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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Gmail

65
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Gmail is a widely used and generally reliable email app, praised for its user-friendliness and cross-device functionality, but it faces significant criticism for recent bugs, large app size, and the presence of ads.

Free to download seen up to $19.99 4.7★ lifetime (2,421,259) since 2011

Gmail is a popular email client, often preferred over native alternatives for its ease of use and quick email delivery R15R84. However, recent updates have introduced numerous bugs, including issues with email deletion, notifications, and app stability, alongside concerns about its increasing app size and unwanted ads R2R6R11R27.

Free vs paid

The core Gmail app is free to use, providing email functionality, search, and organization features like starring emails and categorizing R93R15. There is no explicit paid tier for the app itself mentioned in the reviews, and the listed in-app purchases are not described as unlocking specific features within the email client. Users complain about ads appearing in their normal mail, suggesting that even the free experience includes monetization through advertising R2R58.

Value complaints

  • The app includes sponsored ads at the top of normal mail, which users find intrusive and negatively impact the experience.R2R58

Where it delivers

  • Gmail is widely considered user-friendly and easy to use, often preferred over native mail apps for its clean interface and efficient search.R15R93
  • It offers reliable and quick email delivery, including important verification codes, and maintains accessibility across multiple devices.R4R84R85R130
  • Users appreciate features like email organization, including the ability to star important emails and categorize messages.R93R91
Worth paying if

Based on the reviews, there is no clear indication that paying for Gmail through in-app purchases enhances the email experience or removes ads, as users primarily discuss the free app's features and issues.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip Gmail if you are concerned about app size, as it can exceed 700MB, or if you are bothered by ads appearing in your inbox R11R27R58R433. Users who experience frequent login problems, missing emails, or issues with notifications should also consider alternatives R6.

Evidence note: Reviews indicate the app is free, with no clear paid features or benefits from in-app purchases, making it difficult to assess 'worth paying for' beyond the free experience. The listed in-app purchase prices from the product page are not referenced by users as providing specific value or features within the app itself.

Frequently asked

Does Gmail have ads?
Yes, Gmail's mobile app includes sponsored ads at the top of the normal mail inbox, which some users find annoying R2R58.
Is the Gmail app reliable for receiving emails?
While many users find Gmail reliable for receiving emails quickly, a significant number of recent reviews report issues with missing emails, delayed notifications, and problems receiving two-step verification codes R24R41R46R153.
Why is the Gmail app so large?
Users frequently complain about the Gmail app's size, noting it can exceed 700 megabytes, which they consider excessive for an email application R11R27R433.
Does Gmail have bugs with recent updates?
Yes, recent updates have introduced several bugs, including emails remaining in the inbox after deletion, issues with starring emails, and the app crashing or failing to load R3R6R28R45.

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. [R2] 1/5 · US Ads in my email: How is this rated so well? It literally puts sponsored ads at the top of my normal mail
  2. [R58] 2/5 · US Ads ruined the experience: Used to use gmail all the time. i get too much email to also be navigating through ads. Made this experience awful. Design also could be better. sad that notion mail is leaving, was hoping gmail could be an alternative but can’t do it.
  3. [R15] 5/5 · US Way better than native app.: Gmail is wildly more user-friendly than Apple’s native Mail app, which somehow manages to make checking an email feel like rummaging through a drawer full of mystery cords. Gmail is clean, quick, and actually makes it easy to find what I need without forcing me to remember whether a message arrived yesterday, three months ago, or during the Paleolithic era. Search work
  4. [R93] 5/5 · US I love Gmail.com!: I love Gmail. It is easy to use. It’s reliable and I like the features. If I could only download it on my new iPhone, I’d be a happy camper. I’d recommend Gmail to anyone. They are awesome. It’s just an easy to navigate app. it’s great for us people that aren’t techno savvy so I’ve taken myself through it and I’ve learned everything about it by myself. I especially like the star
  5. [R4] 5/5 · US A review by James Mitchell: Gmail and Google are first class! Keeps you in touch with the world. Always accessible and accurate. POSITIVE YES!!
  6. [R84] 5/5 · US Why I love Gmail: Before I had Gmail I used to use my Apple email and it completely stopped working on me so for a while I didn’t have an email and then I learned about Gmail and now I use it all the time 24/7 and Gmail works way better like if you’re trying to get an app and it sends a verification to your email Gmail gets it in seconds this app is amazing
  7. [R85] 5/5 · US Amazing: I love Gmails cross device functionality!
  8. [R130] 5/5 · US Sustainable: Gmail has helped me ever since I opened it back when I was in high school. I love how it is easily accessible and can be used on multiple platforms.
  9. [R91] 5/5 · US Primary Social Forums: Allow the user the ability to choose the 3 categories. For example, instead of Primary Social & Forums, I would choose: Primary, Social, & Shopping. Forums is where I end up moving all my shopping related emails and shipment tracking info, but I must keep doing it myself instead of gmail knowing/remembering that’s where I want all those type emails to go. Thank-you!
  10. [R24] 4/5 · US Missing? Emails: Not sure if emails just aren’t being sent or what but multiple times I haven’t been how to log into my accounts because I won’t receive the 2 step verification codes. Good app just wish this could be fixed.
  11. [R41] 1/5 · US Malfunction: I haven’t been able to receive my mails since last year December which is really heartbreaking. I’ve been expecting recent emails to come in but to no avail. Wish it can be solved quickly. It’s so important to me
  12. [R46] 1/5 · US Loading issue: App not loading email or able to access google security codes
  13. [R153] 4/5 · US Notifications: It’s great, but it doesn’t give you any notifications if someone emails you.
  14. [R11] 1/5 · US EGREGIOUSLY BLOATED app size approaching ONE GIGABYTE 🚨 🚨 🚨: 701+ MEGABYTES (UPDATE: 738.1 MEGABYTES, previously: 731.1… 716.7… the bloating doesn’t stop)… for an email app! The people getting paid to bloat and deploy this garbage are terribly negligent.
  15. [R27] 2/5 · US App takes too much space!: Seriously. Over 700 MB ???!!! That’s why I’m going to have to delete this app!!!
  16. [R433] 3/5 · GB Works well but too big: Over time the app has bloated from an already large 400mb to over 700mb. Does an email client really need to be this big?
  17. [R3] 2/5 · US Travando: Depois da ultima atualizacao nao consigo mais usar, trava so de abrir
  18. [R6] 1/5 · US Keep having to reinstall: For some reason in the last few months I have had to remove and reinstall to be able to use links within emails. Can’t seem to find any explanation online.
  19. [R28] 3/5 · US Recent update: When I delete an email it remains in the inbox list until I close the app and reopen. Strange behavior.
  20. [R45] 1/5 · US 2026 Broken App: Anytime I swipe to mark as Unread the email doesn’t change its state back to Unread. The same happens when I delete something, it doesn’t disappear as it should when an email is deleted. I’ve tried to uninstall and reinstall but the problem persists.

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