I am seeking guidance after experiencing what appears to be an inconsistent and unresponsive review process.
My app was rejected under Guideline 4.3(b) (Spam - saturated category) and Guideline 2.1 (App Completeness - IAP not found in binary). I would like to highlight several concerns:
Regarding 2.1 - IAP Issue: The rejection states that In-App Purchase products "could not be found in the submitted binary." However, a previous reviewer successfully accessed and screenshotted the exact purchase screen in an earlier review cycle. The IAP is clearly implemented and functional. This inconsistency suggests the current reviewer may not have thoroughly tested the app.
Regarding 4.3(b) - Spam: I have submitted detailed appeal notes explaining the unique, differentiating features of my app that are not found in any competing applications in this category. These include:
- Integration with real-time external data sources (not static content)
- Cultural and regional elements unique to my market
- AI-powered contextual features beyond template-based functionality
- A distinctive companion feature focused on reflective dialogue rather than predictions
Despite providing this documentation, I receive identical templated rejection responses with no acknowledgment of the specific points raised in my appeals.
My Questions:
- How can I ensure that reviewers actually read and consider the detailed notes provided in appeals?
- If a previous reviewer could access the IAP screen, why would the current reviewer claim it doesn't exist?
- Apple actively features apps in this category in editorial collections. What specific criteria differentiates "approved" apps from those rejected as spam?
I have invested significant development time and resources into creating something genuinely innovative, not a clone. I respectfully request that my submission receive a thorough, hands-on evaluation rather than a surface-level category-based rejection.
Any guidance from Apple staff or developers who have navigated similar situations would be greatly appreciated.
Most Importantly: This experience is deeply discouraging and exhausting. This process does not feel developmental or constructive that it feels like a barrier designed to wear down independent developers. The inconsistency between platforms is striking: my app was approved on Google Play without any issues, and we were expecting simultaneous production releases. Instead, I am trapped in a rejection loop here while my competitor advantage erodes daily.
How can it be that one platform recognizes the legitimacy of my work while the other dismisses it with templated responses? Simply providing vague assurances and surface-level category rejections helps no one, not developers, not users, not the ecosystem.
Independent developers are the backbone of app marketplace diversity. When the review process becomes this opaque and unresponsive, it doesn't protect quality that it stifles innovation and consolidates the market in favor of established players who can afford to wait indefinitely.
I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking for a fair, thorough, and consistent review.