Review Insights · App Store
Fender Play: Learn Guitar
Fender Digital · 60,618 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
60,618 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 65 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
"subscription"
18 negative reviews mention this · 28% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work!. Despite everything being up to date, app closes automatically after silly entry survey. Utterly useless! Canceled subscription!!" - Thaddaeus5
2
"year"
13 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a waste. I downloaded this after using the Gibson app, because there seemed to be a better song list. After trying it, there is no live feedback or gamification of any of the songs. I don’t know why I would pay 150 a year to get tabs and video lesso…" - DCloud4
3
"free"
11 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a waste. I downloaded this after using the Gibson app, because there seemed to be a better song list. After trying it, there is no live feedback or gamification of any of the songs. I don’t know why I would pay 150 a year to get tabs and video lesso…" - DCloud4
4
"fender"
10 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fender = BAD. Corpo is not Rock and Roll. Suing in bad faith because you failed is what losers do. Leo was a master, Fender is a business and does not care anout you or your music." - tithdhshd
5
"feedback"
10 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a waste. I downloaded this after using the Gibson app, because there seemed to be a better song list. After trying it, there is no live feedback or gamification of any of the songs. I don’t know why I would pay 150 a year to get tabs and video lesso…" - DCloud4
6
"guitar"
9 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not for Beginners. I spent a few weeks trying to learn guitar from scratch with this app and was frustrated every step of the way. Why? It’s not for beginners! Despite being advertised as such, every single video lesson along my “path” starts with “have you e…" - djdifuehehdbsbsb
7
"money"
9 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "money. i don’t want to pay. i already bought a $200 guitar why would i want to pay for a subscription to learn more than i know" - hdhshsuuaiasd
8
"play"
9 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Super buggy despite nice attempt. Overall I wanted to like this app but the flaw are debilitating. e.g.: I first lesson set there is a ‘Pick a String’ exercise. It uses what they call ‘Feedback Mode’. I play with everything in sync - I end when the exercise ends - but the…" - Dan Pl.
9
"times"
8 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "7.4.5 will not work, closes every time. Downloaded nestest app version today on iPad OS 26.2.1. App thinks I am a new user and goes through the startup questions. On the fourth screen, “What path interests you right now?” the app closes. Have uninstalled and reinstalled, rebooted…" - drmrforman
10
"mode"
8 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Meh. Ok for very basic beginners. Feedback mode leaves a lot to be desired." - Pinning Problems
11
"doesn"
7 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work!. Despite everything being up to date, app closes automatically after silly entry survey. Utterly useless! Canceled subscription!!" - Thaddaeus5
12
"work"
7 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work!. Despite everything being up to date, app closes automatically after silly entry survey. Utterly useless! Canceled subscription!!" - Thaddaeus5
📋 All 65 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").
Fender = BAD
Corpo is not Rock and Roll. Suing in bad faith because you failed is what losers do. Leo was a master, Fender is a business and does not care anout you or your music.
Sign in
Cant sign in or sign up
Doesn’t work!
Despite everything being up to date, app closes automatically after silly entry survey. Utterly useless! Canceled subscription!!
What a waste
I downloaded this after using the Gibson app, because there seemed to be a better song list. After trying it, there is no live feedback or gamification of any of the songs. I don’t know why I would pay 150 a year to get tabs and video lessons only. I can get what this offers for free in tons of other resources. Oh well.
7.4.5 will not work, closes every time
Downloaded nestest app version today on iPad OS 26.2.1. App thinks I am a new user and goes through the startup questions. On the fourth screen, “What path interests you right now?” the app closes. Have uninstalled and reinstalled, rebooted the iPad, tried multiple times but not able to start the app beyond those four screens. If this does not get fixed quickly I would like a refund.
Confusing Billing
I hadn’t use the app in a while. After changing email address there was no way for me to sign in and recover my account. Now I can’t cancel. I can’t renew. And I can’t access the app even though I have an active subscription.
Subscription problems
Used the app for a year and got some use out of it but felt there were better options else where so I tried to cancel my subscription. It charged me the next year even though I ensured I canceled my plan and just recent got charged again for a second time. Really annoying.
Not for beginners
Definitely not for beginners on an acoustic. The pace is super fast and impossible for a beginner to keep up with.
Not worth it
I couldn’t even get into the app!! I HAD to pick a plan and there was no X button. So I clicked on one and nothing happened. I don’t know if this is a glitch but now I can use this app at all! If anyone knows anything about this, please help!!
Immediately want subscription
Pay upfront cancel within X amount of days BS. I mean it’s only $150 right? No thanks. Wasted my time downloading and making account.
Do Not Purchase
I payed for a year subscription and the app will not let me login. Be real careful subscribing to this app you might be out for $149 dollars and nothing to show for it
Charged me when it advertises a free trial
Charged me when it advertises a free trial
Not for Beginners
I spent a few weeks trying to learn guitar from scratch with this app and was frustrated every step of the way. Why? It’s not for beginners! Despite being advertised as such, every single video lesson along my “path” starts with “have you ever been doing this on guitar…?” No! Obviously I haven’t because I have never picked one up in my life! I don’t care that the lessons are free since I purchased their product, the developers should pay me to use this app. Don’t get me wrong, there is good information within if you know what you’re doing, but if you don’t, don’t waste your time.
money
i don’t want to pay. i already bought a $200 guitar why would i want to pay for a subscription to learn more than i know
Have an exit option
I rate this app a 1, because I’m trying to get out of it because I don’t wanna pay no dumb plan and then I have to pay it wouldn’t even let me exit or anything. All I did was close the app thinking it would go away, but then I get back into there and then boom it shows up again. I like your company, but have an option. Bye
Pay?
Why is everything pay. You have to pay for every app. I’m a child, I don’t have that kind of money
Confusing Plans
My subscription is up for renewal and there are several plans by month or annually with no description on the differences. I checked the website and nothing is explained. Without knowing what I am buying, I will try another app and not renew.
Super buggy despite nice attempt
Overall I wanted to like this app but the flaw are debilitating.
e.g.: I first lesson set there is a ‘Pick a String’ exercise. It uses what they call ‘Feedback Mode’. I play with everything in sync - I end when the exercise ends - but the scoring is all screwed up and it shows me as ending 4 notes early, meaning all the scoring is wrong. Happy to share more steps to help debug.
e.g.: I first lesson set there is a ‘Pick a String’ exercise. It uses what they call ‘Feedback Mode’. I play with everything in sync - I end when the exercise ends - but the scoring is all screwed up and it shows me as ending 4 notes early, meaning all the scoring is wrong. Happy to share more steps to help debug.
No customer service
No way to get help, tries to bill daily even after cancelling, but cancellation shows as “pending” for weeks.
Be careful with this one.
Be careful with this one.
Subscription Based
Literally couldn’t even use it without paying 12$ a month.
This app has significant functional and usability bugs holding it back
I’ve been using the app for about 1.5 years now, and am shocked to see the same bugs not addressed, such as: 1/ feedback mode not starting to record, 2/ tap areas on bugs misaligned. There are also usability bugs, such as having to backtrack, rather than going forward, upon completing a feedback session. When I’ve reported them to Fender I just getting a boilerplate email back not acknowledging the issues.
Super Buggy Still
I have to close and reopen the app at least 15 times per practice session. Not exaggerating.
Fender Don't Play
App freezes constantly. App crashes constantly. Very frustrating. Hope the Gibson app works better!
Feedback Mode doesn’t work
4/5 times when you click “record” on feedback mode, it fails and the tabs show white without the metronome or anything.
App in severe need of an update.
I use a 14 pro max and this app keeps crashing. Videos keep glitching out and app boot loops occasionally. I’m feedback mode there is no reset button and if you exit to home and come back feedback mode won’t work until you restart the app. There are so many more issues on top of all this.
Caught in a loop
For whatever reason, I cannot get access. I am caught in a loop where it wants me to sign up, but then says I already have a subscription. When I try to log back in, it goes to the same screen. I was charged though, so Fender got their $19.99 out of me. I’ll contest with my bank. What a waste of time…
Worst app ever
You have to pay $150 a year. Or $20 a month. Do not get this app.
They never stop charging you even after you cancel
I have canceled this subscription multiple times and they keep charging me. This is the second year in a row I have to dispute their charge to my card. Do not sign up for this app unless you want them to endlessly charge you money without authorization.
This app is trash
Never even able to access this app. Kept receiving an error after I subscribed saying to "Contact Support" but the link to "Contact Support" was broken. This app is trash. Spend your money on Yousician or Rocksmith
Why!!!
I don’t like it how u have to pay to play the songs why can’t it just be free to play certain songs and you unlock some on your way.
This is outrageous
You have to pay like 174 for one year.i would only recommend for rich people.
READ BEFORE SUBSCRIBING. FENDER PLAY BILLING IS THE WORST.
I signed up for Fender Play over a year ago and didn’t use it enough to justify it on an ongoing basis. My advice to anyone considering this app:
If you want to subscribe, DO IT THROUGH THE APP STORE. DO NOT SUBSCRIBE ON THE FENDER WEBSITE.
I don’t know why I didn’t use the App Store this time but, to my great annoyance, I can’t cancel the subscription. Since I didn’t use the App Store I can’t unsubscribe through that. The instructions they give for cancellation on the mobile website are wrong. What their instruction say and what actually happens when you follow them doesn’t match up. I can’t unsubscribe on my Mac either because Sign in with Apple doesn’t work, the page just refreshes without actually logging me in.
Worst of all, Fender has chosen not to offer telephone support for Fender Play. They’ll talk to you about everything they offer except that. For a company with this sort of legacy, this is simply unacceptable.
Every time Fender bills me, Goldman Sachs thinks it’s fraud and they freeze my Apple Card. When I confirm that, no, I didn’t make this purchase, they change my card number. I have had five different card numbers issued in the last three weeks. I use my Apple Card for almost everything so you can imagine the ongoing chaos this is creating with my other financial obligations.
This is shameful behavior for a brand as well known as Fender. The app is actually a pretty good app but, at this point, praising it feels a little like writing a stellar review of the bear trap I’m caught in.
If you want to subscribe, DO IT THROUGH THE APP STORE. DO NOT SUBSCRIBE ON THE FENDER WEBSITE.
I don’t know why I didn’t use the App Store this time but, to my great annoyance, I can’t cancel the subscription. Since I didn’t use the App Store I can’t unsubscribe through that. The instructions they give for cancellation on the mobile website are wrong. What their instruction say and what actually happens when you follow them doesn’t match up. I can’t unsubscribe on my Mac either because Sign in with Apple doesn’t work, the page just refreshes without actually logging me in.
Worst of all, Fender has chosen not to offer telephone support for Fender Play. They’ll talk to you about everything they offer except that. For a company with this sort of legacy, this is simply unacceptable.
Every time Fender bills me, Goldman Sachs thinks it’s fraud and they freeze my Apple Card. When I confirm that, no, I didn’t make this purchase, they change my card number. I have had five different card numbers issued in the last three weeks. I use my Apple Card for almost everything so you can imagine the ongoing chaos this is creating with my other financial obligations.
This is shameful behavior for a brand as well known as Fender. The app is actually a pretty good app but, at this point, praising it feels a little like writing a stellar review of the bear trap I’m caught in.
Not tracking my progress
I’m watching the instructional videos under My Path and completing them until the end, but I’m not being given the option to mark them complete and it’s not registering that I even watched them which won’t let me move forward.
Micro transactions
Like many other applications, this one will nickel and dime you for everything. 0 of 5 stars
False description of start free
Description says start free and making people to install app and signup to collect data, and after install it showed subscription options with 7 day trial. False description to let people install it. There is no start free option.
Waste of money if you’re a beginner.
Goes from learning the strings to how to play songs. Doesn’t show you chords or anything. Absolute waste of 20 bucks
Glitch
I got charged and can’t access the app
Issue
Feedback mode hangs a lot …requires restart
Too many glitches
I purchased a 3 month membership and almost everytime I use the app, it closes unexpectedly. It’s really frustrating trying to do anything on it. I’ve tried my phone, iPad, laptop and desk top. Same issue with all devices. The screen usually freezes and the app closes.
Scam
You have to pay $200 or $20 plus tax to just log in. I thought you could at least try it out without all the perks for free but you can’t even make it past the log in with $0. Just stick to YouTube this app is a scam.
Practice Mode broken
Practice mode is broken. I’ve reached out a few times to support. Please fix the app!
Hate the app
I Hate the app
Money money
Nothing free about it
APP IS A JOKE
Won’t let me log into an account but lets me still purchase from the same email FIX THISSSSSSSSS
This app is dog meat
Won’t even let me get a subscription
Cant find my account
I got a fender guitar for Christmas, and with it a fender 3 month subscription. When i made my account online i couldn't go into the app and play from there . It would direct me to pay for the year. Or say that the email i used to make my account was not the right one . Very frustrating all i wanna do is rock but ur app wont let me roll .
Don’t get this app
Really wish this app was good i have a fender guitar and that is. Good. But this app is a different story because i have spent $200 dollars on this app not good.
Meh
Ok for very basic beginners. Feedback mode leaves a lot to be desired.
Buggy and unusable
All audio, including metronome, does not work when doing the Practice and Feedback portions of My Path.
Errors
I have mostly enjoyed the app but occasionally there will be a glaring error in the instructions that doesn’t make sense or I feel needs correcting. I’ve wrote feedback to the app designers before but no one ever replies.
+ 15 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
96%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
2%
Negative (1-2★)