Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
The verdict on

Hilton Honors

45
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

The Hilton Honors app offers convenient booking and digital key functionality, but recent updates have introduced significant bugs, frequent error messages, and removed popular features like calendar integration, leading to a frustrating user experience for many.

4.9★ lifetime (3,178,675) Free to download since 2013 by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. updated 0.1 mo ago recent negative 44% 120 reviews across 4 regions
App Stability & Errors Digital Key Issues Removed Features Notification Spam Booking & Account Issues User Interface & Experience
5★428
4★60
3★64
2★58
1★369
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.9★ lifetime average

The Hilton Honors app allows users to book hotels, manage reservations, and use a digital key for room access. While some users praise its ease of use for booking and the convenience of the digital key, a recent surge of negative reviews highlights persistent bugs, unexpected error messages, and the removal of previously available features, impacting overall reliability.

What users like

  • Easy and smooth booking process within the appR21R86
  • Digital key functionality is appreciated when it works, offering convenience for room accessR119R182
  • Allows users to choose their room, which is a valued featureR8R22
  • Improved calendar support for reservations in the current version, though some users report it missingR2

What users complain about

  • Frequent and persistent 'That was unexpected' error messages make the app unusable for manyR4R7R18R28
  • Digital key often fails to work, forcing users to get a physical key from the front deskR3R5R16R31
  • Push notifications are used for ads and promotions despite user settings to disable themR1R17R24R35
  • Ability to add reservations to the phone's calendar has been removed, frustrating many usersR66R101R106R161
  • App often fails to find existing reservations or allow check-inR9R25R38R40
  • Lack of VPN support causes constant errors and makes the app unusable for VPN usersR20R26
  • Users report issues with logging in, account access, and profile creationR14R56R90R373
  • Search functionality is poor, returning irrelevant results or failing to workR32R41R44
  • Missing Apple Wallet support for digital keys and reservationsR2R119R183
  • App is reported to crash frequently or freezeR28R52R54R204
  • Some users cannot use the app on older iPhone models due to lack of iOS supportR49R104

Latest update · v2026.6.30

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

Bug fixes and performance improvements.

Recurring themes

App Stability & Errors negative
Many users report frequent 'That was unexpected' error messages, crashes, and freezing, making the app unreliable and often unusable. This contradicts the developer's notes about 'bug fixes and performance improvements'.R4R7R18R28
Digital Key Issues negative
The digital key feature is a major point of frustration, with many users reporting it frequently does not work, forcing them to go to the front desk for a physical key. There are also requests for Apple Wallet integration.R3R5R16R31
Removed Features negative
Several users lament the removal of previously available and valued features, most notably the ability to add reservations to their calendar. Other missing features include the share button and easy access to directions.R66R101R106R161
Notification Spam negative
Users are annoyed by the app sending promotional push notifications and ads, even when all notification settings are explicitly turned off within the app.R1R17R24R27
Booking & Account Issues negative
Problems with booking reservations, finding existing stays, checking in, creating profiles, and logging into accounts are frequently reported, hindering basic app functionality.R9R14R25R38
User Interface & Experience mixed
While some users appreciate a 'cleaner and more modern look', others criticize the new interface, search functionality, and lack of customization options like theme changes or currency switching.R19R32R33R41

Who it's for

The Hilton Honors app is for frequent Hilton guests who value the convenience of mobile booking and digital room keys, provided they are willing to tolerate significant app instability and missing features. It is not for users who rely on VPNs, expect reliable digital key functionality, or need to easily add reservations to their personal calendars.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, with a strong consensus on issues like app stability, digital key failures, and removed calendar integration. While some positive reviews exist, they often praise the hotel experience itself rather than the app's functionality, or are older reviews that predate the reported issues. The developer's release notes for 'bug fixes and performance improvements' directly contradict the widespread user reports of increased bugs and performance degradation.

Frequently asked

Does the Hilton Honors app reliably support digital keys?
No, many users report that the digital key feature frequently fails to work, requiring them to visit the front desk for a physical key R3R5R16R31.
Can I add my reservations to my calendar from the Hilton Honors app?
No, recent updates have removed the ability to easily add reservations to your phone's calendar, a feature that many users miss R66R101R106R161.
Does the Hilton Honors app send unwanted notifications?
Yes, many users report receiving promotional ads and marketing push notifications even when all in-app notification settings are turned off R1R17R24R35.
Is the Hilton Honors app stable and free of bugs?
No, numerous recent reviews indicate the app is very buggy, frequently displaying 'That was unexpected' error messages, crashing, and freezing, making it unreliable for many users R4R7R18R28.

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. [R21] 5/5 · US Very smooth: Booking these Hilton hotels through the App is smooth and simple. I highly recommend!
  2. [R86] 5/5 · US Best app to book a hotel: In conclusion if you looking peace, clean environment, spacious, beautiful rooms and the best experience in a hotel Hilton honors is the best option.
  3. [R119] 3/5 · US Par for the course: The app works fine for booking and monitoring points. The digital key is always a plus and is one of the reasons I choose to stay at this brand … that and the beds that actually don’t break the back. I travel for work and want to get to my room and crash. A digital key saves the trouble of finding or loosing the card, but I will be one of those people a day the key should be
  4. [R182] 5/5 · US Easy and convenient: Excellent App that is easy to use. Love the digital key and check in process. Modification and cancellation are easy when needed. Keep evolving!!
  5. [R8] 5/5 · US You decide: Hilton gives the customer a chance to make decisions on room choices, which is great for people who want to be away from elevators and ice machines
  6. [R22] 5/5 · US Love Hilton!: Their website is so easy to navigate and their staff is always very friendly and efficient. I love that the rooms are consistently clean throughout the many different Hilton’s we stay at in the many different cities and you get to see the floor plans to see what room you’d like to choose.
  7. [R2] 4/5 · US App improved, Please Add Wallet Support of Digital Key: This is my updated review. Current version of Hilton Honors app (new edition) is a significant improvement. Calendar support for reservations is now enabled and works flawlessly (just as in the old edition). Thank you. Link to download Wallet cards for the reservations is still missing. Please add Wallet Support for the reservations. As a ver
  8. [R4] 1/5 · US A flying piano…: Just downloaded the most recent Hilton Honors Application update effective 07/07/2026 and yes folks, it continues to be a hot mess, in a dumpster fire, on a train wreck. Why so subterranean in my assessment you may ask? Let’s review together. 1. Upon opening the App; after deleting reinstalling of course. The ubiquitous, “That was unexpected”. Sorry for the interruption. Let’s tr
  9. [R7] 1/5 · US Bugs make this app useless: « That was unexpected «  bug on repeat makes this app useless
  10. [R18] 2/5 · US “That was unexpected”: For months my app as I book things or just move from page to page constantly gives me a message saying “that was unexpected, let’s try that again”. Never happens on the website off my phone but the app consistently gives error so it makes it almost unusable. I’ve deleted app and redownloaded. Doesn’t matter if on WiFi or not. Hope you can resolve this in the next bug fix upd
  11. [R28] 1/5 · US That was unexpected: Latest several updates continue a downward trend of lost functionality, poor visuals and frequent crashes and bugs that are seriously undermining this app’s usefulness. (Totally unusable on current trip - frequent error pop ups saying “That was unexpected” - can’t locate my hotel, room key not working, etc. All these features worked flawlessly a year ago. Dump your current c
  12. [R3] 1/5 · US Rage Review: I used to think highly of this app, until after a VERY long day and getting to the airport late, I could not open my door with it, despite having checked in and my digital key “working.” I had to go back down to the desk to get a physical key the experience sucked. Therefore your review sucks. Congrats, Hilton.
  13. [R5] 1/5 · US Bad start: Received an email about getting room key on phone and skipping the front desk. Don’t work. Corporate office couldn’t find res. Connected me to hotel. After 15 minutes was told rather bluntly “just check at the front desk. Wasted half hour of my time.
  14. [R16] 1/5 · US Miserable app. Zero stars: Digital key never arrived. What a fumble with developers Membership has zero perks! They offer to upgrade you a room when your status says complimentary if available. Apparently it’s available if your lame app is offering to sell to me at checkin. Chat feature is slow and you have to go through a bot to get to real person. This is reason I went from Diamond to reg
  15. [R31] 4/5 · US It needs more access to stay feedback: The app is easy to use. The digital key did not open the side exit doors to the outside amenities so I found my self locked out a few times. It open all inside amenities doors fine. This is a helpful idea but needs more work. Also I wish I could give feedback of my stay directly to you the mothership and the hotel staff. I have comments for the hotel we stay
  16. [R1] 1/5 · US App does not respect push notifications settings: I would like app notifications about my stay so I did not block notifications on the ios level but I disabled all notifications in the app settings, and yet I still get ads.
  17. [R17] 1/5 · US Deceptive use of Push Notifications: App hijack push notifications for ads and promos instead of delivering the updates or tasks users actually need. Get notifications when you are on travel for deals. Total misuse of notifications. Very frustrating.
  18. [R24] 1/5 · US Does not honor notification preferences: I had ONLY “Stay reminders” on, and continued to get push notifications about earning points and staying elsewhere. So after my last stay, I turned off even that one. Well, now with ALL push notifications set to “off” in the app, I am STILL getting ads about spending my points on some stupid show. If Hilton can’t even honor a simple setting like push noti
  19. [R35] 1/5 · US Spam notifications: Even thought I turned off all push notifications except ones related to my stay, it still sent push notifications advertising random stuff.
  20. [R66] 3/5 · US Nice update but lacks ability to add to calendar: Overall I like the new look and interface in the app now. It is cleaner and more modern look. For some reason the ability to add a reservation to your calendar is gone. Please bring back this functionality.
  21. [R101] 3/5 · US Good, but old one was better.: I liked that I used to be able to add my stays to my calendar.
  22. [R106] 3/5 · US No Way To Add Reservations To Your Calendar: The older version would allow reservations to easily be added you my phone calendar. I can’t figure it out in this version which is very annoying.
  23. [R161] 3/5 · US Great app but…: Great app, except they removed the option to add stays to your calendar, and that sucks.
  24. [R9] 2/5 · US garbage: can't find my reservation, and when i call the support number nobody answers. ended up having to check in the regular way. pointless app.
  25. [R25] 1/5 · US Check in from app: Thumbs down Doesn’t work
  26. [R38] 1/5 · US Check in feature not working: I hit check in button, and I was to AP review. I tried 4x yesterday and 2x today.
  27. [R40] 1/5 · US Garbage errors: Three stays this year none in the app
  28. [R20] 1/5 · US No VPN support? Negative stars if I could: Support VPN - it’s an extremely basic privacy right, everyone should have. You’re just an overly priced space rental.
  29. [R26] 1/5 · US Fix your app!: Fix your app so it works with VPN! Every few seconds the app gives a pop up saying "That was unexpected. Sorry for the interruption. Let's try again." It's complete junk. Millions of customers use VPNs daily to secure their internet use, especially when connected to pubic wifi!
  30. [R14] 1/5 · US Can’t get into my account: Can’t get into my account. Talked to customer service, though they were nice, they were not able to get me into my account. They have a janky interface. Wasted a lot of time
  31. [R56] 1/5 · US Can’t sign in: I used this years back and it worked great. Recently it booted me off the app on its own and just won’t work. I get the error “Something went wrong on our end, and we couldn't sign you in. Please try again later.” My account works on the safari browser but the app continues to fail with this error, even if I resent the password I get the same error and it works fine on mobile browsi
  32. [R90] 3/5 · US Can’t create: Downloaded but will not let me create a profile.
  33. [R373] 3/5 · GB Can’t progress through registration: Sent an email asking me to download the app. However, constantly receiving invalid address field - post code. Unable to progress so hoping that i have no issues given it says you check in on the app and use it as your keycard
  34. [R32] 1/5 · US Horrible Search: When doing a search for Bahamas, the search comes back with multiple hotels in Miami, East and West Coast of Florida. No filter to remove FL from my search. Decided to book with a competitor.
  35. [R41] 4/5 · US Literally worse: I’ve used this app weekly for the past 5 years. The latest version is awful! Literally garbage. Put a city in where you want to stay and up pops every damn city within 50 miles around it. Try to get the digital room key to work more than 50% of the time! The maps suck, the lay out is awful. So disappointing!
  36. [R44] 1/5 · US Search broken: In addition to Hilton price gouging during the World Cup, their app straight up doesn’t work. Can’t search for anything.
  37. [R183] 3/5 · US Add wallet Digital Key: While the app is fine for making reservations, checking in, and checking out, the time I use the app most is for my digital key. Why do I have to fumble with the app? Surely the digital key can be put in my Apple wallet! That missing feature alone makes this app quite frustrating during time I have to use it the most. One other suggestion: let me set my default room specifi
  38. [R52] 1/5 · US Crashes all the time: App fails, face recognition doesn’t work, stores a zillion passwords but none ever login properly. Terrible
  39. [R54] 2/5 · US Don’t fall for the the digital key!!: Other than the constant crashing and freezing in the middle of booking. Can you guys also fix your garbage digital key card? They never work
  40. [R204] 3/5 · US Buggy: Very buggy lately, used to be very reliable.
  41. [R49] 1/5 · US Won’t work for older model iPhones: I cannot use download or use this app because I have an older model of phone and the iOS is not supported on this app. My phone still works perfectly and I see no reason to get a newer one. An inability to use the app is preventing me from using some of the more useful services provided by Hilton. Either support more devices or offer all abilities through the we
  42. [R104] 5/5 · US For old IPhone 8: This app does not work a iPhone 8
  43. [R27] 1/5 · US Ads: Now once you use your key to get in the room, you get ads.
  44. [R19] 3/5 · US Add option to change theme: You should add an option to change color theme, it shouldn’t just mimic system.
  45. [R33] 4/5 · US Dark mode: How do I turn off dark mode?

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