Harvard Business Review Customer Service

Harvard Business Review Positive Reviews

New app is so much better!!The new version of the app. Is the experience I was hoping for when I first signed up with HBR. I was just using the website on my phone because the app was horrible. Not anymore! So thrilled to finally have an app that is worthy of the fantastic content HBR has to offer..PalmerjrVersion: 30.0.11

Start Posting Real Ratings PleaseHBR Readers, if you are rating the mobile experience higher than a 3 (at best), you are truly doing yourself and cohorts a disservice. For such premium services, the mobile experience is lackluster to say the least. HBR team, the details are here in your “real” reviews, just look at the low ratings. Features, structure, it’s all there - what real reviewers want to see in the app. For anyone who’s been reading this publication for any length of time, I’m amazed at the rating, actually use the app and try to be productive and look for articles you are notified of in the weekly emails, try and download one from the app for review/further research…basics. Again, app rating can’t possibly be better than a 3. Hopefully someone at HBR actually looks into the negative feedback, it’s a goldmine for you..JWM@HBRVersion: 26.0

Enjoying the App, but...Overall, the app is pretty straightforward and enjoyable. What I dislike is having to keep signing into my account when opening the app. Worse is that I cannot use Face ID (I know, how lazy of me), but have to keep typing in my login information whenever I return to the app. The app and being able to navigate it otherwise are clean and as I would hope..SteveZimaVersion: 26.0

Good content, need to improve the appPlease make these changes soon: - Allow to download so we can read articles offline. - Provide tools for notes & comments. For example, a highlighting feature. - Feature the current issue and articles so they’re easier to find. - Generally improve the search function..Xtjxv905628012Version: 30.0.10

IOS Subscription Doesn’t Give Website AccessI was disappointed to find out about subscribing that the iOS subscription only allows access via iOS devices. Most subscriptions I’ve had through my Apple devices allow you to login to their websites via Apple Login, however HBR chose not to allow that, and chose not to disclose that. While the content is fantastic, I regret subscribing on the app..IllidanasVersion: 30.0

Bring in reading modesPlease bring in different reading modes. The only option now is the bright white background. Eyes get tired out faster. Surely dark mode must be there already !.AmruthaJaiVersion: 26.0

3 for the app design, not for the contentThe content and my satisfaction with the materials are 5s. The app is just OK. It’s a simple design but not beautiful. Some of the tiles hang off my screen and obstruct the illustration. It’s basic (not a compliment!). The login process is annoying and outdated. Why can’t I use a biometric login and why does it keep logging out? It’s very frustrating. I also wish this app took advantage some of the cool dev features I see in modern apps, things that scroll and pop. Using the app in a new, visually stimulating and exciting way is more what I expected since inclusion of this app is a selling point between subscription levels..MzMillennium04Version: 26.0

Can’t log into appI love the quality of HBR articles. Very practical information that helps me grow in my career. The design of the app is also great. My only complaint is that I can’t login on the app. I’m using the same credentials I use successfully for the website, but the app tells me they are incorrect. This needs to be addressed..Praise74Version: 5.0

App updates are a major upgradeI disagree with all the recent negative reviews, I think the upgrade is a huge improvement!.Jul4788Version: 30.0.9

Needs a Dark ModeGreat way to read HBR articles when not on a laptop, would love to see a dark mode for mobile users though and a more intuitive UI, especially for the Magazine section which feels more like reading separate articles as opposed to a continuous and immersive read..Matt_njugsVersion: 28.0

For the lifelong learnerWell designed and easy to access all HBR articles. Search function needs to be improved a bit, it’s not a major pain. Like the snackable content - video explainers..BigCoLeaderVersion: 6.0

Dates neededIt would be nice to have article dates included with content available through the mobile app. I like web-based HBR articles since I can see when the article was published at the very top of the article. Can you include this as a new feature in a future update to the app?.New-subscriber00Version: 25.0

I Love HBRI often picked up the paper version in airports. But never had a subscription. For 10 bucks I figured I’d try it and it’s perhaps the best 10 I spend every month..Critical NarrativistVersion: 24.0

The best business guru out there...The app is very user friendly and the very handy when I am traveling or just want a quick glance at the latest business case studies or news..Neha Mittoor ChangappaVersion: 6.0

Fine mobile appHBR mobile is a fine app to deliver content of the magazine. Achieves the customary high standards that are associated with the print version and organization..Darren in KCVersion: 24.0

UI could be made betterI have so many issues with logging in to the app and this is after a paying subscriber has issues with accessing the digital version online. Lots to improve on the app. So many beautiful articles bu the UX is frustrating.Kunnu17Version: 23.0

Great App for learning.Great App to keep learning the most current information.great app.El PitorrealVersion: 30.0

Love this magazineSo insightful, articulate and educational.UubjdjdVersion: 24.0

Good app- dreadful narration on audio!The app is pretty good overall, though it is sometimes difficult to find specific articles in the search (even with the exact title!). My biggest issue is with the dry and monotonous narration, please stop using Noa and get your own narrators!! It’s painful to try to listen to audio articles…..NattyryVersion: 28.0

The App is Micky MouseIt’s embarrassing that this is the standard they are releasing in 2022.B0mb3dVersion: 27.0

Very basic functionalityThe content is great and appreciated but the app is very basic. Could be so much more. It would seem HBR has made a conscious decision not to invest in the app. If I had to pay extra for it, I wouldn’t bother. Disappointing..RohbareVersion: 26.0

Great investment in myselfGreat investment in myself. Only needs a dark mode for reading..Panda8472Version: 26.0

I love this new appGreat app.Ahmed El ZohiryVersion: 5.0

Could be betterNeed a dark mode; audio could be added; log in is complicated for no reason..NachonovoVersion: 24.0

Finally!Great to see HBR get a usable app! Would love to see an iPad version as well..DavidDavidson1Version: 1.0

Search function doesn’t workUnable to search for a specific author/topic. Search function does not work.ToadzTunzVersion: 2.0

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Harvard Business Review Negative Reviews

2 decades of HBR, all downhill latelyHBR articles used to be highly informative, thoughtful, and well-researched. They were solid essays, sometimes more valuable than the books written by the same articles in parallel. There are still some of these articles in the magazines, but whether it’s the raising of my standards of knowledge testing or whether my perception is accurate, much of the content is almost completely irrelevant. This app is worse than other media of HBR. Its search function does not yield expected results, and it is not an effective use of time to try to gain anything from this. I have given this app second chances over the years when I am desperate for a piece of management research that is hard to find. I am leaving this review because I’ve decided to walk away permanently unless there is some major overhaul to the entire HBR network that brings them back to usefulness beyond pop culture..FatheroftheyearVersion: 27.0

Don’t subscribe in apI can’t count the number of times I’ve had restore purchase, activate in the app, had to try to access from other apps, issues like this are constant and the support response is utterly uninterested in dealing with problems related to in app subscriptions as though the very existence of this option is somehow beneath them. (they’re all to welcoming to setup a new account without offering a price break which basically means pay for the same content twice). I’m not sure if the problems are with the publisher or Apple. Whatever the issue, I suggest subscribing via their normal process as opposed to through Apple. Or not bothering to digital subscribe at all.R.J. FVersion: 22.0

Offline viewing broken for months + Overall poor user experience5 Stars for the content. This review is of the app not the content. 1. We can’t store the magazine for offline viewing. Something which was very useful on long flights. What was the logic to disable this functionality? 2. It should be mandatory for the Product manager of this app to read few articles on HBR on Customer Experience. There were 4-5 interesting articles on this topic this year (2023) 3. Huge gap in digital experience on Kindle vs HBR app. Not only is it bad for us (customers), its bad for the bottom line for HBR too. With the amazing content in HBR, not cross selling more efficiently should be a crime..P_._NVersion: 30.0

From such an awesome institution I’d expect the app to be of higher qualityThis is really substandard work for such a reputable institution - typography and layout is a bit of a mess. At the very least whoever is working on this app should just copy the website typography for consistency. Or reference The Information’s iOS app for layout and styling as reference for what a professional content heavy app should look like. Attention to details is sorely lacking, there’s no spacing between the url and title string when you use the share sheet. I would happily fix all this for free just so I don’t have to look at this anymore..Kangaroo5383Version: 25.0

Misreporting subscription status in the appI have been a subscriber for many years and was an early adopter of their early iPad app. I would expect by now they’d have the bugs worked out, but apparently not. The mobile app can’t seem to sync with the HBR site. The site shows I clearly have an active subscription while the iPad app says it is expired. Contacting the vendor gets you no where - they just send you back to the HBR site for help. I’ve tried the HBR chat and the best they can do is have you reinstall the app. For the price charged for a digital subscription this is beyond ridiculous..TNinMNVersion: 27.0

Pretty rudimentary for premium contentThere is no way to display content by type which seems like minimal functionality that most content providers have been providing for years. This is just an electronic version of a magazine with a list of content as an add on (but doesn’t seem to be additional content). That means the only thing this gives me is the ability to access on my iPad instead of carrying around a magazine. It could easily be so much more and should be for the premium content that it is..Dallas61Version: 24.0

How to butcher a user experience by HBRThis app was previously difficult to use. Very hard to download previously purchased articles and not usable offline on a plane. The latest version takes away audio, takes away back articles, is completely unusable on a plane. I don’t know how you could take something that was maybe a three of best and turn it into a negative number but that’s what HBR did here do not ever use this app. This is the worst update of an app in the history of all apps..JefftracyVersion: 30.0.8

Exceptionally poor user experienceYou have taken this app from a great to a crap experience. That is some skill. In the older versions the various magazines were organized in a grid so it was very easy to pick the one that you wanted to read. In this one the pile of junk that shows up make it very difficult to flip through 10s of magazines to get to which month magazine you want to red. In the older version it was very easy to see which one is available offline, in this version you have to flip through every one to see what is available offline. In the older version you could see the account number that you had used to sign up. Now when switching Devices it is not possible to see the account without going back to the web and finding our account. A real disappointment..DW2014Version: 3.0

Have online subscription but can’t login to the app!Have had a digital subscription for a long time, and recently received an email from HBR to try the mobile app. After downloading, I was not able to login. Error message indicated my subscription expired. Got online and asked live chat for help. Response was hard to understand, but basically indicated that it wouldn’t work and I should login on my mobile devices using a browser instead of the app. Really???.Phx1tabVersion: 27.0

Bring back starred contentI used to love this app because it allowed me to “star” content of interest so I could come back to read it later. A recent app upgrade removed this extremely important feature and now the app is nearly useless. I don’t have time to log in everyday to read content before it is archived. Without the star feature I am missing content I purchased my HBR subscription for. Please bring back the starred content feature!.MkimbyVersion: 5.0

Pretty crappy compared to other content publishing appsMy benchmark is the Economist’s iOS app, which I use almost daily. HBR doesn’t offer settings to improve readability (font size, background color). There are times when the content takes a long time to load or doesn’t load at all. The app experience isn’t all that better from getting the content on a mobile device browser, and how often is that a customers preferred choice?.OiasjherVersion: 1.0

Cannot Sync Across DevicesI cannot access any articles I save on the desktop site on this app, which to me really devalues having the app. I tried to send an email via the Help screen, but I received a message saying I have no active email account on my iPad, which is totally false. I have Outlook and Gmail accounts on my iPad I use regularly, not to mention an email account associated with my account. Article content is very good but the user experience is horrible. Very surprised that HBR would put something out like this..Mjy0525Version: 6.0

Great publication, worse App!I don’t understand how such a great publication has a such malfunctioning App! I am a subscriber to HBR but almost every time the App ask me to log in. What ever I save on the App, I can’t see on the computer. The App is not synchronizing my account. I can’t listen to interviews on the App, it will start from beginning when my phone goes to lock screen. I am very disappointed at the App, and I hope you can fix it. Or at least try it for a couple of days to see my frustration. Thanks..PichlooVersion: 19.0

Poor user interfaceThe font is a fairly small size and can’t be adjusted. Apparently HBR is using some shabby 3rd party to provide the content and after asking about font adjustment this was their response: “ We regret to inform you that as of now we don't support this functionality in our system and is not on the product roadmap for the near future.” Font size adjustments is pretty much a given in iOS apps. (Is it a requirement?) Deleted the useless app..CraigAndJoeVersion: 28.0

Cannot Sync Across DevicesThe App will accept my password for the subscription so I can access articles. However, I cannot create an “app” account. If I choose the option “already have an account,” I get a warning that my account name/password are incorrect. If I choose the option “create a new account,” I get a warning that an account is already associated with the email. As a result, the app does not offer any benefit over their website. Cannot save articles or sync between devices..DB3178Version: 2.0

Cumbersome, poor searchHBR digital platforms have never been user friendly. Why, for example, do I need a subscriber number? This is left over from the days of paper subscriptions, I guess, but I had to log in three times (creating the same account twice) after I renewed my digital subscription. Now I can’t find an article when I run a search in the app even though I just read it on LinkedIn. Frustrating..EriklpetersenVersion: 6.0

Not practicalAlmost every time I come across an interesting post from HBR on the internet and my LinkedIn feed after searching it in the HBR app it becomes clear that it’s not available on the app, you probably can only find the latest articles. Also the app doesn’t recognize the HBR links and won’t open automatically, so the links will lead you to the website. Didn’t meet my expectations as a premium user..CS ScientistVersion: 27.0

Awful app. Awful experienceThis is a terrible app. Reading every article one must work around a bug or two to get to the article. One you have navigated to the article, you then have to work around bugs in the scrolling implementation. For an app meant almost exclusively for reading articles, this thing BARELY meets the bar. They have done the bare minimum. Not to be inconsistent however, the HBR website is equally awful. So, here I am..NTEIVersion: 28.0

Disappointing app, disappointing customer serviceThe subscription through the app is only on the app. You can’t access your subscription on any other device. The search function is useless for finding anything. All you can do is browse issues. If you find a cool HBR article on fb or Twitter, too bad if you’ve read your three free articles that month, this app aint going to help you out..Feller35Version: 26.0

The app no longer allows access to magazinesI have been an HBR subscriber for over 25 years. However, the HBR app has become useless lately. In the past, I could read my magazines and even download them for offline reading. But now, it no longer allows us to access the magazines. This change is quite perplexing. Product managers and developers, do you even test the usability of your app?.Sheesh69Version: 30.0.11

No More MagazineApp no longer lets us read or access the Magazine. Very strange to publish a physical version but not allow your electronic users to view the same content. In prior versions there was an ability to review and download an electronic version of the magazine. Very surprised the developers would do away with that option, especially for a publication that should be forward thinking..TetraowlVersion: 30.0.10

Poorly Managed AppVery disappointed with this app. While I live the content, accessing cross platform material is nearly impossible. Unable to correspond with developers for feedback or advice to improve how it functions. Frequent crashes, app will routinely lose saved articles, etc. I really do enjoy their material but very disappointed in how the app works..Tsing TauVersion: 27.0

Content is great. App is spectacularly bad/weird.First off, the content of HBR is great. The podcasts are great. I’m a fan of the content. But let’s talk about the app. For an app that’s ostensibly for a magazine, you’d think that there’d be a big button somewhere that says “download current issue” or perhaps even just “current issue”. As far as I can tell, you can’t read the magazine in the iPad app…and that’s just weird. My wish #1: the person who is responsible for the app should go on a flight and try to read the current issue of the magazine. My wish #2: if the app is going to be this bad, then give us a “download PDF” option on the website. That’d be fine..Bpd-newguidVersion: 30.0.9

Needs dark modeLike what year is it? This app needs to have more options for font, text color and background color. The only option is a white background with black letters. Having more text and background/dark mode options will help reduce blue light and make it more compliant with for people with visual disabilities..SnoopDocVersion: 30.0

Doesn’t syncThis app (and website) is constantly logging me out and doesn’t sync between devices. Every time I have to log back in I have to prove I’m not a robot, and I seem to fail those 6 times in a row before I can get in. By then, I don’t even remember what article I saw on another site and wanted to read. Really crappy app for the price, no need for HBR to have tighter security than a banking app....DogShowDonnaVersion: 25.0

App needs a lot of workThe app is very basic and you cant control any aspect of the look and feel, the layouts are fixed and the font sizes are too, if you compare it to other apps, like flipboard or apple news they have far more customization and capability to view your content the way you like..MuthirkVersion: 27.0

Poor account management, unclear termsI can’t recall if I subscribed via app or website. Now it won’t push latest issues to the app. But when I log on desktop site, I have access to everything. I also thought I was subscribing for a physical magazine subscription with full online access. I may have been mistaken but it should be clearer..Buxton brownVersion: 3.0

Can’t scroll search resultSearch result under explore does not allow scrolling. That is, as you scroll, result springs back to top. Was the app tested before launch? App should allow to browse past issues, now I’m forced to use the web or PC to explore past issues and articles , that’s not helpful..N-2011-Version: 30.0.8

So bad it’s like it’s been hacked!!Why do none of the articles have dates? Why don’t articles saved on the desktop version sync to the app? Why do I get an error message when I try to send an in-app message to tell you what the problems are that says “An active Email account setup is required on your device to use this feature.”.Jane jd beVersion: 30.0

Subscription didn’t show upSubscription didn’t work when I was trying to save down the articles. It wouldn’t allow me to save the files and kept saying you need to subscribe. Also, the saved articles will disappear for no reason….O76ygjhfjddhVersion: 28.0

Poor experience versus expectationI expect more from HBR as a paying subscriber, more than an app that looks like it was developed as part of a school project in one week. The formatting on iPad looks embarrassingly basic, and why it can’t login with my HBR login is still unknown to me. Yes, the content appears to be there, and this might get two stars in the abstract, but for what HBR should be it gets a failing grade..Cxr341Version: 27.0

Just for AIYou destroy a lackluster app by taking audio articles away…so that AI can produce a more tailored experience or so that you can collect data? This is not the same app at all…not everyone wants to read articles…no way did your research show you that people are interested in only reading. Sooo boring now. Definitely canceling the subscription..Bread77Version: 30.0.7

App needs content featuresOn the website you can find articles based on content type. Also many other ways to discover content. Why does this not translate over to mobile?.JoraiemVersion: 30.0

Recent update is the worstYou could easily navigate the old app to see the recent version of the magazine and archives easily. You could also see the audio articles easily. The update is hard to navigate to find these. This is easily the worst app update I’ve seen in a long time. So disappointing..MMF055Version: 30.0.8

No more offline magazine downloads?I’m a little disappointed that we can no longer download the latest issue of the HBR magazine in PDF format (i.e., true to the format of the paper copy). This was one of the key benefits of the HBR app for me..DG_BTCVersion: 30.0.8

No Continue Reading tabApart from many other issues talked about in other reviews, every time I read an article, it crashes and goes back to the home page. All in all, it is a very very basic app. I don’t think it is worth paying for..Miah!!_Version: 30.0

Pathetic appNeed to create separate login for assessing on mobile device. Web credentials don’t work. Never encountered such horrible design choice. The app keeps logging out and after logging in keeps prompting login successful. How can the app have 4.7 rating when all ratings are below 4?.IPad$ucksVersion: 30.0

If you purchase your subscription through this app, you can’t access it on the websiteIf you purchase your subscription through this app, you can’t access it on the website..SpeedtomorrowVersion: 28.0

Bad app , terrible serviceOne can’t access the app if you have accessed via the web services . Tech support is unresponsive.TheomakoyVersion: 28.0

Accessibility is not efficientI can’t download the articles to read offline. I can’t also access from my computer..Anigu ma adigad tahayVersion: 28.0

Not letting me log into the app and I pay for a subscriptionI can’t figure out if there’s a glitch or poor instructions.LOLOTTWOODVersion: 28.0

App credentials don’t work on websiteI can’t login to the website with the app credentials or the other way around! They are stealing my money..Sohnya11111Version: 27.0

Ridiculous app and hopeless servicePaid my subscription fees over the app and went on to access the same on the web. Guess what? You can’t access the same content on the web just because you purchased a subscription over the app. On top of that, the customer service agent directs me to cancel the iTunes subscription and to re-subscribe again on the web. Wow! pay twice for the same digital subscription..AbhilashsinghmeVersion: 27.0

Bring back the old appThere are some cools features in the new app, however, for offline reading, the old app was way better..Rbhatia888Version: 26.0

Terrible, Not Intuitive and LimitedAfter paying such a high subscription fee for HBR, this app is a disgrace. I have to keep going on to the website to access the content. Most of the content on the website is not available on this app. The navigation is confusing and not intuitive. For example, to get to the PDF version, you have to open a random article, and then it gives the option to open the whole magazine! I can’t understand why such a reputed magazine has such a terrible app..Rashika FernandoVersion: 26.0

Great content. Poor experienceWhy don’t you take your website and simply remove the ads? This app is just bad..SebyfromsherbyVersion: 24.0

Terrible UIIt’s ironic to read amazing articles on innovation and creativity on an app that lacks any level of innovation and creativity, let alone even basic features compared to its competition..where’s the dark mode? Why is something simple as scrolling awkward? Why can’t I highlight sections? Why is searching so difficult? I feel like HBR, with everything they peddle about innovation and creativity, could try a little harder with their app... as opposed something that appears slapstick and from the bottom of the barrel...Ughjay88Version: 6.0

Doesn’t work.Typical of HBR digital- the app opens to a “retry” button. That does nothing. No click here for support or call here. Just an app that doesn’t work and gives no guidance of what to do. For a company with such great content their digital channels are horrendous..StewarthayesVersion: 4.0

Can’t access all my subscription magazinesI purchased the HBR magazine directly from the publisher online. I cannot access everything I’ve purchased though I logged in with the same credentials as with my online direct access from my laptop. This app is poorly designed..Satish.gVersion: 2.0

Even the “write a review” box doesn’t work!!! Says it all.I D I O T S.GtrvspecVersion: 30.0

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