Customer Reviews (500)

Johnccole • 2025-03-17T19:52:16-07:00

We’re in a second floor condo, so really felt this one. Short but strong wiggle sort of loosely in a circular motion. Not a vibrating back/forth motion

JosieLouis • 2025-03-07T21:30:26-07:00

I pay for the premium subscription and still get ads! No good time to move onto a new app Recently, we had a couple of four point plus earthquakes and I do not get alerts and they were within the parameters

btru4u2 • 2025-02-19T16:05:00-07:00

Great App and very important in today's age while traveling.

Summary of Key Insights

The Earthquake+ app is generally well-received, particularly for its informative nature and real-time alerts. Users appreciate its comprehensive data sources and customizable features. However, significant issues exist, including problems with ads in the premium version, delayed or missing notifications, server connectivity issues, and user interface/accessibility concerns. While the overall sentiment is positive, the recurring negative feedback highlights areas that require immediate attention to improve user satisfaction and maintain the app's reputation. The high number of 5-star reviews (67.4%) indicates a strong base of satisfied users, but the substantial number of 1 and 2-star reviews (13.6%) demonstrates the presence of critical issues that significantly impact the user experience for some.

Key Strengths:

  • Comprehensive data sources and real-time alerts.
  • Customizable features and map options.
  • Informative and easy to understand for many users.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Ads appearing in the paid premium version.
  • Delayed, missed, or repeated notifications.
  • Server connectivity problems and app crashes.
  • User interface and accessibility issues (e.g., font size, dark mode).
  • Filter malfunctioning.

Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with significant negative feedback.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: High (based on star distribution)
  • Score Distribution: 1 Star: 9.8%, 2 Star: 3.8%, 3 Star: 7.2%, 4 Star: 11.8%, 5 Star: 67.4%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span a considerable period, with mentions of updates in 2020 and 2024. Therefore, the reviews are a mix of historical and current user experiences.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Manual assessment of positive, negative, and neutral tones in reviews.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently used words and phrases to identify recurring themes and issues.
    • Categorization: Grouping reviews by topic (e.g., notifications, ads, user interface) to quantify the prevalence of each issue.

Key User Pain Points

  • Ads in Premium Version: Several users who paid for the premium subscription still experience ads, creating significant frustration and a sense of being defrauded.
  • Notification Issues: Many users report delayed notifications, missed notifications altogether, or receiving the same notification multiple times. This undermines the app's core functionality as a real-time alert system.
  • Server Connectivity Problems: Users frequently encounter error messages indicating that the server is down or unreachable, rendering the app unusable.
  • User Interface/Accessibility: Some users find the app's interface cluttered, non-intuitive, and difficult to navigate. Accessibility issues, such as the inability to adjust font sizes or use dark mode, also cause problems.
  • Filter Malfunctioning: Inability to set filters for magnitude of earthquake.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Notification Speed and Reliability: Faster and more reliable alerts are a primary concern for many users.
  • More Customizable Map Options: Users want more options for customizing the map display, including the ability to remove certain elements (e.g., volcanoes) or add specific layers.
  • Address-Specific Risk Assessment: Users would like the ability to look up addresses and assess their risk for earthquakes, liquefaction, or landslides.
  • Clearer Explanation of Premium Features: The description of premium features is unclear, making it difficult for users to decide whether to subscribe.
  • Apple Watch Complication: A complication on the Apple Watch that displays current earthquake information.
  • Option to delete added pins: Users requested the option to delete pins they have added to the map.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Comprehensive Data: Users appreciate the app's use of multiple data sources (e.g., USGS, EMSC) for comprehensive earthquake and volcano monitoring.
  • Real-Time Alerts: Many users find the app's alerts to be timely and accurate, especially compared to other earthquake apps.
  • Customizable Features: Users like the ability to customize maps, alerts, lists, and filters to suit their preferences.
  • Informative and Easy to Understand: Many users find the app's information to be informative and easy to understand, even without specialized knowledge.
  • Global Coverage: Users value the app's ability to track earthquakes and volcanic activity worldwide.
  • Accurate Map: Users find the app's map to be accurate and detailed, making it easy to pinpoint the location of earthquakes.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Ads in Premium Version: Immediately address the issue of ads appearing in the premium version. Refund affected users and thoroughly test the app to ensure ads are completely removed for paying subscribers.
  • Improve Notification Reliability: Investigate and resolve the problems with delayed, missed, and repeated notifications. Implement robust testing and monitoring to ensure alerts are delivered promptly and accurately.
  • Address Server Connectivity Issues: Improve server stability and reliability to prevent frequent downtime. Implement error handling and retry mechanisms to minimize the impact of temporary outages.
  • Fix malfunctioning filters: Users need to be able to filter notifications based on the earthquake magnitude.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance User Interface/Accessibility: Redesign the app's interface to be more intuitive and user-friendly. Implement accessibility features, such as adjustable font sizes and dark mode support, to improve usability for all users.
  • Clarify Premium Feature Descriptions: Provide a clearer and more detailed explanation of the benefits of the premium subscription. Highlight the unique features and value proposition to encourage more users to subscribe.
  • Add Address-Specific Risk Assessment: Implement a feature that allows users to look up addresses and assess their risk for earthquakes, liquefaction, or landslides. This would add significant value and differentiate the app from competitors.
  • Apple Watch Complication: Develop a complication for the Apple Watch that displays current earthquake information.

Low Priority:

  • More Customizable Map Options: Add more options for customizing the map display, such as the ability to remove certain elements or add specific layers.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Hyperlocal Earthquake Prediction: A startup could focus on developing more accurate hyperlocal earthquake prediction models using machine learning and real-time sensor data.
  • AI-Powered Earthquake Preparedness Platform: A platform that uses AI to provide personalized earthquake preparedness recommendations based on location, building type, and individual needs.
  • Accessible Earthquake Information App: An app specifically designed for users with disabilities, featuring customizable font sizes, screen readers, and simplified navigation.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preference: The app is popular among Spanish-speaking users, as evidenced by the numerous reviews written in Spanish.
  • Recurring Issues: Problems with notifications and server connectivity have persisted over time, indicating a need for ongoing maintenance and improvement.
  • Focus on Local Alerts: Many users value the app for its ability to provide local earthquake alerts, highlighting the importance of accurate and timely notifications for nearby events.

Conclusion

The Earthquake+ app is a valuable tool for monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes, but significant issues need to be addressed to improve user satisfaction. Prioritizing the fixes for ads in the premium version, notification reliability, and server connectivity problems is crucial. Enhancing the user interface, clarifying premium features, and adding address-specific risk assessment would further improve the app's value and competitiveness. Overall, the app has a strong foundation and the potential to be even better with focused improvements and ongoing maintenance. The high number of 5-star reviews indicates a strong base of satisfied users, but the substantial number of 1 and 2-star reviews demonstrates the presence of critical issues that significantly impact the user experience for some.

Overall Recommendation: Address the high-priority issues immediately and continue to invest in improving the user experience and adding new features.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earthquake-alerts-map-info/id395928613?uo=2