Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
Is it worth paying for

Google

65
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Google is a highly functional search engine with a vast ecosystem of integrated services, but recent updates and AI features have introduced bugs, privacy concerns, and a less reliable search experience for some users, making its overall value somewhat diminished despite its free core offering.

Free to download seen up to $1600 4.6★ lifetime (4,794,442) since 2019

Google is widely praised for its fast, accurate search and comprehensive suite of free services like Gmail and Maps R50. However, recent updates have led to complaints about buggy AI, excessive ads, privacy issues, and a degraded search experience, which detracts from its overall value R6R16R28R61. While the core app is free, the monetization signals suggest in-app purchases exist, though reviews do not directly address their value.

Free vs paid

The Google app is fundamentally free to use, providing access to its search engine and integrated services like Gmail and Google Maps without an explicit subscription or one-time purchase mentioned in user reviews R50. Users appreciate finding quick answers and information for free R10R13. There are no specific mentions in the reviews of features locked behind a paywall or paid tiers that enhance the core search experience. The monetization signals indicate in-app purchases exist, ranging from $0.89 to $1600, but user reviews do not explain what these purchases entail or if they offer any significant value.

Value complaints

    Where it delivers

    • The app is fast, reliable, and provides quick answers to a wide range of questions.R8R10R13R50
    • It offers a comprehensive ecosystem of integrated services like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive, which are generally free and seamlessly integrated.R50
    • Many users find it very useful for general searches and research, making life easier.R33R35R39R51
    Worth paying if

    The reviews do not provide any information to suggest that paying for anything within the Google app offers additional value or an improved experience.

    Skip / stay free if

    You should skip paying for any in-app purchases if you are concerned about privacy, excessive ads, or buggy AI features, as these are common complaints even with the free version R1R6R42R61. Users who prefer a less intrusive search experience with fewer interruptions and more control over their data might find the current state of the app frustrating R42R61.

    Evidence note: User reviews do not directly address the value or content of the in-app purchases, making it impossible to assess their worth. The 'price points seen' and 'highest' values are from the product page, not user feedback.

    Frequently asked

    Are there any issues with Google's AI features?
    Yes, many users report significant issues with Google's AI, including it being buggy, providing incorrect or unhelpful information, muting conversations, giving unwanted spoilers, and forcing users into AI mode R6R7R28R38.
    Does Google have privacy concerns?
    Yes, several users express strong concerns about Google's privacy practices, including tracking information, location data, selling personal data, and intrusive suggestions based on search history R1R42R58R61.
    Are there problems with ads in the Google app?
    Yes, users frequently complain about too many ads, sponsored ads appearing on the first page, ads ending up in emails, and clickbait that redirects them to download Chrome R9R12R61R120.
    Are there performance or bug issues with recent updates?
    Yes, recent updates have introduced bugs and performance issues such as the app freezing, crashing in incognito mode, not loading searches, being slow and laggy, and removing useful features like 'read aloud' or favorite links R2R16R17R18.

    What reviewers actually said

    Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

    1. [R8] 4/5 · US good: great app. fast amd reliable. Does everything I need
    2. [R10] 5/5 · US Chiquilla loca: Me encanta Google por que Encuentro Respuestas Rápidas🥰
    3. [R13] 5/5 · US It answers any question: 5/5
    4. [R50] 5/5 · US Google: The Ultimate Digital Companion: Google has become an essential part of everyday life. Its search engine is fast, accurate, and easy to use, making it simple to find information within seconds. Beyond search, Google offers an impressive ecosystem of services such as Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Photos, and Google Translate, all of which integrate seamlessly across devices. The
    5. [R33] 4/5 · US My Favorite Search Engine: I have used this for general searches for over two years with great satisfaction and success; it is my favorite and now only search engine for general information.
    6. [R35] 5/5 · US A very good app and lots of things to do and research on here: It’s very advance and a cool app if you want very good research and the good thing is there’s no ads when your researching and you can research for hours and multiple apps and things you can buy and play on and it helps make your life easier and better instead of trying to find it all yourself thank you Google you made My day
    7. [R39] 5/5 · US Very comforting: I can ask Google questions about everyday life and help me with problems I can’t tell anyone like when I have breakdowns. The only thing I don’t like about Google is how you can’t use it in China :(
    8. [R51] 5/5 · US Genial: Es algo que me a facilitado la vida estoy muy satisfecho 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎
    9. [R6] 1/5 · US Your AI sucks: Do you ever find yourself with a question racking your brain that you just have to talk out and do you ever find yourself while talking desperately desiring for the AI you’re talking to to just mute you and stop listening delete the whole conversation you were having and start from the ground up if that’s the case, then Google AI is for you outside of a two sentence question you’ll
    10. [R7] 1/5 · US Google is not smart.: Google is not smart. Here’s why. First of all, I typed “fossils for sale under one dollar” but it didn’t show photos Just boring Images of dinosaur fossil toys but I wanted real fossils not those replica skulls. Secondly, I typed “America’s 250th anniversary coin books” but it again didn’t work. I need a book to put in my mercury dime, dime, penny, Indian head cent, v nickel
    11. [R28] 1/5 · US I’m so done with their stupid AI mode: You can’t even search up an image and have text without it, dragging you to the AI mode and then Google becomes unresponsive the hallucinations the AI have make it useless I never find anything useful on Google it’s not even a good company because they do shady stuff I don’t recommend downloading and they’re going to try to hide this
    12. [R38] 2/5 · US AI style limits answers: The AI function now just kind of tells you a definitive answer, or product that is “best”. But if you feed it more info it tells you another “best” answer. Why doesn’t it just show the options in the 1st place? It feels targeted to sales. It also doesn’t feel like I am getting a real search function for my options.
    13. [R1] 2/5 · US Google way: I can’t stand how difficult you make it to sign in and then steal all available information about me you can get your T1000 hands on. Its just absurd and completely violating
    14. [R42] 3/5 · US It’s Just Okay!: I prefer a different search engine that doesn’t change the screen if you leave it and come back to it. I also prefer one that doesn’t track your information or location. I also don’t like having suggestions based on something that I looked up because I wasn’t sure what it was.
    15. [R58] 1/5 · US Super Annoying. Clickbait every time I use another browser, sends me to App Store to download chrome: Annoying clickbait to switch browsers to chrome. Lack of privacy, selling personal data, etc
    16. [R61] 3/5 · US Too many ads, privacy cookies and sales of personal data.: Way too much! People forget there are other, safer ways to search. Anytime I google something, it ends up in ads and emails with an hour. Not everyone wants a Gmail account.
    17. [R9] 1/5 · US Ad: AD LITERALLY SHOWS THAT ITS USED FOR CHEATING LIKE WHAT THE HECKY
    18. [R12] 1/5 · US I swear the skip button on ad: Make the skip button on ads bigger
    19. [R120] 3/5 · US Ok: So like I like google but I don’t love it because I feel like a lot of adds pop up, even though I already have the app which I don’t like that s ok I wish they could fix that
    20. [R2] 1/5 · US New features buggy: It does not sent me to the right Directions, now is offering all the time to add a stop on a shopping mal/store/gas station
    21. [R16] 1/5 · US Big yikes: I have used google for ages but it’s truly garbage now. Major bummer. Can’t find anything from searching and they’ve taken away search tools. Truly wild to me they’d ruin their whole thing.
    22. [R17] 1/5 · US Update removed read aloud: After the update there is not read aloud option
    23. [R18] 4/5 · US Mất chức năng đọc to văn bản hoặc báo chí: Khôi phục chức năng đọc to văn bản, báo chí để dễ sử dụng

    Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store