Here’s why reading reviews on the App Store matters, but also why some reviews should be taken with a pinch of salt.
For those of you who don’t know, the App Store is essentially a safe and trusted digital shop or distribution platform where mobile users can discover a broad range of mobile applications, including health, fitness and lifestyle, digital entertainment, social media, communication, personal banking and finance, and many others.
The approved apps found on Apple’s App Store can be downloaded and installed for free in seconds onto any decent smartphone or tablet device running on the iOS and iPADOS operating systems.
Here is a closer look at why reading reviews before deciding which apps might be worth adding to your preferred mobile device matters more than ever for consumers and the companies that develop them.
How important are the reviews on the App Store?
Reviews left by people who have downloaded, installed, and used mobile applications from the App Store are more crucial than ever, with many people saying that they matter significantly.
Reviews and ratings, in general, left by people immediately give consumers a much better sense of whether a product or service is worth getting. They are also a valuable source of customer feedback for mobile app developers and for people who are trying to shed light on how good the app is.
However, despite being helpful, reviews should also still be taken with a pinch of salt.
For example, instead of basing your decision on whether the app is worth getting purely because of the reviews you have just read, you should also research what the app is capable of by reading the specs and other important information about its features and functionality.
You should also read the expert reviews found on reputable websites and then cross-reference your findings to learn more about the apps you have been considering downloading.
If the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, you shouldn’t encounter any issues if you download that app. In other words, most reviews can be trusted, but don’t just base your decision on getting that app by only reading one or two reviews. Take a few minutes to read several reviews for the same app.
If, for example, you were to purchase a new smart TV, you should take a few minutes to read the reviews to see what they are saying and gauge how good that product is.
Similarly, if you were to sign up to an online casino with a 200$ deposit bonus for all new players, then the best thing to do would be to read the expert reviews before registering a new account on that site.
The reviews will give you much better insight into the safety and reliability of the product/brand.
Therefore, reviews can be make or break for a company because positive reviews are crucial for attracting new customers. If people read overwhelmingly negative reviews for the same service/product/brand, they will likely steer clear of it based on those reviews.
Key points about App Store reviews
Reviews on the App Store matter significantly. They can influence our decision to download an app. They can also impact discoverability and provide valuable feedback for developers.
Here are some key points of the reviews found you can read on the App Store:
- Visibility and discoverability – positive reviews can significantly boost a mobile app’s visibility/discoverability, enhance its ranking in search results, and potentially lead to more downloads
- Social proof – reviews left by people who have already tried the app (downloaded, installed, used, etc.) can be reliable indicators to others considering getting that app. The reviews can be the determining factor that encourages users to add it to their phone
- Decision-making – similar to above, reviews are relied upon by many people and can often help them decide which apps might be worth their time. The best apps with positive reviews/feedback and high ratings help build trust in a brand’s app and often lead to increased downloads
- Developer feedback – user reviews, good or bad, provide free and valuable insight into each user’s experience. They often highlight specific areas, such as requests for new features and bug issues that developers can improve upon
Positive reviews give users more confidence to go ahead and get the app(s) they have had their eye on, whereas negative reviews will make them far more hesitant. In other words, reading reviews on the App Store matters, just like reading the reviews for any other products, services or content you are considering purchasing or using.
Final thoughts
Today, you can find hundreds of apps (free and paid apps) on the App Store for just about everything, and most of them come with the latest reviews from people in your region who use the same type of device as you.
The reviews are usually verified before being published, and they are based on other people’s personal experiences with that app when they downloaded it onto their smartphone or tablet device.
The App Store currently has thousands of apps to choose from, all of which are known for having high standards of content, security, and privacy, and the reviews of those apps are always worth reading to give you a slightly better insight.
They help you find which apps might be more suitable based on your personal preferences.
Some of the most popular apps [by downloads] on the App Store today are TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
Other popular app categories are tool apps (e.g., web browsers, video players, and VPNs), e-learning apps, food delivery apps, banking and personal finance apps, social media apps, digital entertainment apps, lifestyle/health and well-being apps, weather apps, photo and video apps, and productivity apps.
Before deciding which apps to add to your preferred iOS smartphone or tablet device, perhaps consider reading at least 10 to 20 reviews first, but also remember that some of the reviews you read are to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Most reviews take only a few seconds to read, and they will help paint a much better picture of how good that app actually is.
