Updated review:The developer took time to read each review and respond to us individually with respect. I’m touched by the professionalism of the developer. I can see and feel that this should be with any developers and users’ relationship should be. That’s how business glows. It makes me want to subscribe to this app as a loyal user. I looked and searched for similar communication app but so far there’s no other app which allows me to leave a long video messages to friends and families. Marco Polo is the best app for that. I’m updating the somewhat negative review I originally posted right after they released the paid version. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨I’ve been using this app for past few years and I was loving it until the developer made the pro version. The free version no longer support the first forwarding option and the developer disabled the emoji options. I’d been wishing if I can use more emojis for years and now it’s made available only if I subscribe to the paid version. I wouldn’t mind if I pay one time flat fee but no way I’d pay monthly or yearly. I’d pay even $30 to be able to use the pro-version but I don’t think it’s worth paying $5 every month to this app which I only use to communicate with a few friends. Developer, please reconsider and make the pro-version more accessible to all users or make the free version to its original state. I am very disappointed about the update to be honest.

So, since I’ve gotten Marco Polo, it’s been the best!!! Sure it’s crashed a few times, but hey? Don’t we all? So, on iPhone 10 r’s, you can’t update apps on your own. The phone does it for you. So when all of my friends said they updated the app, I had the old version. So, two days ago, I was trying to go onto it, and it updated! I was like ‘finally!’ So I was excited to see the changes. And when I went on there, all of my data had been deleted! And it made me sign in again! So I went through the whole process, which doesn’t take that long, and I finally got to the end. Later that day, I had taught my dog a new trick, and I wanted to put it as one of my seconds. So I looked at the menu area and it was gone. I texted my friend who had Marco Polo way before me and actually introduced me to Marco Polo, said that when she updated it, everything was the same but better. And so, I deleted the app and tried again. We both agreed that it could have also just been my phone. But when I downloaded it again, it was the same! No seconds, no history of my past polos, nothing. And it even deleted my contacts! So I had to add all of my contacts back on, then for some reason, it made me invite someone or else it wouldn’t let me continue the sign in process. So I did. And now I’m back where I started. Secondless. The app was better BEFORE the update. :/

Great app! And I hate to do a compliment followed by a but, but why not have a timer of some sort on the videos so u can tell how long you have been recording band then on the other end, so u can tell how long the vid message u are about to watch is. This would be convenient in times when you only have 5 mins and then u see a vid message and notice its 11 mins long. Of course u can watch some and then go back but it would be helpful for the purpose of planning as well as for the purpose of not being too long winded in making your own vids to send. Also the issue I'm having is sometimes when I stop a vid message I'm watching that I received from a friend and then have to go do something, when I come back to it, it doesn't start back at the same point. Or if I have to exit out of the app briefly then it does the same thing and starts the video message over from the beginning when u go right back to the app. These things would most likely be easy adjustments to make. And if there is something I'm missing and these adjustments are already available then I apologize. Either way it's still a great app! I didn't think I would be into it but it's been great actually seeing my friends faces and eyes when what normally would be text communication. There is actually a pretty significant psychological benefit in being able I see the eyes of someone you communicate..,,our brains perceive the info from that person differently and usually more positively. Anyway so 👍🏻👍🏻

I like being able to communicate with loved ones via video/ audio and with Marco Polo we do not have to be available at the same time, which is great with busy schedules. I used the standard version for a long time, and last year I upgraded to the premium version. I like how there are not ads and they do not sell our data. I think the paid version is pretty reasonably priced at about $60 USD. I like how the family plan let’s you pick which 6 people you want on your plan for about $120 a year. I wish other companies let you pick the people you want on your family plan since limiting it to one’s household can highlight the physical distance from people one may wish they lived with especially for those who are single and wish they were not and those whose loved ones have died. Cons with the standard version: it is hard to get to the right place in a video if you missed what was just said or if you reset it back to the beginning. You also do not know how long it is. Cons with the premium version: difficult to quickly delete multiple old videos that you no longer want saved (the standard version does not have access to old archived videos). If you are on a budget and cannot upgrade, I think there are work arounds for the premium features, granted they are not as convenient. For example, if you want to take notes use a piece of paper instead or face the camera at something else if you do not want to be on screen. They offer a free trial and premium members can gift several standard members a longer trial. I think this company seems to have heart and I think this app offers a unique experience you cannot get somewhere else.