i feel the same way about shopify, its been a nightmare. Fake reviews and youtube videos saying how shopify has helped them soo much. I cant even get one single reply to my many issues, it seems like all they are interested in is selling their low feature websites to as many people as possible. Its actually very frustrating and the lack of help is borderline rediculous.
Topic summary
Shopify app marketplace users are raising concerns about widespread fake reviews, estimating up to 90% may be fraudulent. Key indicators include:
Common Red Flags:
- Generic, short reviews (“Great app!”) posted in clusters on the same day
- Reviewer stores that are locked, inactive, or link to non-existent websites
- New apps receiving 10-50+ reviews immediately after launch
- Reviews that are nearly identical or copy-pasted across different apps
Verification Methods Suggested:
- Click reviewer store names to check if they’re active businesses
- Look for detailed reviews mentioning specific pros/cons rather than generic praise
- Check install-to-review ratios and review timing patterns
- Prioritize apps with 10+ reviews to reduce fake review impact
Developer Perspectives:
Legitimate app developers (including representatives from Shogun and other apps) defend their review acquisition methods, explaining they:
- Request reviews after positive support interactions
- Run email campaigns to active users (typically 5-10% response rates)
- Address negative reviews immediately
- Emphasize that reviews are “hard-earned”
Systemic Issues:
- Shopify’s app ranking algorithm heavily weights review quantity, incentivizing manipulation
- Shopify has a policy prohibiting fake reviews but enforcement appears inconsistent
- Some developers report Shopify removed thousands of reviews recently, though detection methods remain unclear
Proposed Solutions:
- Auto-remove reviews when stores close or apps are uninstalled
- Better app categorization to reduce ranking pressure
- Third-party tool AppNavigator now provides historical app data and review analysis to help merchants make informed decisions
The discussion remains ongoing with no clear resolution, though awareness is growing.
We understand the concerns you’ve been raising about fake reviews and we’ve built something you might find useful: AppNavigator
AppNavigator shows historical data for apps on the App Store as well as a breakdown of how long users have used the app before leaving a review:
We hope this tool helps you make better, more informed decisions when selecting apps for your Shopify store. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
I just wanted to leave a quick message to say that this is an awesome site! It’s not often I click a random link in a forum and immediately add it to my bookmarks, haha! I’m a developer, so this site will be very useful for keeping an eye on competitors and trends.
Quick question about the rankings: my app, autoBlogger (appnavigator.io), was doing quite well in its target area (blogs), sitting at #4, but it has dropped dramatically to #22. What metrics do you use to determine these rankings (if you don’t mind sharing of course)? I feel that understanding this would help me improve my app’s overall standing.