Review Insights · App Store
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Buddy Bird Inc · 57,817 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
57,817 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 56 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
"bird"
30 negative reviews mention this · 54% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
2
"birds"
18 negative reviews mention this · 32% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
3
"features"
17 negative reviews mention this · 30% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App used to be great. They put a lot of regular features that used to be included behind a paywall like bird ids. That’s the whole point of the app." - Fifijfrwa
4
"feeder"
15 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
5
"behind"
14 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App used to be great. They put a lot of regular features that used to be included behind a paywall like bird ids. That’s the whole point of the app." - Fifijfrwa
6
"subscription"
13 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
7
"money"
13 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Greedy and Disappointing. The new update is horrible. All the best features - like bird ID - are now hidden behind a paywall. I already bought a $250 birdfeeder - now I have to shell out even more just to use the features it originally came with. Absolute money grab…" - BeastCoast
8
"premium"
13 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Disappointed with update. I can no longer recommend BirdBuddy. A recent update has made it so Bird Buddy will no longer automatically identify birds, or ignore unwanted species, without paying for the premium service on top of an already expensive feeder. Something …" - savannahne
9
"paywall"
12 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App used to be great. They put a lot of regular features that used to be included behind a paywall like bird ids. That’s the whole point of the app." - Fifijfrwa
10
"update"
12 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Bad Product Update. Came here to see how badly this app is getting savaged for putting what once was core functionality behind a subscription model. I’m not at all surprised to see that they rightfully have been taken to task for what can only be described as …" - d3r3kj
11
"buddy"
11 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
12
"identify"
11 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Getting worse. I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it pro…" - Mudslide Matt
📋 All 56 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").
Getting worse
I received a Bird Buddy feeder as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was very pleased with the app interface. Remember that this a very expensive product to begin with. It used to automatically identify the birds in the videos it produced. You have to now tap an option on each video to ID the birds. When you send videos to others, it used to provide the species names, but no longer does. Previously, you had the option to exclude birds that appear too often in the feed. For example, I don’t need 15 videos of Northern Cardinals every day. You can choose to exclude species but it no longer works, I guess because it doesn’t ID in real time as previously. Be forewarned that the app constantly offers you very cool options. You then find out that these options require a subscription. What I find absurd is that they use Kickstarter to fund new products. This is now an established company. It seems tacky to fund in this manner. Kickstarter should be for actual startups.
App used to be great
They put a lot of regular features that used to be included behind a paywall like bird ids. That’s the whole point of the app.
Remove features after purchase
I have 3 of these feeders - a first day backer. They removed the bird identification which was the core selling point.
Bait and switch
I bought my unit back when it identified birds. They now make you pay for identification. This is so wrong, I paid for the ID feature when it was included and now I have pay extra for it.
No more bird identification
The app used to automatically identify the birds that would come to the feeder. Now you have to go through the hundreds of daily “post cards” and tap the analyze button and cross your fingers for a result. Why downgrade the app??? Makes zero sense.
Taking away features
Very frustrated that automatic bird ID was put behind a paywall. This was advertised as something included with my feeder, and now you are making people pay for it. The accuracy of the bird ID was so bad most of the time, so it’s not something I’m willing to pay for.
Bad Product Update
Came here to see how badly this app is getting savaged for putting what once was core functionality behind a subscription model. I’m not at all surprised to see that they rightfully have been taken to task for what can only be described as a serious blunder.
I totally understand the need to generate consistent revenue, but thinking you can drum it out of your existing user base by taking away features you previously gave them seamlessly for free and cowardly framing it as an product improvement is crazy bold and borderline gaslighting! You have seriously burnt up a ton of goodwill and the fact that you can’t figure out how to make a truly compelling subscription with *new* features makes me question the long term viability of your service. I hope these reviews are making up to the leaders at BB and that they figure out a way to backtrack out of this mess soon!
I totally understand the need to generate consistent revenue, but thinking you can drum it out of your existing user base by taking away features you previously gave them seamlessly for free and cowardly framing it as an product improvement is crazy bold and borderline gaslighting! You have seriously burnt up a ton of goodwill and the fact that you can’t figure out how to make a truly compelling subscription with *new* features makes me question the long term viability of your service. I hope these reviews are making up to the leaders at BB and that they figure out a way to backtrack out of this mess soon!
Paywall
They put the main selling point of the app - automatic bird ID - behind a paywall. False advetising and greedy corporate practices. Buy anything else.
Bird ID is a core feature
Locking it behind a paywall add and making me click the button every time is really shady for a product we’ve already purchased. I’d consider alternatives
New paywall
Please unlock the autoID.
Greedy and Disappointing
The new update is horrible. All the best features - like bird ID - are now hidden behind a paywall. I already bought a $250 birdfeeder - now I have to shell out even more just to use the features it originally came with. Absolute money grab and these guys should be ashamed of themselves.
Great until it wasn’t
Automatic ID was the sore purpose of this product and now it’s placed behind a paywall even though I’ve already purchased the item. Save yourself the money and don’t buy this product.
Self Inflicted AI Rot
Bird Buddy choosing to remove the absolute most basic feature and selling point, in bird identification, from a device we all own to try to recoup money on a incredibly useless from the beginning FOMO-induced “AI” integration and investment (which from then on messed up identification constantly on clear as day photos that the original machine learning model had no issue with) is as desperate a decision as I’ve seen in a long time. Not necessarily desperate for revenue but an executive or several desperate to hang on to their gullible convictions in a coming AI first economy. They’ve steadily made the product worse since I’ve owned it and paywalling the core function that has always been available is not only dumb, shortsighted strategy but incredibly insulting. No one should pay for any service from this company while vampirism is the corporate strategy. Frankly, peak Kickstarter business behavior.
Corporate Greed Paywall
Once great app with features not found it any other product. Over the past 5 years features continues to be put behind a paywall subscription. Bird Buddy is not worth the money anymore and sad to see the company decline.
Removing features
I tried different smart bird feeders, and I would usually recommend Bird Buddy because of the simplicity and quality of the app.
However with the most recent update, they have decided to remove features that were previously available for everyone.
The smart bird identification? You have to manually id birds now. To automatically id birds, you now need to pay.
Scummy move.
However with the most recent update, they have decided to remove features that were previously available for everyone.
The smart bird identification? You have to manually id birds now. To automatically id birds, you now need to pay.
Scummy move.
Money grab - don’t fall for it
I own 3 bird buddy feeders and when first purchased, one of the main selling points was auto-id. Meaning the app would tell me what type of bird was visiting my feeder. But now they’ve removed that feature and it’s only available with a premium paid subscription. Why should I pay for a feature that was marketed as standard? On top of removing features, their newest feeder the BB2 does not live up to the hype. Camera quality is poor, auto wake up isn’t any better than older BB feeders, portrait mode is way too narrow…. I could keep going but I’m going to spend my time shopping for another brand of smart feeder. You blew it Bird Buddy.
Paywalled now
They’ve paywalled the formerly free auto-identification feature, so you can’t get notifications of interesting birds without a very expensive yearly subscription. Way to appreciate your long term users; seems like management sees no value in brand goodwill.
New update is awful
Why do we have to ask to ID birds via AI now? We paid for a product that records and IDs birds. I’ve been here since kickstarter and this feels like a dirty trick. I’m so disappointed. I’m also so embarrassed that I recommended to my neighbor and she just bought one before the change. The attempt to force us to pay for a subscription makes me just want to quit using it altogether.
Bait and switch
When I bought my two Bird Buddy feeders, they came with automatic ID for free. Now you have to manually submit each bird to get an ID, unless you pay for Premium. It’s a real downgrade to the experience. Gross. Would not buy again.
New update horrible
Doesn’t automatically identify the birds anymore you have to either tap to identify or makes you buy premium to have that feature. So frustrating… everyone just wants more money from you.
Paywalled - never recommending again
Paywalling the previously included instant bird identification is such and underhanded tactic. Seriously took any brand loyalty I may have had and flushed it away. What features may disappear next? Time will tell.
Auto Identification
Auto bird identification is now behind a paywall!!! Stupidity. 🤦🏼♂️😡 And every time you click the button “identify this visitor” you get a pop up to subscribe to premium! Not only do I have to click the button and wait for AI to identify the bird species but I also have to swipe away the ad. What used to be easy to use is now clunky and cumbersome in the form of a paywall money grab. Used this for over a year without an issue and now they change it up and make it less intuitive to use and spam me.
Update after Developer Response: Please make the pop up for premium go away after every time I initiate AI. Just make that stop.
Update after Developer Response: Please make the pop up for premium go away after every time I initiate AI. Just make that stop.
Not happy
I love the bird feeder. But all of a sudden this week, the birds are not automatically identified and you have to do an extra step to analyze the feed. Then a pop up telling you more information but that this step is not a factor if you go on the paying subscription. In addition to that every analysis is with low confidence now.
I am sorry but I should not have to pay for something that has been free and the main selling point of your device since the beginning. Maybe stop having constant sales to push your product.
I am sorry but I should not have to pay for something that has been free and the main selling point of your device since the beginning. Maybe stop having constant sales to push your product.
Bait and Switch!!!!
Removing existing features and putting them behind a paywall while trying to pitch it to users as a “feature” that further empowers users to GET OUT OF HERE WITH THAT NONSENSE. Returning my new TurdBuddy 2 - having none of this!!!
EDIT: Received a developer response that spins this as me being able to “take advantage” of AI nonsense while cutting features and putting them behind a paywall. I’m DONE with this lousy ecosystem.
EDIT: Received a developer response that spins this as me being able to “take advantage” of AI nonsense while cutting features and putting them behind a paywall. I’m DONE with this lousy ecosystem.
Latest Update AI ad Nightmare
Now every 2 taps
You get prompted to buy the membership. Totally ruins the experience.
You get prompted to buy the membership. Totally ruins the experience.
Garbage AI push
The system used to make a best effort to identify a bird, and it would give you a notification that “so and so” species had been at the feeder. That is gone now, every bird is unidentified and you have to manually click an AI button in the app for it to guess the species. It also gives you a pop-up that with Birdbuddy Premium, AI will auto identify the birds that come to you! So they have taken what was a base app feature and locked it away behind a subscription, but I’m sure pressing the AI button is also exciting executives with reports on how high their AI engagement is now.
The wrong call
I have been a Bird Buddy customer for 4 years, and have 4 different feeders/baths, but the latest update feels gross. I completely understand having an enhanced AI for subscribers bird to eliminated all automatic ID is punitive-especially right after (belatedly) delivering the BirdBuddy 2 to their most loyal customers. Our phones could do this on device so it’s not just about cost. I hope the Bird Buddy team reconsiders, as being too aggressive about these types of policies really minimizes the joy these produces can bring.
Set up
VERY DIFFICULT - no individual support.
They changed.
I’ve had a a BB for a couple of years now. It was over $500 and I had to return the first one because it didn’t work.
Now, they want to charge me to instantly identify birds. Or I can click a button and take an extra step (along with closing an ad), to do what was automatic since I bought it.
There are plenty of other feeders available that do the same thing as BB does, for a lot less money. I recommend you don’t invest in a BB.
Now, they want to charge me to instantly identify birds. Or I can click a button and take an extra step (along with closing an ad), to do what was automatic since I bought it.
There are plenty of other feeders available that do the same thing as BB does, for a lot less money. I recommend you don’t invest in a BB.
Notification ads
The notification settings are a joke, and they recently started pushing product ads as notifications with no way to turn them off.
Too many ad notifications
I’m anxiously awaiting my first hummingbird so naturally I get excited to see a notification, only to find that it’s a dumb ad. I might expect this on the free version, but I paid for Premium (which I was forced to do when setting up my feeder). Why in the world don’t I have an option to customize the notifications? So far this whole experience has been disappointing.
Terrible software, expensive
Set up software is terrible. Some steps have no choice but to sign up for Premium, for $100, or quitting the app.
Inviting guests is easy but again there’s software gives no instruction how to accept the invitation.
ChatGPT says the company is based in Slovenia so there may be translation problems that were no resolved.
Inviting guests is easy but again there’s software gives no instruction how to accept the invitation.
ChatGPT says the company is based in Slovenia so there may be translation problems that were no resolved.
Disappointed
I don’t understand why I get so few videos. Batteries charged, strong Wi-Fi, frenzy mode is on. I put a handful of peanuts in the feeder, stood there and watched a Bluejay and a cardinal take turns taking every single one. Not one single video of either of them. I have super cheap security cameras that capture way more than this. Really feels like a rip off. Super disappointing, do not recommend to anybody.
Truly awful
Let me start by saying that I am a network engineer with 25 years experience. The livestream is awful and constantly shows errors. I am debating asking for a refund.
AI identification is awful
The app fails to ID birds all day long either labeling them as unrecognized or saying yikes something went wrong. The app is up to date, the device is charged and the device is within an arms reach of the wifi network. It is wicked frustrating having spent so much money on a bird feeder that doesn’t do anything but feed the birds at this point. Fix your software problems.
First Developer Reply: Update 3.10 has not addressed the issue with the camera itself though. I have this camera right next to my window and my cats let me know when there are birds. Literally all day. I can login and see them feeding on Live but the camera and app fail to create a video. Based on my camera’s profile I get maybe 1-2 birds a day, when in reality it is more like 20+
Second Developer Reply: I e-mailed support on March 18th detailing the concerns and included this review. I have yet to receive a response. I am still going entire days without the camera capturing birds and am missing on average 10 bird encounters I see myself that the camera is not capturing.
First Developer Reply: Update 3.10 has not addressed the issue with the camera itself though. I have this camera right next to my window and my cats let me know when there are birds. Literally all day. I can login and see them feeding on Live but the camera and app fail to create a video. Based on my camera’s profile I get maybe 1-2 birds a day, when in reality it is more like 20+
Second Developer Reply: I e-mailed support on March 18th detailing the concerns and included this review. I have yet to receive a response. I am still going entire days without the camera capturing birds and am missing on average 10 bird encounters I see myself that the camera is not capturing.
Worst website
I can never call up the camera, always add. No setting controls. What a waste!
Good
It helps you connect to the environment
Cheaply Made
The BirdBuddy sucks. Has no distance with the wifi, maintained a “medium” connection while setting up the camera and holding it 1 foot away from the modem, consistently holds a low strength when it’s 15 feet outside. Takes over 3 minutes to load the livestream. I’m better off getting up and just looking outside. When you also try to take a picture once you’re able to view the stream, it snaps a picture 2 seconds later after you press the button, so it misses what you were trying to capture. This thing is 👎 Edit after “developers” response: Hilarious that you think your customers are stupid enough to not do that kind of research on their own prior to writing a bad review. Don’t worry, I saw the thing about 2.4ghz awhile ago. I have been using this camera for now SEVEN days, and it already DOESNT CHARGE when plugging in an outlet. Let me predict what your response will be to that… “Be sure you are using a strong cable, we recommend using the one that came with our camera. Be sure to try different outlets and adapters as well.” On top of all these flaws of this piece of garbage, half of the features are locked behind a premium subscription. I received this item as a gift, and I want my money back on it. Such a piece of junk
Charged $100 for a subscription I never agreed to, no phone number for customer support, lied
As the title says, I was charged a reoccurring $100 fee for “premium family membership” despite opting out of the “free” trial and having bought this as a gift for someone else. Since I didn’t have any reason to make an account before buying, it was physically impossible to cancel without customer support who -surprise surprise- have no phone number and instead make you find a hidden page that allows you file a ticket (buried behind lots of unhelpful articles). They only relented and refunded my money when I threatened legal action (thankfully I had proof I never agreed to a trial and my state has protections). The support representative still tried to lie and say I had agreed, not knowing I had proof, but since the matter was resolved I decided not to escalate it further.
TL;DR: Do not trust this company with your credit card, even for a single purchase.
TL;DR: Do not trust this company with your credit card, even for a single purchase.
Lot of trouble no payoff
DOES NOT WORK WITH STARLINK. Well 2 days later i just want to return this 250 dollar plastic bird house bc thats all it is. Will not pair with blue tooth will not connect to wifi. Connects for 2 minutes then stops and you have to start over. I have it about 5 feet from the starlink and about 3 inches feom my phone and it wont stay connected to either. More useless plastic tech for the landfill since no returns. Even it connects, which it wont, you have to have a subscription to do anything. Rip off and a scam.
Unreliable
Unstable and if you want to catch a bird in your feeder most likely you won’t. Takes too long to load livestream and many times you have to go through the process of reloading the app. Frustrating and disappointing. Customer service is nonexistent. Don’t have enough time in my day to keep working on this.
Removing Festures
The app used to automatically identify all your visitors, but recently they changed it so that you have to click on each bird tag to identify it. They are pushing users towards their paid services by removing features that were previously included. I would beware of what they remove next. I certainly won’t recommend it to friends and family anymore.
What is even happening?
I backed both bird buddy and bird buddy 2 and we waited a long time to get these feeders. I’ve stayed loyal to bird buddy even with there being tons of cheaper options these days. We spent years training the ai model and now so many app features are being moved or hidden or put behind a paywall. Idk man. Y’all need to think back on how this all started. This is already a luxury item (in this economy)… and I just feel kind of betrayed. Especially after JUST getting the bird buddy 2.
Degrading in front of our eyes
I’d probably aim for different smart feeders. BirdBuddy seems bent on progressively stripping features from the free version.
At this point there’s no ID and no ability to control which species are photographed (or ignored). I’m sure by the end of the year they’ll restrict non-subscribed users to like 2 photos per day. .
At this point there’s no ID and no ability to control which species are photographed (or ignored). I’m sure by the end of the year they’ll restrict non-subscribed users to like 2 photos per day. .
it was good, then the paywall
it was a pretty good app, but paywalling essential features like automatic bird ID after a bunch of people bought it when it was free is complete BS!!!
Disappointed with update
I can no longer recommend BirdBuddy. A recent update has made it so Bird Buddy will no longer automatically identify birds, or ignore unwanted species, without paying for the premium service on top of an already expensive feeder. Something that used to be so basic as IDing birds shouldn’t be taken away. I probably wouldn’t purchase today knowing this is the direction the app is headed.
Doesn’t Recognize Common Birds Anymore
I used to like this app but for the last month it doesn’t recognize a single one of my frequent birds anymore. I’m not sure what changed but it is kind of worthless to me now. I think they are just trying to sell a premium subscription package.
they just want money!!
they no longer identify birds or even show me updates to my feeder since i will not pay for the premium package!! it was good…now it is not!
Great Idea, Money-grabbers
Bird Buddy is a great camera system. Not going to argue that.
But after paying north of $250 for the system, now they have changed the interface so that it charges a fee to identify birds and provide a daily recap of birds that visited (which used to be free).
What a terrible way to treat your customers, Bird Buddy.
For those looking at a bird/camera combo, I’m sure that there are comparable systems that don’t nickel and dime their users.
But after paying north of $250 for the system, now they have changed the interface so that it charges a fee to identify birds and provide a daily recap of birds that visited (which used to be free).
What a terrible way to treat your customers, Bird Buddy.
For those looking at a bird/camera combo, I’m sure that there are comparable systems that don’t nickel and dime their users.
Most Annoying Update Ever!
I love my Bird Buddy, I really do, but the most recent App updates are terrible! Birds are no longer automatically identified. You need to upgrade to Pro for that. You no longer get a daily recap. You have to upgrade to Pro for that. To put the icing on the cake, every time you click the button to identify the bird - which used to happen automatically - a window pops up suggested to upgrade to Pro. There is no check box allowing you to turn off that notification so you just have to close it every time. It’s all very frustrating! We get it, you want people to upgrade and pay a subscription fee!
+ 6 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
96%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
1%
Negative (1-2★)