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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Google Arts & Culture vs Google Calendar

Google Arts & Culture 4.7★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner Google Calendar
Google Calendar 4.5★ · Free to download 70

Google Calendar is the more reliable and functional app for daily use, despite recent UI and icon complaints, while Google Arts & Culture struggles with critical technical issues and a controversial push into AI features.

Full reviews: Google Arts & Culture · Google Calendar

Google Calendar, with a lifetime rating of 4.5, is generally praised for its core functionality and syncing, though recent updates have drawn criticism for its static app icon and color options. Google Arts & Culture, rated 4.6, offers a vast resource for art and culture but is plagued by frequent crashes, lack of landscape mode on iPad, and user dissatisfaction with its AI features.

Head to head

Features edge: Google CalendarR2R3R6R7
Google Arts & Culture Google Arts & Culture offers a vast collection of artworks, interactive stories, and virtual exhibits, with users appreciating the educational content and ability to engage with topics R23R44. However, many users dislike the prominent AI features, such as AI-generated podcasts and drawing experiences, finding them 'soulless' and an 'insult to humanity' R2R3R7R40. Some also report games not working R6R10 and a poor search system .
Google Calendar Google Calendar is valued for its core scheduling and planning capabilities, with users finding it intuitive and easy to use . It supports shared calendars and offers good syncing . However, users frequently request more color options for events , a full-size schedule widget , and the ability to repeat events on specific weekdays on mobile .
Ease of Use edge: Google CalendarR15R16R23R35
Google Arts & Culture Users generally find Google Arts & Culture engaging and intuitive for discovering content R23R44. However, the app's interface has received criticism for being convoluted after redesigns , lacking font size adjustment R16R35, and having an 'oddly composed' mobile UI R15. The search function is also described as poor, requiring exact phrasing .
Google Calendar Google Calendar is largely considered intuitive and easy to use . However, recent updates have made the app icon a point of frustration, as it consistently displays '31' instead of the current date, making it less useful at a glance R65R74R80R82. Users also report issues with widgets being too small or poorly organized .
Reliability edge: Google CalendarR1R6R9R10
Google Arts & Culture Google Arts & Culture suffers from significant reliability issues, with many users reporting the app failing to open, showing 'app error', or crashing frequently R1R13. A major complaint is the lack of landscape mode support on iPads and some phones, which users describe as a 'huge deception' and 'laughable' R9R12R13R18. Some also note glitches with games and scrolling R6R10.
Google Calendar Google Calendar generally offers good syncing and stability . However, a recurring and frustrating bug causes the app to freeze or crash when users try to enter a location for an event R85R96R101R103. Some users also report slow syncing of changes from desktop to mobile and inconsistent notifications .
Price/Value tieR26R44R70R102
Google Arts & Culture Google Arts & Culture is a free app that offers a vast, educational resource for art and culture, which users appreciate R26R44. Despite its technical issues and AI controversies, the core value of free access to extensive cultural content is recognized R26R44.
Google Calendar Google Calendar is free to download and use, providing essential scheduling functionality R70. Users acknowledge its value as a free tool, with some even stating they would pay for a better alternative if not for work requirements R70R102.
Support tieR4R33R103R114
Google Arts & Culture Users report difficulty reporting issues, with one user stating, 'App support won’t let me in to report this!' R33. Feedback about glitches, such as the inability to remove favorite images, has been sent to Google with no apparent resolution R4.
Google Calendar While not explicitly mentioned, the persistent nature of bugs like the location entry crash R103R114 suggests that user feedback might not be addressed promptly. There are no direct mentions of positive or negative interactions with support.
Pick Google Arts & Culture if

you are an art enthusiast willing to overlook significant technical issues and AI integration for free access to a vast educational art resource R23R44.

Pick Google Calendar if

you need a reliable, free calendar app for scheduling and organization, are comfortable with its core functionality, and can tolerate minor UI annoyances like the static app icon .

Evidence note: Recent negative reviews for Google Arts & Culture heavily skew towards critical technical issues and dissatisfaction with AI features, despite its higher lifetime rating. Google Calendar's recent reviews also highlight specific UI complaints, particularly regarding the app icon and color options.

Frequently asked

Does Google Arts & Culture support landscape mode on tablets?
No, Google Arts & Culture currently lacks landscape mode support on iPads and some phones, which is a major point of frustration for many users who describe it as a 'huge deception' and 'laughable' R9R12R13R18.
Why does the Google Calendar app icon always show '31'?
The Google Calendar app icon consistently displays '31' instead of the current date, which is a frequent complaint from users who find it less functional and visually useful compared to other calendar apps R65R74R80R82.
Are there issues with AI features in Google Arts & Culture?
Yes, many users express strong dissatisfaction with the prominent AI features in Google Arts & Culture, such as AI-generated podcasts and drawing experiences, calling them 'soulless', an 'insult to humanity', and 'AI garbage' that devalues human expression R2R3R7R40.
Does Google Calendar have problems with adding event locations?
Yes, a persistent bug in Google Calendar causes the app to freeze or crash when users attempt to enter a location for an event, often requiring them to restart the app and re-enter all event details R85R96R101R103.

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] Google Arts & Culture 4/5 · US Good potential, but ditch the AI: This app has a lot of potential and I was really looking forward to using it as an alternative to mindless scrolling. Unfortunately Google is leaning into AI way too much, including having soulless AI-generated podcasts that “discuss” art. What an insult to humanity! I had to immediately uninstall.
  2. [R3] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US AI features are a miss: I think this app is a great resource in general for art fans. But these AI features being pushed upon the user base are a huge turn off. Why would a fan of visual art, likely an artist themselves, want to listen to an AI character podcasting about Starry Night? I think the AI audio stuff is downright useful in Notebook LM, but here? Just feels like a devaluing of human expr
  3. [R6] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US What the heck?!: Bro literally the games don’t work! At school, we play on the website on our iPads and the games work perfectly. But all of a sudden I download it on my phone and the games don’t work! The learning stuff and the camera games work but not the real games like the viola game and the blob opera. Pls fix it!!!
  4. [R7] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US ai everywhere: the fact there is a large ai box on everything is so annoying it obstructs the view and is just so frustrating. why does ai have to be literally everywhere i turn even when im trying to learn about art. at least make an option to make it go away
  5. [R15] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US A few tweaks needed for mobile users: I use this app on my iphone and ipad. A couple things keep me from giving it five stars. One, the galleries of artists don't often include their full oeuvre but rather a few of their selected works. On the same note, some artists with relevant and incredible works don’t exist in this app. Two, why is the mobile UI so oddly conposed? I spent a few moments tryin
  6. [R16] Google Arts & Culture 2/5 · US Interface needs much improvement: This app is an incredible, vast resource for you mind and soul. The main issue I have reading it on my ipad is the interface. There are no settings to change the font size, so you almost need a magnifying glass to read it.
  7. [R23] Google Arts & Culture 5/5 · US Greatest app in history of apps!!!!: This app brings me endless joy and wonder! Extremely engaging visual appeal that is so intuitive and easy to use. I love getting lost in their maze of learning! The various ways to learn/search for content, are so smart and fun. Thank you Google!!
  8. [R35] Google Arts & Culture 4/5 · US Nice, but needs a couple of tweaks: I just started using the app so I haven't explored that much. The artwork is gorgeous, of course. One problem for me is that there's no way to adjust the size of the text that accompanies each piece, and it is teeny tiny. There's an accessibility section in settings but all that's there is the ability to choose light or dark mode. Another improvement I would mak
  9. [R1] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US Broken App: This app has failed to work for the last two months. Opening it shows “app error” every time. It’s not a network connection as all my apps work properly except this one.
  10. [R9] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US No landscape support: Works fine in portrait mode but desperately needs landscape mode.
  11. [R10] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US PLEASE READ: So I CANT GET IN GAMES BECAUSE “failing to load content”.I restarted and tried other stuff but it still WONT WORK please fix🥺🙏🏻🙏
  12. [R26] Google Arts & Culture 4/5 · US Love the concept: I haven’t gotten too deep into using this app but just from my initial impression, I love the idea of a free app where I can discover and learn about arts & culture. My only request from the app developers is to please add a feature to mark if you have seen the famous artworks in person. So to add them to my “collection” and learn more about them as well.
  13. [R44] Google Arts & Culture 5/5 · US You need this app!!!: This is the first time I’ve ever been moved to write an app review. Google Arts & Culture has fully changed the way I use my phone and consume content. This app is full of incredible educational information and learning experiences, everything from fascinating interactive virtual exhibits on the da Vinci codices to articles on history, art galleries, and so much more. I recen
  14. [R70] Google Calendar 1/5 · US Terrible: This is the worst calendar app on the market. I would rather pay for one than use this for free.
  15. [R102] Google Calendar 3/5 · US Good, not great: A quick upgrade to this app would be to indicate the date on the icon. Having to open the app to see the date is terrible. It’s also way too easy to accidentally change or add something on accident. I’d use a different app if my work didn’t use it.
  16. [R4] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US This item no longer exists.: I don't use Arts & Culture that often; I only use this more for education. There is a glitch where you cannot remove favorite images (or images in the lists you have made) that show a greyed-out, squiggly/ripped icon. I can delete non-deleted artworks, but not the ones that show these symbols. First, I have tried to use uBlock Origin on my computer, but it won't let
  17. [R33] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US Does not always work on ipad: Does not let me scroll through articles. Today it’s not working well with the extinct birds. Has wrong description for bird I am viewing. Description belongs to previously viewed bird. Also stays on same view when I try to scroll. App support won’t let me in to report this!
  18. [R103] Google Calendar 2/5 · US “Location” Field on an event causes app crash a lot: Please fix this it’s been like this for months
  19. [R114] Google Calendar 3/5 · US Location glitch that won’t go away: When entering a new calendar invite on iPhone, I must enter all details except location first, save it, then edit to add location otherwise the event freezes and a restart of the app is required. It’s been happening for about 12 months. Today, I went back to an event I booked earlier this morning to add location. It froze. Needed to close and restart app. This i
  20. [R12] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US The iPad app needs more work: I was amused by this project when I saw it on web, however it was not so good when I downloaded the iPad app. The first main problem that I had was that the application does not work on landscape mode 🫠. It was a huge deception to me since I have a keyboard and I prefer to work on a landscape mode to see more images. 👎 The second enhancement that Google team should wo
  21. [R13] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US Terrible App: No landscape mode is honestly laughable coming from the biggest conglomerate. You’ll implement a bunch of useless tacky (ai) functions without even having a basic working system that allows for landscape mode. The search system makes it impossible to narrow down subject matter. Crashes all the time. When you’re looking through archives and go past a certain point it will crash and yo
  22. [R18] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US I love this app, but…: Since the moment I downloaded this app, I loved it. I love the easy access to a variety of artworks and their history, also that if you want to explore about any art content, it takes you to the correct websites. The only thing I have to complain is that the recent apps version does not support the screen rotation. I have it on my phone and on my iPad, and I can’t enjoy the
  23. [R65] Google Calendar 4/5 · US Just needs one tweak: I wish the app icon would show the date, instead of constantly saying 31.
  24. [R74] Google Calendar 4/5 · US Please make the app button change date: The app works well on my phone, but it’s really frustrating that the logo doesn’t change on the app like the Apple calendar. It would be nice to see the actual date on my screen. Please change this 🙏🙏🙏
  25. [R80] Google Calendar 4/5 · US 31?: Great app but can you please make the icon show the date instead of always saying 31? Check out Apple’s calendar icon as an example.
  26. [R82] Google Calendar 1/5 · US TILE is always 31: Just why?!?! I am used to seeing the date on the Tile on my phone and now it is always 31. BACK to the iPhone App I guess!!! If you can’t be current then just why are you even there?!!!
  27. [R40] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US AI garbage: I downloaded this hoping for a fun way to connect with the actual art world and escape the infiltration of ai slop in every single thing on the internet. Two seconds into using this app and I’m prompted to try an AI drawing experience. Lose the ai trash. It’s not art and it doesn’t belong in the art world.
  28. [R85] Google Calendar 1/5 · US Cannot enter locations: I used to have the infrequent problem of only being able to enter the first letter of the location of my events, but then the app froze and the only thing to unfreeze it was to force close the app and lose my draft of a calendar entry. But I didn’t think much of it because it happened once in a blue moon. Now since this latest update I can no longer put a location on any of
  29. [R96] Google Calendar 3/5 · US Location Glitch: Every time I try to put in the location for an event when I’m inputing something into my calendar, it glitches and deletes the entire event. I’m able to edit the location after I make the event, but it’s incredibly annoying to not be able to put the location in when I’m originally inputting the event into my calendar.
  30. [R101] Google Calendar 4/5 · US Good overall: I use the app on my iPhone and find it works pretty good overall. It’s intuitive and syncs easily which makes it really convenient. 1 thing I wish for: that the app image had the actual date on it (instead of always saying 31). I also have a persistent bug where the app freezes when I try to type a location for an event. I have to close and reopen the app and recreate the event to ge

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