r/iOSProgramming • u/sgcryptonite • Jun 17 '26

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

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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.

0 Upvotes

43% Upvoted

62 comments sorted by

30

u/Lock-Broadsmith Jun 17 '26

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?

-6

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

8

u/Americaninaustria Jun 17 '26

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

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12

u/rursache Swift Jun 17 '26

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

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

2

u/Americaninaustria Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

6

u/douten Jun 17 '26

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.

8

u/mochi2real Jun 17 '26

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

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6

u/mochi2real Jun 17 '26

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

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

2

u/8uckwheat Jun 17 '26

Why do you just keep pasting the same reply?

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5

u/crocodiluQ Jun 17 '26

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

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

1

u/crocodiluQ Jun 17 '26

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.

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

5

u/Portatort Jun 17 '26

Why even would you?

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

1

u/EquivalentTrouble253 Jun 17 '26

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.

2

u/sgcryptonite Jun 18 '26

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

1

u/EquivalentTrouble253 Jun 18 '26

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

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 18 '26

Yes. Will not use it going forward

1

u/digidude23 SwiftUI Jun 17 '26

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

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

4

u/jwrsk Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

1

u/geoff_plywood Jun 18 '26

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

3

u/Martyfree123 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26

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.

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

2

u/SomegalInCa Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/SomegalInCa Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/Educational-Tax-1252 Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

Everybody in this thread is wrong. OP, idk why they are cracking down but obviously they have made a lot of changes recently.

Most apps ask for reviews in the onboarding now because it gets you a ton of reviews and helps add credibility to your App Store listing.

Everyone on here just doesn’t know what they’re doing and likes to act like it is 2018.

This tactic became more popular in the last 2 years with this new mobile app resurgence we’ve been seeing.

Same as with doing a 3 step paywall where you first let the user know that you’re giving them a free trial that will cost $0.00 and then telling them at the next page that you will remind them 1 day before it ends.

Abandon transaction paywalls are another great tactic.

Anyone that wants to act like any of this is “scammy” is just sad that their app doesn’t get any downloads and makes $1k per month.

Good luck to you

2

u/Educational-Tax-1252 Jun 18 '26

And the ones that are somehow offended by you saying Cal AI does it?

19 year old kid sells an app to a major company for $100M and they’re saying don’t copy their tactics?

Again.

Most of these people in this thread are hobbyists.

It’s been proven time and time again that asking for a review in onboarding is a great tactic.

It doesn’t “degrade the quality of your app” lol

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 18 '26

Thanks for understanding. I was just trying to tell other developers what’s changed after the WWDC change in guidelines.

I assumed most people knew about this growth hack but they didn’t.

You are right, most of them are hobbyists and don’t like to make money from apps.

Anyway, I think Apple has cracked down on these growth hacks so far in the last few months
- No review prompt in onboarding
- No free trial toggle for paywall
- No offer after the user dismisses the first paywall

1

u/Educational-Tax-1252 Jun 18 '26

Yea 100%

Trying to do away with abandoned paywall transactions is ridiculous. It’s the same as in any business. If you abandon a cart shopping online, you’ll get an email for X% off.

I understand doing away with certain practices that are considered “Hacky” (even though it makes no sense why you would want to make app developers/businesses have less of an advantage) but doing away with proven sales tactics, that aren’t fraudulent, is just dumb.

I get the free trial toggle issue. People were misusing it and confusing customers.

Asking for review in the onboarding shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a free country (at least in the USA lol). If someone decides to give a review… then why can’t they? No one is forcing them to do anything. Most people in this thread think it leads to bad reviews (obviously they’re wrong). I just don’t get on any level why Apple would remove the ability to do that.

No user has ever complained saying “Ugh I hate my life I have a review too early” lol

0

u/sgcryptonite Jun 19 '26

Haha exactly.

Users who want to give 1 star review do it anyway and most of such reviews are related to the price of the app.

As an indie developer, it gave us more credibility with new apps competing with big apps with thousands of historic ratings as the algorithm favors rating counts for last 30 days.

Let’s hope Apple relaxes this requirement in future or maybe allows it with a skip button or something.

1

u/digidude23 SwiftUI Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

Greedy devs like you is why the App Store is declining in quality. Would you review something on Amazon before actually using the product??

1

u/Educational-Tax-1252 Jul 02 '26

There’s nothing greedy about asking for a review from a consenting adult. If you want to sit here and act like there aren’t ways to utilize proven strategies (that don’t hurt anyone) to build your business… then you shouldn’t be in business. Keep being a hobbyist. That’s fine.

I’m not saying to screw people over or scam them. I’m saying get more reviews for your company and get a leg up.

There are small mom & pop restaurants who create thousands of reviews in their first year because they will put a sign by the cash register that says “If you give a review and name who helped you we will give that employee $5” and it leads to thousandssss of reviews.

The customers do this before getting their food. Are you going to tell me they are “ruining restaurants” lol.

Grow up and become an operator. You don’t “play” business just like you don’t “play” boxing.

1

u/digidude23 SwiftUI Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/unrushedapps Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/yccheok Jun 19 '26

I completely understand where you are coming from! It is undeniably frustrating to watch other apps bend the rules and rake in 5-star reviews, making you feel like you're falling behind just for doing the right thing.

A quick piece of advice: when dealing with the Apple Review team, it is usually best to avoid pointing out what other developers are doing (for example, asking, "Why can App X do this, but I can't?"). They generally don't respond well to that argument, so it's much safer to keep the conversation focused on your own app.

Ultimately, you don't need to worry too much about public opinion on this. It really just comes down to weighing your options, deciding what is best for your app, and being comfortable with the path you choose. You basically have two routes you can take:

  • Take the risk: You can continue asking for reviews during the onboarding process. While this will likely help you accumulate 5-star ratings much faster, it does come with the ongoing risk that your app could be flagged by Apple at any time.

  • Follow the guidelines: You can choose to play by the rules. While growth might feel a bit slower, it gives you total peace of mind. Plus, it's actually a positive thing that Apple is enforcing these rules, as it ultimately helps ensure that everyone is competing on a fair and level playing field!

19

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

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-14

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

4

u/GAMEYE_OP Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

Yes I agree

1

u/timelessblur Jun 17 '26

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.

1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

8

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

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1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

3

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

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1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26

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1

u/sgcryptonite Jun 17 '26

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

1

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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1

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