# The Desert Sun — user reviews > 130 indexed App Store user reviews of The Desert Sun by Gannett, rated 4.40/5 from 1,712 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-desert-sun/id531366663/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-desert-sun/id531366663.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,179 · 4★ 291 · 3★ 109 · 2★ 39 · 1★ 94 ## What do users think of The Desert Sun? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - ⭐ Great local news coverage - 🗞️ Helpful for staying connected to the community - 📰 Comprehensive reporting on local events - 🗓️ Useful for planning activities and events **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues - 📱 Poor navigation and user experience - 💸 Excessive ads and paywalls for subscribers - 🔍 Difficulty finding desired content **Commonly reported bugs** - Login issues and frequent prompts to re-authenticate - Formatting problems causing text to be cut off - Unreliable delivery of breaking news notifications - Inconsistent performance across different devices **Most requested features** - Bring back PDF download option for full newspaper - Improve scrolling and page navigation - Provide better account management and subscription controls - Reduce intrusive ads for paid subscribers ## Newest reviews (15 of 130) ### 4/5 — Desert news *2026-04-28, version 8.9.0* Love the local information and everything about the desert area. ### 2/5 — So bad *2026-02-20, version 8.8.0* This app and there costumer services are worthless ### 3/5 — Enewspaper *2025-12-06, version 8.6.0* Can’t get full newspaper today. Only special sections available on-line ### 3/5 — Digital viewing *2025-11-19, version 8.6.0* Getting better but still quite finicky. Would like to be able to share an article with others ### 2/5 — So bad *2025-11-11, version 8.6.0* This app and there costumer services are worthless ### 4/5 — Somewhat improved *2025-07-23, version 8.1.0* Not sure why the ads have to be included, but perhaps advertisers think they drive business. ### 4/5 — Unbiased *2025-05-31, version 8.1.0* Thank you for printing news that would otherwise would be censored in the Imperial Valley. The Imperial Valley Press never publishes information regarding how the powerful rich farmers influence our local government and businesses. These farmers often claim that the unemployment rate here would be much higher were it not for the jobs they have created and for the privilege of allowing laborers in picking their produce. In truth for many years these farmers have methodically and systematically prevented outside businesses from investing here as these, “outside interest”, will buy farmland and create better employment opportunities than the cheap labor they have been exploiting. For many years these farmers have wasted water from the Colorado River without accountability. ### 2/5 — Navigation very poor *2025-05-24, version 8.1.0* I want to report a missed delivery, or view my vacation hold and there is no option. “My Account” navigation or help does not exist ### 3/5 — Long time reader. *2025-05-23, version 8.1.0* I think the app was better before. ### 3/5 — Bring back PDF download *2025-04-01, version 8.1.0* There used to be an option to download a PDF of the paper. Now you can only download a PDF of individual pages. ### 2/5 — Not new and improved *2025-02-19, version 8.0.0* This new version of the app is not good or improved! The supposed function to highlight and print an article does not function as the print icon does not appear. The screen is not stable as it flutters and skips around. Why are there ad pop ups when I am already a fully paid subscriber for bot the print and e-newspaper? ### 2/5 — Breaking News? *2024-12-10, version 7.13.3* I’m going to cancel my subscription because I only have breaking news and weather for my notifications. You would be shocked to see what the Desert Sun deems to be urgently breaking news. ### 1/5 — Unstable *2024-10-29, version 7.13.0* Every time I try to turn to next page, the app changes size or format, or jumps back to page 1. Annoying and poor design! ### 1/5 — My paper isn’t opening at all *2024-10-23, version 7.13.0* Why won’t the newspaper ope? ### 2/5 — Not new and improved *2024-10-09* This new version of the app is not good or improved! The supposed function to highlight and print an article does not function as the print icon does not appear. The screen is not stable as it flutters and skips around. Why are there ad pop ups when I am already a fully paid subscriber for bot the print and e-newspaper? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-04-06, version 8.9.0* I have now paid twice for a subscription and cannot get further than the paywall. $120 down the drain!! I do not recommend this service. ### 1/5 — Navigation very poor *2026-02-01, version 8.6.0* I want to report a missed delivery, or view my vacation hold and there is no option. “My Account” navigation or help does not exist ### 1/5 — Puzzles *2025-10-26, version 8.5.4* Links on the puzzles are regularly broken always forcing you to watch ads and never taking you back to the puzzle. Get your act together, ### 1/5 — “Subscription loop-de-loop” *2025-05-16, version 8.1.0* Can’t subscribe, unsubscribe, read the articles, or change my settings. Nice job, TDS ### 1/5 — Constant issue with log-in *2025-04-19, version 8.1.0* Horrible issue trying to sign in to read the paper. The app constantly wants to a new password. ### 1/5 — Desert Sun *2025-03-26, version 8.1.0* The app is useless, I suggest not downloading seems to nothing but solicit purchases and subscriptions. ### 1/5 — E newspaper format is awful *2025-03-21, version 8.1.0* Liked the original format but cannot get it back ### 1/5 — This version is awful *2025-03-12* This new version has made it much harder to actually read the paper. When you tap on a story to read it, you only get a small portion at the bottom of the screen to read the paper. Clearly the people developing this app don't actually use it themselves, otherwise they would have knows how awful it is. ### 1/5 — Desert Sun *2025-01-17, version 7.14.0* The app is useless, I suggest not downloading seems to nothing but solicit purchases and subscriptions. ### 1/5 — Scroll with finger drag needs work *2024-11-11, version 7.13.3* The app is great with content and good with presentation, however the finger drag to scroll is does not work all the time. I have a 10th gen iPad with magic keyboard that works on every other app but this one. Fix it and the App would be 5 star. With upgrade to iOS 18 the app will not work when selecting stories. Error messages on loading. Terrible ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great paper *2026-07-23, version 8.10.2* Helps me stay in touch with what’s happening in the valley ### 5/5 — Online News *2026-06-08, version 8.10.2* I love reading my Desert Sun Newspaper online. It’s convenient and up to date. All my local news at my fingertips on my iPad. Knowing my weather forecast in my city helps me plan my days. Keep up the good work Desert Sun. I’m a happy subscriber. ### 5/5 — Great paper! *2025-12-14, version 8.6.0* I really like The Desert Sun newspaper! I got the paper edition for a couple of years when I lived in Indio. I have read the online version since I moved 7 years ago. The sports section is better than the printed papers here or USA Today. ### 5/5 — Ads annoying *2025-05-18, version 8.1.0* The app is balky. ### 5/5 — Great paper *2025-03-23, version 8.1.0* Helps me stay in touch with what’s happening in the valley ### 5/5 — Great paper *2024-07-12, version 7.10.0* Helps me stay in touch with what’s happening in the valley ### 5/5 — Desert Life Revealed *2024-05-18, version 7.9.1* in a time when local newspapers are becoming relics, I can truly say, I am thankful that the Desert Sun News never fails to keep us abreast of all things desert. Keep up the good work.⭐️ ### 5/5 — The Desert Sun says it All *2024-02-24, version 7.6.1* I love it because of the great focus on local CV news and happenings…restaurants, activities, community services…it has it all for the desert; you can also find general national sports and news as well and international highlights. ### 5/5 — Great App *2024-02-03, version 7.5.1* Lots of different ways to read the publication. Sometimes I like to see the paper with the ads and other times just focus on the articles. The option to sign up for newsletters for specific cities and topics is useful as is the daily briefing. ### 5/5 — Love the local news! *2024-01-10, version 7.5.1* Like reading local news. --- *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.*