Customer Reviews (100)

R Seger • 2025-03-25T02:20:54.529Z

Lots of internal trackers built into the Bloomberg app. Google, comScore, Iterable, Taboola, etc.. I have the Duck Duck Go app installed on my phone, and it shows me the thousands of tracking attempts hourly. With the DuckDuckGo app blocking app trackers, Boomberg app does not work.

Sep • 2025-03-24T19:59:25.368Z

okay but not fast to news

Brent VanDamme • 2025-03-23T22:53:03.445Z

App causes major glitches when connecting and disconnecting from Android Auto. It's been a problem for months. Fix it.

Summary of Key Insights

The Bloomberg: Finance Market News app receives mixed reviews, with a bimodal distribution of ratings, indicating strong positive sentiment from some users and significant dissatisfaction from others. Key strengths include the quality of Bloomberg's content and market data. However, users frequently complain about technical issues, the high cost of subscription, excessive advertising (even for paid subscribers), and difficulties with unsubscribing. Tracking concerns and offline functionality also appear as recurring issues. While many appreciate the app's informative nature, the negative experiences related to cost, technical performance, and intrusive advertising significantly detract from the overall user experience.

Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, a weighted average would be approximately 4.02 out of 5. Score Distribution: 58% of reviews are 5-star, 10% are 4-star, 4% are 3-star, 8% are 2-star, and 20% are 1-star.

Data & Methodology Overview

Data Sample Size: 100 reviews Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the content of the reviews (e.g., references to recent updates, "12/2024" in one review). Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on language used), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned topics and issues), and frequency analysis (counting the occurrences of specific complaints or requests).

Key User Pain Points

  • High Cost/Subscription Issues: The most prominent complaint revolves around the high subscription cost relative to the perceived value, especially given the presence of ads even for subscribers. Difficulties in unsubscribing and unexpected auto-renewals are also frequently reported.
  • Technical Issues/Bugs: Many users report technical problems, including app crashes, freezing, problems with Android Auto, issues with streaming, disappearing watchlists, and login difficulties.
  • Excessive Advertising (Even for Subscribers): A significant number of users, even paying subscribers, complain about the frequency and intrusiveness of advertisements.
  • Offline Functionality Issues: Several users mention that offline reading or live news updates do not work correctly on Android.
  • Tracking Concerns: One user highlights the presence of numerous trackers within the app and experiences functionality issues when these trackers are blocked.
  • Unreliable Functionality: Some users reported general app unreliability and poor performance.

Frequently Requested Features

  • History Function: A user requested a "history" function to easily revisit previously read articles.
  • Improved Audio Section: A user requested a fix for the auto-progression/update of articles in the audio section.
  • PC/Web Access with Subscription: A user complained that the subscription is only for phones and not accessible on PC.
  • Free Version/Reduced Subscription Cost: Multiple users imply a desire for a free or more affordable version of the app.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • High-Quality Content/Journalism: Many users praise the app for providing accurate, informative, and in-depth coverage of business and financial news.
  • Comprehensive Market Data: Users appreciate the availability of real-time market data, including stock prices, indices, and currency rates.
  • Clean User Interface: Some users find the app's interface clean and easy to navigate.
  • Valuable Insights: Users find the app valuable for staying updated on world news and financial markets.
  • Bloomberg Terminal Integration: A user highlighted the benefit of integration with the Bloomberg Terminal for professionals.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Subscription Issues: Streamline the unsubscription process, provide clearer information about auto-renewal policies, and investigate and resolve issues related to unauthorized charges. Consider offering different subscription tiers or a free version with limited access.
  • Fix Technical Bugs and Improve Stability: Prioritize bug fixes and performance improvements to address app crashes, freezing, Android Auto issues, and login problems. Implement thorough testing before releasing new versions.
  • Reduce Advertising for Subscribers: Significantly reduce or eliminate ads for paying subscribers to improve their user experience.

Medium Priority:

  • Improve Offline Functionality: Fix the reported issues with offline reading and live news updates on Android.
  • Address Tracking Concerns: Be transparent about data collection practices and provide users with more control over their privacy settings.
  • Implement a History Feature: Add a "history" feature to allow users to easily revisit previously read articles.
  • Improve Audio Playback: Fix issues with audio article progression.

Low Priority:

  • Expand Platform Access: Consider offering access to Bloomberg content on PC/web for subscribers.
  • Address Perceived Bias: Monitor and address any concerns about perceived bias in news coverage.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Subscription Management Service: A service that helps users manage and cancel subscriptions across various platforms, including Bloomberg, with clear reminders and cancellation assistance.
  • Ad-Free News Aggregator: A news aggregator that provides ad-free access to premium content from various sources, including Bloomberg, for a single subscription fee.
  • Enhanced Financial Literacy App: An app that combines Bloomberg's financial news and data with educational resources to help retail investors make informed decisions.

Trends and Observations

  • Bimodal Sentiment: The review distribution suggests a polarized user base. Those who find the content valuable are highly satisfied, while those who encounter technical or subscription-related issues are extremely dissatisfied.
  • Android-Specific Issues: Several reviews highlight issues that are specific to the Android version of the app, suggesting a potential focus area for improvement.
  • Cost Sensitivity: The cost of the subscription is a major point of contention, particularly for retail investors and those who feel the app's value doesn't justify the price.
  • Political Bias Concerns: Some users express concerns about political bias in the news coverage, although this sentiment is less frequent than other complaints.

Conclusion

The Bloomberg: Finance Market News app offers valuable content and market data, but its user experience is significantly hampered by technical issues, high subscription costs, intrusive advertising, and subscription management problems. Addressing these pain points is crucial for improving user satisfaction and retaining subscribers. Prioritizing bug fixes, reducing advertising for subscribers, and streamlining the subscription process are essential steps.

Overall Recommendation: While the app has strong content, the negative aspects significantly impact user experience. Addressing the prioritized action items is crucial for improving the app's overall rating and user retention.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bloomberg.android.plus