theCHIVE

• Monthly — $6.99/month
• Monthly — $69.99/year ($5.83/mo)
• Support — $4.99

Last verified 5 Sep 2026

4.6 167895 ratings · App Store

1. 1/5Jumped the shark with ads

   The Chive has always meant much more to me than just an app full of funny galleries. It’s a community with a cause. I’ve bought Chive merchandise, supported Chive Charities, and have been proud to call myself a Chiver. I get it, nothing is free. I know at the end of the day it’s a business, and businesses have to be profitable, but this app has recently become a minefield of ads. Noisy video ads that pop up without warning, bottom banner ads that slide up to fill half the screen, etc etc. The ads have crossed the line from being a perfectly acceptable consequence of enjoying free content to being a truly annoying experience. All of this conveniently getting progressively more annoying upon the introduction of a $4.99 a month subscription for “ad-free”. I’m deleting this app for now. Guys, please take a closer look at this direction you are taking. When you ask, we Chivers deliver. When someone is in need, we blow the roof off fundraising. If you’re hard up for cash, please consider treating us with some respect and laying it out straight, instead of hitting us with some Clockwork Orange crap. I bet a majority of the true Chivers would make it rain on a fundraiser to keep you all doing what you do. This overly aggressive ad strategy makes me feel like a commodity and not a member of the community.

   FlyBriz · 5 Sep 2026

2. 3/5Frustrated!!!

   I’ve been an avid Chive visitor for a long time now and frequent the app almost everyday. I love the comedy, wit, and general awesomeness that encompasses what Chive represents and more importantly, the amazing positive community outreach and veteran support that embodies the culture that is the Chive family. Hands down, I love the app and will always be a supporter but I do have to say, the pop-ups are getting beyond out of control. I understand that marketing and revenue are sometimes the driving force in organizational success but as an avid user I can tell you, my experience using the app now (due to the pop-ups, advertisements) is quickly reaching a level of frustration that sometimes I don’t want to even open the app or I will soon leave because I’m getting a pop-up literally every 10 seconds. I say all this to make the point that the advertisement angle that is currently in place is actually (atleast for this user) driving your patrons away! Dial back the pop-ups to a level that was similar to years past and you have the unquestionable best app that exist. (This probably shouldn’t be a review so much as some customer feedback to help a growing problem but this was the only way I could find to pass along the info.). Since the App Store is requiring that I enter a star rating, I can say that the app is a 5-Star recipient without hesitation but the pop-up experience is far less than a 1-Star so I’ll have to average to a 3-Star for now. If y’all fix the pop-up/advertisement flood, I would be delightfully happy to change the rating to 5-Star as I truly believe you have an amazing thing going, but it’s hard to experience it when I’m getting bombarded by advertisements.

   TXDavid · 5 Sep 2026

3. 4/5You have failed us...

   John...Mac...and the rest of the guys and ladies that power the Chive machine, you have failed us. I personally chose the Chive back in 2013 so that I could have a positive perspective on the goings on around the world. I was turned on to you guys by a fellow medic and it was an immediate love. I have seen your move to Austin and was filled with the warm feels when I see what is being done for my fellow vets and also those who are in need. But you have FAILED US. You stood tall when there needed to be a voice for net neutrality as well as the blue grinch known as Facebook...BUT YOU HAVE FAILED US. We, the Chive Nation, use your app as a get away or as a substitute for social media, we come to you to get away from the constant bombardment from ads and the mainstream chase of the almighty dollar. With the app in its current iteration, I can’t even sit for longer than two minutes without have to cut off intrusive ads. There has to be a better way. PLEEEEASE for the love of all that is holy...cut it out. Get back to what made you the Chris Farley’s of this world, and quit using us, the Chivers and Chivettes as your ad guinea pigs.

   NCChiver28655 · 5 Sep 2026

4. 1/5I get it, but chill!

   I’m a small business owner and I’ve had the fortune to see my business grow outside of my home office and into something that requires a complete staff, office space, employee benefits, 3rd party tech support, 3rd party payroll support and even an accountant who only knows my business name but not mine... The Chive has grown by monumental proportions since I joined the Chive Nation in 2012. You guys have built something to be proud of! But as of tonight, I just can’t handle the ads or the $60(ish) a year that it would take to go ad free. That $60 could be going towards a charity or my bar tab. After reading the last 30 reviews it seems we’re all on the same page. We love y’all and the content but the price to play is getting out of hand. There has to be a happy medium here. If not I fear that you as an organization will lose a large portion of your support. You do great things for those who need it most, but don’t forget about the majority of users out there who use your app as a pick me up or a place to shut down and relax. They are the ones who will ultimately make or break a company. The ad pollution that consumed what probably WAS the best has made the experience stressful and frustrating. I hope to see y’all rebound from this hiccup. Much love and respect!

   J2ima · 5 Sep 2026

5. 5/5The Old Chive is gone... and it’s sad.

   As a long time Chiver, I have bought hundreds of dollars worth of Chive merchandise, donated plenty to their charities, enjoying their website for many years, and was thrilled when the first app appeared. I have always enjoyed the content... funny and uplifting threads, cat Saturday (where’d that go?), cute girls, interesting knowledge, comical gifs, interesting talent, and a general collection of everything you want to see online without all the crap and politics. Changes and updates to the app made some versions tough, but the Chive always redeemed themselves with fixes and better content. Until now. Every update is greeted with more ads, more merchandising, and so many more crashes... all with less true Chive content. And their only solution is to sell me an overpriced subscription that includes a coin, fewer ads, and random discounts from their store... golly gee, mister, wow that’s awesome.... I’m quite sad this will be the last month I’ll suffer through the frustration, as I feel the Chive served me greatly through the years and has ultimately let me down. As I delete the app, I can’t help but wonder if those two brothers even care anymore.

   "M" Professor · 5 Sep 2026

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