NETGEAR Nighthawk - WiFi App 4+

Disappointed with Netgear in general.

I have been using the Netgear Genie app for a couple of years. The Nighthawk app is ok, but it doesn’t have a refresh for when my kids are turning on theirs devices to be “unpaused”, so I still use the Genie app.
I would really like to see all devices that have an IP address assigned to them in my device list. Then I could “unpause” them before they are actually connected. I would also like to see a time limit for certain devices. This is the concept with products like Circle. It would be nice if my router did those things so I would not have to buy yet another router to get that capability.
I am aware that Circle is available on certain Nighthawk routers, but not all and the one that it is available on is far inferior to the product I have. I hate that I had to buy the more expensive model without the parental controls I wanted because the router with the controls didn’t work in my house. I fully expected Netgear to upgrade the better routers but that has not happened in well over 2 years.
In all I would not choose Netgear again. There are other routers on the market that have parental controls built in and on several models. I hope to switch soon.

Needs key features

So, the app does work thankfully but I have some qualms with it. This app should support all Netgear WiFi boosters. If you don’t use a nighthawk booster, ALL devices won’t show on the device list, not just what’s on the booster. Next, I do like that there are preset times to allow guest WiFi but it either needs to let you input the time manually or it should have a drop down menu like every other Netgear app has that you can select time increments of 15-30 minutes. I have my kids on the guest WiFi since my Netgear booster isn’t supported for the XR500. The XR500 doesn’t have parental controls at all, even though the advertisement says it does. It’s much better to be able to set time periods on a guest WiFi than it is to disable each device and have to look at the time constantly. I’d love to see this app to give more control since the admin is the one who uses the app. I’d love to be able to edit the devices themselves on the app. Yea I’m sure Netgear will say, get the circle app. Guys... the circle app is among the worse apps you have. It DOESN’T work. Netgear products aren’t cheap and you shouldn’t need five apps to do something basic. You shouldn’t have to pay a premium for parental controls. Netgear’s reputation keeps taking major hits because the lack of user friendly apps and trying to cash out on features that every other company gives for free. This was almost a $400 router. I’d expect to be able to use an app that acts like the $400 was well spent.

Horrible app experience

App still requires you to set up an account to even use it, giving the app all kinds of permissions to mine your data. It does NOT need this level of permissions, the app is supposed give you control of your router only. A couple of weeks ago, Netgear installed the armor trial WITHOUT my permission, something I have refused to do. The web interface does not let you control armor, you have to use the app to do it, which gives them permission to mine your data. This is a despicable decision by Netgear. I refuse to use the app, and will let the trial expire. I’ve used Netgear products for 25-30 years, but I will look at other options in the future. They are becoming extremely shady, installing FEATURES without permission, requiring you to register so they can mine your dara just to use the app. I wish Apple step in and give them the boot from the App Store until they start respecting your privacy and choices.
Update: Another update, still wants you to login and give permission to mine you data. All of the above review still applies. I let armor expire, after it installed without permission. I will never agree to an app that mines data. At this point I’ve given up hope they will ever change back to the way it used to work. It seems to be a conscious shady business practice at this point.
I don’t understand how this app gets a 4.7 rating. The majority of reviewers give it 1 maybe 2 stars. I’d give it a zero if I could.

Developer Response ,

Hello BryantMF,

We appreciate your valuable feedback and want you to know that your experience is important to us. Your concerns have been escalated to our Product Management Team for review.

If you have any additional feedback or need assistance, we will be happy to help you. Please reach out to us directly at netgearteam@netgear.com.

Regards,
NETGEAR Team