iOS Custom app rating to gather users feedback

Hi!


I'm working on an app, and it was suggested to have a custom prompt for users to review our app. However, instead of sending the review to the app store, we would gather that data on our side. Is this allowed?


Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)

Posted on Mar 7, 2024 8:40 AM

Reply

Similar questions

4 replies

Mar 7, 2024 9:40 PM in response to AntRamos

Thank you for your quick replies!


I completely understand what you mean. Our objective was to gather internal feedback from our users. As you've said, despite my intentions, this kind of implementation has a lot of caveats that could potentially lead to system manipulation actions.


From the guidelines, it states:


'If you attempt to cheat the system (for example, by trying to trick the review process, steal user data, copy another developer’s work, manipulate ratings or App Store discovery), your apps will be removed from the store and you will be expelled from the Apple Developer Program.'


So I guess that an internal review system could be interpreted as a review process trick.

Mar 7, 2024 9:17 AM in response to AntRamos

No one can tell you ahead of time whether something is allowed or not. Even Apple won't tell you.


You have to read the app guidelines yourself and implement your code in a compliant way.


One thing that is important here is to think of yourself as a truly evil scammer or malware developer. Think of the worst ways you could abuse this feature. Think of how you could hide it from Apple, then use it to scam your customer, collect their personal information, and scam them on the dark web. Go outside the box here.


Because those are the apps that Apple is worried about. Apple sees an awful lot of them and will not give you the benefit of the doubt. They use the "duck test". If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Your intention is totally irrelevant. If it smells like a scam, it gets rejected. The harder you push, the more likely Apple is to close your account and ban you personally from any future developer activities.


Apple has millions of 3rd party developer accounts. They really don't need any more. Give them any excuse to ban you, and they will.

Mar 8, 2024 7:31 AM in response to AntRamos

AntRamos wrote:

So I guess that an internal review system could be interpreted as a review process trick.

An internal review system would be interpreted as just that. Lots of legitimate apps have feedback features.


The world isn't a black and white place, but it is also quite transparent. Very few legitimate, professional developers, honestly implementing features, have any trouble of any kind with Apple's App Review process. Of course, there are always exceptions. Some of those exceptions run to the hypercritical press and cry like babies, getting amplified a thousand-fold. But that is what people hear about, not the overwhelming number of quiet successes.


From the other direction, very little junk, scams, or malicious software makes it past App Review. Of course, there are always exceptions. Some of those exceptions get amplified by social media influencers and the hypercritical press. Again, that is what people hear about, not the overwhelming majority of legitimate rejections.


What, then, is your question? How to be successful? Or how to evade the gatekeepers?

Mar 7, 2024 9:38 AM in response to AntRamos

AntRamos wrote:

I'm working on an app, and it was suggested to have a custom prompt for users to review our app. However, instead of sending the review to the app store, we would gather that data on our side. Is this allowed?


Ratings are routinely involved with scams and bans and debacles, both directly (through various sorts of overt manipulation) and indirectly (through the adverse outcomes all too common with the near-inevitable internal feedback mechanisms).


Ratings-manipulation schemes have gotten folks tossed from the store, too.


Whoever suggested that is one of those folks that—if left to their own devices here—may well cause you issues and risks with user privacy and data retention, too.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iOS Custom app rating to gather users feedback

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.