Sunset Magazine Reviews

by Ynokiwi?

Got SunsetMagazine to read the big outdoor edition, and I have to zoom in to read the type and look at details in the photos. Not a great experience. Maybe if I had a huge iPad it would be ok, but I’m reading on my phone. I subscribe for big beautiful photos and this ain’t cutting it. Thumbs down, Sunset.

by Crip2000

Every time SunsetMagazine updates I lose access to older issues. Then it takes a few months for customer service to respond. I’ve been subscriber for years. But the customer service has been atrocious for the last couple years. Adios sunset.

by Chickeditor

This new format is terrible. I can only scroll in some sort of medium mode. When I go full frame it won’t scroll to the next page. I also lost all my old magazines. The only think I like is the bookmarks.

by 7 Viewer

It’s too bad I paid for a two year subscription in 2019 and failed to get a hardcopy as advertised that I should have had. But I understand due to Covid they’re not processing hardcopies. But now moving on they now want to charge me a premium fee to continue getting a hardcopy. Shame on sunset not honoring their renewal subscription from 2019 the 2022. With adding a premium charge to continue something that you already paid four. I will not be renewing my subscription that I had for many years. Poor customer service.

by Little Sister Skipper

If I was the size of a Barbie doll I would love this itty bitty magazine. It doesn’t download on my computer & I don’t own an iPad—so the teensy screen on my phone is my only way to squint at the pages. Whoever thought this would be an acceptable alternative to the paper periodical I once looked forward to seeing in my mailbox must be living in a Dream Home. Sunset should offer a refund to any of us who in good faith had paid ahead on our subscription. Or at least mail us a free magnifying glass. I will not be renewing my subscription.

by Scklkh

We’ve subscribed to Sunset prior to COVID-19 for at least 8 years. During Covid sunset decided not to send subscribing patrons their magazine but rather force those who have paid ahead of time to use an app to download. That’s great when you have a good Internet connection, but we don’t. How frustrating to recently see in the grocery store a special seasonal sunset magazines available for purchase. Why not honor a prior commitment to send US mail to paid subscribers? Ridiculous!

by Maggie In Lomita

I have been reading Sunset since I was a teenager. Always anxiously awaiting the next issue. While I am saddened by the switch to an e-format, I love the offering of the old archived issues. I am wonder why you don’t have them available as flat pages. It looks like you took a picture of each page with a smartphone which I find is very unfriendly to read. Perhaps you can correct in future archived issues. Thank you

by Kpeaob

This is a weak imitation of the Sunset Magazine we knew and loved for decades. Google it - the old Sunset was sold off and all the staff are gone. And though COVID hasn’t helped the new owner and team get up to speed, all indications of the new Sunset are that they won’t be able to come close. The garden tips are laughable, the homes featured are ordinary at best. I am giving up my subscription because not only is the cost not worth it, it’s just too painful.

by SSFit

I really miss the paper copy of Sunset. I find SunsetMagazine hard to navigate and, consequently, haven’t read any issues since COVID restrictions hit. I just took 10 minutes trying to figure out how to navigate to the available issues. My renewal is unlikely, which is sad because I’ve subscribed for so long

by CCRussell

Downloaded SunsetMagazine , downloaded an issue. It is just the print version, formatted for a printed page. Impossible to read on an iPhone! Certainly won’t be reading it in as much detail as before. Settings to change font size have no effect

by B@nn&rd

It’s bad enough that they canceled the print version for subscribers without informing us, but at least they could create an interesting electronic version. This is just the print version online, difficult to read and navigate. This magazine has really declined with the new owners

by Granky99

Bought the print plus digital just when pandemic hit. Print version was cancelled supposedly because of COVID ...as if we didn’t go shopping and bring home all that stuff. No refund given because I still have digital version. I don’t try to read magazines on an iPad mini with my eyes.

by Healthy Grammy

The abrupt cessation of a long-time, much enjoyed paper subscription was, in my opinion very poorly handled; communication was practically nil. I am sympathetic to the financial burdens of publishing a magazine in today’s electronic culture and truly tried to adapt to an app. But SunsetMagazine just doesn’t have the substance and content I enjoyed for so many years. The occasional email indicating a new “issue” is a sad reminder of the subscription I miss so much.

by Traveler From Camino

SunsetMagazine to read the new Sunset issue is frustrating in an IPad. Every time you move to the next page, the “options” bar reappears instead of just showing the full page. It’s also not easy to navigate around. It needs some fine tuning.

by Jamoomy

Like so many other reviews, I can’t get into my account (doesn’t recognize my user name or password). I like being able to download my magazine, so I’m not carrying my paper copy with me. SunsetMagazine is pointless! And why didn’t they inform us about the new app?

by ODG92

I’ve read Sunset since I was a kid when my parents subscribed to it, and since moving out west (originally from the East Coast) I’ve rediscovered their content - which I’ve really enjoyed/found useful as I explore this part of the US more. The new app is pretty intuitive and easy to use. I particularly like the scrapbook feature which allows me to save recipes/ destinations for dinner or day trip ideas with my partner and friends

by Wings On America

As a native Californian, Sunset is as iconic as baseball and apple pie (without politics) and very Americana. I grew up withSu set magazine around the house as a kid in San Francisco, then I grew up and wondered what was missing in my bubble. After visiting Sunsets experimental grounds in Sonoma, I realized as an adult home owner, how I cherished those wonderful ideals of nature and the accompanying good California cuisine you can cook at home and recognize we live in a slice of Heaven. My wife has subscribed to Sunset Magazine and that comforting feeling of place and people and of being secure has returned. Thank you Sunset you have “nourished my roots”.

by Serafina Coffee

Love this mag. I’m hoping it keeps going even as dire the circumstances seem

by Supercat385

This is super easy to use. I like the bookmark option to save pages I especially like.

by Craftingrocks

I miss the magazine. I miss being off a device and being able to take this magazine anywhere. SunsetMagazine is not user friendly. Unsubscribing after 10 years. Sad.

by Luvsebastian

Let’s not even talk about receiving a message that the old app was suddenly defunct and now we have to download this one. Once again having to remember a password I created years ago, so I request a reset. SunsetMagazine just hangs——nothing happens. No email generated...not even a screen to request a new one. On top of that, I can’t add SunsetMagazine to my newsstand folder. Why? Sunset is about to lose a subscriber over this.

by Lindyspice

Ugh. I love Sunset and keep hoping to switch to reading the magazine digitally to reduce paper waste, but SunsetMagazine has been a struggle and disappointment for literally years. In trying to improve the layout and reading experience, they've now completely broken the login process. Glad that there's still a print publication to enjoy while they sort themselves out...

by Useless Nicnam

This is THE WORST magazine app I have ever used. It simply doesn’t work. If you do manage to download some issues, you won’t be able to access them again after leaving SunsetMagazine . I thought it deleted them, but the data usage shows they must still be on my Ipad. The only solution customer support has is to delete SunsetMagazine and download the issues again. I find this unacceptable.

by SluggoDL

Like many other reviews, I have a valid subscription via iTunes, but cannot view the issues. Each issue has two options, “Buy Issue” or “Subscribe”. If I “Subscribe” it correctly tells me I already have a subscription, but I still can’t view the issues. I can successfully “Buy Issue”, but shouldn’t have to because I already have a subscription. Log out, Log in, delete and reinstall, Restore Purchases, nothing works.

by Gizmolove1

Month after month I have to call, text, email to get the new month on my Ipad. Again this month, the February issue is not there and now I have to spend time messing around to try and get it in my Ipad. I have subscribed to Sunset magazine for over 20 years, but I will probably end my subscription when it expires in June. I don’t want the hard copy anymore. I had no problem with the digital copy until about 3 years ago and then it went down hill big time. I’m done!!!!!

by TTMMLL29

It’s embarrassing that in 2019 a publisher would have an app this bad. I have an all access subscription for digital and print but when I try to access an issue in SunsetMagazine it prompts me to buy the issue or buy a subscription. I’ve reached out to customer service and getting it resolved is challenging. They are asking for information I have already provided them. At this point it’s not worth it. I’m going to skip the digital
access and just not renew my magazine when it comes due

by Useless Required Nickname

These folk are living in the digital Stone Age of a decade or more ago. Downloading issues does not work. I then tried a reinstall with no success. I keep getting a pop up that restoring will take a few minutes, and nothing happens. What a great way to expand the subscriber base — shoot self in foot by not delivering issues that people want. I am about to cancel and demand a full refund.

by Likespaper

After reaching to Sunset customer service, I learned that while they were launching their new app, subscriptions wouldn't work. So was happy when I finally got the chance to purchase a new subscription and read the magazine again. However, SunsetMagazine will now only keep me in the magazine for 30 seconds or less, and then takes me back to the library. Considering all SunsetMagazine seems to do is give access to the magazine exactly how the print version looks, it is confusing that SunsetMagazine works so poorly

I miss reading Sunset, but it shouldn't be this hard to read a magazine in an app. When Sunset got their new editor a couple of years ago, the digital features of issues declined dramatically. Shockingly, the new app seems to be another step backwards in terms of digitizing the magazine. It is a shame that this iconic and very enjoyable magazine can't keep up with the times. I will be sad to see it go.

by Lorif42

With the latest update, I lost all of my save issues prior to the duel monthly format.

by OTASG

After multiple tries to sign in, contacting customer service, and deleting and reinstalling app, I was unable to get SunsetMagazine to work for a couple months. As a last ditch effort I just deleted and reinstalled SunsetMagazine again and it FINALLY worked. I have also noticed that annoyingly SunsetMagazine does not “save” the page you were on if you exit SunsetMagazine and go back to the magazine later. The new app is just a general all around fail.

by Rupinzil

Followed the instructions in the email I received. Was easily able to log in and download my previous issues. Smooth transition. K

by Mirela_nyc

So many great recommendations and tips for everything from travel destinations, to fresh recipes, gardening tips and so much more!