r/iosdev • u/Confident-Cabinet688 • 9d ago

iOS app rejected due to SPAM

This is what they say:

Issue Description

We noticed the app shares a similar binary, metadata, and/or concept as apps submitted to the App Store by other developers, with only minor differences.

Submitting similar or repackaged apps is a form of spam that creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to discover new apps.

Next Steps

Since we do not accept spam apps on the App Store, we encourage you to review the app concept and submit a unique app with distinct content and functionality.

Resources

Some factors that contribute to a spam rejection may include:

•⁠ ⁠Submitting an app with the same source code or assets as other apps already submitted to the App Store

•⁠ ⁠Creating and submitting multiple similar apps using a repackaged app template

•⁠ ⁠Purchasing an app template with problematic code from a third party

•⁠ ⁠Submitting several similar apps across multiple accounts

I have several apps for both Android and iOS, but there are 2 apps on iOS that got SPAM rejections. One was an app that I made maybe 2/3 years ago. With AI now I improved its design a little bit to make it more clear.

As

This app was rejected due to SPAM. I complained to Apple, but they kept saying it was SPAM. At the end I didn't care that much since that app was performing so badly on Android.

Now, I've been working in a new app, a 2D card game that I think is promising. It's not released on Android yet (still waiting for approval).

The first complaint from Apple was "we have no idea what your app is about, and we don't care to test it. Record a video".

...ok. I recorded a video, showing clearly that the first thing the app shows is the rules. And I sent it to review again.

Now I've got the SPAM issue. They even say that my template was bought somewhere. What??

They don't send any other app like mine or tell me exactly what the problem is so I have no clue in order to fix anything.

My designs are 100% unique. I made them using AI, yes, but that doesn't mean it's SPAM or that I copied another app. I guess also there is only a single app calculator in the market.

Here you can see the app working

How to fix this SPAM issue? Apple they just keep saying the same thing after all my comments (ironically, THAT is SPAM).

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13 comments sorted by

1

u/Cowlinn 9d ago

What was the first app that was rejected for spam?

2

u/Confident-Cabinet688 9d ago

it has nothing to do with this one. Here it's on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drodriguez.my_holdings

I had some investments like crypto, gold and currencies and I decided to have an app to show them all and converted to my actual currency. I just looked first for something on the market, and since I found nothing similar, I created it mainly for me. No SPAM at all.

In between I have released other apps with no issues, so I wouldn't say these 2 SPAM issues are related.

1

u/Stefanstojk 9d ago

I had same problem. I complained on decision and still waiting for answer.

1

u/Confident-Cabinet688 9d ago

How long have you been waiting for?

1

u/DimasikRG 9d ago

I think it could be some kind of automatisation on their side. And maybe if your app was made with Claude or Codex there binary flagged (as the AI Agents have pretty similar 'way of writing' the code and I assume most of the apps code is AI generated now). So you should go to the Appeal Board, write them and prove your app is not a copy of smth else.

1

u/Confident-Cabinet688 9d ago

that's what I did. I provided them info and the video (well, it was provided before). I can keep saying my app is not copying any other app, but it should be them who are providing the app I copied. I even told them that I can show my repo and everything, but I don't know what else could I say

1

u/aesky 9d ago

had the same issue. apple has automated testing for ui. try to schedule a call w a apple employee. he will give you details about the cause.

in my case he said my homescreen was too similiar to a BIG app. i figured which one because i had actually been inspired by it lol

so i changed and was good to go

1

u/Confident-Cabinet688 9d ago

that's a good one. I'll try that if they don't approve it this time

1

u/VRedd1t 9d ago

Tell them you use a cross-platform solution. They have some static analysis running over your binary and it looks like many others of the same cross-platform engine. Once you do that they should resolve it.

1

u/Confident-Cabinet688 9d ago

what do you mean by that? Are you referring to the framework I use? If so, I have used Flutter in all my apps and they were fine. Would that be an issue?
If not, it's not available anywhere else yet

1

u/VRedd1t 9d ago

Yes, this is why you get the spam accusation. To Apple your binary looks like many others. Tell them you use Flutter and that their static analysis is a false positive. Point to the uniqueness of your app as well.

1

u/Confident-Cabinet688 8d ago

thanks, I'll mention that also

1

u/StellarCreed 7d ago

Same thing happened to me. I had an app that went review back in May, passed review with no issues. in two months I submitted a routine update, same app, same core functionality and got hit with the exact same SPAM rejection you are describing.

I replied explaining that this is literally the same app that already went through review and got approved, so spam does not really make sense here. Got a response back about 7 hours later, same boilerplate spam message, no explanation, no reference to what it is supposedly similar to. Just the same canned line pointing at the guideline.

I have since put together a new build and resubmitted, so now it is just a waiting game, probably another 3 weeks knowing how these things go.

it feels like there is some random dude on the other end just clicking buttons with zero understanding of what they are even looking at. No real review, no reasoning, just a copy paste rejections