Boosting Ratings and Reviews to Elevate Your App’s Ranking

Buse Kanal

5 June 2025

Are you pouring time, money, and energy into your app, only to see it buried beneath your competitors in the App Store or Google Play Store?

It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

You’ve polished every pixel, tested every feature, and crafted a great user experience. But here’s the hard truth: if your app doesn’t have strong ratings and glowing reviews, you’re invisible.

In the world of App Store Optimization (ASO), your app’s ratings and reviews can make or break your success. This blog post will walk you through how to improve app store ratings and reviews, why they matter more than ever, and actionable strategies for boosting your app reviews to unlock real growth.

Let’s dive in and help your app get the visibility, downloads, and love it truly deserves.

What are app ratings and reviews?

Before we get tactical, let’s clarify the basics.

App Ratings are the star scores users give your app, typically from 1 to 5 stars.
App Reviews are the written feedback users leave alongside their ratings.

Together, they serve as social proof for potential users. Think of them as word-of-mouth in digital form.

⭐ The higher your average rating and the more positive reviews you collect, the more likely a new user will hit “Download.”

Why ratings and reviews impact app store rankings

Here’s the secret sauce: App stores treat ratings and reviews as critical trust signals. They’re baked directly into the ranking algorithms of both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Here’s why they matter:

Conversion Rate: Great reviews boost install rates by increasing user trust.
Search Ranking: Apps with more 4-5 star reviews tend to rank higher for their keywords.
Featured Potential: Apple and Google feature well-rated apps more often.
User Retention: Honest feedback gives you a chance to fix bugs and improve, keeping users around longer.

Real-World Example: When a meditation app revamped its UX and asked satisfied users to leave reviews, their average rating jumped from 3.6 to 4.7. Downloads increased by 35% within a month.

Google Play vs. Apple App Store: ratings work differently

While both platforms value ratings and reviews, the way they process them isn’t identical.

Apple App Store:

Shows the average rating based on the latest app version (unless you reset it).
Users must manually visit the store to leave a review (unless prompted).
iOS 10.3+ supports in-app rating prompts.

Google Play Store:

Shows a lifetime average rating (all versions combined).
Google uses machine learning to weigh newer reviews more heavily.
Android allows direct in-app review submissions, making feedback frictionless.

Knowing how each platform handles feedback helps you tailor your strategy more effectively.

7 effective strategies for boosting app reviews (without being spammy)

Encouraging users to leave positive reviews doesn’t have to feel pushy, or get you flagged by Apple or Google. When done right, it can feel natural, user-friendly, and even appreciated. Below are seven proven, ethical, and effective ways to boost your app reviews the right way:

1. Ask at the right time

Timing is everything.

Don’t just blast every user with a rating prompt. Instead, wait until they’ve had a satisfying experience inside your app. Great moments to ask for a review include:

When they complete a level or achieve a goal
After using the app successfully for a certain period
Just after a positive interaction (like finishing a purchase or finding what they needed)

Avoid prompting users when they’re struggling, encountering bugs, or navigating learning curves.

Use Apple’s SKStoreReviewController and Google’s ReviewManager to display native prompts that don’t interrupt the user experience.

2. Make it effortless and in-app

The less friction, the more likely users will follow through.

In-app review prompts are your best friend here. They let users leave a review without ever leaving your app. Both Apple and Google provide native APIs for seamless prompts.

Best practices:

Wait until the user has spent time engaging with your app (e.g., 3+ sessions).
Use clear language: “Enjoying the app? Let us know!”
Keep it simple—no complex menus or redirects.

The goal is to turn spontaneous moments of joy into instant feedback.

3. Segment and target your users

Not every user should be treated the same.

Use analytics tools to segment your users based on behavior and satisfaction levels.

Happy users → Prompt them for a public review.
Unhappy or inactive users → Guide them to internal feedback channels to prevent negative public reviews.

This ensures that only your most satisfied users are being nudged toward the App Store or Google Play, boosting your average rating safely and effectively.

4. Run strategic review campaigns

Have you just launched a game-changing update or added a new feature users love?

That’s your moment.

Send an email, in-app message, or push notification to your most active users with a personal, friendly message:

“We just launched a new feature we know you’ll love! If it made your experience better, could you take a moment to leave a quick review?”

These campaigns work especially well when bundled with product announcements, re-engagement pushes, or milestone celebrations.

Pro tip: Make it part of your product marketing calendar.

5. Offer value, not bribes

Here’s a hard rule: don’t incentivize reviews with rewards.

Apple and Google both prohibit offering coins, cash, points, or other in-app perks in exchange for ratings or reviews. Violating this can result in penalties or even removal from the store.

Instead, frame your request around community and contribution:

“We’re constantly working to make this app better. Your honest feedback helps shape our next updates.”

This appeals to the user’s desire to be heard, not their desire to win something.

6. Use push notifications—but don’t overdo it

A well-timed push notification can be a gentle, effective nudge toward leaving a review.

But use it too often—or at the wrong time—and you’ll annoy users or get opt-outs.

Best practices:

Limit review-related pushes to once per update cycle or after major feature drops.
Send only to engaged users who’ve interacted positively.
Include clear value in your message: “We’re improving because of users like you—care to share your experience?”

Less is more. Prioritize timing and relevance over volume.

7. Close the feedback loop (and ask again later)

Sometimes, a user just isn’t ready to leave a review—yet.

That’s okay.

If a user dismisses your prompt, don’t chase them immediately. Instead, give them more time to enjoy your app, improve your product experience, and prompt again after a meaningful update.

Even better? If a user leaves internal feedback or submits a support ticket, follow up when the issue is resolved:

“We’ve fixed the issue you reported in our latest version. If you’re enjoying the improvements, we’d love for you to update your review!”

This shows users you listen, act, and appreciate their voice—building long-term loyalty and better public perception.

Boosting app reviews isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about creating experiences so good, users want to talk about them, then making it easy for them to do so.

By applying these seven strategies thoughtfully and ethically, you’ll build trust, raise your average rating, and attract more high-quality users who see your app for what it truly is: worth downloading.

How to respond to user feedback (yes, even the bad stuff)

Here’s where many developers drop the ball.

Responding to reviews—especially negative ones—is your secret growth lever.

Why respond?

Shows you care.
Turns unhappy users into loyal advocates.
Signals to app stores that you’re actively maintaining your app.

Best Practices:

Stay calm and professional, even with nasty reviews.
Acknowledge the issue and explain your next steps.
Thank users for their feedback.
Don’t argue or go on the defensive.

Here’s a good example of a message:

“Hi Jane, we’re sorry you had trouble syncing your data. Our team is working on a fix, and we’ll update the app soon. Thanks for your feedback—it helps us grow!”

Bonus tip: Ask satisfied users to update their reviews after the fix. Many do!

How to monitor and measure app ratings and reviews

Whether you’re trying to diagnose a drop in ratings or capitalize on a flood of positive reviews, you need a solid system in place. Here’s how the pros do it:

1. Use native app store dashboards

Both Apple and Google provide built-in analytics dashboards that let you track your app’s ratings and reviews over time.

Apple App Store Connect:

Go to App Store Connect > My Apps > Your App
View your app’s Ratings and Reviews section
See trends by territory, app version, and timeframe
Identify recurring review themes and average star ratings

Google Play Console:

Navigate to Play Console > Statistics > Ratings
Break down ratings by device type, OS version, country, and even language
Use Review Analysis to spot common keywords and sentiment

2. Track ratings trends over time

Monitor how your ratings change over time, especially:

After app updates or new feature releases
Following marketing campaigns or major promotions
During user acquisition pushes or seasonal events

Look for these key metrics:

Average star rating (overall and version-specific)
Volume of new reviews per week or month
Ratio of positive to negative reviews
Ratings by country or demographic

These insights tell you whether your app updates are working—or whether there’s a new issue to fix.

3. Analyze review sentiment

Raw star ratings only tell part of the story. What matters even more? What users are actually saying.

Use sentiment analysis tools to process large volumes of reviews and extract common patterns, such as:

Frequent complaints (e.g., crashes, UI issues)
Loved features (e.g., design, performance)
Repeated requests (e.g., “Please add dark mode!”)

Tools you can use:

These tools classify reviews as positive, neutral, or negative, and even help you tag, filter, and prioritize them by theme.

4. Benchmark against competitors

You don’t operate in a vacuum. Compare your app’s reviews with your competitors’ to spot opportunities and gaps.

Ask:

Do they respond faster to negative reviews?
Are their ratings consistently higher in certain regions?
What do users love about their UX or features that you can improve?

You can use tools like:

This external view helps you sharpen your product roadmap and ASO strategy.

5. Set KPIs and review goals

Define what success looks like for your app. Common review KPIs to track:

Increase average rating from 3.8 to 4.5 in the next 3 months
Grow monthly review volume by 20%
Reduce 1-star reviews by 30% through better support and in-app UX
Respond to 100% of 1- and 2-star reviews within 48 hours

These targets help you stay focused and measure progress against actual outcomes, not just gut feelings.

Final thoughts: don’t let ratings hold you back

Your app might be amazing. But if your ratings and reviews don’t reflect that, your potential users—and the algorithm—won’t give you a chance.

The great news? You have control.

By using the strategies we’ve outlined, responding thoughtfully, and working with experts like ShyftUp, you’ll position your app to thrive in a highly competitive marketplace.

Ready to boost your app store ratings and reviews—and your ranking along with them? Let ShyftUp help you make it happen. Contact us today and watch your app rise.