Review Insights · App Store
KakaoTalk : Messenger
Kakao Corp. · 24,474 ratings · ★ 4.0
4.0
★★★★★
24,474 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 50 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
"update"
9 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Horrible app. I think this is one of the worst messenger apps out there. I’m not sure why it’s so popular. I was forced to download the app for older family members so that they can talk to their friends, but it had never been without issues or problems…" - niewreview
2
"account"
7 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Rage bait. Ican’t login w my newww account." - 쭈꾸미탕
3
"user"
6 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Version 26.3.2 sucks. KakaoTalk version 26.3.2 is, without exaggeration, one of the most user-hostile updates I’ve experienced. After updating KakaoTalk, I was locked out of a normal login flow and forced into a broken “Chat Restoration” screen that falsely cla…" - MDwriting
4
"been"
5 negative reviews mention this · 10% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Horrible app. I think this is one of the worst messenger apps out there. I’m not sure why it’s so popular. I was forced to download the app for older family members so that they can talk to their friends, but it had never been without issues or problems…" - niewreview
📋 All 50 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").
Rage bait
Ican’t login w my newww account.
리뷰 안남기려 해도 너무 최악이다
숏폼 때문에 사진 불러오기도 렉나고, 캐시 쓸데없이 쌓여서 자동재생 꺼놔도 5-6기가바이트 한두달이면 올라가는 최악의 메신져 앱. 인스타 메시지 기능보다도 렉이 많이 남. 업글할 때마다 기능의 무게는 늘어나고 최적화는 개나 줘버린 최악의 개발회사. 차라리 망했으면 좋겠다. 한국인들이 이거만 쓰니까 부득이 쓰지만 정말 whatsapp 보다 구려질줄은 예상을 못했다.
소식텝 제발 강제로 뜨게하지마라쫌
개빡치네
Horrible app
I think this is one of the worst messenger apps out there. I’m not sure why it’s so popular. I was forced to download the app for older family members so that they can talk to their friends, but it had never been without issues or problems and headaches for me. I find it to be unreliable. Every update takes a Herculean effort. The UI and onboarding process is tedious and frustrating.
아이폰 사진이 안가요
저만 그러는게 아니라 주변 아이폰 쓰는사람들 사진 보내기가 잘 안돼요
구형모델이든 신형모델이든요
얼른 개선해주세요
요즘들어 너무 쓰기 힘드네요
구형모델이든 신형모델이든요
얼른 개선해주세요
요즘들어 너무 쓰기 힘드네요
최악
로그인 인증도 안 되고 해외에서 쓰기엔 가장 최악의 앱이니까 아무도 안 썼음 좋겠다. 진짜 어떻게 이런 애들만 되 인증도 안 되고 로그인도 안 되고 고객센터 문의 해도 답도 제대로 안 오고 최악임.
아니 일을 뭐 어케하는건가요
핸드폰 통신사에 연락해도 아무 문제 없다고 하고. 인증 방법 바뀐거 진짜 미친거같아요 ㅋ
걍 핸드폰 메세지호 인증번호 오면 될것이지 왜 바꿔서 이꼬라지로 해놈?걍 빨리 바꿔요 제발 . 압무도 3개궐째 못하고 진짜 못하는짓이지 이게
아니 일을 뭐 어케하는건가요
핸드폰 통신사에 연락해도 아무 문제 없다고 하고. 인증 방법 바뀐거 진짜 미친거같아요 ㅋ
걍 핸드폰 메세지호 인증번호 오면 될것이지 왜 바꿔서 이꼬라지로 해놈?걍 빨리 바꿔요 제발 . 압무도 3개궐째 못하고 진짜 못하는짓이지 이게
Garbage
Trash
최근에 답글 바뀐거 너무 불편
답장할때 답글다는게 너무 불편해서 못쓸정도 게다가 내과거 자료 열람할때 유료로 보는게 정상인가 하...
예전으로 돌려놔라
지긋지긋 한 숏폼좀 없애고 인스타 감성 그만좀 따라해라
별 한개도 아깝다 소식탭 숏폼탭 없애라
원래 용도대로 바꿔라
Bloated app
App is getting out of control, getting bigger and bigger. Such a bloated app for a messaging app! How could a messaging app be bigger than Google Map???!!!!
Plus I regret downloading update to this app bec so many advertisements now!!🤬😠😠
Plus I regret downloading update to this app bec so many advertisements now!!🤬😠😠
Terrible app
I hate this stupid app with a passion. Whenever I try to sign in, it says my account doesn’t exist. But then when I try to create an account it says I can’t because it already exists. This happens every single time I try to sign in. So freaking annoying.
Not a good app for the foreigners
Worst customer services and get easily hacked
쓰지마라
차라리 인스타 써라
Cannot log into account
I use the correct password, doesn’t let me in. I create a new password, doesn’t let me in. I try to recreate a new account with email/phone number that they said doesn’t exist, suddenly exists and I cannot make an account. It’s so FRUSTRATING?? Why are you gaslighting and keeping people out of communication with their loved ones? Making it a hassle just to log in!! FFS!
Truly the worst possible update
I can’t turn back time and stop myself from updating, but I can use iMessage instead.
Update: I forgot that I had even written a negative review, and came back to write a second one star review for a different issue. This app is consistently awful.
Update: I forgot that I had even written a negative review, and came back to write a second one star review for a different issue. This app is consistently awful.
Version 26.3.2 sucks
KakaoTalk version 26.3.2 is, without exaggeration, one of the most user-hostile updates I’ve experienced.
After updating KakaoTalk, I was locked out of a normal login flow and forced into a broken “Chat Restoration” screen that falsely claimed no backup data existed. The app essentially pushed me into a corner: either proceed without restoring (and lose everything) or sit stuck on a screen that offers no real recovery path.
The most alarming part is the lack of transparency. There is no clear indication of why backups aren’t detected, no meaningful troubleshooting guidance, and no safeguard to prevent irreversible data loss. For an app that people rely on for years of personal and professional conversations, this is unacceptable.
Version 26.3.2 introduces a critical flaw in what should be a basic, reliable function: logging in and restoring data. I would strongly caution users against updating or attempting to log in on a new device without extreme care. This update needs urgent attention and a proper fix - along with clearer communication to users about backup handling and restoration limitations.
After updating KakaoTalk, I was locked out of a normal login flow and forced into a broken “Chat Restoration” screen that falsely claimed no backup data existed. The app essentially pushed me into a corner: either proceed without restoring (and lose everything) or sit stuck on a screen that offers no real recovery path.
The most alarming part is the lack of transparency. There is no clear indication of why backups aren’t detected, no meaningful troubleshooting guidance, and no safeguard to prevent irreversible data loss. For an app that people rely on for years of personal and professional conversations, this is unacceptable.
Version 26.3.2 introduces a critical flaw in what should be a basic, reliable function: logging in and restoring data. I would strongly caution users against updating or attempting to log in on a new device without extreme care. This update needs urgent attention and a proper fix - along with clearer communication to users about backup handling and restoration limitations.
Not working after update
Happens 4/14/26
ㅗ
거지같음
Crashes
Does not work, despite latest iOS update and recent iPhone. “Failed to optimize for version update.
Please restart the app. (9.1.5, -1,
-1000)”
Please restart the app. (9.1.5, -1,
-1000)”
카톡엔 머저리 상급자만잇음?
ㅋㅋㅋ 걍 일처리 개같이하는게 절대 대기업은안될듯 ㅉ 언제까지 유니콘할래?
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 뭐 50년뒤에도 유니콘할거야? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 뭐 50년뒤에도 유니콘할거야? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Annoying
This app is not user friendly at all it’s hard to add contacts and start video calls in chat rooms it’s buggy
Not what it used to be
KakaoTalk’s functionality and reliability declined significantly over time.
GARBAGE
GARBAGE. This app is absolute garbage. No need to say why. Theres too many problem. TRASH.
I don’t lime this app
Full of bugs and slow performance
Restricted for WHAT?
I’ve been a kkt user for over 7 years. I created a new account due to my relocation and number change and it restricted me from messaging!!! I am ready to upload my ID or do any form of identification to talk, but it doesn’t let me!!!!! It doesn’t say when I can start messaging and joining group chats at all!!!! Come on… 7 years of being a loyal and respectful user to get restricted just because I changed a number??? I want to talk to my friends come on! What is the use of your app if can’t even chat?
Updates blow away everything
Every time I update, it is a hurdle to revive chats
Unhelpful
I’ve been trying to get my user protections lifted for months, but it still will not allow me to start chats. I have no idea what I am supposed to do.
Horrible user experience.
Automatically signing users out, then failing to find accounts based on phone number etc to log back in. Just poor ux design in many places
Problem to start used
Hi, I’ve been waiting for the verification code for 2 days, but I still haven’t received it. I’m trying to register from Russia and can’t complete the verification process. Could you please help me?
Ужас
Очередной лохотрон и не удалишь((
This app can’t verify me
I used this app long time ago so that time it was nice app for chat but now I cant even log in
Deleted all of my past messages!!!!
To enforce monthly charge for "back up", the developers froze my account, unable to receive or send message. Then when I reinstalled the app, deleted my past messages! If I knew that they'd delete all of my messages, I would've paid the monthly subscription because they mean a lot to me, but I only found out what was going on after all the messages were deleted because they didn't announce this huge change properly! Such an unethical move by an immoral company!
Terrible for USA user, can’t get past even texting first time
Can’t talk to Korean friends with American line
Don’t use this app
They don’t totally understand what customer’s needs.
지들이 인스타인줄 암
ㅗ
No good
No good
iPads don’t have phone numbers
I just want to make an account on KakaoTalk but it needs a Phone number! I don’t have a phone to log in or an existing account to sign in to so how am I supposed to use it?
Company that killed itself
Newest update with ads and stupid features like “thread” are killing this app. Not sure how it downgrade itself. Im having frequent crash & delayed in message alerts. This app used to be the GOAT… not it’s another corporate money grab to steal people’s data and fuel you up with ads.
This app is absolute trash
It won’t show me new messages. I logged out and now I can’t log back in. It is the worst messaging app. 0 stars
Not good
Not good. 좋지 않아요. 보안에도 문제가 많아 보아요. The profiles sometimes get transferred to random users - not reliable for a streamlined correspondence.
댓글기능 오픈체팅
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
제발 댓글기능 없애주세요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
답장기능 다시내놔요
….
카톡아 업데이트 좀 별로인거 같아 제발 돌려놔줘 숏폼에 악플달리고 그리고 업뎃에 업뎃했잖아 댓글기능!!!!!! 근데 옆에 자꾸 뭐 뜨고 심지어 답을 남긴사람한테 또 답을못하잖아 나 이거 반대야 진짜 돌려놔 내가 진짜 참을수가 없어서그래… 진짜 제발 소원이야 돌려놔줘 내 생일에 너 업뎃 취소하고 돌아가게 해달라고 빌거야 진짜 하루 아침에 이게 뭐냐고;;;; 그리고 전에 올린거도 다 떠서 일일이 지웠어 진짜 자고 일어났는데 갑자기 숏폼에.. 사람들은 익명이여서 악플달고 그리고 댓글에 항의할정도잖아 제발 보고좀 말해 돌아가라고 돌.아.가.라.고.
Can’t Access Photos
Although tried various ways to have an access to and send photos through KakaoTalk, it won’t let me. I checked my iPhone Privacy&Security tab and Screen Content & Privacy Restrict. There is nothing wrong with those. I also removed the app and reinstalled it five times. I restarted my iPhone several times as well. There must be a glitch in KakaoTalk app.
Slow
Thought it was slow cause i used an old iphone 8. Recently upgraded to 16e, still slow. Opening the app via the notifications freezes the app momentarily or even crashes it sometimes. Only use it cause my family does, wish they just switch to the much faster and smoother messaging app.
Intrusive Ads
Kakao’s Ads have become intrusive and difficult to opt out of. They’re very difficult to manage and now, I have strong privacy concerns.
Wouldn’t open after latest update
Have been using this app forever. Yesterday it prompted to update, and after the update I can’t open it!
Review
Would be better if there were not so many fake people
ads in mobile interface
idk when it started but im startin to see a lot of unwanted ads in the app. its really distracting and annoying
Constant log in problems and dumb basic problems
I often can’t log in with my username and password (but sometimes can with the same credentials!) and if you accidentally press create new account you have to literally delete and reinstall the app. No back button? Come on.
Sentiment summary
76%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
21%
Negative (1-2★)