# The San Francisco Chronicle — user reviews > 232 indexed App Store user reviews of The San Francisco Chronicle by Hearst Newspapers, rated 4.50/5 from 30,880 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-san-francisco-chronicle/id423260205/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-san-francisco-chronicle/id423260205.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22,839 · 4★ 4,609 · 3★ 1,606 · 2★ 638 · 1★ 1,188 ## What do users think of The San Francisco Chronicle? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🌟 Great local news coverage - 📰 Reliable and trustworthy reporting - 🤓 Informative and interesting content - 🗞️ Convenient digital format **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app experience - 🤯 Frustrating navigation and UI - 🕰️ Slow loading times and content refreshes - 🔒 Subscription and account management issues - 📉 Declining quality and substance of reporting **Commonly reported bugs** - Articles not loading properly - Losing place in articles when switching apps - Inconsistent behavior when opening from notifications - Subscription status not syncing correctly **Most requested features** - Search function - Bookmarking/saving articles - Improved offline reading mode - Customizable layout and section ordering - Better integration between app and website ## Newest reviews (14 of 232) ### 2/5 — “Blue pill” ads for sexual dysfunction *2026-08-13, version 202606.47* So many penis pill ads. Incessant. Make it stop. Inappropriate. ### 3/5 — Many distractions *2026-06-28, version 202606.47* Content of local news is good. Too many popups makes it difficult to read. But you can use the replica edition for a more focused reading experience. ### 2/5 — Frustrating *2026-06-27, version 202606.47* It’s always something with this app. You barely touch the screen and the page increases in size so you can’t read it. ### 4/5 — Too many pop up boxes asking for a review *2026-06-15, version 202605.26* See title. App works fine though ### 3/5 — No text sizing Settings *2026-06-09, version 202605.26* Title says it all. This app has very little customization and especially does not allow the adjustment of a custom text size. ### 1/5 — User Unfriendly *2026-06-07, version 202605.26* Search doesn’t seem to work. Looking for “Quiz”, as in Chron Quiz and Super Quiz returns nothing, so I have to scan for it myself. The return arrow “<“ and exit “x” have confusing results, so I invariably have to start over when using these functions. Whomever created this app really wasn’t careful at all. Very frustrating!! ### 1/5 — Poorly designed app *2026-06-04, version 202605.26* I have a paid subscription to the app. Links in the app to articles often do not work because i am not recognized as a subscriber. Very frustrating. UPDATE. SF Chron advises that subscribing through the Apple app does not give you access to all articles. Chron website implies otherwise. ### 1/5 — No Dynamic Type? *2026-06-04, version 202605.26* I am 84 years old with weaker eyes. I read the news on an iPad so I can enlarge the type font. That works for NY Times, Wall Street Journal, London Times, really any other online paper - BUT not the Chronicle. I’m limited to headlines only with the Chronicle. Why can’t the Baby Boomer generation get some accommodation in San Francisco? ### 1/5 — Stop *2026-06-04, version 202605.26* Thinking of canceling if you don't stop asking me for a view every single time I click on one of your stories ### 2/5 — Used to be readable *2026-06-04, version 202605.26* The Chron “fixed” the online facsimile of the paper and now it’s harder to read. I’ve had a subscription since 1976. This change makes me really mad. They have some great writers—LaSalle, Vaziri, Hartlaub, Rachel Howard—but this new format SUCKS. Considering stopping my subscription. ### 4/5 — Election Results *2026-06-03, version 202605.26* It’s very helpful to have updated election results so soon afterwards ### 3/5 — Read it for the last 65 Years *2026-06-02, version 202605.26* Always checking local news first. Back in the day, I’d read their columnists first, they were part of the Chronicle’s DNA. Herb Caen, McCabe and Susan Sward, were among the many whose articles I’d read daily. They need to bring back a Police reporter who can get more details. Currently it is somewhat shameful your articles have no meat. Bill Wallace and Bob Popp were outstanding. ### 1/5 — X *2026-05-31, version 202603.8* X ### 1/5 — Mr *2026-05-25, version 202603.8* Horrible ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Stop! *2026-06-22, version 202605.26* Pls stop the incessant request to review!!! ### 1/5 — Forces subscribers to login via web for some articles *2026-06-20, version 202605.26* Not a good app experience because as a paying subscriber I am navigated to the browser for some articles and have to log in each time. ### 1/5 — Pay Wall, always *2026-06-19, version 202605.26* I subscribe. A few years ago I canceled and resubscribed. Since then I’m blocked if I’m in the app. I called and spoke to tech support. They told me they aren’t showing an account for me. Really frustrating. ### 1/5 — Can’t log in *2026-06-18, version 202605.26* I have a subscription but can’t use app. Customer support can’t help. ### 1/5 — Terminate *2026-06-17, version 202605.26* I canceled the paper and was still charged unfairly ### 1/5 — Why did you change the format? *2026-06-12, version 202605.26* The recent changes to the e-edition have made it impossible for us to enjoy the paper. We may have to cancel our subscription. ### 1/5 — Scam !! *2026-06-10, version 202605.26* Worst scammers ever ! They charge you even though you haven’t subscribed for it … if you call they cut the phone call… horrible scammers ### 1/5 — Stop it you idiots *2026-06-09, version 202605.26* Thinking of canceling if you don't stop asking me for a view every single time I click on one of your stories ### 1/5 — Not news *2026-06-08, version 202605.26* The “front page” is always full of day old or days old news, and food, wine, real estate, or sports that would never be on the front page of a real newspaper. ### 1/5 — Ridiculous number of pop-ups asking for review *2026-06-08, version 202605.26* App needs a lot of work ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Feels like home *2026-09-01, version 202608.55* San Francisco native who has lived in Philadelphia the last 11 years. Having access to the Chron virtually is not as nice a print media, but it still allows me to feel connected to my city and be in the know. Solid writers, great stores and an app that works very well! ### 5/5 — Essentially Bay Area *2026-07-31, version 202606.47* As a former So Cal beach brat, I now identify as a Bay Area senior citizen, and give thanks for both. The best California has to offer born in Pasadena, living in Alamo. I fly the Pride flag 24, 7 and the Stars and Stripes from morning to sunset. Steve Mason ### 5/5 — Love the Chronicle *2026-06-21, version 202605.26* I’ve been reading the Chronicle since I was a kid. I miss Dick, Tracy, Donte, and Gordo. I especially love the coverage of our local sports teams. ### 5/5 — Liberal Bias *2026-06-17, version 202605.26* The optional content gets a bit ridiculous. Maybe express opinions from both sides of the big topics. ### 5/5 — Get Fuzzy *2026-05-26, version 202603.8* I live in Los Angeles and subscribe to the LA Times. The primary reason I began my subscription on line to the Chronicle is to have access to “Get Fuzzy.” The Times no longer carries it, and I enjoy it so much, that it is the primary reason I started the Chronicle subscription. ### 5/5 — Good *2026-05-23, version 202603.8* I enjoy it. ### 5/5 — Staying Connected *2026-05-04, version 202603.8* Living in a small far Northern California town, I was lucky that my father subscribed to The Chronicle. It made a huge difference in my life to be able get the bigger picture news of our time. Now I have lived off grid for 36 years, and being able to still read this paper, and the Sporting Green of course, is the best and the first thing I read with my coffee. Love it! ### 5/5 — Best Bay Area news *2026-04-24, version 202603.8* Truly great to be informed with what is going on around me ### 5/5 — Inky Mess *2026-04-14, version 202603.8* SF Chronicle often bugs me, but they did us all a big favor by exposing Swalwell ### 5/5 — Great Paper *2026-04-07, version 202603.8* I just love catching up with the SF and Bay Area news. I grew up in the area and live there until 2000 when my parents decided to move to Las Vegas . At 40ish I moved with them. So this app is great to see everything that is going on since I used to get the ‘real paper’. Thank you. --- *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 2026-09-05.*