GoWish Wishlist Review 2025
Overview
Honest review of GoWish in 2025. We tested the platform extensively and found significant issues including technical glitches, ads, and declining user experience after private equity acquisition.
GoWish Overview
GoWish was once a promising mid-tier wishlist platform, but significant changes have occurred since its acquisition by private equity investors. In this comprehensive 2025 review, we'll examine what's changed, what real users are saying, and whether GoWish is still worth using for your wishlist needs.
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars
| Category | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 3/5 | Basic functionality works but lacks modern features |
| User Experience | 2.5/5 | Cluttered with ads since ownership change |
| Performance | 2/5 | Slow loading, technical glitches reported |
| Reliability | 2.5/5 | Users report app crashes and lists disappearing |
| Value | 3/5 | Free but with heavy commercialization |
What is GoWish?
GoWish's interface has become cluttered with promoted brands
GoWish is a wishlist management platform that allows users to create and share gift lists from various online retailers. The app supports iOS and Android devices, plus web access. However, recent ownership changes have significantly altered the user experience.
Key Features
| Feature | Description | Our Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Store Integration | Basic support for major retailers | Limited - only major stores |
| List Sharing | Share via links | Works but basic |
| Mobile App | iOS and Android apps | Functional but buggy |
| Price Tracking | Limited price monitoring | Unreliable |
| Browser Extension | Chrome extension available | Basic functionality |
Major Issues & User Complaints
1. Technical Glitches and Reliability Issues
Multiple users have reported serious technical problems:
- App Unavailability: Users have experienced the app suddenly becoming unavailable in their country, with messages stating "no longer available in my country." While some issues were temporary, this creates uncertainty about data access.
- Lists Disappearing: Several users reported their wishlists temporarily disappearing after app updates, causing significant stress.
- App Crashes: Reports of frequent lagging, crashing, and freezing, particularly when adding items.
- Performance Issues: The app runs slowly and causes some phones to heat up during use.
Real User Feedback (Reddit): "I've been working really hard on my GoWish wishlists... and then in the middle of the night it suddenly started giving me a message... that it's 'no longer available in my country'..."
2. Private Equity Acquisition Impact
After being sold to private equity investors, GoWish has undergone significant changes:
- Heavy Advertising: The interface is now cluttered with promoted brands and advertisements throughout the app.
- Commercialized Experience: The focus has shifted from user experience to revenue generation.
- Declining Reviews: User ratings have dropped substantially since the ownership change.
3. Poor Usability for Adding Items
Users have noted significant friction in the core functionality:
- Manual Input Required: Adding items manually is extremely time-consuming.
- Website Compatibility: Problems adding products from certain websites.
- Inefficient Process: As one reviewer noted, "without the automatic process, one might as well just use a photo album for a wishlist."
What Still Works
Despite the issues, some basic functionality remains:
- Basic wishlist creation and sharing still functions
- Mobile app is available on both platforms
- Free to use (though with heavy ads)
- Can add items from major retailers
Pros and Cons
The Good
• Basic wishlist functionality still works
• Free to use
• Mobile apps available
• Supports major retailers
The Bad
• Sold to private equity - now commercially driven
• Interface cluttered with promoted brands and ads
• Frequent technical glitches and crashes
• App unavailability issues reported
• Lists can disappear after updates
• Poor website performance - slow and unresponsive
• Limited advanced features
• Manual item entry is time-consuming
• Problems adding from certain websites
• App causes phones to heat up
• Declining user reviews since ownership change
Better Alternatives to GoWish
Given GoWish's significant issues, we recommend considering these alternatives:
Listful - Our top recommendation
- No ads or commercial clutter
- Universal store compatibility
- Advanced price tracking and comparisons
- AI-powered gift discovery
- Excellent iOS, Android, and web apps
- Reliable performance without technical issues
- Outstanding customer support
Read our detailed Listful vs GoWish comparison.
Pricing
GoWish is free to use, but you pay with your attention through:
- Promoted brand content throughout the interface
- Advertisements within the app
- Commercialized user experience
While technically free, the heavy advertising and commercial focus significantly degrade the user experience.
Final Verdict
Rating: 3/5 Stars
GoWish has declined significantly since its private equity acquisition. While basic functionality still works, the platform is plagued by technical issues, heavy commercialization, and poor user experience. The reported glitches, app crashes, disappearing lists, and performance problems make it unreliable for important wishlist management.
We cannot recommend GoWish in 2025 when superior alternatives like Listful offer better features, reliability, and user experience without the ads and commercial clutter.
Our Recommendation: If you're currently using GoWish and experiencing these issues, consider switching to a more reliable platform. If you're choosing a new wishlist app, look elsewhere - there are better options available.