Filip Brož Apple has launched a new page on its developer portal that highlights the most common reasons for rejecting new apps in the App Store. With this step, Apple wants to be open and honest to all developers who want to get their application into the App Store. Until now, the criteria by which Apple evaluates new applications have not been completely clear, and although these are logical and not very surprising reasons for rejection, this is valuable information, especially for beginning developers.
This page also includes a chart that shows the ten most common reasons applications were rejected in the approval process over the past seven days. The most common reasons for rejecting applications include, for example, a lack of information in the application, instability, present errors or complex or confusing user interfaces.
Interestingly, around 60% of rejected apps come from violating just ten of Apple's App Store guidelines. Some of them, such as the existence of placeholder text in the application, seem to be rather trivial errors, but interestingly, this very error turns out to be a very common reason for the rejection of the entire application.
Top 10 reasons for application rejection in the last 7 days (until August 28, 2014):
- 14% - Need more information.
- 8% - Guideline 2.2: Applications that show an error will be rejected.
- 6% - Does not comply with the terms in the Developer Program License Agreement.
- 6% - Guideline 10.6: Apple and our customers place a high value on simple, refined, creative and well-thought-out interfaces. If your user interface is too complex or not more than good, in this case the application may be rejected.
- 5% - Guideline 3.3: Applications with titles, descriptions or images that are not relevant to the content and function of the application will be rejected.
- 5% - Policy 22.2: An application that contains false, fraudulent or otherwise misleading statements, or usernames or icons similar to another application, will be rejected.
- 4% – Guideline 3.4: The name of the application in iTunes Connect and on the device's display should be the same to avoid possible confusion.
- 4% - Guideline 3.2: Applications with placeholder text will be rejected.
- 3% - Guideline 3: Developers are responsible for assigning ratings appropriate to their application. Inappropriate ratings may be changed or deleted by Apple.
- 2% - Policy 2.9: Applications that are "beta", "demo", "trial", or "trial" versions will be rejected.
It always gets me when some "developers" cry about how hard it is to get their app into the appstore and that the situation is much better with Google Play. When I see their work, I'm not even surprised by Apple.
I am very happy that the entrance of applications to the App Store is controlled. At least we don't see "more trash for less cash" here :)