Karma WiFi

It's been great, but now with less than 3 weeks notice they tell me I have to pay $2.95/mo to keep using the 10 GB I ALREADY PAID FOR?!?! Karma has earned my distrust and disgust. Short of outright thievery, oh wait...

Just notified via e-mail that the "grandfathered" REFUEL program is no longer pay-as-you-go, but instead will have a monthly automatic "account maintenance fee" of $3/mo (EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE THE DEVICE in a given month!) Pay-as-you-go is the primary reason I use this device. Back when carriers made phone tethering a PITA, this device was useful to me. Now, not so much. I also soldiered through paying for a device change. I've been a loyal (if not high-volume) customer. Now Karma has apparently decided I'm an expendable customer. And I've decided I'm not as stupid as the marketing folks at Karma must think I am. Try to work the word "extortion" into your next rebranding. Buh-bye Karma, effective 6/1. It's you, not me.

I live on Maui, and the very best download speed at my home is less than 100 kilobytes. When they advertise the units of which I purchased months before the final product was released, I am not satisfied with product, but I am going to keep it. I do not recommend this product, their is no communication with the company except thru email which takes days. Aloha!

Needs an update NOW! Since I have installed this app, over a year ago, I am certain there has been NO update. Current version is very glitchy. Too many to list. Also, buying data with no option to cancel or change a purchase, is downright criminal. And the worst customer service ever. And if I can shutdown and restart my device, I should be Able to put device on standby WITH the app allow me to wake device up. Needs lots of work and with the new "grandfather" monthly fee, they should be able to hire someone.

Total ripoff. Never works properly, the updates fail, the app can't connect on android, the billing is a big scam (they just lie about all the prices) had this thing for 2 years, never once was able to actually USE it in any effective capacity. I'm a Web developer, I wanted a nice simple device to rely on, this is NOT the device you are looking for when it comes to reliability. Total junk. Such a shame, who ever is running this company should be publicly shamed.

Bought in for pay-as-you-go, now it's $3 monthly just to maintain access to what you already paid for, and they call it "grandfathering." Betrayed and ripped off.

The app doesn't seem to work well with the service, which by the way, decided to change up their pricing structure. Been a long-time customer, but they have went from a company that wears their heart on their sleeve to hardly communicating. This company burned a lot of customers and with only a little communication? Not a good look, my friends.

"Premium subscription"? You mean basic features that should be included with any decent hotspot? Like setting my Wi-Fi's name and a secure private network? That I've been patiently waiting for since I purchased the first iteration of a Karma? That I now need to pay monthly for?? C'mon, Karma, this is already a premium device at that price. I shouldn't be gouged for features that are already built-in to my hotspot--especially because these features cost nothing to your service which is simply to provide connectivity.

Karma is a company that has forgotten loyalty and integrity in dealing with customers. This app is objectively bad, with tons of glitches, but consider it in context of the company's products, customer support, and business model, and you're dealing in snake oil. Early adopters screwed out of prepurchaed data? Check. Firmware updates that corrupt devices? Check. No customer support for firmware beyond turning device on and off? Check. No customer support except via email? Check. Customer support in broken English? Check. Customer support that results in recommendation to buy a new unit to fix firmware, while admitting hardware is working? Check. If you have not bought a karma, please don't buy one. You'll save yourself lots of time, money and frustration.

This app is a Waste of time. It simply doesnt do anything that its designed to do. Example, the update feature never works. Don't bother yourself with upgrading or buying, you'll only be disappointed. The Karma company was on to something special and now it looks like from all the other dissatisfied customer comments, Karma will be a big flop. The Karma company is a perfect example of what happens when you don't listen to your customers. Bye!

This APP is useless because the service is useless. I've researched this company after I was scammed out of over $200. Apparently it's only ran by maybe 10 people and they resell Sprint service. The hardware is generic Chinese equipment that they've painted their brand onto. I paid for overnight delivery but after a few months of NOTHING I could never get a human or personal response. I read a blog of the CEO blaming customers for the poor service and required restructuring. Now I'm watching this company change plans and packages every month! The named "Karma" no longer fits the business model that it began with. Customers were suppose to "earn Karma" having your device near public places that the public could "piggy back" from. This feature was mandatory and the SSID for the Wifi didn't require a password. Many complained about security issues so they released "premium features" that charged $10/month to enable security. This APP is SUPPOSE to allow you to change these "premium features" so it is useless for most!

So disappointed that KarmaGo thinks they can fool their customer base continually and that we just take it. Calling it quits after I use up that data I have purchased. No one should have to pay a monthly "convenience" fee for a prepaid product. Bye bye Karma...it seems with your current business model your days are numbered.

I started off loving this service for my occasional needs, but now I'm paying a fee per-month to use the data I've already purchased. Additionally, I'm finding that the service doesn't even work in places it used to and at times takes a very long time to connect when it does work. Once the data is used up (I'm trying my hardest), this device is being recycled and the account closed. It has become cheaper to buy a cheap cell phone w/ data and tether, even with a tethering fee slapped on it. I cannot recommend this to anyone. Also, what's up with having to pay a hefty (additional) premium for features (WPA and SSID name customization) that are stock everywhere else?

Can't connect - ever. I have 23 gb of data, yet cannot connect to the Karma Go. Makes it totally useless. Been constant trouble since beginning...including being 7 months late in pre order shipping date. Now bait and switch on terms continually.

Karma was cool until they started charging $3 a month to use your data that you also pay for. I'm grandfathered in with a ton of data but as soon as it's gone, the Karma is gone too. No way will I pay $3 a month to use data I also pay for. I can do that with my cell phone.

After constantly dealing with their horrible customer service I could never connect my Karma Go device to this app

Looks like Karma Go is back to their bait and switch routine now charging $2.95 or lets say a $3 reoccurring monthly fee on top of your purchased data and although this doesnt sound like much I have a feeling this fee will increase down the road, in my opinon a person would probably be better off heading to Google's Project Fi where your getting a bit more for your money.

Karma wants to charge me $3 a month now after I already paid for my prepaid data? No thanks losers!

There's some weird UI bugs that appear when you swipe done panels down, that you end up with a blank screen until you hit the back button. Also, I have come back on occasion to find my phone's battery mostly depleted or dead. Why? Android battery starts stats show the Karma app to be there culprit. As such, I about running the app and use the website as much as possible.

Doesn't match up with the devices. Does show account info OK. Worthless for device management.

scam. Switch prices all the time

App spins forever when trying to switch Pulse tiers.

The device works great. Really fast Internet. I use it for my classes because I take online classes. And it does the job. But the app does not work at all just says it's loading and won't go any further then that. The app is literally point less and just takes up space in my phone. Hopefully this issue gets fixed soon.

Nearly a year later, I and countless others are still waiting for refunds. The company did a bait and switch and is now continually lying about getting refunds to those who prepaid. Look them up on the Better Business Bureau of NY city ... lots of complaints and no happy customers. They have had my money now for over a year like many others. Look up Bad Karma groups on facebook ... don't fall for their scam!

Used to get 100MB for every share, and as I travel a lot, have many shares at airports, but now I get 100MB once a month. This uses up bandwidth and battery, and worst of all, I have to pay if want to make my Karma Go private. What started as a social Internet is not social any more.

Being able to create an SSID and use standard wifi connections/ passwords to access data that you've already paid for, should be a standard and included feature of a wifi hotspot. Requiring a $15.00/month "Premium" to use features that are available for free anywhere else in the world is a blatant ripoff.

On phone it says 9.5. On tablet says, 14.6, which should be right for data available. But now neither logs into the app. It just errors out. And 6 different laptops can't connect at all to the damn thing. Total waste of anyone's money!

The device works fine in delivering WiFi. My issue is with the constantly changing, unannounced terms which ultimately result in increased costs. I've managed to roll with those changes, although with diminishing use and usefulness. But a $3 monthly fee just to roll over data I've purchased is a deal breaker. I doubt I'll ever buy any more data as there are multiple ways to obtain WiFi and data through other more economical means. Don't waste your money buying this device. The plan you sign up for today is unlikely to be the same just a month or two down the road. I predict this company will eventually go belly up anyway.

Even with a good internet connection, the app never loaded a single element onto the screen. All I ever saw was a spinning wheel, worst app ever. Can't believe it actually got released to the store that way. Very disappointed in the app, the company for making it, and also for their purely false coverage map because I've never been able to actually use the device for anything other than weighing down paper.

Been a year since I returned their highly priced paper weight of a hotspot. Still have not received a refund. Can't even get into their home page anymore to complain about the bad service and refund issues. Do not buy. Its the most expensive brick you'll ever pay for.

App does nothing but burn data, in nearly a month, still has not loaded! Karma support does not work weekends, App support must not work at all. What the f___? Now known why Amazon doesn't sell it. Could be but isn't. Try a different product.

As with Kirsten below, light bright green but says device is off and needs updating. Gives poor instructions on process. No help available from within the app. No help available period. I think company out of business.

App is fine, however, the service seems confused. The point of a service where you can sip buckets of data as a backup or alternative connection is that it's cheap. Adding $15 a month to share the data you actually pay for, is just confusing. I use karma sporadically and paying a monthly fee when I bought the Go to avoid one makes no sense. Update; so, now you can pay to have a private network...But, you no longer get 100MB per share . It's now an absolutely pointless 100MB a month. If you took away the 100MB per share, you should have given what should be included (a private network option). Overall, I wouldn't recommend Karma. It's on Sprint and the company clearly didn't do any research into sustainability of it's model. It's so far from what it released as, and yet offers less to the consumer...Buyer Beware!

Yay! They fixed so many of the bugs!!! At one time, it was a great deal. Now it's the same price as the data on my cell phone, so I'll probably leave once my data is consumed

Scam. Paid for bucket of data with the promise of no monthly fees. Now we get a notice that within 3 weeks you have to pay a monthly fee to keep it???? And this with the website STILL saying no monthly fees...

I was going to activate this karmaGo device (given by friend and nevef used) until i read reviews. I never saw more bad reviews for something you had to pay for. Thanks people who wrote here. Im about to break it open and use the battery for my flashlight.

The grandfather enrollment of the Refuel Accounts is unethical. --- The $100+ device was sold on the basis that there was no monthly payments. After the device was sold, there are now monthly payments. That's called Bait & Switch and False Advertising.

The app has stopped providing billing information and does not display data usage remaining. The system's billing is no longer working with the app.

Update: Much better. If left on for a while the mobile connection does drop and the only way I have been able to make it reconnect is a power cycle. Orginal: Ok if you are going to update almost on the daily you have to put what you are doing in the notes. Not the little happy pyramids were not built... line.

As with Kirsten below, light bright green but says device is off and needs updating. Gives poor instructions on process. No help available from within the app. No help available period. I think company out of business.