# The Straits Times — user reviews > 132 indexed App Store user reviews of The Straits Times by SPH Media Limited, rated 4.40/5 from 255 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-straits-times/id547465441/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-straits-times/id547465441.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 185 · 4★ 34 · 3★ 7 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 27 ## Newest reviews (10 of 132) ### 4/5 — Good reading app for daily news but.. *2025-10-08* I wish there was a section that shows the articles that we have previously read, rather than just a save button alone. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for this suggestion. We’re working on updates to enhance your reading experience. If you run into any other difficulties, please email stics@sph.com.sg or tap Menu > Helpdesk to auto-include device details and we will contact you once we receive your email. – ST Mobile Team ### 3/5 — In-built search engines *2025-07-01, version 10.0.0* Generally the app is fine for reading news articles. However, the search engine is pretty useless. In the recent weeks, I have tried to use it several times to find some articles that I recalled reading but the search engine returned some irrelevant articles. It needs some serious overhaul… ### 3/5 — Takes up too much space for a news app *2023-11-21* App works decently well. However it takes up 4GB of space, with no way to clear it. Why would a news app require that much space? **Developer response:** Hi yh_sss, thank you for your feedback. We understand your concern regarding the app's storage usage. Our team is actively working on optimizing the app to reduce its size and improve performance. In the meantime, please ensure you have the latest version installed and try clearing the app's cache in your device settings to free up space. If you continue to experience issues, feel free to email us at stics@sph.com.sg for assistance. - ST mobile team ### 1/5 — Hangs ALL the time recently *2023-10-23* Does anyone the apps after it is developed ? I have multiple ios devices and all of the apps hang whether reading articles or ePaper. The app would freeze for seconds or minutes before responding. It's the same for ST, zaobao and BT. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for reaching out. In order to assist you further, we would require some more information. Please email us at stics@sph.com.sg so we can help. ### 1/5 — Now I can’t listen to my daily news, the audio will just stop after a sentence or two. *2023-10-14, version 9.10.1* The old app has a tab to read and audio option for each news article for the daily copy: now the tab is missing ! Pls bring it back. It saves me time - I can listen to news while driving Now, the latest upgrade - the audio is buggy - Need to repeat a few times. Very frustrating ### 1/5 — Very unstable, keeps hanging and crashing on iPAd version. Why? *2023-08-02, version 9.8.0* Why? ### 1/5 — Articles not loading *2023-07-13* Latest version doesn’t work properly. 60% of the articles don’t load when I click thru the headlines. All I see is the headline and the leading photo. Will unsubscribe soon, if Straits Times cannot deliver news that we can read. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for reaching out! May we know if this problem has been resolved? If you need help, please email stics@sph.com.sg so that we can assist immediately! - ST mobile team ### 1/5 — Home page doesn’t show *2023-04-07* The home page doesn’t load…keep showing “your connection was interrupted. Please try again” even though there’s no problem with my connectivity. I have no problem loading the e-paper. **Developer response:** Hi Psk_66, thank you for reaching out. The ST app can be affected when the network connection is unstable, depending on the content being loaded. Please let us help you with troubleshooting this at stics@sph.com.sg - ST mobile team ### 3/5 — 打不开 *2023-01-15* 页面显示无网络，但我网络连接是正常的 ### 1/5 — False advertising!!! Wrongly billed subscription *2023-01-14, version 9.7.1* I signed up to a HK$5/month subscription for 3 months followed by HK$178/month subscription. However after subscribing, I was immediately charged HK$178/month. What happened to the HK$5/ month for 3 months??? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — The annoying video ads *2026-01-28* Please stop those auto playing video ads. IT ANNOYING as it pauses my music on the iPhone. I can’t listen to music while reading. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your feedback. We understand how auto-playing video ads can disrupt your experience. We’ll share this with our team as we review the ads experience. If you have more feedback, feel free to reach out at stics@sph.com.sg. – ST mobile team ### 1/5 — Lousy Interface *2026-01-06, version 10.4.1* The new lousy version released many months back has made reading newspaper using the app very painful. I am a paid subscriber for over 8 years. I prefer reading only the PDF version on my iPad since it is exact replica of printed version. As a senior citizen I very often use stretching and pinching to zoom and unzoom to read the articles. This has become extremely painful since the so-called revamp of the App. Zoom works only if I use the stretching gesture at the middle of the PDF page. After zooming, I need to scroll the page to read the entire page. While doing so, when finger touches the screen, a pop-up window opens up with the article where fingers touched. This is extremely frustrating. The reason I read PDF version is because it is like printed version. What a stupid idea to show the article in web page format for every accidental touch of the screen!!! I waited so long hoping that developers also use the App and would realise the problem and fix. Nothing happened. I am at my wits end and so leaving this honest feedback with loads of frustration. Developer, I do not want your lip-service standard reply. Instead get the issue fixed before you lose subscribers. ### 1/5 — Poor User Interface *2025-09-11, version 10.2.0* The app is lacking in basic functionality. Shows lack of understanding of reading habits. Unlike social media where reader do not care reading every piece of news, most avid news reader likes to catch up with global happenings past 24 hours & thus will read most articles daily. In the morning, there would be many articles published overnight, however as one tries to read & scroll down past articles, many a times the system will automatically brings it to the most recent article that was posted. You will then need to scroll down all over again to search for your last read article to continue. This annoying & disruptive design would repeat a few times every morning for me. Feedback to the team has seen no change even will new software updates. To encourage readership, we have to keep up with technology trends and know what your target audiences need. If even the most basic is missing, then it is really a shame. Using the app is becoming a pain. ### 1/5 — Unnecessary and Bad "Improvement" *2025-08-23, version 10.2.0* Recent "Improvement" to the App is many steps backward. Totally unnecessary. I need to zoom to read the newspaper comfortably. While trying to zoom 90% of the times it opens the article as a web page. Often zoom doesn't work. In the past I had a choice whether to download the newspaper or read without downloading. I used to read without downloading and download after reading to mark that I have read that day's newspaper. I always have a backlog to read. Now it downloads when I open the newspaper and the download is also very slow. Frustrated with so called improvements. ### 1/5 — Documents and data *2025-01-21, version 9.13.7* I have a very limited GB/space for my phone. I downloaded this app to keep myself updated on the news worldwide. However , I found out that this app took 8GB without letting me to clear the space for my important documents in my phone. I have to stop using and delete this app whenever I needed that extra space for my work wise. It would be great if someone could explain to me why is there a need for this space and if I can delete the data used for it without deleting the app. ### 1/5 — ADS GALORE *2025-01-19, version 9.13.6* I swear this shouldn’t be called a news app. More like a classifieds app. The advertisements are SUPER INTRUSIVE!! I am considering a subscription but if the ST Team refuses to consider removing ads (or at least minimal ones, come on ST), then this is a major turn off. Please please look into making the ads less intrusive. There are ways; look at CNA! They have ads but not to the point where it slaps you in the face every time you read a sentence! Also I can’t seem to read the e paper now 🙄 ### 1/5 — Poor app development framework *2024-10-15, version 9.13.3* Apple regularly releases developer beta builds well ahead of major iOS updates for a reason — to give app developers ample time to test, optimize, and prepare their apps for new operating systems. It’s frustrating to see a lack of proactive development here. iOS 18.1 was no surprise, and there has been plenty of time to address potential compatibility issues. Many other apps have adapted without issues, but this one is lagging behind. Crashes on launch and freezing are unacceptable, particularly for a well-established app. Staying ahead of platform changes is crucial for user experience, and as it stands, this app is falling short. Until these issues are resolved, it’s hard to recommend the app to anyone on the latest iOS version. And while we’re at it—can we talk about Dark Mode? It seems developing a Dark Mode icon must take eons, because this app still doesn’t have one. Other apps managed to integrate it ages ago, but apparently, that’s too tall an order here. ### 1/5 — Black screen *2024-09-28* It’s just a black screen when you open it. **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your feedback. Please try clearing the app cache or reinstalling the app to resolve the issue. If the problem continues, contact us at stics@sph.com.sg for assistance. - ST mobile team ### 1/5 — Ah, the Straits Times app *2024-09-26* the perfect choice if you're a fan of bugs and non-critical, state-approved journalism! Imagine trying to stay informed, but instead of news, you’re greeted by the sweet, repetitive joy of app crashes. It's as if the developers thought, "Why stop at news when we can also offer frustration?" And the content? Well, if you’re looking for groundbreaking stories, look elsewhere! The Straits Times seems to take great care in ensuring you never encounter a controversial thought. Critical journalism? Not here! It’s all smooth sailing for the powers that be. But hey, if you like reading what feels like press releases, you're in for a treat! So, if you're after an app that’s buggy and avoids anything that might offend the status quo, The Straits Times app is for you. Get ready for endless loading screens and government-approved headlines! **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the app has not met your expectations. We're working on improving both performance and user experience. We appreciate your input and will share it with the relevant teams. If you have any specific issues, please contact us at stics@sph.com.sg. - ST mobile team ### 1/5 — Too many advertisements disrupts the reading pleasure *2024-07-19, version 9.12.1* There are simply too many advertisements (same advertisement some more) within an article, many which I’m totally not interested about. The recommended articles don’t change a lot and even if I’ve read them it’s still there for a good couple of days. I especially don’t like the “more from the web”. These are really not news articles but seem more like advertisements/advertorials. Clicking on them does not go to the web! They are still within the App so you have to click “Done” in order to go back to article at Straits Times. The fact that these articles are placed in a newspaper app, (which, unlike the advertisements mentioned earlier which will bring you externally to a browser) may mislead readers to think that these “ads” are actually trustworthy which is not the case! Really got sick of the same ads. It’ll be better if you can allow one to turn it off. It’ll be better if you classify them outrightly as advertisements instead. You see, Straits Times have been one of our trusted newspapers which we have been reading since young and we hope that it gets better in the digital version. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love all the cool new stuff in this version! *2025-06-25* Well designed and fast. The new keyword summary feature is awesome! **Developer response:** Hi, we appreciate your positive feedback and support. It's readers like you who inspire us to keep delivering quality journalism through our app. Please don't hesitate to reach out to stics@sph.com.sg if you ever need assistance. - ST mobile team ### 5/5 — Latest Updates v10 *2025-06-24* This is the best version of ST I have used so far. The AI summary offers helpful snippets. I like the e-Paper in this update; it resembles reading a real newspaper and allows me to click on articles for more detailed reading, which helps with font size preferences. One small suggestion: apply the same AI summary features to each article 😉 **Developer response:** Hi, we appreciate your thoughtful review. It's rewarding to hear that our app is helping you stay informed and connected to the news that matters. Thank you for being a valued reader of our publication. - ST mobile team ### 5/5 — Latest update app crashes iOS 18.5 *2025-06-19, version 9.13.9* Thanks so much for rectifying the issues. I can now access the application without crashing. ### 5/5 — Make Singapore Great Again (er…no need, it is already) *2025-03-15* I profoundly love Singapore, this is why I wouldn’t like the idea of this surgeon with no international experience hold this position in Singapore only because he is living not far from Mar a Lago… **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for the positive review. We're pleased to hear you're enjoying our app and the quality journalism we provide. Your support motivates us to keep improving and delivering the news that matters to you. - ST mobile team ### 5/5 — Refreshed app *2025-02-14* I read it every day - and find it seamless! **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your 5-star rating and support! We’re excited to hear you’re loving the refreshed experience and finding it seamless. If you have any suggestions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you at stics@sph.com.sg. – ST Mobile Team ### 5/5 — Oversea reader *2025-01-25* Appreciate more contents **Developer response:** Hi, thank you for your positive review and continued support. We're committed to making your news reading experience even better, and feedback like yours guides our ongoing improvements. We value having you as a reader. - ST mobile team ### 5/5 — Convenient *2024-09-05, version 9.13.1* Timely updates on local news on the go, friendly interface, easy to read ### 5/5 — Sold News App, just a few small issues *2024-09-02, version 9.13.1* The Straits Times app is a dependable source for news with a clean, easy-to-use interface. Notifications are timely, but occasional slow loading and ads can disrupt the experience. Overall, it's a solid choice for staying informed on the go. ### 5/5 — unable to switch within devices - poor CS services *2024-02-21, version 9.11.0* I think like many other users who downloaded and made payment for the plans via Apple Store, can’t see to get around switching through devices. ### 5/5 — Incomplete load of articles *2022-12-29, version 9.7.0* Many sections in several articles are not properly loaded despite several attempts to close, refresh and reload the articles. Recently, such partially loaded articles are becoming more common, and becoming very frustrating. Appreciate greatly if the development team can resolve this issue asap --- *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 2026-09-02.*