You can have the best features, a flawless UI, and fast load times—but if your app doesn’t have strong reviews, most users won’t give it a chance.
On both the App Store and Google Play, your rating is your reputation. It affects how often your app gets shown, how users perceive your credibility, and whether they tap “Install” or swipe away.
The problem? Most people only leave a review when something goes wrong.
If you want to shift that dynamic—and improve your app’s ratings—you need a strategy that encourages satisfied users to speak up and makes it effortless to leave feedback.
This guide shows you exactly how to do that: the right moments to ask, the tools to use, and how to collect reviews that actually improve your visibility and downloads. No gimmicks. Just real results.
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Highlight real-time activities like reviews, sales & sign-ups.
7 Simple Ways to Increase App Reviews
Here, you find simple ways to get more app reviews from real users—methods that work.
1. Ask at the Right Moment
The timing of your review request can make or break the outcome. Ask too early, and users will not experience the value of your app. Ask during a bug or confusing moment, and you risk collecting negative feedback. The key? Ask when users are most satisfied.
Think about the “high points” in your app experience—moments when users feel successful, like:
- Completing a task or level
- Making a successful booking or transaction
- Achieving a milestone (e.g. fitness goal, language streak, financial savings)
- Solving a problem your app was designed for
These are moments of emotional payoff. Users feel good when they’re most willing to leave a positive review.
Use event-based triggers to time your review prompt. Many apps also use in-app review APIs (like Apple’s SKStoreReviewController or Google’s In-App Review API) to keep the process smooth and avoid redirecting users out of the app.
The goal isn’t just to ask—it’s to ask when it makes sense.
A well-timed request feels like a natural part of the experience, not an interruption.
2. Send Smart Push Notifications or Emails
Not every user will leave a review during their in-app experience—and that’s where well-timed push notifications and emails come in. These channels give you a second chance to reach satisfied users after they’ve had time to experience the app.
The key is to make it personal, timely, and non-intrusive. You don’t want your request to feel like spam. Instead, focus on moments when the user has had a smooth experience or reached a milestone.
Examples of smart timing:
- 24–48 hours after a completed order or session
- After consistent app use for a few days
- When a user gives positive in-app feedback or support satisfaction
Be clear and respectful in your message: “Thanks for using [App Name]! We hope you’re loving the experience. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate your feedback. Your review helps us grow and improve.”
Best practices:
- Include a direct link to the review section of your app store listing
- Use personalization (name, recent activity) if possible
- Segment your audience to avoid over-messaging power users
Done well, push notifications and emails can gently nudge happy users into leaving meaningful reviews—without sounding like you’re begging for 5 stars.
3. Include a Review CTA in Post-Transaction or Success Screens
One of the most effective (and most overlooked) places to ask for a review is right after your user completes a goal. This could be a purchase, a booking, a task completion, or anything that signals success. At that point, the user is engaged, satisfied, and far more likely to respond positively.
Instead of waiting for a future prompt, add a call-to-action (CTA) directly to your success or confirmation screen—but do it subtly. The message should feel like a natural part of the experience, not a pop-up interruption.
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Examples:
- Thanks for your order! We’d love a quick review if you enjoy [App Name].
- Goal achieved! Share your experience with others by leaving a quick review.
- We’re glad things went smoothly—your feedback helps us keep improving.
Why this works:
You’re not just asking for a favor—you’re tapping into a moment when the user already feels positive about the app. That emotional momentum increases the chances they’ll take the time to leave a review.
Use in-app review APIs (Apple or Google Play) to streamline the process. This way, users can leave a review without ever leaving your app.
Small, well-timed CTAs like these compound over time and can significantly boost your review count and overall rating.
4. Make the Review Process Easy
If leaving a review is difficult, most users won’t bother. The easier and faster the process, the more likely they’ll complete it—especially on mobile.
Here’s how to make it simple:
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Use in-app review prompts.
Apple and Google offer one-tap review features that let users rate your app without leaving it. There are no redirects or sign-ins. -
Avoid extra steps.
Don’t ask users to open a new page, log in, or search for your app in the store. The fewer clicks, the better. -
Place review options where users expect them.
For example, add a “Leave a Review” link in the app’s settings or help section, so users can find it later if they skip the initial prompt.
Make sure your app is smooth and bug-free when users are about to leave a review. They might give up or leave a bad review if they hit a glitch while trying.
A simple, well-timed review flow improves your ratings without annoying your users.
5. Use Social Proof in Your App Store Listing
Before someone downloads your app, they’re looking for signals that it’s worth their time—and your app store listing is the first place they look. If it’s missing proof that others are having a great experience, you leave installs (and reviews) on the table.
This is where social proof comes in.
Build trust & FOMO
Highlight real-time activities like reviews, sales & sign-ups.
Adding standout user testimonials, star ratings, or quotes from real reviews to your app description or preview images gives potential users instant confidence. It shows that real people are using and loving your app—which makes new users more likely to try it, enjoy it, and ultimately leave a review themselves.
How to use social proof effectively:
- Pull 1–2 strong quotes from real user reviews and include them in your app description
- Highlight phrases like “easy to use,” “saved me time,” or “best app for [use case]”
- Feature high review counts in screenshots:
“Rated 4.8 stars by 10,000+ users”
- Use video previews that show not just features—but positive results
When potential users see others praising the app, it builds trust fast. That trust leads to more downloads, better engagement, and a higher chance they’ll leave a review too.
Your listing should sell the app’s value, but reviews help seal the deal. Make them part of your pitch.
6. Monitor and Respond to All Reviews
Getting reviews is only half the job—what you do with them is just as important. Actively monitoring and responding to your app reviews shows users that you care, are listening, and are committed to improving.
When users see developers responding to feedback—both good and bad—they’re more likely to engage and more inclined to leave a review themselves. It creates a feedback loop where users feel seen and valued, not ignored.
Here’s how to handle it well:
- Thank positive reviewers. A simple reply like “Thanks for your support!” or “Glad you’re enjoying the app!” goes a long way.
- Acknowledge and own up to issues. For negative feedback, don’t get defensive. Say something like:
“Thanks for pointing that out. We’re working on a fix and appreciate your patience.”
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Track feedback trends. If multiple users mention the same issue (e.g., crashes, UX problems), take it seriously and act on it.
A developer who responds builds credibility. If the user updates their rating after seeing your response, it can even turn a negative review into a positive one.
The bottom line is not to treat reviews like scoreboards; treat them like conversations. That’s how you earn better ratings and long-term trust.
7. Use Review Management Tools to Track and Improve Ratings
Manually checking reviews across platforms can be overwhelming, especially if your app grows fast. That’s where review management tools come in. They help you monitor, analyze, and respond to user feedback at scale, all in one place.
With the right tools, you can:
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Track all reviews from Google Play, the App Store, and other platforms in real time
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Analyze sentiment to understand what’s working (or what’s frustrating users)
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Spot recurring issues before they snowball
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Quickly respond to reviews—positive or negative—without switching dashboards
Popular tools like AppFollow, Appbot, App Radar, and Google Play Console offer features like keyword alerts, review tagging, team collaboration, and even AI-based sentiment summaries.
Staying on top of reviews helps you protect your reputation, catch bugs or UX issues faster, and engage directly with your user base. That engagement often leads to higher user satisfaction—and better ratings over time.
Using a review management tool isn’t just about saving time—it’s about staying in control of your brand’s voice and delivering a better experience for your users, day by day.
Conclusion
Getting more app reviews isn’t about asking everyone all the time. It’s about asking the right users at the right moments—and making it easy for them to respond.
App reviews build trust, improve your app’s ranking, and influence new users to download and try your app. By focusing on user experience, using built-in review prompts, and following up politely, you can collect honest feedback that helps your app grow.
Start small: pick and test one or two methods from this guide. With time and consistency, your app ratings and your results will improve.
