Customer Reviews (500)

Leah for life and today and • 2025-03-21T19:15:04-07:00

I love this app😀

Id ek • 2025-03-21T16:52:22-07:00

Was really fun!!!

I need to explain something. • 2025-03-21T16:25:11-07:00

I’m not sure if this is a available option already but having to literally get my pets to bed after 10 PM isnt just right for me. And its bad for my OWN sleep schedule too, having to wake up/stay up while its dark before/after 9 PM is affecting my health and unfortunately I got an eye problem along with it. I am putting a five star on this so you can notice this, please and thank you. It will be good to those who have a earlier/stricter time to go to sleep.

Summary of Key Insights

Widgetable: Besties & Couples is generally well-received, particularly for its cute aesthetic, interactive widgets, and ability to foster connection between friends and couples, especially in long-distance relationships. The app’s strengths lie in its virtual pet co-parenting feature and the various ways it allows users to share their lives with loved ones. However, the app faces criticism for its aggressive monetization strategy, heavy reliance on ads, and issues with recent updates that have negatively impacted user experience. The overall sentiment is positive, but the negative aspects need addressing to improve user retention and satisfaction.

  • Overall Rating: High (Based on score distribution, majority are 5-star reviews)
  • Breakdown Percentages: 5-star (73%), 4-star (10.2%), 3-star (5.4%), 2-star (2.8%), 1-star (8.6%)
  • Key Strengths: Cute design, engaging widgets, fosters connection, co-parenting pets.
  • Key Weaknesses: Excessive ads, aggressive monetization, recent updates causing issues, glitches.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but based on the version number, reviews are fairly recent.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (qualitative assessment of positive, negative, and neutral feedback), keyword extraction (identification of frequently mentioned topics), and thematic analysis (grouping reviews based on common themes).

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive Ads: The most frequent complaint is the overwhelming number of ads required to perform basic actions, especially feeding pets and watering plants. This leads to user frustration and a feeling that the app is overly monetized.
  • Aggressive Monetization: Users feel pressured to purchase premium subscriptions or gems to fully enjoy the app. The reliance on in-app purchases for essential items creates a pay-to-play experience.
  • "Ad Failed" Errors: Many users report encountering errors when trying to watch ads, preventing them from obtaining necessary resources and hindering gameplay.
  • Recent Update Issues: Recent updates have caused several problems, including the removal of customization options for widgets (e.g., background images), glitches, and loss of user data (e.g., saved statuses and pets).
  • Hatching Time: The 24-hour wait time for eggs to hatch is often mentioned as being too long and frustrating.
  • Pet Needs: Pets are perceived to need attention (feeding, bathing, etc.) too frequently, creating a demanding and sometimes overwhelming experience.
  • Lack of Free Options: Users feel restricted by the limited free options and the need to constantly watch ads or pay for premium features.
  • Confusing Interface: Some new users find the app's interface confusing and difficult to navigate, particularly when setting up widgets or adding friends.
  • Subscription Issues: Some users report being automatically subscribed to premium and having difficulty unsubscribing or receiving refunds.
  • Data Loss: Some users have reported losing all their pets, plants and friends in the app.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Mini-Games: Users want mini-games to earn coins or gems as an alternative to watching ads or making purchases.
  • More Customization: Users desire more customization options for widgets, pets (e.g., clothing), and gardens.
  • Playdates: A feature that allows pets to interact with each other.
  • Weekly/Monthly Mood Jar: An option to set the Mood Jar to reset weekly or monthly instead of daily.
  • More Free Food/Resources: Users request more free food and resources to reduce reliance on ads or purchases.
  • Persian Language Support

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Cute and Adorable Design: The app's cute aesthetic and adorable pets are consistently praised.
  • Engaging Widgets: Users enjoy the interactive widgets that allow them to share their lives with friends and couples.
  • Fosters Connection: The app is valued for its ability to strengthen relationships, especially in long-distance situations.
  • Co-Parenting Feature: The virtual pet co-parenting feature is a unique and popular aspect of the app.
  • Responsibility Teaching: Some users feel the app helps teach responsibility and prepares them for pet ownership or parenthood.
  • Stress Relief: The app is used by some as a tool to help with stress and anxiety.
  • Wallpaper Customization: The ability to customize wallpapers is a popular feature.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Reduce Ad Frequency: Significantly decrease the number of ads required for basic actions. Implement a more balanced monetization strategy that doesn't overly disrupt gameplay.
  • Fix "Ad Failed" Errors: Address the technical issues causing "ad failed" errors to ensure users can reliably obtain resources through ads.
  • Address Update Issues: Investigate and resolve the problems caused by recent updates, including the loss of customization options, glitches, and data loss. Consider rolling back problematic changes or providing users with options to revert to previous versions.
  • Improve Unsubscription Process: Ensure a clear and easy-to-use unsubscription process for premium subscriptions. Provide timely responses to refund requests.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Mini-Games: Introduce mini-games as an alternative way to earn coins or gems.
  • Increase Free Resources: Provide more free food and resources to reduce reliance on ads or purchases.
  • Shorten Hatching Time: Reduce the 24-hour wait time for eggs to hatch or provide more ways to accelerate the process.
  • Improve Onboarding: Add a tutorial to guide new users through the app's interface and features.
  • Optimize Pet Needs: Rebalance the frequency with which pets require attention to prevent user burnout.
  • Implement requested features: Add Clothes for pets and co-parenting plants without paying.

Low Priority:

  • Add More Customization Options: Expand customization options for widgets, pets, and gardens based on user feedback.
  • Develop Playdates Feature: Consider adding a playdates feature that allows pets to interact with each other.
  • Implement Weekly/Monthly Mood Jar: Add an option to set the Mood Jar to reset weekly or monthly instead of daily.
  • Implement Persian Language Support

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Virtual Pet Social Network: Create a social network specifically for virtual pet owners, allowing them to connect, share tips, and arrange playdates for their pets.
  • Subscription Box for Virtual Pets: Offer a subscription box that provides virtual pet owners with exclusive items, customization options, and resources on a recurring basis.
  • Educational Game for Kids: Develop an educational game that uses virtual pet care as a way to teach children about responsibility, empathy, and basic life skills.
  • Mental Health App Integration: Partner with mental health apps to integrate virtual pet care as a therapeutic tool for managing stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
  • AR Virtual Pets: Develop an augmented reality app that allows users to interact with their virtual pets in the real world.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The reviews are primarily in English, but there are also reviews in Spanish, Russian, and other languages, indicating a global user base.
  • Shift in Sentiment: Recent reviews (especially those mentioning the latest update) show a decrease in positive sentiment due to the issues caused by the update.
  • Monetization Concerns: The concerns about monetization are consistent across multiple reviews, suggesting a widespread issue.
  • Age Demographics: The reviews suggest a broad age range, with some users indicating they are using the app with their children.
  • Long-Distance Relationships: A significant number of users mention using the app to stay connected in long-distance relationships.

Conclusion

Widgetable: Besties & Couples has a strong foundation with its cute design, engaging widgets, and ability to foster connection. However, the app's aggressive monetization strategy, recent update issues, and technical glitches are negatively impacting user experience. To improve user retention and satisfaction, the developers should prioritize addressing these issues by reducing ad frequency, fixing technical errors, and improving the unsubscription process. Implementing user-requested features, such as mini-games and more customization options, can further enhance the app's appeal. Overall, the app has the potential to be a highly successful platform for fostering connection, but it needs to address its monetization strategy and technical issues to reach its full potential.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widgetable-besties-couples/id1641107226?uo=2