The 500 Review Limit Explained
If you've ever tried to export App Store reviews, you've likely encountered this frustrating limit: approximately 500 reviews maximum. This isn't an arbitrary restriction from third-party tools – it's a fundamental limitation imposed by Apple.
Key Fact: Apple's RSS feed for customer reviews is hard-limited to 10 pages × 50 reviews = 500 reviews total. This applies to all tools and methods that access App Store reviews programmatically.
Here's why this limit exists:
- Apple's design choice – Apple doesn't provide a public API for bulk review access
- RSS feed structure – The only programmatic access is through RSS, which is capped
- Privacy and load concerns – Limiting access reduces server load and potential scraping abuse
- Focus on recent reviews – Apple likely assumes most users care about recent feedback
Technical Details: Apple's RSS Feed
For developers and technical users, here's exactly how Apple's review RSS feed works:
RSS Feed URL Format:
https://itunes.apple.com/{country}/rss/customerreviews/id={app_id}/sortBy={sort}/page={page}/xml
Parameters:
- {country} – Two-letter country code (us, gb, de, etc.)
- {app_id} – The numeric App Store ID
- {sort} – Either "mostrecent" or "mosthelpful"
- {page} – Page number (1-10)
RSS Feed Limitations:
| Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
| Max Pages | 10 pages |
| Reviews per Page | 50 reviews |
| Total Maximum | 500 reviews |
| Sort Options | Most Recent, Most Helpful |
| Rate Limits | Per IP address (undocumented) |
| Moderation Delay | Up to 24 hours for new reviews |
Note: The first entry in Apple's RSS feed is the app description, not a review. Tools like Rivioo skip this entry automatically, so you get only actual reviews in your export.
What's Excluded from Exports
Not all App Store feedback is available for export. Here's what you won't get:
1. Star-Only Ratings
When users tap a star rating without writing a review, this is called a "star-only rating." These are not included in RSS exports.
This is why you might see an app with "50,000 ratings" but can only export 500 reviews – the majority are star-only ratings without text.
2. Filtered or Hidden Reviews
Apple may filter certain reviews that violate guidelines. These don't appear in the RSS feed.
3. Developer Replies (in some cases)
While the RSS feed includes reviews, developer responses may not always be available depending on how the data is structured.
4. Historical Reviews Beyond 500
If an app has 10,000+ reviews, you can only access the most recent 500 (or most helpful 500, depending on sort order).
Pro Tip: Export twice – once sorted by "most recent" and once by "most helpful" – to potentially capture different reviews. There may be overlap, but you could get more unique reviews this way.
App Store vs Google Play Comparison
How does Apple's limitation compare to Google Play?
| Feature | App Store (iOS) | Google Play (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Reviews Exportable | ~500 | 10,000+ |
| Access Method | RSS Feed only | Various scraping methods |
| Official Bulk Export API | No | No (but less restricted) |
| Star-Only Ratings | Excluded | Excluded |
| Review Moderation Delay | Up to 24 hours | Usually faster |
| Country-Specific | Yes (by store) | Yes (by store) |
Key Takeaway: Google Play is significantly more accessible for bulk review exports. If you're doing cross-platform analysis, expect more data from Android apps.
How to Maximize Your Export
While you can't exceed the 500 review limit, here are strategies to get the most value:
1. Export from Multiple Countries
If your app is available globally, export reviews from different country stores. Each country store has its own 500-review limit.
- US Store – 500 reviews
- UK Store – 500 reviews
- Germany Store – 500 reviews
- etc.
This can give you thousands of reviews across markets.
2. Export Both Sort Orders
The "most recent" and "most helpful" sorts may surface different reviews. Export both to maximize coverage.
3. Set Up Regular Exports
Since you get the most recent 500 reviews, exporting monthly (or weekly) builds a historical database over time. After 12 months of monthly exports, you could have access to patterns across 6,000+ review snapshots.
4. Focus on Recent Feedback
The 500-review limit usually captures several months of recent reviews for most apps. This is often the most actionable data anyway – older reviews may reference outdated app versions.
Workarounds and Solutions
For App Developers
If you're the app developer, you have additional options:
- App Store Connect – View all reviews in your dashboard (though bulk export is still limited)
- App Store Connect API – Programmatic access with rate limits (requires developer account)
- Third-party ASO tools – Services like Appbot or AppFollow may have special arrangements, but still face platform limits
For Everyone (Rivioo)
Rivioo automatically maximizes what's available within Apple's constraints:
- Fetches all 10 pages of reviews automatically
- Skips the app description entry
- Provides clean CSV/Excel output
- Works for any public app (yours or competitors)
- Supports all country stores
Export App Store Reviews Now
Get up to 500 reviews in CSV or Excel format – free and instant.
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Summary
Apple's 500-review limit is a platform constraint that affects all tools and methods. While frustrating, you can still get valuable insights by:
- Understanding that the limit is 10 pages × 50 reviews = 500 total
- Exporting from multiple country stores for global apps
- Using both sort orders to maximize coverage
- Setting up regular exports to build historical data
- Combining with Google Play exports for cross-platform analysis
For most analysis needs, 500 recent reviews provides substantial insight into user sentiment, common issues, and feature requests.
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