Review Insights · App Store
Warmshowers App
Warmshowers LLC · 60 ratings · ★ 2.0
2.0
★★★★★
60 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 34 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
"paid"
9 negative reviews mention this · 26% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Cannot log in. Paid $30 to open account on web browser, trying to log in on app and I cannot get in. Enter username and password, buffering icon for 1 second, then just gives up and shows a blank map. No error message or any notice on what to do." - TrollStrollZN
2
"host"
9 negative reviews mention this · 26% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App simply does not work. I installed the app, paid the $30 sign-up fee, and created my username and password. Since then, I’ve not been able to view the host network, I don’t even think the app is logging me in. I get no indication that I’ve logged in. For examp…" - Benihanachef
3
"warmshowers"
7 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing service - poor app. Warmshowers is a true benefit to humanity. The app however is getting in the way of the mission. Please please please rebuild / repair this app before users completely throw up their hands and walk away." - kellen18
4
"money"
7 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst App and website I’ve used. WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon. Complaints: 1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes …" - Dualguzzis
5
"hosts"
7 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst App and website I’ve used. WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon. Complaints: 1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes …" - Dualguzzis
6
"doesn"
6 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not funcional. The app just doesn’t work. You can’t login or look at the map. Unusable" - 🐒spwace awien
7
"people"
6 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Beware: read before purchasing. The map of availability they show you changes drastically once you purchase. I tried to use this for Baton Rouge. They show multiple people and locations (about 8)… once I signed up the actual map only showed one- which was inactive. It…" - MoondogRoop
8
"work"
5 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "App simply does not work. I installed the app, paid the $30 sign-up fee, and created my username and password. Since then, I’ve not been able to view the host network, I don’t even think the app is logging me in. I get no indication that I’ve logged in. For examp…" - Benihanachef
9
"website"
5 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst App and website I’ve used. WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon. Complaints: 1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes …" - Dualguzzis
10
"works"
5 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst App and website I’ve used. WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon. Complaints: 1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes …" - Dualguzzis
11
"free"
5 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst App and website I’ve used. WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon. Complaints: 1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes …" - Dualguzzis
12
"service"
4 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing service - poor app. Warmshowers is a true benefit to humanity. The app however is getting in the way of the mission. Please please please rebuild / repair this app before users completely throw up their hands and walk away." - kellen18
📋 All 34 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").
Cannot log in
Paid $30 to open account on web browser, trying to log in on app and I cannot get in. Enter username and password, buffering icon for 1 second, then just gives up and shows a blank map. No error message or any notice on what to do.
App simply does not work
I installed the app, paid the $30 sign-up fee, and created my username and password. Since then, I’ve not been able to view the host network, I don’t even think the app is logging me in. I get no indication that I’ve logged in. For example, the menu options do not change, including that the login option persists (if I was logged in, I would expect to see the “login” option disappear or change to “logout” or something to indicate that I indeed logged in successfully. Additionally, I see no change in the map. There are no host locations or details, just a basic map. I wrote to Warm Showers the day after I paid my $30 and requested a refund. I never heard back. I’ve not bothered to use the app since & will never use it again. It’s a $30 scam, in my opinion. Steer clear!
Sad
I paid my one time membership fee and now it’s a monthly subscription!?! What a disgrace and disappointment, you had such a good thing going. Now you are just another sell out
Not funcional
The app just doesn’t work. You can’t login or look at the map. Unusable
Worst App and website I’ve used
WarmShowers used to work OK. Then they updated it and completely ruined it. The website and App are both horrible. I’m exclusively a host in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Complaints:
1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes money to run a service like this. But this is so horrible, I won’t donate. At least until it works properly
2. The third party thing - I’m performing a free service for WarmShowers and touring cyclists and I’m told third parties are privy to my info!?
3. Workings of the entire website & App are atrocious - failed notifications, expired requests after a few minutes, in ability of host to contact other hosts to coordinate, long periods of apparent outage (got only a few requests all summer and now getting lots in the fall).
If there were an alternative, I’d happily switch. If anyone with tech expertise is thinking of starting one, sign me up.
If I could award no stars I would. That being said, l love my guests. I seldom turn anyone away (I’m sometimes out of town) and 90% are international travelers - I really enjoy them.
A very dissatisfied WarmShowers host on the coast.
Complaints:
1. Constantly soliciting for money - I understand that it takes money to run a service like this. But this is so horrible, I won’t donate. At least until it works properly
2. The third party thing - I’m performing a free service for WarmShowers and touring cyclists and I’m told third parties are privy to my info!?
3. Workings of the entire website & App are atrocious - failed notifications, expired requests after a few minutes, in ability of host to contact other hosts to coordinate, long periods of apparent outage (got only a few requests all summer and now getting lots in the fall).
If there were an alternative, I’d happily switch. If anyone with tech expertise is thinking of starting one, sign me up.
If I could award no stars I would. That being said, l love my guests. I seldom turn anyone away (I’m sometimes out of town) and 90% are international travelers - I really enjoy them.
A very dissatisfied WarmShowers host on the coast.
Unable to register an account
App charged me 4 times upon registering and I’m still unable to sign in. We’ll see how talking with customer service goes…
Could not even register
Had so many network errors I couldn’t even register. May the browser works better??
WS app and experience have gone way downhill
The Warmshowers idea and general service are great; I used it from 2013 to 2016 for my first long-distance tours. But the app and recent redesigns (two over the years?) are embarrassingly amateur level and have made the experience much worse, with technical problems galore. Considering it is now a paid app for full functionality, this is unacceptable.
Abysmal App
This is my first time rating an app. Warmshowers was a source of joy when I bike toured throughout the world in the 2010s. It was free. Now, the organization charges money - and delivers an abysmal app. The app reflects the organization’s deterioration. It’s quite sad.
Please go back
After the update all is still not functioning. The website barely works but at least it works. App doesn’t load icons, navigation buttons don’t respond to taps. No visual signifier to tell if the data is still loading or if the app has fully crashed.
Burn it down and start from scratch. It’s time to stop putting bandaids on this thing.
Burn it down and start from scratch. It’s time to stop putting bandaids on this thing.
Warmshowers-App is JUNK!
I love Warmshowers, but this phone app is awful! How is it that when Warmshowers was free things worked better?
Beware: read before purchasing
The map of availability they show you changes drastically once you purchase.
I tried to use this for Baton Rouge.
They show multiple people and locations (about 8)… once I signed up the actual map only showed one- which was inactive.
It’s essentially useless.
I tried to use this for Baton Rouge.
They show multiple people and locations (about 8)… once I signed up the actual map only showed one- which was inactive.
It’s essentially useless.
App is useless
Out of date
Charge for you to extend your house as a host but then charge a monthly fee to find other hosts.
Don’t waste your money!!!
Charge for you to extend your house as a host but then charge a monthly fee to find other hosts.
Don’t waste your money!!!
Nightmare app, way too buggy!
$30 “joining fee” fee plus an app fee for non functioning app? $47 for what?
My profile was removed when they became a business and abandoned the community and spirit of the original creator.
When I did three US long tours I was only able to arrange for one host site. 3,500 miles and one host.
Now to pay for something and not have any idea if there are any hosts in the area you’re touring? Or if any will be available?
I know it’s worked for people I’ve met, back when it was a community and not a business, but if you’re cycling a popular route it’s nearly impossible to find a place to stay.
Now I know why no one is using Warm Showers anymore. Check out Nomador in Europe.
My profile was removed when they became a business and abandoned the community and spirit of the original creator.
When I did three US long tours I was only able to arrange for one host site. 3,500 miles and one host.
Now to pay for something and not have any idea if there are any hosts in the area you’re touring? Or if any will be available?
I know it’s worked for people I’ve met, back when it was a community and not a business, but if you’re cycling a popular route it’s nearly impossible to find a place to stay.
Now I know why no one is using Warm Showers anymore. Check out Nomador in Europe.
They’re making me pay now??
I had to pay for subscription and now I have to pay to use the app?
Misleading
This app is not what you expect. Warm Showers…. Didn’t realize we were talking about bicycling here. Not an ounce of pee to be had
Hoax
I just paid 30 dollars for a non working app. After completing the profile and filling out many fields, downloading a picture and editing my personal story - nothing was saved!! Should I start again? For what? That the information disappears again? Can only recommend everyone to stay away.
Account disappeared 4 days after I was charged $30
I’m about to embark on a cyclo-tour across Ohio and figured Warm Showers would be a great asset to my trip. Literally less than a week after paying the $30 user fee my account is just gone. Was able to request request a stay with two people (both respectfully were unavailable per the emails I received) so I went to get back on the app to keep looking. Upon putting in my Username it said it didn’t exist so I used my email(the one I just received WarmShower replies on) and it said that email didn’t exist as well.
To me it seems like a cash grab since I paid my $30 startup fee literally 4 days ago and now my account no longer exists.
To me it seems like a cash grab since I paid my $30 startup fee literally 4 days ago and now my account no longer exists.
Garbage
Absolute waste of money. Does not work >50% of the time when I “need” it to. Either just times out when logging in (which it makes me do every time I open it) or looses connection when I am using it. Just use the web browser version.
Piece of junk
I should not have paid for this. It doesn’t let me login. It tells me I have no internet when I do so I cannot see profiles. Nothing works properly. Do not use it. Use the browser. Don’t pay for this.
Paid to join…charged again?
Signed up and paid the $30 fee. The decision to charge for the app is fine by me, but why not comp people who paid already a year? Simple enough to do surely?
I’ve never even seen such a shameless app and management.
I spent $30 at the beginning, now without any notice, they forced me to spend extra monthly fee, and they require donations all the time. Shameless on you, just like a money hole!
Junk
Unfortunately I did not have good luck with this app. It runs supper slow and locks up every time I try to use it. I’ve tried to contact the help desk to no avail.
Amazing service - poor app
Warmshowers is a true benefit to humanity. The app however is getting in the way of the mission. Please please please rebuild / repair this app before users completely throw up their hands and walk away.
Web site problems
I have been a host about 10 years.
Recently, within the last two months, I can never get into the website, the screen is always frozen. All I want to do is respond to a request to be a host for somebody inquiring about staying at my guesthouse.
Recently, within the last two months, I can never get into the website, the screen is always frozen. All I want to do is respond to a request to be a host for somebody inquiring about staying at my guesthouse.
New app badly needed
Warmshowers is a great organization but an overhaul of the app is badly needed.
Don’t pay
Paid for the subscription. Now the app signed me out and when I signed back in it doesn’t recognize I paid for the subscription so it wants me to repay so i can use the app. My subscription on my phone shows it doesn’t expire until 2025. So yeah make sure it doesn’t sign you out if you pay. Was really relying on this app for an upcoming trip.
Incredibly frustrating
Crashes constantly, doesn’t reflect actual membership status, etc. Needs serious work.
Make it free! Or a one time payment
I am a Warmshowers host and guest. It is so frustrating that I have to purchase a subscription just to see my messages. I have already payed a relatively large one time fee for their website. Stop trying to squeeze money out of your users and go back to what it was made for. Free reciprocal housing for cyclists
WS is driving away the Hosts
We’ve hosted dozens of travelers, but have never been guests. Not feeling like I should have to pay to host, but I can no longer see the full profile of potential guests, so I am disinclined to continue.
Unreliable
For an app for bicyclists who will only have access to their phone and probably not their computer, it’s pretty unreliable. It will often say I’m offline when I’m not, and won’t display all of the message threads I’ve had with people (both of those are pretty vital). Otherwise, works fairly well. The map seems to show available hosts and I can view peoples profiles thoroughly.
Says I’m offline every time I try to view host profiles
Just downloaded the app, logged into my account, then navigated to a city. I see the icons for hosts, but when I click one then click “full profile” it tells me I’m offline.
I am connected to WiFi, and I have strong cell reception. Tried messing with settings in the app and nothing seemed to fix it.
I am connected to WiFi, and I have strong cell reception. Tried messing with settings in the app and nothing seemed to fix it.
This is a mess
Wow. I haven’t used this app in a long time so I didn’t know how it had changed. I think it’s fine to charge a little per a month for cyclists to help keep this app up. But I’m trying to be a HOST in a very popular long haul cycling area where there are like no hosts and it’s just not organized for hosts. And cuz it’s so focused on getting money out of people that if you are trying to be a HOST it doesn’t remember you marked host and ALWAYS cycles you back to the GIVE US MONEY page. So frustrating. Make this easier for hosts.
Website is still free
Skip the app, use the website for free.
Sentiment summary
20%
Positive (4-5★)
0%
Neutral (3★)
80%
Negative (1-2★)