Improve Mobile App Reviews & Ratings

Neil Patel
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Author: Neil Patel | Co Founder of NP Digital & Owner of Ubersuggest
Published January 1, 2025

Is your mobile app as good as you think it is? I’m asking because app reviews and ratings matter. They influence purchasing decisions and play a critical role in how your app performs.

How? 

Because reviews and ratings matter. More specifically, positive reviews and ratings matter. They give people confidence to buy, which naturally results in more sales. Over time, this increases your app’s visibility in store, helping it rank higher and increasing its chances of being featured.

In a crowded app store, you’ll need to focus on positive reviews and ratings to give it a rankings boost.

The thing is, positive reviews don’t appear automatically—they require proactive efforts on your part.

But don’t despair because I’m here to explain how to get more app reviews and ratings. 

Key Takeaways

  • App reviews matter because they provide social proof, improve visibility, and get more downloads.
  • App ratings refer to the number of stars a user gives an app, and reviews refer to written comments.
  • Using review plug-ins, giving users multiple options for leaving reviews, and making it simple for users to leave feedback can help app developers get more reviews.
  • To get more app reviews, time prompts to appear at a crucial stage of the app, for instance, when the user completes a stage or achieves a fitness milestone.
  • Median.co, Appirater, and Google Play In-App Review API all let you request in-app reviews.

Table of Contents

What Are Mobile App Store Ratings And App Reviews?

To start, let me briefly explain the differences between the two.

Ratings mean the star ratings that a user gives your app. These can be anything from one to five stars; obviously, the higher the rating, the better. The average of these ratings are the app’s overall score.

App reviews refer to written content like this:

An example of an app review.

You’ll see reviews published in the stores and external sites.

iOS vs Google Play Store: How Reviews are Different

Google Play and Apple App Store have different processes for leaving reviews:

Users can review an app on the Google Play Store by visiting play.google.com. Find and select the app, then scroll down and click “write a review.” Once there, users can give the app a star rating, share their thoughts, and then submit it.

How to leave a review.

You can also use Google’s API for in-app reviews.

Users can only write reviews for apps they’ve downloaded and can’t review work and school apps or apps in beta.

On the Apple App Store, you can rate and review through the platform itself. Just search for the title, scroll down until you see the “tap to rate” option, and give a star rating. Users can then click “write a review” on the left side. 

An example app review.

The App Store has an API that lets you request ratings and reviews as people use your app. You can prompt users for ratings up to three times a year, and the API allows you to write and review feedback within the app.

How Reviews Support App Store Optimization

Reviews and ratings are not just valuable for establishing social proof. They also enhance your App Store Optimization (ASO) strategy, which is all about increasing your app’s visibility and credibility to attract more downloads. Take a look at this review for the Google Analytics app:

An example of an app review.

Specific information about app functionality: check! Keywords for search optimization: check! Social proof of positive interaction with app features, check!

By leveraging the potential of ratings and reviews, you can enhance your app’s ASO. Here’s how:

  • Improved search ranking: Apps with higher ratings and reviews tend to rank better in App Store search results, and this increased visibility can lead to increased organic downloads.
  • Keyword relevance: Reviews often include ASO keywords related to your app’s functionality. This user-generated content can enhance your app’s relevance to specific search queries.
  • Enhanced conversion rates: Positive app reviews serve as testimonials that boost user trust, encouraging potential new users to download your app, thereby increasing conversion rates.
  • User engagement: An active user base indicated by frequent feedback from people signals to the App Store that your app is engaging and relevant, which helps to boost its rank. 
  • Increased user satisfaction: Reviews are a great way to gather insight about user preferences, pain points, and needs. Turn this feedback into actionable improvements to your app via updates to improve the user experience. 

How To Get More Mobile App Reviews and Improve Ratings

Now you’ve got some background, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to get more app reviews and improve your app’s ratings. Below are some tips to give your apps the all-important ratings boost they need to succeed. 

Use an App Review Plugin

The quickest, easiest way to get an app review from someone is to ask them to do it within your app. Several turn-key plugins available for iOS and Android make it drop-dead simple to prompt the user to review your app.

  • Median.co is an App Store and Google Play plug-in that lets you prompt users to leave app reviews and ratings. Users can tap a star to rate it in the App Store or fill out the star rating and the “tell others what you think” box. 
The Median app review plugin.
  • Google Play In-App Review API: The plugin allows you to prompt users to submit ratings and reviews without leaving your app. It is designed for Android apps and can only be used once your app is published on the Play Store, but you can test its integration in your app before it goes live using the internal test track.
Google Play In-App Review API.

Make Reviews as Easy as Possible

Giving reviews is already simple enough, but you can make it even easier. You can request a review inside the app itself. Users just need to tap the number of stars inside a pop-up, making it far easier to get a star rating.

Requesting a review in Township.

Focusing on UX improvements like this enhances users’ overall satisfaction with your app through streamlined interaction, timely prompts, and reduced barriers to users submitting reviews and ratings. 

Time The Prompt

While review prompts are a great way to remind users to leave a review, it’s also important to time the prompts properly within the user experience. Here are some best practices for timing your prompts.

  • One of the best ways to request a review is when a user has accomplished something within your app, like completing a level or an intended task.
  • Leave feedback requests toward the end of a level or task. The fact they’re staying with your app to the end suggests they’re enjoying it, which may mean they’re more likely to leave positive feedback.
  • Begin a conversation with your users by asking questions rather than just asking them for ratings. For instance, what did you like about this app? What could be better?
  • Make use of any downtime in the app: Don’t ask users for reviews while they’re playing.
  • Use your data: Repeat users and buyers obviously enjoy your app, so consider using criteria for when you’ll use a prompt.
  • Try multichannel messaging to reach your audience. In-app is the most obvious place, but you can also use channels like email and social media.

Dan Counsell of Realmac Software writes about how Clear for iOS shows the “Rate app” dialog. The prompt occurs after a few conditions have been met. First, the user must use the app for a few weeks. Second, the user must clear the remaining tasks from a list.

Clear for IOS's rate app  prompts.

Follow Up Your Support With Review Requests

You want your users to know you’re there for them, so offering support options in as many forms makes sense. You can do this through:

  • Chatbots
  • Offering live chat
  • Email
  • Knowledge bases/FAQs.
  • In-app support.

When your customer has a query, it’s your chance to shine and provide the support you’d expect if you were the user. For example, being swift to respond and assuring the customer you’re acting on bugs, etc. And when you’ve resolved their problem or answered a question, that’s the time to ask if they’d consider leaving an app review.

If they’ve already left a negative review, use this as an opportunity to ask them to consider revising it based on the positive solution you’ve provided.

Gamification

Gamification involves adding gaming elements to improve the user experience, enhance retention rates, and better engage them. Additionally, it gives app users control as they can decide which rewards they want to achieve.

It includes points, badges, and challenges to motivate people and encourage participation. It can also introduce some competition by using leaderboards.

A good example of this is the productivity app Habitica. It offers rewards for completing a challenge and allows competitors to play against each other. It works well because users can see their progress at a glance for added motivation.

The Habitica productivity app.

The type of gamification to use depends on the nature of your app. For example, a walking app would measure steps walked or hills climbed.

Use gamification effectively by:

  • Deciding what you want users to do and achieve and the type of gamification to use.
  • Considering your audience and the features that would work for them.
  • Determining how you’ll measure success (for example, stage completion, a user meeting their weight loss goals, etc.)
  • Celebrate users’ wins with positive messaging and engaging graphics.
  • A/B test to see what works best.

Take Advantage of Multiple Channels

You know one of the best ways to get app reviews? Make it easier for your customers to leave them. 

Rather than appearing pushy, you can use different methods to request reviews and let customers leave them in their preferred way or at the best time. 

As I detailed earlier, there are several ways to ask for reviews. Options like In-App prompts or rating pop-ups during different stages of the games are natural and intuitive for users.

Alternatively, sending emails and push notifications to ask for reviews can work well; include a personalized message explaining how their feedback is valuable and helps you improve the app for them.

You can also send surveys with a small incentive, like beta access to an upgraded app, to understand what you can do better.

Show You Are Acting On Review Feedback

There’s little point asking for reviews if you don’t act on them. Responding positively to feedback and making necessary changes shows reviewers that their feedback matters to you, and that you’re listening and serious about creating the best app possible. 

Sometimes, that might mean responding to negative comments, apologizing to an unhappy app user, and telling them what you’ve done to fix an issue.

Here are a couple of tips to help you show users that their feedback matters to you:

  • Directly responding to feedback: Whether it’s negative or positive, you can start a conversation with your users and build authentic relationships. Doing this shows there’s a human behind the app that cares about their experience.
  • Update your app page: Use your app description page to detail any changes you’ve made to your app and add a note along the lines of “Following users’ recent feedback, we’ve made changes to…”.

FAQs

How to get more app reviews?

The simplest ways to get reviews are to ask for them and to make it easy and intuitive, for example, it makes sense to ask users to leave feedback when they’ve finished a task/challenge or checked out. You can use tools like Appirator, Median.co, and Google Play In-App Review API to get in-app reviews with ease.

How to increase app rating in Play Store?

Look at your ratings for any obvious things you need to change. For instance, several users may be complaining about the same glitch. If so, go to the Reviews Analysis report to see the top trends and issues for data. 

Be proactive when you get negative, constructive, or positive feedback, too. Reach out to users individually so they know you’ve fixed a glitch or added new features.

Once you’ve fixed any issues, reach out to people to let them know.

How to increase app rating in Apple Store?

A good starting point is to analyze reviews for common problems. Also, put requested features, bug fixes, and continually improving your app at the front and center of your strategy.

How to increase your mobile app reviews?

Use an app review plug-in to make it seamless and easy for users to leave feedback and ratings. Be selective and thoughtful about when you ask for reviews, and use various channels to approach users, like in the app or via email or social media. Finally, act on the feedback you obtain.

Conclusion

Publishing an app is a real achievement, but once it’s available on the App Store or Google Play, that’s when the hard work begins.

Hopefully, you’ve got a carefully designed marketing plan in place, you know who your audience is, and where they hang out. But you’ll want to take it further than that. 

If you want to give users confidence, encourage them to download your app, and keep them coming back for more, you need to know how to increase app ratings and reviews, in a non-pushy way.

And that part is easy to do. Just follow the simple steps in this piece and make it easy for users to leave your app reviews and ratings that matter.

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Neil Patel

About the author:

Co Founder of NP Digital & Owner of Ubersuggest

He is the co-founder of NP Digital. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies. Neil is a New York Times bestselling author and was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 35 by the United Nations.

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Neil Patel

source: https://neilpatel.com/blog/increase-mobile-app-reviews/