Review Insights · App Store
Apollo Neuro
Apollo Neuro · 1,788 ratings · ★ 4.5
4.5
★★★★★
1,788 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 41 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"device"
21 negative reviews mention this · 51% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
2
"customer"
12 negative reviews mention this · 29% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
3
"been"
11 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Disappointing.. Charging a premium subscription on top of the device price for what feel like basic features feels like a cash grab. I upgraded because I liked the device itself, but the extra $75 unlocks very little. (Online says it’s even more than tha…" - hyeldezian
4
"support"
10 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
5
"service"
10 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
6
"customer service"
10 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
7
"apollo"
9 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
8
"vibes"
8 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
9
"work"
8 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
10
"subscription"
8 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Disappointing.. Charging a premium subscription on top of the device price for what feel like basic features feels like a cash grab. I upgraded because I liked the device itself, but the extra $75 unlocks very little. (Online says it’s even more than tha…" - hyeldezian
11
"years"
7 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
12
"update"
7 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New default settings ruined the device. I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it …" - Lima Rodeo
📋 All 41 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
New default settings ruined the device
I’ve had the apollo neuro for 2 years now and I have used it A LOT and gotten a ton of benefit from it. I loved it and told everyone about how great it was. Recently the developers pushed an update that has changed it to the point where it no longer works for me. I primarily use the Sleep, Recover, and Focus vibes, and until recently the vibe you previously used would be the one that was queued up for you. For instance, if you used the Sleep function and then woke up in the middle of the night, you could just hit the buttons and Sleep would start up again. They recently made Social the default vibe. So every time your vibe session completes, it reverts to Social. After several sleepless nights, I finally figured out that when I hit the buttons after waking in the middle of the night, I was using the Social vibe. Seriously?? I’m in bed, not at a bar!! Why would they do that? So now if I want to restart the Sleep vibe after waking up at 2am, I have to reach for my phone, open the app, scroll down the list and select Sleep to start it again. Exactly the thing sleep experts tell you NOT to do…get on your phone in the middle of the night.
I work in EMS and do a lot of night shifts. When we have a challenging call in the middle of the night, I will put on the Focus vibe. After the session ends, the device defaults to Social. So a couple of hours later, it’s now 4am and I still need to stay focused and alert to do my job, but instead I get Social. Sweet…back at the bar. I can’t always stop what I’m doing, reach in my uniform for my phone, open the app, scroll down the list, and select Focus. Previously, it would just be on Focus if that’s the last vibe I used and a quick press of the buttons would start it up again. This update is so frustrating, and makes it far less functional for my purposes.
I contacted support about this and there is nothing they can do. The user cannot choose their default vibe, it will always revert to Social. So good luck to the folks that are trying to use this for anxiety or to quiet the mind. That’s not happening unless you restart it from your phone every single time. I did a hard reset, deleted and reloaded the app, unpaired and paired the device again, and nothing helps.
I pre-paid for the new version of the apollo a year ago because I loved this thing so much (they are still working on it and who knows when it will be available). But if this doesn’t change I’ll be selling it right away or asking for a refund when I receive it. No point in having this (for my purposes) if this is how it functions going forward. I really hope the developers see this and take my comments into consideration. Customer Service did not indicate they were going to pass my comments on, even though I asked. I think this is a really significant failure and should be remedied right away. Thanks for reading this if you’re one of the hardworking folks who fixes things over there at AN. And if you are a potential customer, I felt it was worth you knowing this before jumping in. It’s a real negative. If they change this back, I’ll definitely update my review to 5 stars but right now I’m so disappointed in the functionality that it’s worth taking the time to post this so you know what you are getting into.
I work in EMS and do a lot of night shifts. When we have a challenging call in the middle of the night, I will put on the Focus vibe. After the session ends, the device defaults to Social. So a couple of hours later, it’s now 4am and I still need to stay focused and alert to do my job, but instead I get Social. Sweet…back at the bar. I can’t always stop what I’m doing, reach in my uniform for my phone, open the app, scroll down the list, and select Focus. Previously, it would just be on Focus if that’s the last vibe I used and a quick press of the buttons would start it up again. This update is so frustrating, and makes it far less functional for my purposes.
I contacted support about this and there is nothing they can do. The user cannot choose their default vibe, it will always revert to Social. So good luck to the folks that are trying to use this for anxiety or to quiet the mind. That’s not happening unless you restart it from your phone every single time. I did a hard reset, deleted and reloaded the app, unpaired and paired the device again, and nothing helps.
I pre-paid for the new version of the apollo a year ago because I loved this thing so much (they are still working on it and who knows when it will be available). But if this doesn’t change I’ll be selling it right away or asking for a refund when I receive it. No point in having this (for my purposes) if this is how it functions going forward. I really hope the developers see this and take my comments into consideration. Customer Service did not indicate they were going to pass my comments on, even though I asked. I think this is a really significant failure and should be remedied right away. Thanks for reading this if you’re one of the hardworking folks who fixes things over there at AN. And if you are a potential customer, I felt it was worth you knowing this before jumping in. It’s a real negative. If they change this back, I’ll definitely update my review to 5 stars but right now I’m so disappointed in the functionality that it’s worth taking the time to post this so you know what you are getting into.
From great to horrible
Your app was beautiful and SIMPLE. You made it so complex it’s so hard to find the mode I care about
smart vibes is a waste of $
The device itself is decent and helps with stress and focus. After 5 years of use I decided to give the smart vibes a try. It was a waste of money. There's no way to set a vibration intensity preference so it drains the battery very quickly and kept ending up wide awake at 3 am with a dead apollo after having gone to bed with it at 80% charge. I significantly prefer scheduling my own vibes. When I asked for a refund they refused and were incredibly unhelpful.
Never remembers last Vibe
And every few months they change the layout for no apparent reason
Bugs aren’t fixed
I have had this app for years (since 2023) and have given continued feedback about all of the various bugs in the app, but they only get ignored. They keep insisting it’s a user error despite it being charged, supposedly “connected,” and worn. Customer service is a joke as well, as they’re the ones constantly insinuating it’s a user error, rather than acknowledging known issues.
Spend your money elsewhere.
I feel like any benefits others are having are only a placebo effect as my sleep has not improved, have not seen any improvement in my anxiety, and only have bruises due to the size of the device and where it’s supposed to be worn. And it honestly looks like an ankle monitor. I’ve had to explain repeatedly it isn’t (either on wrist or ankle).
Someone else mentioned the paid five star reviews, and that’s the only my thing that makes sense given all the continued issues.
Spend your money elsewhere.
I feel like any benefits others are having are only a placebo effect as my sleep has not improved, have not seen any improvement in my anxiety, and only have bruises due to the size of the device and where it’s supposed to be worn. And it honestly looks like an ankle monitor. I’ve had to explain repeatedly it isn’t (either on wrist or ankle).
Someone else mentioned the paid five star reviews, and that’s the only my thing that makes sense given all the continued issues.
Support?
The device told me to do an update so I complied and now it no longer works.
Premium
I pay good money for the subscription and yet I am always losing access to the premium vibes. Please fix this
Doesn’t work
Original device was defective. Replacement was issued months later. Once I received a functioning unit and tried it, I requested a refund. Company refused because they start the refund clock from delivery of a defective device, not from receipt of a working one.
Bought as a device and turned into a subscription
I loved the Apollo. My now-husband introduced me to it, and we both purchased the device well before the subscription model was introduced. After spending $350 on the hardware, the addition of a paid subscription feels both excessive and disappointing. We bought a device, not a lifestyle app. (Again, disappointing and tacky)
It is deeply misleading for a company to sell a device without clearly warning customers that essential features would later be placed behind a paywall. If that was always the intention, the device itself should have been provided at no cost or clearly communicated.
What seemed like a real potential solution for some of our brain needs has rocketed into a world of fluff.
It is deeply misleading for a company to sell a device without clearly warning customers that essential features would later be placed behind a paywall. If that was always the intention, the device itself should have been provided at no cost or clearly communicated.
What seemed like a real potential solution for some of our brain needs has rocketed into a world of fluff.
Bait and Switch Hidden Behind an App (and a subscription to vibration presets)
The app is a great example of Deceptive Patterns Design language unless you are willing to pay an ongoing fee for the device that already cost you hundreds of dollars and requires the app. They removed access to the anti-anxiety mode! It does not exist but has been replaced by 'Energy' and 'Hug' (which disappear from the UI after using it and selecting another).
They design a pattern once, after that it does not cost them more to let you use it, yet you must pay a monthly fee for the honor of doing so. Give me a break, backed by science or BS for short.
They design a pattern once, after that it does not cost them more to let you use it, yet you must pay a monthly fee for the honor of doing so. Give me a break, backed by science or BS for short.
Nonexistent Customer support
I have had mine and stayed at the “basic level” for some time. I decided I’d splurge on the premium level … after purchasing, apparently I should have received a code to activate to update my device to premium. I never got a code. (And was told to check my spam folder, which of course I had done.) I have reached out to customer support 5 x via email and their chat system and have not had any help or further acknowledgment. It has been over a week. It is just really underwhelming and now I will have to contact my credit card company to get a refund. The whole point of me getting and engaging w this product is to minimize anxiety - what a ludicrous experience.
Extremely poor functionality
App refuses to acknowledge a subscription purchase. Contacted customer service and the chat function is locked so no responses possible. 35 minutes of frustration for something that supposedly brings good vibrations. High marks on frustration. Extremely low marks on UI.
Beware
The new Oura integration does not work as advertised. Smartvibes is not algorithmically adjusting based on your recovery/stress levels. The membership upgrade does not bring new functionality, just more cost. Customer service is woeful.
Why
I find this device essential, but it’s writing the line between scam and actually being useful… I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone due to the incredibly poor user experience and pricing. It is designed to keep you interested long enough to go go past the return period and that’s about it.
review for ad
this review is for the ad of the wet shirtless guy who talks at the audience for a minute and a half: please make it stop. thanks.
Not user friendly
Making it as hard as possible so you have to subscribe
App problems obscure device
The device works. BUT I have been unable to access the membership tier I purchased with the device and there could be more than 3 (tiers)- so you could pay and still get annoying upcharge demands. Support is 0
Why I stopped Using My Apollo Neuro
The app is no longer user friendly. It is designed to get you to use the expensive premium version. I had this version and decided there was no benefit for me…it’s incredibly overwhelming…I hate there are so many choices and no real explanation or guidance. I want the original version where I decide what vibe I need. I refuse to pay more for more sleep vibe time. Sometimes I think capitalism sucks🐶 Paying a renewal of $169 is just too expensive for the benefits I was experiencing.
Hostile UI is maddening now
Like another reviewer said, I’ve been using this as a MEDICAL DEVICE for over 5 years now and it’s infuriating every single time I open the app now to be upsold on ‘premium’ modes and to have to scroll through all of those FIRST before I can access the core modes. They also took away the ability to add modes to a favorite list for extra fast access. Everything good gets ruined eventually because of corporate greed…didn’t expect ensh*tification to come for Apollo too, but here we are. What a huge disappointment. It is actively stressful to use Apollo now because of the hostile UI for free users - it undoes any stress benefit the device is meant to give! Such a shame they sold out. At least they listened to the reviewers and added an option in settings to change the default home screen. They need to make an option to ONLY show the core vibes that come with the device and get rid of this hostile UI. My review would be much higher and I might actually recommend it to others again if they fix that. I also don’t want to subscribe and be forced to let their AI have access to my data. I would pay for more modes/vibes but only if I can opt out fully of the AI.
Terrible app, good device
Unfortunately this company has sold out to profit instead of the health and medical benefit it set out to be. For those of us who use this as a medical device, to have key modes hidden while the locked “premium” settings are being sold to you is an incredible disappointment. I want to recommend this device to so many people, because it genuinely helps - if it weren’t for this stupid app. Why can’t I use a medical device without being upsold on a daily basis? Please make a version of the device that is app free. Heaven knows we don’t want to be looking at our blue screened devices in those last 20 seconds before bed to swipe through multiple screens to find the “sleep” mode!
Please create a medical grade version of this device: app free.
Please create a medical grade version of this device: app free.
You ruined something that worked great
I’ve owned my Apollo for several years and the app did what I wanted. Turn it on and hit play on the Sleep session. Now I have to hunt around and am forced to answer a bunch of questions. Absolute rubbish now. I would return it if I could.
Updated App Disaster
First I’ve been a subscriber for several years. Love the device. Tried the add on vibes and features and didn’t find them worth the extra cost. Find it distasteful they’re add on costs.
But the latest update of the app has rendered my device useless. I’m constantly greeted with a screen that’s forcing me to update my app and refusing to play a vibe til I do. So I plug in again only to be told my app is updated.
Play a vibe once. Same experience. Not sure where QC was on this rollout.
Also the great new features in this update they keep telling me are there. I see no new features. Except a redesigned screen that puts all the paid features I’m not paying for and so aren’t available to me front and center and making me swipe to see what I do have access to.
Fix this mess.
But the latest update of the app has rendered my device useless. I’m constantly greeted with a screen that’s forcing me to update my app and refusing to play a vibe til I do. So I plug in again only to be told my app is updated.
Play a vibe once. Same experience. Not sure where QC was on this rollout.
Also the great new features in this update they keep telling me are there. I see no new features. Except a redesigned screen that puts all the paid features I’m not paying for and so aren’t available to me front and center and making me swipe to see what I do have access to.
Fix this mess.
You have ruined this app for me
I use your app for two reasons to help me sleep and to help me meditate in the morning and for the life of me I cannot find the calm button in the morning when I want to meditate. Where did it go? Why can’t I find it. I’m not interested in your sessions. I just want to use it the way I have enjoyed using it for the last several years. I’m very unhappy with this. I want you to fix it now
Customer service lacking
Can’t get started. Can’t reach any representatives. I’ve called so many times I think there is no help and just a recording. Nobody’s home forget it it’s an empty company
UI Update is Atrocious
The update recently has buried the actual point of this device behind an unintuitive and frankly infuriating UI. Seriously questioning the logic and skills of the developers of this app after this terrible update. The device itself is great, but the app is such a huge detractor now.
Hot Garbage
This new update is hot garbage. The app was so much more intuitive before.
Does not work as an app
Do Not Pay for this. I was pleased with the trial, and paid for a subscription. But 2 months later, the app no longer works, and the AI support denies any problem or solution.
I can’t create an account
I’m trying to create an account to get my device working and all I see is a little intro video. No way to get through it. Customer service is worthless.
A LOT of issues with this app
As you will all see when you first start the app for the first time it goes through two minute long drama just to login! It's ridiculous. Waste of time. On top of that the schedules work intermittently. Customer service takes three days to respond to any request. While this is a decent product that support is terrible and the app is terrible. They were more about trying to sell subscriptions than making their stuff work. Typical bait set up for something that is used for medical conditions. It's a real shame that they try to screw people over in buying subscriptions to things that people don't have money for
Change of heart
My initial enthusiasm for Apollo has waned. I used it to increase sleep, and its impact has been modest. Your experience may be different.
Breaks if it gets even a little wet.
Broke the first device getting slightly wet - don’t sweat too much or wear in the rain.
Also the WORST non responsive customer service BOTS you will ever deal with.
Also the WORST non responsive customer service BOTS you will ever deal with.
Sign in codes don’t work
Sign in codes don’t work
It used to work
It worked great, then it quit pairing up. It’s useless if it won’t pair with my phone and it’s not the phone, it’s the device. It won’t give me a blue light for Bluetooth.
I reached out twice for support and they NEVER contact you past the automatic reply. $300 for about 12 uses.
STILL NOT WORKING
I reached out twice for support and they NEVER contact you past the automatic reply. $300 for about 12 uses.
STILL NOT WORKING
Smart vibes free trial is not free
I received a message that for a limited time I could upgrade to smartvibes for a one month free trial. Unfortunately, when I signed up for the “free” trial I was immediately charged $160-no free trial AND I was charged significantly more than the $99/ year membership. I could not cancel this year membership even after only 2 days of trying it. I have called and messaged the support staff over a dozen times. I have been told that I would receive a refund for the error on their part but never received a refund. It’s been well over 2 months.
Doesn’t work
Complete snake oil.
App is a mess
I was an original backer, and the app has gotten worse every time I open it. I paid for the device, but now they try to monetize every app interaction When you open the app, it’s “buy this”, “buy that,” “buy another thing,” “click on here and buy something else.”
Disappointing.
Charging a premium subscription on top of the device price for what feel like basic features feels like a cash grab.
I upgraded because I liked the device itself, but the extra $75 unlocks very little. (Online says it’s even more than that so I could be misremembering. If it’s $89 that’s even more ridiculous) it only adds a few additional vibe options and the ability for it to turn on automatically, which did not feel worth the cost. I don’t like the fast paced ones and didn’t like the device turning on automatically. It made me anxious.
After a week or so I realized it was overstimulating and started giving me nightmares. I contacted support within that 2 weeks to ask if they could remove the subscription and issue a refund. They told me to keep wearing it and try it out. Nope. More nightmares. They were slow to respond and ultimately refused to refund after some back and forth.
I still liked a few of the basic settings on the device, but the subscription does not match the value and the customer service experience left a bad taste. I haven’t used it since it last lost a charge (a month or two ago) because the whole experience ruined it for me.
How is there no deactivation of subscriptions? That’s pretty standard app process and the price is astronomical for what it is. Idk. It’s been months and I keep getting pinged to leave this review. The device is ok. Bulky but it can be relaxing - the app? Meh.
I upgraded because I liked the device itself, but the extra $75 unlocks very little. (Online says it’s even more than that so I could be misremembering. If it’s $89 that’s even more ridiculous) it only adds a few additional vibe options and the ability for it to turn on automatically, which did not feel worth the cost. I don’t like the fast paced ones and didn’t like the device turning on automatically. It made me anxious.
After a week or so I realized it was overstimulating and started giving me nightmares. I contacted support within that 2 weeks to ask if they could remove the subscription and issue a refund. They told me to keep wearing it and try it out. Nope. More nightmares. They were slow to respond and ultimately refused to refund after some back and forth.
I still liked a few of the basic settings on the device, but the subscription does not match the value and the customer service experience left a bad taste. I haven’t used it since it last lost a charge (a month or two ago) because the whole experience ruined it for me.
How is there no deactivation of subscriptions? That’s pretty standard app process and the price is astronomical for what it is. Idk. It’s been months and I keep getting pinged to leave this review. The device is ok. Bulky but it can be relaxing - the app? Meh.
Horrid new interface
I enjoy my Apollo and it helps me daily-however I *cannot stand* the new interface. It's very difficult to find the sessions and vibes now. PLEASE give us the option to customize the main menu at least to get rid of the large annoying boxes that take up much unnecessary real estate so that nothing can be located. The old interface was perfect to find sessions and vibes in a snap with easy-to-view lists. This added frustration is enough to make me want to cancel my premium subscription.
Customer service is lacking - can’t activate my prepaid subscription.
I bought the device with a year subscription and have had it for a week and have not been able to successfully activate or reach someone in customer service who can help me. I even got an email reply to a phone message I left telling me to call if I still had issues…I called and couldn’t get through. Tempted to give up and ask for a full refund. Not worth it to me if I can’t access what I paid to be able to access. I hope they fix this by Monday night as I’ve had the device for a week without any useful response or help.
So disappointing!
First, trying to connect via Bluetooth from my Android devices always takes so long, and is such a headache. So I’ve been relying on this mini iPad to change the vibe on my Neuro. Now with the latest iOS, update, the app won’t even open. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app. Then it would not recognize my account; and I needed to set up a new account, and I lost my privileges to smart vibes because I can’t find a code that I ever received in my email messages, as if they have changed the process. Why can’t the Apollo app developers ever get this stuff right?! I love the premise and the device, but the app user experience is infuriating! Customer support has always been too difficult to deal with. Ultimately, I can’t trust this company I won’t be buying upgrades or spending any more money with them. Sad for me really.
App is always buggy
This app is one of the most glitchy apps I’ve ever used. It always freezes, doesn’t respond, etc. But now, it refuses to even load and launch correctly and I’ve tried restarting my phone too
Sentiment summary
86%
Positive (4-5★)
4%
Neutral (3★)
10%
Negative (1-2★)