Can I ask listeners for positive, or even 5‑star, reviews of my podcast?
The short answer here is "yes", it’s perfectly acceptable to encourage your audience to rate and review your show, but (and it's a big but)... You must not specifically ask for positive reviews, or offer a reward for leaving a good review (e.g. “leave us 5 stars and we’ll send you a gift”), or imply that only a perfect rating is welcome. That crosses the line with most podcast platform terms and in many countries with consumer‑protection law, too.
Why reviews matter
Essentially, this comes down to social proof and discovery. Apple Podcasts and other apps surface shows with higher star averages and more recent feedback, giving you better visibility.
It also helps to get qualitative insight for your own feedback. Honest critiques tell you what’s resonating (or not) so you can refine future episodes.
Best‑practice language to stay above board
- ❌Risky: “Please leave a 5‑star review—anything less hurts us!”
- ✅Better: “If you enjoyed today’s chat, a quick rating in Apple Podcasts really helps others discover the show.”
- ❌Risky: “Screenshot your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and we’ll send you a gift card.”
- ✅Better: “Tell us what you loved (or didn’t) in a review; we read them all on future episodes.”
- ❌Risky: “Rate us 5 stars and get our premium episode free.”
- ✅Better: “Leave a rating on Spotify—takes two seconds and makes a huge difference.”
Tips to boost honest reviews (ethically)
- Make it easy! Add a “Leave a review” button in your show notes linking directly to the Apple Podcasts review page.
- Use in‑episode CTAs: Drop a 10‑second reminder after your outro music; consistency beats one big push.
- Show gratitude publicly: Read a listener’s review on air or thank them on social—recognition encourages others.
- Educate: Listeners might not know how to review. A quick blog post or reel walking them through the steps removes friction.
Common questions
Can I run a giveaway for reviewers?
Yes, but you should:
- Allow all ratings both positive and negative
- Disclose that leaving a review is a condition of entry
- Check that the contest policies of all the platforms you publish to (eg Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) permit it. Always include clear contest rules and legal‑style disclosures where needed.
Is it OK to delete negative reviews?
As far as we're aware, no podcast apps let you selectively remove negative reviews. Instead, focus on addressing feedback in‑kind, your listeners will likely value transparency.
What about “review swaps” with other podcasters?
'Review swaps' are when you contact other podcasters and leave them a review with an understanding that they'll also leave your show a review. While it's debatable whether this is good or bad for your show long term, since these don't come organically from your 'regular' listeners, swaps are normally legal if the reviews are genuine and disclose any relationship (eg state within the review that it's a review swap). However, fake or boilerplate reviews can be flagged as spam, so no "you leave me a 5-star review and I'll do the same for you" kind of exchanges.
ZenCast takeaway
Asking for reviews is one of the simplest growth levers you have; just make sure to frame the request around honest feedback, not perfect scores or incentives. Keep the process transparent, comply with platform rules, and you’ll build trust with both listeners and directory/app moderators.