App Rating Calculator
Find out how many 5-star ratings you need to reach your target rating, and what one 1-star rating costs you.
Example: a 4.20 average from 1,500 ratings, aiming for 4.50
900more 5-star ratings to reach 4.50
That's if every new rating is 5 stars. Each lower rating along the way adds to the count.
What one 1-star rating costs you
It drops your average from 4.20 to 4.198. It takes 4 five-star ratings to win that back.
| Target | 5-star ratings needed |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | Already there |
| 4.5 | 900 |
| 4.8 | 4,500 |
How it works
- Enter your average rating now and how many ratings you have. Both are on your app's store page.
- Enter the average you want to reach.
- See how many 5-star ratings in a row get you there, what one 1-star rating costs, and a quick table for 4.0, 4.5 and 4.8.
Worked example: from 4.2 to 4.5
Say your app has 1,500 ratings with a 4.2 average, and you want a 4.5.
The gap is (4.5 − 4.2) × 1,500 = 450 stars. Each new 5-star rating is 0.5 stars above your target (5 − 4.5), so it closes 0.5 of that gap. 450 ÷ 0.5 = 900.
So you need 900 more 5-star ratings. Check it: your ratings add up to 4.2 × 1,500 = 6,300 stars. Add 900 × 5 = 4,500 stars. That's 10,800 stars over 2,400 ratings, which is exactly 4.5.
needed = (target × ratings − average × ratings) ÷ (5 − target), rounded up
Questions people ask
How do I work out how many 5-star ratings I need?
Use this formula: needed = (target × ratings − average × ratings) ÷ (5 − target). Round up to the next whole number. For example, an app with a 4.2 average from 1,500 ratings needs 900 more 5-star ratings to reach 4.5.
Why can't I reach a perfect 5.0?
Once you have even one rating below 5 stars, your average can get very close to 5.0 but never reach it. Each new 5-star rating moves you closer, by a smaller step each time. A target like 4.8 or 4.9 is more useful.
How much does one 1-star rating hurt?
It depends on how many ratings you have. With 50 ratings at 4.6, one 1-star rating drops you to about 4.53. With 5,000 ratings, the same rating barely moves you. The calculator also shows how many 5-star ratings it takes to win that ground back.
Is this the same as my App Store rating?
The calculator uses a plain average, where every rating counts the same. A store may round the number it shows or work it out in its own way. So treat the result as a close guide, not an exact promise.
How can I get more 5-star ratings?
Ask happy users at a good moment, like right after they finish a task. On iPhone, use Apple's built-in rating prompt. Reply to unhappy reviews and fix what they mention. Our guide on getting more App Store reviews has more ideas.
Turn more of your reviews into 5 stars
Synthiya reads every new App Store review, shows you what drags your rating down and helps you reply fast.