ASO Glossary

App Store Rating

Definition

The aggregate star rating (1–5) and review count displayed on an app's App Store or Play Store listing.

What Is App Store Rating?

The App Store rating is the average star rating (out of 5) computed from user reviews, displayed prominently on every app's product page. Apple resets the rating to a blank slate with each app version, but most apps choose to retain the cumulative rating across versions. Google Play uses a weighted average that prioritizes recent reviews. The rating, along with the review count, is one of the strongest social-proof signals in app store discovery — a 4.7-star app with 50,000 reviews converts dramatically better than a 4.2-star app with 200 reviews, even when other factors are equal. Apple's in-app review prompt (SKStoreReviewController) lets publishers ask for ratings up to 3 times per year per user; Google's in-app review API is similar.

Why It Matters for App Developers

Ratings appear in search results next to the icon and name, making them one of the first three things a user notices. Algorithmic ranking on both stores weights rating heavily — a higher rating means better search positioning, which means more visibility, which means more installs, which means more reviews, compounding the effect. Apps that proactively prompt for reviews at moments of value (after a positive in-app event, not randomly) maintain ratings 0.3–0.7 stars higher than apps that wait for organic reviews — which is enough to materially change conversion.

Technical Details

Apple in-app prompt: SKStoreReviewController.requestReview() — Apple limits this to 3 calls per user per 365-day period. Google in-app prompt: ReviewManager API — similar throttling. Best practice: trigger prompts after positive moments (completed task, repeat login, finished onboarding) — never immediately on launch or after errors. Apple shows ratings as a "current version" or "all versions" toggle; the all-versions rating is what appears in search results. Google's rating is weighted by recency (last 30/90 days matter more than 1-year-old reviews). Negative review patterns to flag: ratings dropping >0.3 stars in a quarter usually indicates a regression or app store policy change worth investigating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the App Store rating?

The average star rating (out of 5) computed from user reviews, shown on your App Store and Play Store listing alongside the review count. It's one of the top three signals users notice in search results — icon, name, and rating.

How do I improve my app's App Store rating?

Prompt for reviews at moments of positive value (after completed task, on repeat login, after onboarding) — not on launch or after errors. Respond to negative reviews to demonstrate active maintenance. Fix the underlying issues that drive low ratings (crashes, missing features, confusing UX).

How often can I prompt users for an App Store review?

Apple limits in-app prompts (SKStoreReviewController) to 3 per user per 365 days. Google's in-app review API has similar throttling. Use them strategically — only at moments where the user has just experienced value, not at random.

How much does App Store rating affect installs?

Significantly. A 4.7-star app converts 20–40% better than a 4.2-star app with similar review counts. Ratings also feed algorithmic ranking — higher rating means better search position, which means more visibility and a compounding effect over time.