Customer Reviews (500)

Mr. Sweaters • 2025-03-27T14:09:51-07:00

This app asks for your phone number. Once you give them your phone number you will receive more spam calls than you ever have in your life. Give up the digits if you dare!!!!!

Jennsierra15 • 2025-03-26T23:20:58-07:00

This app tracks good never stop working always keep on working and this app is relaxing I can put calming music on the app to make me sleep faster and this app is worth it.

Roblx i love • 2025-03-26T23:11:57-07:00

I love this even though i just got it its good for falling to sleep fast but on the asmr thing it only have like one sound for free the rest is vip but all in all this app is great😁

Summary of Key Insights

The ShutEye app aims to improve sleep through relaxing sounds, sleep tracking, and alarm features. While many users find the app helpful for falling asleep and enjoy the sleep tracking capabilities, a significant portion express concerns about the high cost, deceptive subscription practices, and inaccuracies in sleep tracking. The app receives mixed reviews, with a substantial number of 1-star ratings indicating serious issues related to billing and functionality. There's a clear sentiment that the app pushes users towards premium features, limiting the value of the free version. Many users report being charged unexpectedly after signing up for a "free trial" and experiencing difficulty canceling their subscriptions.

Key Strengths:

  • Relaxing sounds and music help users fall asleep.
  • Sleep tracking features provide insights into sleep patterns (when they work accurately).
  • Gentle alarm clock functionality is appreciated.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Deceptive subscription practices and unexpected charges.
  • High cost of premium features.
  • Inaccurate sleep tracking.
  • Difficult cancellation process.
  • Limited functionality in the free version.
  • Poor customer support.

Overall Sentiment: Mixed, leaning towards negative due to billing issues and perceived "scam" tactics.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (calculated from distribution): Approximately 3.6 stars (weighted average).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 50.4%
    • 4-star: 12.2%
    • 3-star: 7.4%
    • 2-star: 5.6%
    • 1-star: 24.4%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews spanning from 2021 to 2024 (based on copyright date and review dates).
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (manual): Categorized reviews based on expressed sentiment (positive, negative, mixed).
    • Keyword extraction: Identified frequently mentioned keywords and phrases related to features, issues, and user experiences.
    • Frequency analysis: Quantified the occurrence of specific complaints and requests.

Key User Pain Points

  • Unexpected Charges and Deceptive Subscription Practices: Many users report being charged immediately upon signing up for a "free trial" or being charged after canceling within the trial period. The subscription process is perceived as misleading and difficult to navigate.
    • Impact: Erodes trust, leads to frustration and negative reviews, potential legal issues.
  • High Cost of Premium Features: Users feel that essential features, such as accessing sleep recordings and detailed sleep analysis, are locked behind a paywall, limiting the value of the free version.
    • Impact: Reduces user satisfaction, limits adoption, and drives users to seek alternative free apps.
  • Inaccurate Sleep Tracking: Users report inconsistencies in sleep tracking, with the app incorrectly identifying wakefulness as sleep, misinterpreting sounds, and failing to accurately record sleep stages.
    • Impact: Undermines the core value proposition of the app, leading to distrust and dissatisfaction.
  • Difficult Cancellation Process: Users struggle to cancel their subscriptions, often reporting that they are charged even after attempting to cancel.
    • Impact: Creates significant frustration and negative sentiment, damages the app's reputation.
  • Poor Customer Support: Many users report a lack of response from customer support when they encounter billing issues or other problems.
    • Impact: Exacerbates negative experiences, reinforces the perception of the app as a scam.
  • App Errors/Instability: Some users report app crashes or errors that prevent accurate tracking.
    • Impact: Loss of data, frustration, and negative app experience.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Free Features: Users want more functionality available in the free version, especially access to sleep recordings and detailed sleep analysis.
  • Apple Watch Integration: A dedicated Apple Watch app for sleep tracking.
  • Accurate Sleep Tracking: Improved accuracy in identifying sleep stages and distinguishing between different sounds.
  • Manual Edit Option: An option to manually edit sleep data to correct inaccuracies.
  • Clearer Subscription Information: Transparent and upfront information about subscription costs and cancellation policies.
  • Option to Turn Off/Customize Alarms: More control over alarm settings, including the ability to disable alarms and customize alarm sounds.
  • Kid-Friendly Content: Content and features tailored for children.
  • Ability to Filter Out Sounds: Option to filter out specific sounds (e.g., partner's snoring, fan noise) to improve tracking accuracy.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Relaxing Sounds and Music: Many users find the app's library of sleep sounds and music helpful for falling asleep.
  • Sleep Tracking (in some cases): Some users appreciate the ability to track their sleep patterns and gain insights into their sleep habits, when the tracking is accurate.
  • Gentle Alarm Clock: The app's gentle alarm clock functionality is appreciated by some users.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Some users find the app's interface visually appealing and easy to navigate (though others find it cluttered).
  • No Ads (Free version for some users): Some users appreciate the absence of ads in the free version.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Deceptive Subscription Practices:
    • Immediately revise the subscription process to be more transparent and upfront about costs and cancellation policies.
    • Implement a clear and easy-to-find cancellation process within the app.
    • Provide prominent reminders before free trials expire.
    • Actively respond to and resolve billing disputes promptly.
  • Improve Sleep Tracking Accuracy:
    • Invest in improving the accuracy of sleep tracking algorithms, particularly in identifying sleep stages and distinguishing between different sounds.
    • Implement a manual edit option to allow users to correct inaccuracies in sleep data.
  • Enhance Customer Support:
    • Provide timely and helpful responses to user inquiries and complaints.
    • Offer multiple channels for customer support (e.g., email, in-app chat).

Medium Priority:

  • Expand Free Features:
    • Offer more functionality in the free version, such as limited access to sleep recordings and detailed sleep analysis.
  • Develop Apple Watch Integration:
    • Create a dedicated Apple Watch app for seamless sleep tracking.
  • Enhance Alarm Functionality:
    • Provide more control over alarm settings, including the ability to disable alarms and customize alarm sounds.
  • Add Sound Filtering:
    • Allow users to filter out specific sounds (e.g., partner's snoring, fan noise) to improve tracking accuracy.

Low Priority:

  • Develop Kid-Friendly Content:
    • Consider adding content and features tailored for children.
  • Improve UI Clutter:
    • Review UI/UX to ensure easy navigation and discoverability of features.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Transparent Subscription Management Platform: A platform that helps users manage and cancel subscriptions across different apps and services, providing clear information about costs and renewal dates.
  • AI-Powered Sleep Sound Personalization: An app that uses AI to analyze user sleep patterns and preferences to generate personalized sleep soundscapes.
  • Affordable, Accurate Sleep Tracker: A sleep tracking app that offers accurate sleep analysis at a reasonable price, without deceptive subscription practices.
  • Smart Alarm Clock with Advanced Sound Recognition: An alarm clock app that can differentiate between the user's sleep sounds and external noises, triggering the alarm only when the user is in a light sleep stage.

Trends and Observations

  • Billing Issues are a Recurring Theme: A significant number of negative reviews focus on deceptive subscription practices and unexpected charges, suggesting a systemic problem.
  • Inaccurate Tracking Leads to Dissatisfaction: Users consistently complain about inaccuracies in sleep tracking, highlighting the importance of data reliability.
  • Price Sensitivity: Many users express concerns about the high cost of premium features, indicating a willingness to pay for a sleep tracking app, but only at a reasonable price point.
  • Desire for Customization: Users want more control over alarm settings, soundscapes, and sleep tracking parameters.
  • Language Preferences: While most reviews are in English, there are also reviews in Spanish, indicating a potential market for localization.

Conclusion

The ShutEye app has the potential to be a valuable tool for improving sleep, but it is currently plagued by deceptive subscription practices, inaccurate sleep tracking, and poor customer support. Addressing these issues is crucial for restoring user trust and improving the app's reputation. By prioritizing transparency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction, the developers can transform ShutEye into a truly effective and user-friendly sleep tracking app.

Overall Recommendation: Until the billing and accuracy issues are addressed, it's hard to recommend this app. Potential users should proceed with caution and carefully review the subscription terms before signing up.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shuteye-sleep-tracker-sound/id1490078804?uo=2