Short version: rewards for ratings or reviews are not allowed on Google Play, and Apple treats incentivized feedback as manipulation.
Google Play
The policy "User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs" says:
- "We prohibit any manipulation of ratings, reviews, or install counts."
- "Don't offer rewards or incentives for ratings or reviews."
- "Asking users to rate your app while offering an incentive" is listed as a common violation.
- "Don't use deceptive pop-ups or force users to rate your app."
- "Don't use automated services to inflate installs or ratings."
That page does not list penalties. Check Google's current enforcement information for consequences.
Apple App Store
The App Review Guidelines, section 3, say: "If we find that you have attempted to manipulate reviews, inflate your chart rankings with paid, incentivized, filtered, or fake feedback, or engage with third-party services to do so on your behalf, we will take steps to preserve the integrity of the App Store, which may include expelling you from the Apple Developer Program."
Section 3.2.2 also says apps "must not force users to rate the app, review the app, download other apps, or other store-related actions in order to access functionality, content, or use of the app."
Section 5.6.1 says: "Use the provided API to prompt users to review your app; this functionality allows customers to provide an App Store rating and review without the inconvenience of leaving your app, and we will disallow custom review prompts."
Section 5.6.3 says: "Manipulating any element of the App Store customer experience such as charts, search, reviews, or referrals to your app erodes customer trust and is not permitted."
Sources: Play Console Help and App Review Guidelines, retrieved 2026-10-22.
Plain-language reading
- A reward means anything of value: money, credits, discounts, unlocked features, a favor in return.
- It does not matter who offers it. Hiring a service does not move the responsibility.
- The problem is the reward tied to a rating, not the ask itself.
What this means for you
- Do not reward ratings or reviews, in any form.
- Ask at a good moment, and accept whatever the user honestly thinks.
- Get structured private feedback separately. That is what AppReviewX does: credits pay for feedback, never for ratings.
General information, not legal advice. Policies change.
Back to the hub: App ratings and reviews. Related: Review gating: why filtering happy users is risky, How to report a fake or abusive review, Buy app reviews: risks, policy and what to do instead.