Tipple: Alcohol Moderation Pet Review Analysis
Analyzed Nov 13, 2026
The app is facing an overwhelming wave of severe criticism centered on its aggressive and allegedly deceptive monetization practices. Users consistently report being charged approximately $100 for an annual subscription after a 'free trial' without the promised notification, leading to accusations of a 'scam'. Compounding this, the company is repeatedly cited for providing no refunds and having nonexistent customer service, leaving users feeling robbed. This catastrophic failure in billing and support, aimed at a vulnerable audience seeking help with alcohol consumption, completely eclipses any potential value the app's 'playful' concept might offer.
Rating distribution
The rating distribution is overwhelmingly negative, with 62.5% of all reviews (20 out of 32) being 1-star. This indicates severe, widespread user dissatisfaction, primarily driven by billing and customer service issues.
Rating trend by year
Review-level analysis below covers the latest 32 reviews.
Key themes
At least 13 users accuse the app of predatory billing, primarily by charging for an annual subscription (~$100) immediately after a free trial without the promised email reminder. Several users across the US, CA, and AU stores report this identical pattern, calling it a 'scam' and 'shady'. Two users reported being charged instantly upon starting the 'free' trial, one for an incorrect amount.
Ten reviews criticize the app's high price (e.g., $99/year, $25/month) as 'insane' and 'ridiculous' for the limited value provided. Users describe it as a 'basic' tracker with features that do not justify the premium cost compared to free alternatives.
Following unexpected charges, at least 7 users explicitly state they were unable to get a refund from either Apple or the developer. Multiple users report sending several emails to customer support and receiving no response whatsoever, describing the service as 'nonexistent' and leaving them with 'no recourse'.
Despite overwhelming criticism, five users (including some who left low ratings) acknowledged the app has a 'good concept'. They appreciated the 'playful/upbeat' and 'less judgmental' approach to alcohol moderation, but found the execution, lack of depth, and business practices to be a major letdown.
Users who engaged with the app's gamification found it to be short-lived and unmotivating. At least four reviews note that all rewards and camp upgrades are exhausted within 1-2 weeks, after which there is 'nothing to spend coins on' and no reason to continue engaging beyond simple tracking.
Four users complained about being forced to sign up for a subscription before they could even try the app. They also noted the frustratingly long onboarding questionnaire, which one user reported took 10 minutes to complete only to be met with a paywall.
The app is described as 'buggy' and 'glitchy'. Specific issues reported by four different users include logged drinks not being saved, the UI not fitting on smaller screens (iPhone SE), the onboarding process getting stuck in a loop, and general errors occurring.
Three users expressed disappointment and even disgust upon realizing the app's chat feature is an AI. They found its responses to be 'poor' and felt it was a low-quality substitute for genuine interaction, with one user comparing it unfavorably to ChatGPT.
Two users highlighted the unethical nature of the app's business model. They point out the cruel irony of charging a vulnerable person seeking help for a drinking problem, whose stated goal is often to 'reduce spending', a surprise $100 fee.
Tap a theme to expand. Counts represent reviews mentioning the theme.
Notable reviews
Predatory. I have a drinking problem and it cost me 100 dollars to fix it? The first question I answered is to “reduce spending” and you want to charge me 100 dollars.
They say they will send you a email before the trial expires. They lie. Then charge you 106.16. Do not use this company.
if you’re sticking with your goals you aren’t really being rewarded anymore after like two weeks. You still get coins but nothing to spend them on bc you’ve already got everything... $99 for a year was charged and that’s insane for the lack of storyline and quick end to rewards.
I started this app as a trial. I was advised on subscription that a reminder will be sent prior to the trial expiring. They don’t. I was charged full subscription.
Tipple explicitly advertises a 14-day refund policy for dissatisfied customers but fails to make clear that this apparently doesn't apply to subscriptions purchased through Apple... I've contacted Tipple's customer service THREE separate times... Every single message has been completely ignored.
Forces a subscription but claims a 7 day free trial before anything is charged. I selected monthly for $24.99/mo... Clicked submit and was instantly charged $54.98. Will be disputing this charge as fraud.
I really wanted to journal my feelings and work through them, but never could write them down. Using the chat in this app is so easy... I can pick up the phone and type a few sentences and get my feelings out so they pass. Love it!
Tipple is the perfect app for alcohol moderation, really gamifies the experience and makes the journey fun and digestible.
Feature requests from users
Users find the gamification aspect (building a 'camp') engaging at first but complain that it ends very quickly, often within two weeks. They want a longer storyline and more rewards to collect to maintain motivation over time.
One user pointed out the lack of basic features, specifically mentioning the inability to adjust the date for an entry. This suggests a need for more robust tracking and editing capabilities.
A user expressed a desire for the app to be 'a little more robust with its responses and offerings' to justify the high price tag, indicating that the current level of insight and functionality is too basic.
Tap a request to see what users said. Counts are the number of reviews explicitly asking for it.
Recommendations
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