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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

KakaoTalk

45
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

KakaoTalk remains a popular messaging app, especially for connecting with people in Korea, but recent updates have introduced significant usability issues, an increase in ads, and restrictions for non-Korean users, leading to widespread frustration.

4.3★ lifetime (38,174) Free to download since 2010 by Kakao Corp. updated 0.2 mo ago recent negative 62% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Login & Access Ads & Monetization Updates & UI Changes Performance & Bugs International User Experience
5★202
4★76
3★80
2★69
1★523
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.3★ lifetime average

KakaoTalk is a widely used messaging app, particularly valued for connecting with friends and family in Korea, offering features like free calls and photo sharing R1R12R42. However, recent updates have been met with strong negative feedback, citing issues with login, account access, intrusive ads, and a shift towards a social media-like interface R3R4R26R43. Many users feel the app's core messaging functionality has been degraded.

What users like

  • Effective for communicating with friends and family, especially in KoreaR1R6R12R42
  • Offers free calls and good photo qualityR12R40R449
  • Allows for customization of themes and chat designsR29R78R357

What users complain about

  • Frequent login and verification issues, especially for non-Korean numbersR3R8R11R34
  • Increased number of intrusive advertisements, sometimes disguised as DMsR20R26R31R43
  • Recent updates have deleted chat history and caused backup errorsR4R9
  • New interface changes are confusing and unwanted, mimicking social media apps like InstagramR14R23R25R65
  • Users report being banned or unable to create/join open chats without clear reasonsR45R355R361R366
  • App is buggy, slow, crashes, and drains batteryR9R10R27R56
  • Lack of features for non-Korean users, such as cloud backup and community accessR4R5R315
  • Missing features like auto-translate, video messages, and the ability to delete messages for everyoneR33R50R103R383

Latest update · v26.5.6

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

KakaoTalk is updated regularly in order to improve user experience and security. This update includes enhanced app usability and minor bug fixes to make instant messaging even more fun.

Recurring themes

Login & Access negative
Many users, especially those outside Korea, report significant difficulty logging in, verifying phone numbers, or having their accounts disabled or banned without clear reason. This issue is a major barrier to using the app. The developer's notes mention 'enhanced app usability' but recent reviews contradict this for login.R3R8R11R34
Ads & Monetization negative
A significant increase in ads, including those disguised as direct messages or taking up chat space, is a major point of contention. Users feel the app has become too commercialized and that ads detract from the core messaging experience.R12R20R26R31
Updates & UI Changes negative
Recent updates have introduced unwanted features, such as social media-like feeds and complex group chat interfaces, which users find confusing, unnecessary, and detrimental to the app's primary function as a messenger. Many request a return to the previous, simpler design. The developer's notes mention 'enhanced app usability' but recent reviews strongly indicate the opposite.R4R14R23R25
Performance & Bugs negative
Users report various technical issues including app crashes, freezing, messages not sending, notifications not appearing, and excessive battery drain. Some users have lost chat history due to these issues. The developer's notes mention 'minor bug fixes' but recent reviews indicate ongoing and new performance problems.R9R10R27R56
International User Experience negative
Non-Korean users face specific challenges, including difficulty with phone number verification, inability to access features like cloud backup or K-pop communities without a Korean number, and a general feeling that the app is not designed with international users in mind.R3R4R5R34

Who it's for

KakaoTalk is for individuals who need to communicate with friends and family in Korea R1R6R42. It is also suitable for those who appreciate app customization R29R78 and free international calls R12. It is NOT for users who prioritize a clean, ad-free messaging experience R20R26R43, expect seamless login and account management outside of Korea R3R8R34, or prefer a simple messenger over a social media-like interface R65.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, with a 0.623 recent-negative signal. While there are positive reviews praising its core function for connecting with Korean contacts, the overwhelming majority of recent feedback highlights significant issues with login, ads, and unwanted UI changes. The lifetime rating of 4.28 suggests a positive past, but the current trajectory is clearly negative.

Frequently asked

Is KakaoTalk free to use?
Yes, KakaoTalk is free to download and use for messaging and calls R12.
Can I use KakaoTalk if I don't have a Korean phone number?
While you can download the app, many non-Korean users report significant difficulties with phone number verification, logging in, and accessing certain features like cloud backup or communities without a Korean number R3R4R5R34.
Does KakaoTalk have ads?
Yes, recent updates have introduced a significant increase in advertisements, which many users find intrusive and disruptive to the messaging experience, sometimes appearing disguised as direct messages R20R26R31R43.
Have recent updates improved KakaoTalk's usability?
Despite developer notes claiming 'enhanced app usability and minor bug fixes,' recent user reviews indicate that updates have introduced unwanted social media-like features, made the interface more confusing, and caused new bugs and performance issues R4R9R23R65.

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. [R1] 5/5 · US Umma: Love these for talking to parents
  2. [R6] 5/5 · US My go to: Been using kkt for years. And have had no issues.
  3. [R12] 5/5 · US I use it in any country: Living in the US, it's convenient for free calls, urgent matters, sending photos, etc. But there are too many ads lately... · translated
  4. [R42] 5/5 · US 10/10: Very useful to talk with relatives not in your country
  5. [R40] 4/5 · US Liked it: Good app, a definite plus is that photo quality isn't lost when sending. But minus one star for currently limited functionality and a small sticker set. · translated
  6. [R449] 3/5 · GB Phone calling: I think the phoning is great as the it's very clear and the voice filters are extremely funny. The only problem is that on my side of the call it's very echoey and it doesn't seem to go so if you could fix that please 😁
  7. [R29] 5/5 · US Customization + friends: Love meeting people as someone who’s learning the Korean, I also love the customization!
  8. [R78] 3/5 · US Great for online messaging: I love Kakao been using it for years to communicate with my long distance friends. Just wish they had more themes to download but overall it’s a great app. Highly recommend for anyone that has long distance relationships they want to stay in contact with.
  9. [R357] 3/5 · GB It’s good but has its faults: I was logged out of my account for no reason only to find that when I tried to log back in my account had been disabled! I tried to resolve it in every way possible but I couldn’t and I can’t make a new account either because it’s registered with my phone number. The good parts of the app was the theme and custom design function for the chats among other things.
  10. [R3] 1/5 · US Can’t talk to my friends: I have verified my phone number multiple times and they just won't let me use the app. Maybe it's because I'm an American? I'm not sure but I can't log in or use my account to talk to my friends
  11. [R8] 1/5 · US Can’t log in: It keeps trying to send an international message for authorization, and it miserably fails.
  12. [R11] 1/5 · US Garbage, can't even log in: Piece of garbage. · translated
  13. [R34] 1/5 · US Worst App EVER: This is the absolute worst app I’ve ever had the displeasure of trying to use. I believe it’s a scam used to collect personal information of users worldwide without providing any service to them whatsoever. If you don’t live in Korea, don’t even bother trying to use it. I downloaded it, created an account added one contact, my mom who lives in Korea. I live in the U.S. Verified my
  14. [R20] 1/5 · US Really, hiding ads as DM?: I don’t know who approved it. But it’s crazy that they inject ads into your DMs but make it look like someone messaged you. Kakao already takes up 1/3 of the DM space for their banner ads. But this is a new level of invasive ads placements. Better to just delete the app and move to another platform.
  15. [R26] 3/5 · US STOP WITH RANDOM ADS: I wish there was an English option great app but WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ADS???? And why can’t I block them?!?!
  16. [R31] 1/5 · US Too many Ads: Sold their soul to the devil , and now the app is riddled with Ads.
  17. [R43] 1/5 · US It's all about the money. But you're just a messenger.: Honestly, I don't understand the recent positive reviews. If you've been a long-time user, you'd know how disappointing the current UX is. Do they use ad money for fake reviews? The biggest problem is the ads. Please, do something about the ads. In Korea, the Kakao ecosystem is well-established, so I understand some ads. But in the US, is it necessary to expose users to so many ads, sacrificing user experience and the messenger's core function? I'll have to use it because of family/friends in Korea, but I really hate it. · translated
  18. [R4] 2/5 · US New update is terrible: Update deleted all chat rooms and temporary back up kept coming as an error. Then it says the account is expired and asks you to start over. When you choose to restore back up it doesn’t do anything. Terrible update. All my memories are lost. They don’t allow non Korean numbers to have a cloud for back up that’s so ridiculous when they are aware many foreigners use this app
  19. [R9] 1/5 · US It's a trash app after "that" update: The KakaoTalk app keeps crashing, so I couldn't back up and had to reinstall it 3 times so far. Whose idea was this? Great job ^^ · translated
  20. [R14] 1/5 · US Back to normal: Change it back to how it was. · translated
  21. [R23] 1/5 · US Another strange update: Change it back. · translated
  22. [R25] 1/5 · US Stop posting my updates: It feels gross that I have to be on a platform that mandates announcing all my updates to all friends. No SNS service do this and no SNS that do that will survive
  23. [R65] 1/5 · US Is there someone in charge obsessed with copying Instagram?: Every time there's an update. Adding the useless Shorts feature, and changing friend updates to a feed, it annoys me how it keeps trying to act like a social media app. KakaoTalk is a messenger app used by everyone in Korea for both private and public communication, so constantly adding nonsensical social media features is not only inappropriate but also degrades its function, efficiency, and convenience as a messenger. Moreover, this update significantly increased the types of emoticons for quick reactions in the messenger, didn't it? Too many choices actually hinder the speed of conversation. Plus, having to choose one out of so many emoticons to react is almost a direct copy of Instagram's interface. The people in charge right now... · translated
  24. [R45] 1/5 · US Wtf is user protection program: Wtf is user protection program? I can’t text my GF on this app, what a joke this app has become
  25. [R355] 3/5 · GB Bans: Love the app and it features dome really fun graphics and stickers. However I just downloaded the app but it keeps saying I’m banned from joking open chats. I read the other reviews and it seems I’m not the only one experiencing this but nothing has been done to fix this. This is really annoying as I downloaded the app in order to join chats to make friends and practise my korean.
  26. [R361] 3/5 · GB great app....but: dont get me wrong it’s a great app but whenever i got to create a chat i just get “you are currently not allowed to create open chats in accordance with our user protection policy” ive even check with one of my friends to make sure i haven’t set my account up wrong and everything i did she also did and she can talk to people. confusing.
  27. [R366] 3/5 · GB Bugs.: I love the app and speaking Korean with friends, however it keeps disabling my account and telling me I cannot join open chats or message others first due to security setting, even though everything I’ve said was in the guide lines. Please help so I don’t have to uninstall 🥺
  28. [R10] 4/5 · US KakaoTalk Review: Sometimes messages don't send well, which is a bit frustrating. · translated
  29. [R27] 2/5 · US Buggy app: Such a buggy app. I’ve been seeing an issue for months and months where a contact’s profile keeps showing the wrong name! And interestingly, the wrong name has been applied to multiple contacts. PLEASE fix this. Additionally I’ve never used a service where you couldn’t change your email address. What a joke!
  30. [R56] 1/5 · US Horrible: Horrible app - so slow and buggy
  31. [R5] 2/5 · US I think the global kakaotalk kinda need to get improve: I try to join communities of my fav Kpop artists but it always show me the message that I need a Korean phone and I don’t have one, like what do you expect someone from outside Korea to get a phone number in Korea when they don’t even live there I hope kakao talk can improve this.
  32. [R315] 3/5 · GB Please: It's so good... but it has too few features compared to the Korean version... #I wish I could use the search function and put music on my profile, it's a shame. · translated
  33. [R33] 4/5 · US pls add video messages: all in this app is great! but i guess it will be better with video messages, not only voice and text messages
  34. [R50] 4/5 · US Translation: I wish there was a button or way to change all the incoming texts to English to make it faster to communicate. Holding each message and then pressing the translate button seems like too much steps to reply back to the person I’m texting.
  35. [R103] 3/5 · US Auto Translate: Please add auto translate feature.
  36. [R383] 3/5 · GB why cant i delete messages for everyone?: i was able to do this before but now i cant? that feature needs to come back

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