How to Get More Mobile App Reviews (and Why It Really Matters)
If you're a business owner or digital marketer with a mobile app under your brand, you already know that user ratings and reviews aren’t just vanity metrics — they’re critical drivers of visibility, trust, and downloads.
In fact, app reviews directly impact your app’s ranking in app stores, influence user behavior, and serve as powerful testimonials for hesitant potential users. The better your ratings and the more frequent the feedback, the higher your odds of app store success.
So, let’s talk about how you can consistently earn more positive app reviews (without being obnoxious), improve your app rating, and ultimately increase your downloads.
Understanding the Review Economy: Ratings vs. Reviews
Before diving into the tactics, it's important to know what we're working with:
- Ratings: The star score users assign your app — from 1 to 5 stars
- Reviews: Written feedback explaining a user’s experience, including praise, criticism, and suggestions
These two elements work hand in hand to influence download decisions and app store algorithm rankings.
Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store offer in-app APIs that let users rate and review conveniently — a key detail we’ll explore more shortly.
Why Mobile App Reviews Are a Growth Lever
Think of your app’s reviews as digital word-of-mouth. Here’s what good ratings and reviews can do for your app:
- ⭐ Increase app store ranking
- ✅ Boost download rates through social proof
- 💬 Improve keyword relevance for ASO (App Store Optimization)
- 📈 Enhance your app’s credibility and trustworthiness
- 🔄 Provide actionable customer insights to fuel product improvement
Big picture: More quality reviews = more trust = more installs.
So, how do you actually get these powerful reviews flowing in?
Proven Ways to Get More Reviews and Better App Ratings
Now that we’re aligned on the why, let’s focus on the how. These strategies are practical, scalable, and customer-minded — no tricks or shady shortcuts.
1. Use In-App Review Plugins
Make it absurdly easy for users to leave feedback by integrating review prompts directly into your app.
- 🔌 Median.co – Works for both Google Play and Apple. Elegant pop-ups request user feedback within the app.
- 🔧 Google Play In-App Review API – Allows seamless review prompts without leaving the app experience.
- 🍏 Apple StoreKit API – Prompts users up to three times per year to leave a rating, based on usage conditions you define.
These tools remove friction, which is often the biggest barrier to getting reviews.
2. Ask at the Right Time
Timing is everything.
If you hit users with pop-ups while they’re mid-task or frustrated, you’ll likely get ignored — or worse, a 1-star takedown.
Here’s when to ask:
- After completing a level, task, or key goal
- Upon achieving a milestone (e.g., finishing a workout, making a purchase)
- During natural pauses or “downtime” within the app experience
- After resolving a support issue successfully
You can also segment users — repeat users or power users are more likely to respond positively, so start with them.
Pro Tip: Frame your request as a conversation. For example, “Enjoying our app? We’d love your feedback!”
3. Streamline the Review Flow
Even tiny UX tweaks can drastically increase review volume.
Make sure users:
- Don’t have to leave the app to rate it
- See a clear, simple star-rating pop-up (1 tap and done)
- Aren’t overloaded with too many prompts or requests in the same session
Reducing friction = more completed reviews.
4. Follow Up After Support Interactions
Your customer support team isn’t just solving problems — they’re creating loyalty moments.
When you’ve gone above and beyond to help a user resolve an issue:
- Send a quick follow-up thanking them
- Ask if they’d consider leaving a review based on their experience
If someone left a poor review previously, this can also be your chance for redemption. Politely ask if they’ll re-evaluate based on the fix.
5. Add Gamification (Smartly)
Gamification taps into human psychology — we all love to win.
Reward users for milestones, streaks, or completed challenges. Once they’ve experienced a win, ask them to share the love with a quick review.
You don’t need to run a full loyalty program, though that helps. Even lightweight elements like:
- Badges
- Points
- Unlockables
- Leaderboards
…can do the trick.
Apps like Habitica do this extremely well, tying user objectives to a sense of progress and fun.
6. Use Multiple Channels (Not Just In-App)
Some users close prompts. Others ignore push notifications. So diversify your approach.
Here are smart ways to gather reviews across touchpoints:
- Post-purchase email sequences
- Push notifications (sparingly)
- SMS (if applicable)
- Social media campaigns asking for feedback
- Personalized surveys that lead into app store reviews
Key tip: Customize the message. Tell users how much you appreciate their opinion, and how their input helps you improve.
7. Show You’re Listening (and Improving)
Users want to know their feedback isn’t just going into a void.
Closing the loop builds trust and boosts review volume over time.
Ways to show you’re listening:
- 💬 Respond to comments on the app store — both good and bad
- 📲 Update your app description with “What’s New” based on user suggestions
- 🛠 Announce fixes and improvements from review feedback
- ❤️ Thank users for leaving honest reviews, even critical ones
When users see their voices matter, they’re 10x more likely to engage — and advocate for your product.
Key Takeaways
Elevating your mobile app’s reviews and ratings isn’t mysterious — but it does require strategic intent. Let’s recap:
✅ Use smart in-app plugins to eliminate friction
✅ Ask when users are happiest — not annoyed
✅ Give users a reason to engage through gamified moments
✅ Follow up after positive customer service interactions
✅ Use multiple communication channels to capture segmented audiences
✅ Demonstrate ongoing responsiveness to user feedback
Your app’s rating isn’t just a number. It’s a social signal. A conversion trigger. A discovery tool. And above all, a reflection of how well your product resonates with your audience.
Want to win in crowded app stores? Then start treating app review generation like the growth strategy it really is.
Now, over to you — which tactic are you going to try first?
Let us know how it works out.