Customer Reviews (500)

Leonnard paul schulz • 2025-03-25T11:26:27-07:00

I can keep that an app instead of buying but maybe.. I love in the whole world an earthquake but I’m surprised too. I love it. Disabled Meteorologist, Mark Schulz

tinyjoe32 • 2025-03-21T05:32:54-07:00

It is really good to know about earthquakes where they happen and what size. It is a very good application.it would be nice if they show the country on the map

Irisyei • 2025-03-20T02:13:41-07:00

Hoy hubo un temblor de mas de 4. Y no lo reportó la app y yo tengo la versión premium

Summary of Key Insights

The Earthquake - alerts and map app enjoys a generally positive sentiment, indicated by a high percentage of 5-star reviews (65.8%). Users appreciate the app's informative nature, global coverage, and real-time updates. However, there are recurring complaints regarding the timeliness of notifications, the functionality of the free version, and issues with the Pro version's features and cost. Many users request more granular control over alerts and customization options. There's also confusion about the app's pricing model and what features are included in the free versus paid versions.

Key Strengths:

  • Comprehensive global earthquake tracking.
  • Informative and easy to use interface.
  • Reliable data sources (USGS, EMSC, etc.).

Key Weaknesses:

  • Notification delays.
  • Limited functionality in the free version.
  • Issues with Pro version features (location filtering, alert customization).
  • Inconsistent pricing and feature access across different Apple IDs.
  • Inaccurate reporting or missing events.

Overall Sentiment: Positive Overall Rating: Calculated Average: (75*1 + 17*2 + 34*3 + 45*4 + 329*5)/500 = 4.236 Score Distribution: 1-star: 15%, 2-star: 3.4%, 3-star: 6.8%, 4-star: 9%, 5-star: 65.8%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews from the Apple App Store.
  • Time Frame: The reviews span a considerable period, with mentions of events dating back to 2019 and as recent as October 2023.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved manual review and categorization of user comments to identify recurring themes, sentiment (positive, negative, neutral), and feature requests. Keyword extraction was used to identify frequently mentioned terms related to pain points and desired features.

Key User Pain Points

  • Notification Delays: Many users complain about significant delays (ranging from minutes to hours) in receiving earthquake notifications, rendering the app less useful for real-time awareness. This is the most prominent issue.
  • Limited Free Version Functionality: Users feel that the free version offers very limited functionality, often requiring a Pro license for basic features like customizable alerts and location filtering. Some consider the free version "useless."
  • Pro Version Issues: Users who paid for the Pro version report various issues, including:
    • Pro features not working after upgrading.
    • Inability to customize alerts or filters effectively.
    • The Pro version being locked after changing Apple IDs or moving countries.
    • Delayed notifications even with the Pro version.
  • Inaccurate or Missing Data: Some users report that the app misses earthquakes or provides inaccurate magnitude information compared to other sources like USGS.
  • Location Filtering Problems: Users struggle to set specific location filters (e.g., state, county, custom radius) and often receive alerts from irrelevant regions. The "60-mile radius" limitation is frequently mentioned.
  • Pricing and Family Sharing Issues: Concerns about the cost of the Pro version and its lack of support for Family Sharing.
  • Loss of features in updates: Some users report features disappearing after updates, such as the widget requiring a pro license.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Granular Alert Control: Users want to set magnitude thresholds higher (e.g., 6.0 or 7.0) and filter alerts by land/sea to avoid receiving notifications for minor oceanic quakes.
  • Customizable Location Filters: Users desire the ability to set custom location filters based on state, county, zip code, or a specific radius around their current location.
  • Faster Notifications: Users consistently request faster, near-instantaneous earthquake notifications.
  • Tsunami Warnings: Improved and more timely tsunami alerts.
  • Distance from User: Display the distance of the earthquake epicenter from the user's current location.
  • Fault Line Data: Show detailed fault line data within the app.
  • Earthquake Duration: Display the duration of earthquakes.
  • Historical Earthquake Lists by Location: Ability to view lists of earthquakes by specific location (e.g., state, country) covering past months.
  • Option to filter alerts by continent:
  • Ability to customize alert sounds

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Comprehensive Global Coverage: Users appreciate the app's ability to track earthquakes worldwide.
  • Informative and Educational: Users find the app informative and educational, helping them understand seismic activity and geological patterns.
  • Easy-to-Use Interface: Many users praise the app's simple and straightforward interface.
  • Reliable Data Sources: Users trust the app's use of reputable data sources like USGS and EMSC.
  • Tsunami Information: The inclusion of Tsunami bulletins is well-received.
  • Map Layers: The tectonic plate boundaries, volcanoes, and population density map layers are appreciated.
  • No Ads: Users appreciate the absence of advertisements.
  • 3D Touch and Haptic Feedback:
  • Siri Shortcuts support:

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Improve Notification Speed: Investigate and address the causes of notification delays. Implement optimizations to ensure near-instantaneous alerts.
  • Address Pro Version Issues: Fix bugs related to Pro version features, location filtering, and Apple ID compatibility. Ensure that paid features function as advertised.
  • Enhance Location Filtering: Implement more granular location filtering options (state, county, zip code, custom radius).
  • Clarify Pricing and Features: Clearly communicate the differences between the free and Pro versions, and ensure consistent pricing across the App Store and within the app. Consider offering a trial period for the Pro version.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Customizable Alert Thresholds: Allow users to set custom magnitude thresholds and filter alerts by land/sea.
  • Add Distance from User: Display the distance of the earthquake epicenter from the user's current location.
  • Improve Data Accuracy: Regularly verify and validate earthquake data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
  • Address UI/UX Issues: Improve the user interface based on feedback, such as allowing larger text sizes for readability and fixing map zooming issues.

Low Priority:

  • Add Fault Line Data: Include detailed fault line data as a map layer.
  • Implement Earthquake Duration Display: Display the duration of earthquakes.
  • Add Historical Earthquake Lists by Location: Allow users to view lists of earthquakes by specific location covering past months.
  • Add option to filter alerts by continent.
  • Allow users to customize alert sounds

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Personalized Earthquake Prediction System: Develop an AI-powered system that analyzes seismic data, geological factors, and user-reported data to provide personalized earthquake risk assessments and potential early warnings (though this is scientifically challenging).
  • Community-Based Earthquake Reporting Platform: Create a platform where users can report their experiences during earthquakes, share photos and videos, and connect with others in affected areas. This could supplement official data and provide valuable insights into the impact of earthquakes.
  • Earthquake Preparedness App: Develop an app that provides users with personalized earthquake preparedness plans, emergency checklists, and resources for building emergency kits.
  • **Subscription service providing accurate, real-time, and localized information.
  • An app that offers a social network and a means to communicate with local family and friends in the event of a disaster

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: A significant number of reviews are in Spanish, indicating a strong user base in Spanish-speaking regions.
  • Geographic Focus: Many users are located in earthquake-prone areas like California, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, highlighting the app's importance to these communities.
  • Time Sensitivity: The timeliness of notifications is a recurring theme, emphasizing the need for real-time updates.
  • Pro Version Value: A common theme is questioning the value of the Pro version due to limited functionality and technical issues.

Conclusion

The Earthquake - alerts and map app is a valuable tool for tracking seismic activity, but it needs improvement in several key areas. Addressing the notification delays, Pro version issues, and location filtering problems should be the top priorities. By enhancing the app's functionality and addressing user concerns, the developer can significantly improve user satisfaction and solidify its position as a leading earthquake tracking app. The app should strive to provide accurate, timely, and localized information while offering a clear and transparent pricing model.

Overall Recommendation: Focus on improving the core functionality of the app, particularly notification speed and location filtering, and address the issues with the Pro version to enhance its value proposition.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earthquake-alerts-and-map/id632040358?uo=2