How is the quality of Storytel?
Reviewers report mixed experiences with Storytel’s quality, with a clear majority expressing positive sentiment, 1,775 positive mentions compared to 1,136 negative ones. Overall, the trend shows a generally stable quality perception, with ratings hovering around 3.6 to 3.8 stars across most of 2025 and early 2026. A dip in late 2025 and early 2026, particularly in December 2025 and January 2026, reflects growing frustration with technical issues and updates. However, a rebound in February 2026 and sustained improvement through mid-2026 suggest that some of these problems may have been addressed. Despite ongoing complaints about bugs and usability, many users continue to praise the storytelling depth, audio quality, and creative design of the platform.
What customers praise
Users frequently highlight the engaging storytelling and high-quality audio production, with many calling books 'beautifully read' and 'amazing novels.' The platform’s ability to support language learning is also appreciated, especially for users keeping up with Swedish and Finnish. Creative elements like the Jester stamps and unique game levels receive strong praise, with some reviewers even embracing glitches as part of the game’s charm. The overall selection of books and the immersive experience of interactive storytelling are consistently cited as major strengths.
What customers said:
- „One of the most amazing novels I’ve ever come across“
- „I then sent Edgar after the witch in the forest again, but the witch became a…“
„I then sent Edgar after the witch in the forest again, but the witch became a placeholder square“
- „I love this game“
Common complaints
Many users report persistent technical issues, including app crashes, frozen screens, and unresponsive buttons, particularly after updates. Problems with device compatibility are common, such as Apple Pencil not working or the screen being overly zoomed in, making buttons hard to press. Some users also mention that content is unavailable in their region, and the search function is limited. A recurring issue is the sudden removal of language support, like Arabic, with no response from customer service.
What customers said:
- „the game is cropped on both side“
- „the game’s UI is now taking up much more space on the screen“
- „it went let us play its just frozen and none of the buttons work“
How it has changed over time
Quality perception dipped in late 2025, with ratings falling to 3.41 in December and 3.44 in January, likely due to major updates that introduced bugs and broke existing functionality. The situation improved significantly in February 2026, when the rating jumped to 3.93, suggesting a fix or rollback of problematic changes. Ratings have remained relatively stable since, averaging around 3.7 to 3.8 through mid-2026, indicating that recent updates have been more reliable. However, the return of zoom and UI issues in later months shows that some problems persist.
What customers said:
- „some of the buttons are partially cut off and difficult to use“
- „there is a possible bug in chapter apparitions on revenant“
- „The app has been overly zoomed in for the past 3 weeks.“
Practical takeaways
While Storytel offers rich, high-quality content and a creative experience, users should be prepared for occasional technical hiccups, especially after updates. The platform’s audio quality and storytelling are strong points, but regional content restrictions and interface issues can limit usability. If you’re using an iPad with Apple Pencil, test the app thoroughly before committing. For the best experience, consider using the app on a stable device and checking recent reviews before updating.
What customers said:
- „Lenora just gets scared and Isobel doesn't push Edgar off the cliff“
- „read beautifully“
- „The only bad part about this amazing app“
Over time
Data as table
| Month | Avg. rating | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | 3.68 | 137 |
| 2025-10 | 3.67 | 105 |
| 2025-11 | 3.69 | 115 |
| 2025-12 | 3.41 | 100 |
| 2026-01 | 3.44 | 148 |
| 2026-02 | 3.93 | 106 |
| 2026-03 | 3.63 | 124 |
| 2026-04 | 3.73 | 162 |
| 2026-05 | 3.70 | 171 |
| 2026-06 | 3.86 | 177 |
| 2026-07 | 3.77 | 279 |
| 2026-08 | 3.73 | 122 |
Sentiment over time
Data as table
| Month | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | 59% | 7% | 34% | 137 |
| 2025-10 | 58% | 5% | 37% | 105 |
| 2025-11 | 55% | 6% | 39% | 115 |
| 2025-12 | 52% | 7% | 41% | 100 |
| 2026-01 | 52% | 7% | 41% | 148 |
| 2026-02 | 66% | 8% | 26% | 106 |
| 2026-03 | 52% | 8% | 40% | 124 |
| 2026-04 | 60% | 10% | 30% | 162 |
| 2026-05 | 59% | 5% | 36% | 171 |
| 2026-06 | 63% | 8% | 28% | 177 |
| 2026-07 | 59% | 6% | 35% | 279 |
| 2026-08 | 57% | 10% | 33% | 122 |
Sub-topics
- Apple Pencil Issues - 19 mentions
Customer voices
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„Fell in love with the new Jester stamps“
„it keeps glitching“
„it takes me back to the previous one“
„you can listen to books without even reading“
„perfect but I like to arrange things in the bookshelf“
„every audio book I've picked is "not available in your region"“
„Love that I can keep up with my Swedish and Finnish“
„Plus an excellent selection of books“
What Reddit users discuss
Below are extracts from Reddit which discuss quality in more detail - each linked to the original thread.
„I was very happy with story tel until they changed their reading speed to max 2.0.“
Cite this page
Citatio (2026). Storytel Quality: customer reviews 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026 from https://citatio.ai/storytel-reviews/quality/
Data verifiable via our public audit log: Methodology · Transparency