9.10.0*

Clues are unavailable and I have tried everything to fix problem. Advertise staff unhelpful

### 1/5 — Functionality Issues

*2025-07-25, version 9.10.0*

App constantly freezes when I try and access the Menu. Unable Tod access explore.

### 1/5 — Puzzle’s UI Still Broken

*2025-07-08, version 9.10.0*

The UI for the puzzles section was broken 2 updates back. The app appears to break the Apple API requirements for auto or manual Day/Night display modes so that the black lettering in certain elements like the number selection bar in Soduko and completed words in Crosswords become invisible or feint. Only manually switching to Day mode and killing and restarting the app restores the legibility thus rendering auto or manual Night mode unavailable for all other compliant apps

### 1/5 — Broken Dark Mode

*2025-07-05, version 9.10.0*

I have a preference for dark mode however in the iOS app when mid story links are shown they are in regular mode creating a random brightness attack. Please fix

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Media content

*2026-08-26, version 9.15.5*

Horrible journalistic skills too much Ai edits, app is just so so..

### 1/5 — Just buy the paper

*2026-08-15, version 9.15.3*

It’s not that smooth to navigate and they make cancelling a subscription next to impossible. You have to physically phone them.

### 1/5 — Save your money

*2026-08-03, version 9.15.3*

This is what you get when you combine an unstable app with a terrible interface, and then add biased gutter journalism. Seriously, don’t bother.

Addendum: Please stop showing previews of disturbing videos as I scroll through the article list. There are certain videos that are distressing to watch. Let me make the choice about whether or not I want to view them, don't shove them in my face.

Further Addendum: I cannot use this app any more. There's so much moving video as I scroll it's giving me nausea. Until you add a setting to switch off the auto-play video, I'm done.

### 1/5 — Freezes

*2026-08-03, version 9.15.3*

Does not update.

### 1/5 — Awful

*2026-07-25, version 9.15.3*

The appalling user experience - no button to jump to the top, 10 (TEN!) seconds for links to open, almost impossible to refresh, is not offset by the regular typos in headlines, cheap journalism and shameless clickbait. Some headlines tease a topic that doesn’t even appeared in the article, you re-read it to see if you missed what you’re looking for and they probably think that’s ’engagement’. It’s not, it’s frustration. Our city deserves better, deserves a competitor to this.

### 1/5 — Shark Quiz and ‘new format’ :(

*2026-07-15, version 9.15.2*

Just awful, will not be renewing my subscription in September.. So many better news apps.

### 1/5 — Where have the top stories gone?

*2026-07-07, version 9.15.2*

With the new banners it has taken a lot of the top stories out. There don’t seem to be many updates to the stories throughout the day

### 1/5 — Works on my iPad but not my iphone

*2026-06-26, version 9.14.0*

Can't restore purchase/subscription on my iphone (only on my ipad). 
Most apps work on on all devices with the  same apple id.

### 1/5 — Mr

*2026-05-19, version 9.13.4*

Am subscribed and able to leave comments.
When I leave a comment often they are approved and put up then taken off when I check later.
Please stop getting left woke people to approve the comments.
It’s discusting that they are approved and put up and then taken off because some assessor is too left wing.

### 1/5 — Never publishes comments

*2026-05-18, version 9.13.4*

Absolute joke of a newspaper app. Respectful comments continuing to not be approved. Disgraceful considering it’s allowing one side journalists have their say but censors everybody else for having an opinion

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2025-08-27, version 9.11.2*

Works well. Great to read the paper in digital format. Recommended for iPad or phone rather than a laptop

### 5/5 — Full screen view missing

*2024-02-07, version 9.2.4*

Since yesterday’s update, the full-screen view option button is missing from the top of the screen in the printed version reader. This has made it harder to read the paper and is a retrograde step in my opinion. Please put it back.

### 3/5 — Ads

*2026-05-13, version 9.13.4*

We are now subjected t watch a video ad before watching a video news story that we click on ?. 
Now it seems the comments of stories in the news are repeated  why?.
Also ad banners in between  paragraphs  of a news story.  
What’s going on  Developers?  
I thought I had a pass subcription to block the ads. 
 Disappointed to say the least.

### 3/5 — “Jittery”

*2026-03-16, version 9.13.1*

I am on the latest iOS26 and when I scroll to read an article the screen is “jittery” ie not smooth.

### 3/5 — Not a great update.

*2026-02-23, version 9.12.1*

Unfortunately since the later update, it seems every time I exit an article after reading it, the main page reloads and sends you to the top requiring me to scroll down again to find where I was and to see the next article. First world problem but I’m sure it’s an easy fix.

### 3/5 — Bugs

*2026-02-04, version 9.12.0*

So many inconvenient bugs. For example in Top Stories  when I return from reading an article I’m always taken back to the top article.

### 3/5 — Recipes

*2025-08-14, version 9.11.1*

I am not a cook and do not wish to cook but the app keeps showing a pop up bar across the bottom of the screen and there is no way of stopping it. It is a pain to keep clicking the X to remove the bar but it keeps coming back. 😣

### 3/5 — Recipes

*2025-06-15, version 9.9.1*

I am not a cook and do not wish to cook but the app keeps showing a pop up bar across the bottom of the screen and there is no way of stopping it.   It is a pain to keep clicking the X to remove the bar but it keeps coming back. 😣

### 3/5 — Crossword formatting

*2024-12-01, version 9.7.3*

Since most recent Apple update for my iPad the crossword clues are sitting over the puzzle so it can’t be completed.
I couldn’t find anywhere else to provide this feedback- app support is only very basic information that doesn’t allow for customer support.

### 3/5 — Needs Dark Mode option

*2024-11-22, version 9.7.3*

Works ok for my needs but as a constant migraine suffer, having a dark mode option would be most helpful.  I also love doing the two speed crossword but not available in the app.  Be great if you could expand the app puzzles to have same range as the paper version.

---

*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.*