Customer Reviews (500)

Amber5176 • 2025-03-24T06:08:42-07:00

I used to read the whole Economist but I switched jobs and didn’t have the time anymore. This is great. I still get updates on the most important stuff. I feel like I’m still connected to what’s going on in the world.

AlephWeil • 2025-02-27T08:55:54-07:00

I find the content to be well-curated, balanced, timely and relevant with a nice dash of humor thrown in.

ObjectiveAppReviewer • 2025-02-27T05:27:27-07:00

Inadequate content and atrocious experience cancelling the free trial. I expected more integrity.

Summary of Key Insights

  • The Espresso from The Economist app is generally well-received, with a strong emphasis on its concise, informative, and globally-focused news coverage. Users appreciate its ability to provide a quick overview of important world events in a time-efficient manner.
  • The app's key strengths lie in its content quality, brevity, and the Economist's brand reputation for objective journalism. However, users report issues with app functionality (audio bugs, loading problems), subscription cancellation difficulties, and a few concerns regarding bias or lack of depth.
  • Overall sentiment is positive, reflected in the high percentage of 5-star reviews. However, the negative reviews highlight critical areas needing improvement, particularly regarding app stability and subscription management.
  • Overall Rating: High positive sentiment, reflected in the score distribution.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 72.2% (361/500)
    • 4-star: 11.2% (56/500)
    • 3-star: 5% (25/500)
    • 2-star: 1.8% (9/500)
    • 1-star: 9.8% (49/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but reviews appear to be from recent years (2018-2023), based on review content.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Overall assessment of positive, negative, or neutral opinions expressed in reviews.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned keywords and phrases related to features, issues, and user preferences.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouping reviews based on recurring themes and topics.
    • Quantitative Analysis: Calculation of star rating distribution.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Functionality Issues:
    • Audio Bugs: Many users report persistent audio playback issues, such as playing old versions of the news or failing to update properly. This significantly degrades the user experience for those who rely on audio content.
    • Loading Problems/Crashes: Several users experience app crashes, white screens, or inability to load content. This impacts accessibility and reliability.
    • Text Size Setting Not Working: Some users report that the text size adjustment setting is ineffective.
  • Subscription and Cancellation Issues:
    • Difficult Cancellation Process: Numerous users describe a frustrating and time-consuming process to cancel their subscriptions, often involving excessive back-and-forth communication with customer support. This creates a negative perception of the company's integrity.
    • Unwanted Charges/Unexpected Renewals: Some users report being charged despite attempting to cancel their trial or subscription.
  • Content and Feature Concerns:
    • Missing Features/Content: Some users miss previously available features, such as historical data/articles, market data, or exchange rates.
    • App Not Optimized for Tablets: Several users express disappointment that the app is not optimized for iPad or other tablets.
    • Biased Reporting: A small number of users claim the news is biased, which undermines the app's credibility for those users.
  • Ads in Paid App: Some users find the presence of ads in a paid subscription app unacceptable.
  • Login Issues: Some users are unable to log in to the app.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Audio Support Enhancements:
    • Improved audio playback quality and reliability.
    • Ability to download audio for offline listening.
    • Inclusion of audio versions for all content, including the daily briefing.
  • Tablet Optimization: A dedicated iPad or tablet version of the app with optimized layout and functionality.
  • Improved Navigation and Archive Access:
    • Ability to access previous days' content more easily.
    • Calendar view for tracking read articles.
  • Additional Content:
    • Inclusion of market data, exchange rates, and other financial information.
    • More diverse news coverage.
  • Apple Car Play Support: Users want to be able to access the app through Apple Car Play.
  • Siri Integration: Integration with Siri for voice control and playback.
  • Notifications: More reliable notifications for new content updates.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Concise and Time-Efficient: Users consistently praise the app for its ability to deliver a quick and informative overview of world news.
  • High-Quality Content: The Economist's reputation for well-researched, balanced, and insightful journalism is a major draw.
  • Global Perspective: Users appreciate the app's focus on international news, which is often lacking in US-centric media.
  • Thought-Provoking Quotes: The daily quote is a popular feature that adds value to the overall experience.
  • Clean and Easy-to-Use Interface: Many users find the app's design to be simple, intuitive, and visually appealing.
  • Objective Reporting: Many users value the perceived lack of bias in the reporting, compared to other news sources.
  • Good Mix of Content: The app provides a good mix of political, economic, and cultural news.
  • Value for Money: Many users feel that the app provides good value for the subscription price.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Audio Playback Issues: Address the audio bugs and ensure reliable playback of the current day's content. (Impacts user experience significantly)
  • Simplify Subscription Cancellation: Streamline the cancellation process and make it easy for users to unsubscribe directly through the app or website. (Prevents negative brand perception and potential legal issues)
  • Address Loading and Crashing Issues: Improve app stability and performance to prevent crashes and loading problems. (Ensures accessibility and reliability)

Medium Priority:

  • Optimize for Tablets: Develop a dedicated iPad or tablet version of the app with an optimized layout. (Addresses a common user request)
  • Improve Navigation and Archive Access: Make it easier for users to access previous days' content and track their reading progress. (Enhances usability and convenience)
  • Re-evaluate Ads in Paid App: Consider removing ads from the paid app or offering an ad-free subscription option. (Improves user satisfaction)
  • Investigate Bias Claims: Review content for potential bias and ensure balanced reporting. (Maintains credibility and trust)

Low Priority:

  • Add Missing Features/Content: Consider reintroducing previously available features, such as market data, based on user demand and resource availability.
  • Implement Siri Integration: Integrate with Siri for voice control and playback.
  • Implement Apple Car Play Support: Allow users to access the app through Apple Car Play.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Personalized News Briefing App: An app that allows users to customize their news feed based on specific topics, regions, and sources, providing a highly tailored and concise daily briefing.
  • Audio-First News App: A news app that focuses primarily on audio content, with professionally produced podcasts and audio versions of articles.
  • Subscription Management Service: A service that helps users manage and cancel their subscriptions to various apps and services, simplifying the cancellation process and preventing unwanted charges.
  • Bias Detection Tool: A tool that analyzes news articles for potential bias and provides users with a more balanced perspective.

Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Technical Issues: App stability and audio playback are consistently mentioned as pain points, suggesting ongoing technical challenges.
  • Subscription Frustration: The difficulty of canceling subscriptions is a recurring theme, indicating a need for improved subscription management practices.
  • Desire for Convenience: Users value the app's brevity and ease of use, highlighting the importance of time-efficient news consumption.
  • iPad Optimization Demand: A significant number of users specifically request an iPad-optimized version, indicating a missed opportunity.
  • Positive Sentiment Despite Issues: Despite the reported issues, overall sentiment remains positive, suggesting that users are willing to tolerate some flaws due to the app's valuable content.

Conclusion

The Espresso from The Economist app is a valuable tool for users seeking a concise, informative, and globally-focused news source. While the app's content and brevity are major strengths, technical issues and subscription management challenges detract from the overall user experience. Addressing these pain points and prioritizing user-requested features will significantly enhance the app's appeal and solidify its position as a leading news briefing platform. The Economist should prioritize fixing the high priority issues related to technical problems and subscription management to prevent churn and maintain a positive brand image.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/espresso-from-the-economist/id896628003?uo=2