# The Mercury News — user reviews > 90 indexed App Store user reviews of The Mercury News by MediaNews Group, rated 4.20/5 from 902 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-mercury-news/id429774201/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-mercury-news/id429774201.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 552 · 4★ 171 · 3★ 48 · 2★ 33 · 1★ 98 ## What do users think of The Mercury News? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy navigation - 👍 Newspaper-like reading experience - 🔒 Offline reading option - ⭐ Great local news coverage **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 📱 Poor optimization for mobile devices - 🔍 Difficult to search and find articles - 💤 Slow loading times - 🔀 Inconsistent page layout and navigation **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes on launch - Blurry text and images - Inconsistent behavior when rotating device - Login issues and lost progress **Most requested features** - Improve article search and discovery - Add support for tablet and larger screen devices - Provide more customization options - Enhance offline reading capabilities ## Newest reviews (19 of 90) ### 4/5 — Today’s release 4.0.2 *2024-05-03, version 4.0.2* App fails to load. Starts up, then ends. Never gets far enough to load any editions. Update: started working after multiple attempts. ### 1/5 — App has a bug *2023-10-24, version 4.0.0* On both iPhone and iPad, it often gets stuck on Yesterdays newspaper, the back button doesn’t work. You can’t get to the current days newspaper. The only workaround is to turn the device completely off and restart the app. Very frustrating. ### 1/5 — Poor service *2023-08-27* I canceled my print subscription and switched to online only. I do not want the paper any more. I have been trying for at least two months to get the paper carrier to stop delivering the paper. At first I called every week, then twice per week. The paper arrived again this morning. Customer service keeps saying they are escalating the matter. But the paper keeps showing up. The matter is urgent now because we are going on vacation soon and do not want that paper showing up while we are gone. TERRIBLE SERVICE! The app is really good, however. UPDATE: The delivery finally stopped. I told them it was urgent, that we were going on vacation and did not want the papers piling up. ANOTHER UPDATE: The online version lacks the Drive section, which appears in the print edition on the back of the Sports section. I really miss the Drive section. It was the first thing I turned to on Sunday morning. ### 1/5 — Idiocy! *2023-01-09, version 4.0.0* Why does it jump from where you are to the front page when you rotate your iPad? Why does it blur the text when you swipe from one page to another…so you have to swipe back and forward again to get sharp text? I’m paying a subscription fee for access, so why is it showing a Google Ad every time I open an edition of the paper? Worse, if I don’t dismiss the ad immediately, jump to another page, THEN remember to dismiss the ad, the stupid thing jumps back to the front page! What fiend designed this behavior? ### 3/5 — Is this that he San Jose Mercury News? *2023-01-01, version 4.0.0* In keeping with its shoddy journalism, there is no indication that this App is the SJ Mercury News. There are many publications around the world titled "Mercury News" but this news organization is too inept to tell would be purchasers of the app which news paper it represents. Fail. ### 1/5 — Picture of Print Version *2022-12-31, version 4.0.0* I don’t want to read a print version of the Mercury News on my phone. I want to read the digital version, just like I do on the news app for many other papers. What a waste of time! ### 1/5 — Can’t Load paper in app *2022-12-21, version 4.0.0* I’ve been using this app for over a year without any problems. Lately, when I try to read the paper, I only see a white screen that says Mercury News. I’ve tried turning off my iPad and turning it back on but it doesn’t seem to fix the issue. I’ve also removed the app from the device and reloaded it and I still can’t get the newspaper. It’s very frustrating to pay for the paper but not be able to read anything. ### 2/5 — Clearing Ads *2022-10-21, version 3.6.0* I really hate that clearing (clicking the “x”) on the ads that randomly pop up results in the app jumping back to Page 1. And given that I am a paid Mercury news subscriber, why am I having to deal with these stupid ads anyway? ### 2/5 — Improved? *2022-09-11, version 3.6.0* The earlier version was far better than this new improved version. Access to a network is required to read the paper whereas the earlier version downloaded the entire paper allowing it to be read offline. When articles are read one cannot go directly from one sections articles to the next sections articles. Too many quirks to be enhanced. Give me back the earlier version please. ### 1/5 — Unable to log in and access content *2022-08-25, version 3.6.0* I am a subscriber, but I am unable to log in and access the content I am paying for. ### 1/5 — The new App is full of bugs *2022-08-18, version 3.6.0* Cannot read the articles. They only half-load. The new format is terrible since the old version was changed. Put back the old version until you can fix the new one. ### 1/5 — Worst version ever *2022-08-01, version 3.6.0* This version has pop up ads for subscribers that block the text of the newspaper. When you close the ad you lose you place and end up back on the home page. The logon can also be a pain. Considering canceling my subscription altogether. ### 3/5 — Was an HTML reader, now forced to app, dislike resets to main page *2022-07-20, version 3.6.0* I already pay a lot for the paper, and there are ads in the paper, now there are ads in the app. And, if I don’t remember to close it, and just zoom in, then close it later, the app reverts back to the fist page. Then I have to navigate back to my previous location. Also, I find that occasionally, it tap the screen inadvertently, and I’m back at the last section. ### 1/5 — Need an account… *2022-07-04, version 3.6.0* Lame, need an account (subscription) just to read the news. ### 1/5 — The New “Improved” Version is a piece of Junk! *2022-07-02* The new and improved version is a mess. Today’s 7/2/22 edition won’t bring up any articles and, even worse, hangs the app up when you try to the point where you have to force close it to continue. In addition, the new version is missing the full page fit to screen feature. Instead we’re forced to see the full page with 3/4” white margins basically making it impossible to read without manual expanding which with today’s 7/2/22 edition is especially tricky since any mis-touch tries to being up the article which hangs the app. There’s an old saying in software, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. The fit to screen feature wasn’t broke!!! ### 1/5 — Really awful update *2022-07-02* I’ve waited to write a review because I thought maybe I just need to get used to new interface. Not the case. Navigation in the new app is terrible because clicking on the “continued on page x” text doesn’t do anything, and clicking on the article completely changes the format. Navigating between sections is also more difficult, as is sizing and moving the window. Last but not least, today I’m being shown the Redlands Daily Facts for no apparent reason, and I can’t find a way to get back to the Mercury. I’ve subscribed to the Mercury for 35 years and have become more reliant on the electronic version as the hard copy has been delivered later and later every morning. I’ve even defended the Mercury to friends and neighbors as the newsroom has been gutted and content has shrunk, but that’s a hard case to make these days. This latest update just adds insult to injury. ### 1/5 — New app awful *2022-06-30, version 3.6.0* Please, please give us our old app back. It was just fine. The new “improved” app requires far too much intervention on the part of the reader which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. This app also seems to have a mind of it’s own on occasion, going off in some totally unintended direction. We’ve been subscribers for many years and can testify that this “ new, improved” app is a major step backward. ### 1/5 — Bring back the previous GUI ! *2022-06-26, version 3.6.0* With the new version of the app, they completely changed the GUI. I left the app reading Friday’s edition and I have no idea how to get to Saturday’s edition. There is change and there is churn. The latest version is churn, different and worse. ### 3/5 — Poor replacement for the former app *2022-06-26, version 3.6.0* A few weeks back the mercury news replaced the app they were using with this. After giving some time to get used to the changes, I feel that this is a poor replacement. Everything takes more clicks (taps?) then before. You can no longer just jump to a continuation page with just one click, but must swipe through pages. You can no longer skip to the next section easily. Very disappointing, but not unexpected since the Mercury News has been taking itself down hill for some time. Is it any wonder that the subscriber numbers are declining. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Too many bugs. It’s hardly readable *2025-11-13, version 4.0.3* Annoying UI. Jumps around the page seemingly on its own volition. The audio is so poorly executed that unless you stay on the page and make sure it doesn’t move, or heaven forbid screen shuts it stops and can’t be restarted! I only continue my subscription because it’s my local paper. Other papers have these problems under control, why can’t they? ### 1/5 — The text to speech feature only works as long as the display is at least partially on *2025-05-11, version 4.0.3* I want to be able to listen to articles in full without having to fiddle around with the phone the whole time to make sure the display doesn’t go dark . The fact that the text to speech feature stop working as soon as the display goes dark makes the whole app much less valuable for me. ### 1/5 — Nearly Unreadable *2025-05-04, version 4.0.3* This app must be decades old; most of the newspaper is unreadable. First, you can’t expand the viewer window beyond its tiny dimensions. Second, some articles expand and can be read with a larger font. But, the majority of articles don’t expand at all and remain in a tiny page view. It doesn’t get much worse than this. ### 1/5 — Latest app crashes 2 to 3 times before opening *2024-05-07, version 4.0.2* Been using this app for a couple of years. It has some basic UI flaws such as arrows and the like requiring exact press in a small area, but has been generally sound. Since the last update, it crashes 2 to 3 times whenever opening before allowing me to use it. ### 1/5 — Early May update crashes on my iPad *2024-05-06, version 4.0.2* App was fine but the latest update consistently crashes (starts briefly then crashes). Normally I’d say the app is at least a 4 but it’s a 0 if it won’t start! ### 1/5 — Latest update does not run. *2024-05-06, version 4.0.2* I really liked this app until yesterday. The last update does not run. Crashes every time I try to bring it up. iPad Air iOS 17.4.1. I have deleted and re-downloaded, same thing happens. Someone is shirking their duty to test new code. I rebooted the iPad and the app still crashes while it is loading. UPDATE: this app was working fine on my iPad Pro, running iOS 17.4.1. Now it crashes on that device as well. I cannot access my online subscription at all. What is the difference between this app and the one named Mobile? ### 1/5 — Version 4.0.2 does not work *2024-05-06, version 4.0.2* Version 4.0.2 will not open on my iPad nor iPhone. Previous version was fine. ### 1/5 — V.4.0.2 crashes upon start-up *2024-05-06, version 4.0.2* Previous rev stopped working (wouldn’t load at all); and now after deleting and installing v.4.0.2 does the same. Using on iPad Pro (4thGen) w/ iOS 17.4.1 ### 1/5 — Recent update completely broke it! *2024-05-05, version 4.0.2* When I launch it, it just shows splash screen and exits. Every. Single. Time. Very frustrating. ### 1/5 — No longer opens on my IPad *2024-05-04, version 4.0.2* Updated to the most recent iteration and it crashes immediately. Cannot open. Please fix. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Wow! *2022-07-30, version 3.6.0* I am impressed by the efficiency of this app, and how easy it is to use! ### 5/5 — Great app with easy navigation *2022-05-26, version 3.6.0* I love reading the news with this app.the ability to read stories just by tapping on it.swiping to the next and previous stories, searching. All done well here ### 5/5 — New version released May 25, 2022 *2022-05-26* Giving credit where credit is due, the vastly revised new version released today is a beautiful product. Appearance on my iPad is orders of magnitude better than the old version, and I can get what I need very quickly. Sure, they have made cuts, but this is a still a great paper. To the complaints about the Merc printing articles from the Washington Post and New York Times, I note the same issue, only as a complement. These papers have some of the best reporters, syndicated into papers everywhere. Nothing wrong with that. Thank you San Jose Mercury for this wonderful update. I would ignore reviews based on earlier versions, they are no longer relevant after today’s major update. My favorite columnist is Sal Pizarro. One thing I wish they would do is add automation to the crossword puzzles. ### 5/5 — Works flawlessly! *2022-04-20* They’ve done a stellar job designing an app to give you the look, feel, and attributes of reading a physical paper. You can enlarge the photos, and turn the pages just like always. Several days, (editions) of the paper can be stored and retrieved for later viewing. This is truly a portable format and I can still enjoy and appreciate the layout and sections as I always have. I was a hard sell to convert from the print edition to digital but the design of this app makes it a seamless transition. ### 5/5 — Newspaper feel with options for easy navigation *2022-04-13* I subscribed bc a few times a week I’d find myself following links to local news from Mercury News. Quality reporting costs money - the news we get is only as good as the reporters and editors and staff we fund. Although slow to respond, it feels like Mercury News has a reasonable solution to the public’s loss of appetite for a paid paper newspaper. Thank you Mercury! ### 5/5 — Delivered to my couch every morning *2022-02-07* It is great to get up in the morning, make coffee and settle down with the “paper” without having to get in the car and drive down our rural driveway to get it - and finding it hadn’t been delivered yet. It is also easier to share articles of interest with others. It is harder to read on a phone, but works fine on a tablet. However, I do miss having newspaper around for packing and messy stuff. ### 5/5 — Easy to navigate *2021-10-06, version 3.3.14* I was concerned that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as a paper. I do like having an actual paper once a week. I don’t miss having stacks that I was unable to read. It is great to be able to go back and review some thing I missed. I also like the feature of being able to print articles puzzles etc. ### 5/5 — Great to have my Mercury News online *2021-06-28* It’s so nice to have my fav newspaper from home in CA available where I’ve moved to even though it’s out of state from CA. All my fav articles n columnists I still get to read every day just as I did when living in CA. I still have relatives and friends living in CA where I used to live, so I like to keep up with what’s happening where they are and where I used to live for so many years. Hooray for technology! E.McG ### 5/5 — Changing old habits. *2021-06-04, version 3.3.11* While nothing will ever be quite as satisfying as a real newspaper I’m holding this is amazingly easy and in some ways easier to read. I use my iPad and it’s actually working out much better than I expected. Need my Mercury News fix each day and this is a great way to get it Nan the newsjunckie ### 5/5 — Love this edition! *2021-03-06, version 3.2.59* I’ve been a subscriber for decades with home delivery. I do prefer have the paper in my hand in the morning, but the e-edition is a great alternative when I’m away or the paper is late. The best part about it for me, is that it has the same look as the paper version. I can read an tire article without having to search for it & I have access to more in depth information if I desire. This e-edition is a wonderful resource & well done. --- *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 2026-09-07.*