BREAKING NEWS: Apple's New Policy for Reviewing Apps on the App Store

A new post in the Touch Arcade forum highlights a very important change in Apple's policy regarding how iPhone/iPad apps are being rated/reviewed in the App Store. Now, it is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer's promo code. This change seems to have been in place for the past 2-3 weeks, but it's getting more and more consistent now. We're guessing that the older codes of which developers have released in the past might not be affected with this new policy, but every new codes from now on can't be used to gain reviews on the App Store. 

This change will affect how developers would distribute their promo codes now. With this new policy in place, giving away codes in the various forums/contests would not get them anywhere, not even a good review on the App Store. It seems that a good way to use the codes is to share it with review sites like ours. Having the reviews published in public sites (other than the App Store) has been a good marketing strategy for app developers in the past, but this policy change has made it a more important success factor for the app.

I would leave you with the e-mail quotation that's been spreading across different users who have asked this question to Apple, where they seem to get the same exact response. And if you're an app developer, please investigate whether you're affected with this policy change or not. And if you are affected, please share in the comments section with us, what you think this would affect your marketing strategy. As always, we would love to help you reviewing your apps on our site. Please contact us if you want to get your apps reviewed on our site.

Hi, 

Anand here again from iTunes Store Customer Support. Thanks for writing back and letting me know your concern. I understand that you are still not able to write a review. I know how disappointing it can be when things don't work out the way they should. I am sorry to inform that it is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer's promotional code. 

However, I took the liberty of submitting your feedback to Apple on your behalf. Please know that Apple takes the feedback from our customers very seriously. This is the reason for our feedback page - to create a forum where our users can vent, praise or share whatever feelings they have to allow us to meet your needs, and grow as a company. I suggest that you use the link in order to share your feedback with us. I would also encourage you to share this link with all of your friends and family who wish to submit the feedback, and have them all submit the same request." 

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"It is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer's promotional code.
You can review this app by purchasing it on a different iTunes account using something other than a developer's promotional code, such as a GiftCard, Gift Certificate, or other payment options."

Check out our iPad apps reviews and iPhone apps reviews too while you're here.


UPDATE: If you're someone who wants to publish your reviews on the App Store but can no longer do so (because of this new policy), please don't hesitate to drop us an e-mail. We may be able to help get your reviews published here on our site.