Export App Store Reviews to a Spreadsheet: Step-by-Step Guide

Why Export App Store Reviews?

Exporting app store reviews to a spreadsheet allows developers to perform deeper analysis, track trends, and share insights with stakeholders more effectively. Whether you are analyzing sentiment, identifying recurring issues, or simply organizing feedback, having reviews in a spreadsheet format can vastly improve your workflow.

Exporting Reviews from App Store Connect

Apple's App Store Connect doesn’t offer a direct export function for reviews, but a workaround using the App Store Connect API is possible. Here's how:

Step 1: Set Up API Access

Log in to App Store Connect.
Navigate to Users and Access → Keys.
Create a new API Key. Note down the Key ID and download the key file (.p8) as it won't be shown again.

Step 2: Use the App Store Connect API

You will need to use the App Store Connect API to pull review data. This requires some programming skills. Below is a Python snippet using the Fastlane tool:

lane :get_reviews do
  require 'spaceship'
  Spaceship::Tunes.login(user, password)
  app = Spaceship::Tunes::Application.find(app_identifier)
  reviews = app.reviews
  reviews.each do |review|
    puts "#{review.rating} - #{review.title}: #{review.text}"
  end
end

Step 3: Export to CSV

With the review data fetched, you can write it to a CSV file:

require 'csv'
CSV.open("app_reviews.csv", "wb") do |csv|
  csv << ["Rating", "Title", "Review"]
  reviews.each do |review|
    csv << [review.rating, review.title, review.text]
  end
end

Exporting Reviews from Google Play

Google Play offers a more straightforward approach to export reviews:

Step 1: Access Google Play Console

Log in to your Google Play Console.
Select your app and go to Reviews under the Quality section.

Step 2: Filter and Export

Apply any necessary filters (e.g., date range, star rating).
Click the Download button to export the reviews as a CSV file.

Using ReviewTower for Streamlined Review Management

While manual export methods work, they can be cumbersome for ongoing review management. Tools like ReviewTower automate this process, allowing you to export, analyze, and respond to reviews from a single dashboard. ReviewTower sends an email instantly when a 1-star review arrives, ensuring you can act quickly.

Conclusion

Exporting app store reviews into a spreadsheet can transform the way you handle feedback. By following these steps, you can ensure that your review data is both accessible and actionable. Whether you choose manual methods or leverage tools like ReviewTower, the key is to integrate review analysis into your regular app development cycle for continuous improvement.