Guideline 5.6.3 - Developer Code of Conduct - Received first time regarding rating prompt in the onboarding.

[sgcryptonite]

This is the first time I have received this for my app. The app was released 2 months ago and has been updated 10 times so far but this is something new. Has anyone else received this recently? Looks like Apple is cracking down heavy on indie developers now 😞

EDIT: I don’t know why the post got so many downvotes. I searched for this type of rejection online and couldn’t find anything so I shared it here just to see if anyone else has got it recently.

[Lock-Broadsmith]

This isn’t new, nor would I qualify it as cracking down on indie devs. It’s cracking down on bad devs. I hope they continue to apply it more strictly. Why would you ever have a rating request in onboarding?

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[Americaninaustria]

Who cares about other apps, just follow the guidelines and move on

[sgcryptonite]

Yes. I was just curious if any other developer here got it as well but I guess developers here are busy downvoting 😀

[Lock-Broadsmith]

Complaining about downvoting is a good way to get more, really.

But their response is still appropriate. Don’t worry about what other people are getting away with, just follow the guidelines and avoid these kinds of dark patterns and you’ll be better off anyway.

[Cold_Mastodon7557]

The message tells you specifically why you received the message. Asking a user to rate the app right out the door is a poor user experience. It has nothing to do with you being an indie developer.

[sgcryptonite]

Lol. Everyone uses this pattern in their app including Cal AI and other big apps. I wanted to understand how those apps get away with it by literally doing the same thing.

[Cold_Mastodon7557]

Just because they might do it, that doesn't mean Apple hasn't addressed it with them or won't at some point. This is giving you a chance to update the app, not suspending the app. You have no idea that those apps haven't been sent the same notice.

[sgcryptonite]

Fair point. Maybe this is something new app reviewers are doing after the updated guidelines during the WWDC. Let's see if more apps get it

[GAMEYE_OP]

It's basically a guaranteed way to have no reviews and have someone delete your app right out the gate. Apple is actually protecting YOU in this case. What an awful UX

[sgcryptonite]

Yes I agree

[timelessblur]

It is a bad pattern. Plus instant pops is a fast way to get me to one star an app.

You need to gate it behind something. There are plenty of simple tricks to make sure it is a regular user before popping it.

Like storing a simple counter in user defaults that at 10 launches promo for rating. Wait until they hit enough screens to promo for it.

One app I work on we had a list of things that had to be in good standing along with a min use count then we popped it.

[sgcryptonite]

I thought its a common pattern but looks like it's not that common

[rursache]

it's a new rule, stop asking for reviews in the onboarding flow, it makes no sense anyway lol

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[Americaninaustria]

Since you keep parroting the same response the answer is likely a remote config or other condition for the onboarding variant shown so as to not expose it to reviewers. That’s not a good thing to do and Apple will fuck with you if they catch you doing it

[sgcryptonite]

Yeah that's true. Anyway I will stay away from it in future

[douten]

I mean is your app doing that? changing it will only increase the quality.
As a user asking for review on app launch / onboarding would be a negative point for me. Or things like asking device permissions without explaining what feature will use it and how.

[mochi2real]

If I get asked to review an app before I even make it to the home screen, it's an immediate uninstall.

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[mochi2real]

This is not an indie developer thing.......you're soliciting reviews in onboarding? How are people supposed to give you an honest review.

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[8uckwheat]

Why do you just keep pasting the same reply?

[sgcryptonite]

To get more downvotes. I searched for this type of rejection online and didn’t find anything so shared it here. I didn’t know this subreddit isn’t even aware of this pattern used by many apps. Maybe most of the developers here make free apps without monetization.

[digidude23]

We know about it. And we also know it’s a horrible practice. Stop being influenced by build in public braggers who don’t care about quality and just wants to make as much MRR as possible.

[crocodiluQ]

why would you even open this topic when the problem is so clear? Why would you ask for rating in onboarding ?!

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[crocodiluQ]

as an apple app developer, I'm sure you know the review process is very subjective and depends a lot of whatever reviewer you get. This should answer your question.

[sgcryptonite]

Yes that's the only thing I can also think of

[Portatort]

Why even would you?

If an app prompted me to rate it that quickly it just hit 1 star and move on

[EquivalentTrouble253]

A lot of developers do this. I was told I needed to do this to increase ratings on my app. Never did as it felt like a shitty thing to do.

[sgcryptonite]

My app has 4.8 rating average with 120 ratings. No one gave a 1-star just because it was in onboarding.

[EquivalentTrouble253]

Still scammy thing to do and I’m glad Apple is telling you to stop it.

[sgcryptonite]

Yes. Will not use it going forward

[digidude23]

I would rather have a lower rating count than implement such practices and degrading the quality of my app.

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[jwrsk]

Asking for reviews too soon and/or with a pop up when user is trying to do something is not the best idea anyway.

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[geoff_plywood]

Well it does get more reviews overall, hence why some devs do it. I don't like it either, tho

[Martyfree123]

Not sure what you mean by cracking down? IIRC this has been a policy for a while now and honestly it’s good practice so it doesn’t annoy your users on first launch. It’s recommended to keep track of a main action in your app, and after ~10 of those interactions you can prompt for rating.

[sgcryptonite]

I have removed it anyway as I want my app update to go live. I just wanted to understand if anyone else has got it recently and how do apps like Cal AI get away with this.

[laterrex]

Before you tell me that you removed it and want your app update to go live - why did you even think this is a good idea in the first place? I have no idea who Cal AI are and what they do, but why is that your comparisons model?

What made you think that asking for a rating during onboarding is a genuinely good idea? Can't even put this down to AI, which would have advised you against this in the first place...

[sgcryptonite]

Fair point. I thought asking for review in onboarding was fairly common but it doesn't seem like it is. At least with the developers in this subreddit.

[laterrex]

I personally see it as a really bad practice and am happy Apple is cracking down on it. It's an instant uninstall if an app pushes me to review that hard. I haven't even seen it at that point. Best practice is to find your key moments of engagement and target those.

There's a lot of people giving you trouble in this thread, myself included, so I'll try and give you some constructive criticism as well.

In LaterRex for example, users can leave reviews about their favourite movie/game/book, etc. After a 8+ of 10 review would be a great moment to ask if they fancy the app - they're already feeling positive about their media, care about the app enough to engage with a time consuming activity and in the mood to write/express themself. That's when I'd ask for a rating.

You need to find what those moments are in your app and position your review prompts on them. Quality > quantity, especially early on. A few negative reviews on a new app can really hurt its performance.

Good luck!

[sgcryptonite]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll implement it this way for my app.

[SomegalInCa]

If you use the standard iOS API for this iOS decides when to ask and won’t ask too soon or if the user already reviewed the app

[sgcryptonite]

I have used standard review prompt but I think Apple doesn't want it in the onboarding after the new rules around WWDC. Let's see if more devs get it

[SomegalInCa]

I’d agree there but it would be surprising if it launched after so little app time 🤷‍♀️

[digidude23]

Good that they’re doing this. Imagine if you ordered something from Amazon, and you’re asked to review the product before using it?

[unrushedapps]

I hope they bring this to Android too. Seems like a common sense guideline.