Getting featured isn’t just luck—it’s tied to your app’s rating. This chart shows that 75%+ of featured placements go to apps rated 4.4 or higher, regardless of category.

Essential Statistics

• Over 75% of featured apps are rated 4.4 stars or higher.
• Both Apple and Google spike feature frequency starting at 4.4 stars.
• Apps below 4.0 make up less than 5% of featured placements.
• Ratings between 3.0–3.8 are heavily underrepresented in featured spots.
• Featured distribution mirrors rating tiers more than category or downloads.
• High-rated apps benefit from repeated feature placements.
• Quality and user satisfaction are baked into feature algorithms.

Key Takeaways

• Ratings are the biggest predictor of being featured in app stores.
• Apple and Google both weight quality over installs or ad spend.
• Apps below 4.4 stars are at a significant disadvantage for being featured.
• Boosting ratings is one of the highest ROI ASO investments.
• Engineering and support play a direct role in growth visibility.
• The trust tier starts at 4.4 stars—and drives discoverability.
• Getting featured is an outcome of product excellence, not pitch decks.

Actionable Insights

• Invest in ratings-focused product improvements to get into the feature-ready tier.
• Fix crash bugs, improve onboarding, and respond to reviews proactively.
• Use NPS surveys to identify experience gaps before they hit your ratings.
• Align ASO, product, and support to pursue featured placement as a shared metric.
• Monitor your rating trajectory monthly to forecast eligibility.
• Benchmark your rating distribution against featured competitors.
• Frame feature readiness as a cross-functional growth goal—not just a marketing task.

Want to get featured? Get to 4.4 stars. That’s the trust tier where discovery starts. – Neil Patel