Read & Rate - Empowering Indie Authors with Genuine Reviews and Community Support.Read & Rate is a unique platform built to support self-published authors by helping them gain authentic, impactful reviews on Amazon. Our community-driven model allows authors to earn points (InkDrops) by reviewing each other’s books and then spend those points to request reviews for their own work, creating a balanced and supportive environment. We’re committed to quality and transparency, with strict adherence to Amazon's guidelines and robust anti-review-swapping algorithms to ensure fair and honest feedback. Beyond reviews, Read & Rate provides resources for authors to improve their visibility, connect with a community of fellow writers, and access expert services, such as editing, cover design, and marketing.Our subscription plans offer flexible options for new and experienced authors alike, helping them boost their book’s ranking and reach new audiences. With Read & Rate, authors can grow their readership, improve their craft, and support each other’s success in a friendly and encouraging environment. Join us to experience a supportive community that champions indie authors and helps them thrive in the world of self-publishing!
Read & Rate (readnrate.com) has 13 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5.
Also known as
readnrate.com
Website
readnrate.com
Category
Sales & Marketing
Location
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 85% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: February 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
Score
This company cannot pay to remove reviews or change its score.
I have two books on this platform, but I couldn’t get even one review during this period! This is a paid platform not something free! So any changes to platform should consider the books that are already in your platform.
Response from Read & RateJan 14, 2026
Hi Ali, thank you for the feedback. I’m sorry to hear you felt the platform didn't meet your expectations. However, I want to clarify that during your subscription, your book did receive 7 reviews.
Our support team enjoyed answering your questions, and we always strive to help authors succeed. Ultimately, readers choose what resonates with them, and getting that much engagement in a week and a half is a strong start. We hope you will consider trying us again in the future!
SD
Scott D.
Bottom line: ReadNRate can't perform and lies to cover that fact
ReadNRate is no more honest than stuffing these pages with reviews from their shills would indicate.
I tried their service for the review period and a little over a week into a paid subscription. I provided seven quality reviews for lengthy books. In the early going, I immediately got two reviews back, 5-star reviews, though the written text was not of the same quality I was producing.
Too easy - I suspected at the time that those reviews were being produced by company employees for show (that is, to create the illusion of legitimacy through the free trial, like all those fake come-ons you get when you sign up for a dating site), but let it go.
I never got another reader, much less a review, in the two and a half weeks after those first two. I had earned so many "InkDrops" that I maxxed out the number of review requests the site allows (three per book) and the number of books I could put on the "Top Shelf" (a gimmick that lasts a short period to supposedly provide incentives to reviewers - it doesn't work, and is actually meant to draw down your InkDrops and waste the effects of all those reviews you're putting out).
So at the end of that period, I had all these InkDrops I couldn't spend on reviews, no readers, and no reviews coming my way. When I complained, at first this Manuel Denault character (as they say in Texas, "all hat and no cattle") ran his mouth promising all these changes they were doing to fix problems they knew they had (they have exactly one problem, and they can't fix it: They are a book review websites with not nearly enough reviewers, period.)
When a week later, nothing had changed and I was stuck where I was, I called him out: Put up or shut up. He shriveled from THAT like he had a lot of practice. Now suddenly he's claiming I didn't understand the obvious (no reviewers when you have three quality books at 4.8 average ratings plus on Amazon is pretty easy to understand). When I called that bluff, suddenly it's like I'm Stormy Daniels calling him out for his short-stemmed mushroom cap, and he's trying to usher me out the door before anyone else finds out he's got nothing.
Worse, a reviewed author stands a real chance of getting their reviews pulled and their Amazon accounts closed because it turns out ReadNRate plays fast and loose with the Amazon rules. ReadNRate is truly incompetent when it comes to "Verified Purchaser" reviews. When you don't get what you paid for (via InkDrops) they force you to chase down the review to show them. Obviously, if an author is forced to find the Amazon review and the reviewer's name, then the whole idea of preventing quid-pro-quo favorable reviews goes out the window.
ReadNRate is so desperate for members now that they are giving complete lip service to Amazon's rules, leaving authors exposed to punishment from Amazon though the writer's done nothing wrong.
Response from Read & RateJun 20, 2025
Hi Scott,
Thank you for trying Read & Rate and for taking the time to leave feedback. We decided to remove you from our community, canceled your subscription, and refunded you, as you made it clear you were more focused on finding problems, threatening lawsuits against us and even Amazon, instead of taking responsibility and focusing on your book success. Despite our repeated efforts to help you, guide you, and even offer support on basic features like unsubscribing from helpful emails you labeled as spam, you showed no willingness to be helped or to engage constructively.
However, much of what you've stated is misleading or incorrect, and it's important to clarify for anyone reading this:
1. Your Reviews Were Real: The two reviews you received came from verified, active members. Our system does not generate fake reviews, and we do not allow our staff to review books. Every reviewer is a registered user who chooses what to read and review.
2. You Maxed Out Requests: You state you couldn’t spend your InkDrops, but in fact, you used them all and maxed out both book and copy limits. Your books were already in the library with the maximum copies allowed. As we’ve explained multiple times, the point is not to overload the library, but to allow natural selection from active members.
3. Top Shelf is Not a Gimmick: It gives real visibility by placing your books in a more limited pool. Members using Top Shelf see results when their covers and listings are appealing and competitive. But it’s not magic. If your book is not selected, adding more copies won’t change anything. There is no point flooding the library with copies of books that haven’t been selected.
4. False Claim About Amazon Risk: This is categorically false. Read & Rate is fully Amazon compliant. We do not allow review swapping. All reviews must first be posted on Amazon as regular customer reviews. We manually verify each one. If a review is not tagged “Verified Purchase,” we follow Amazon’s lead and adjust the InkDrops unless the reviewer can provide proof of purchase. That’s standard, fair practice, not “forcing” anyone. We do not encourage or permit authors to contact reviewers, and we don’t provide names.
5. Verified Purchase Tag Is Amazon-Controlled: If Amazon does not apply the Verified tag, it’s due to how the book was acquired or how quickly the review was posted. We explain this thoroughly in our support. Blaming us for Amazon’s internal logic is simply not accurate.
6. You Received Support: You had direct contact with the founder and support team. You were answered respectfully, and your concerns were addressed repeatedly. What you’ve called “lip service” was our real effort to walk you through how things work. Unfortunately, it appears you chose not to listen.
We understand our platform may not be for everyone. But making false claims about dishonesty or risk to other authors is irresponsible. We work hard to protect our members, keep reviews compliant, and offer an honest space for authors and readers.
We wish you the best with your books, and we genuinely thank you for trying the platform.
— Read & Rate Team
PO
Pavi O.
Overcharges Authors for Basic Reviews
ReadnRate’s pricing structure leaves much to be desired. Unlike most platforms that offer tiered pricing based on the type of review requested—such as verified purchases or Kindle Unlimited downloads—ReadnRate charges a flat, premium rate regardless of the review type. This creates an unfair dynamic, as authors are forced to pay the highest rate, even if they only want a basic review.
Moreover, the inconsistency becomes even more apparent when authors review other books on the platform. Reviewers earn varying amounts of “ink drops” depending on the type of review they provide—less for free downloads, slightly more for Kindle Direct, and the most for verified purchases. This tiered reward system contrasts starkly with the one-size-fits-all pricing charged to authors, leaving many feeling as though they are being overcharged for lower-value reviews.
The platform’s “double-dipping” approach raises questions about fairness, transparency, and the overall value authors receive for their investment.
Response from Read & RateNov 7, 2024
Hi Pavi, thank you for your feedback. We want to clarify that we don’t charge for reviews; your payment is for a subscription to be part of a community. We strictly adhere to Amazon’s guidelines and use algorithms to prevent any policy violations. When you request reviews, please note that you can’t specify the type of review, as our experience and research show that consistent activity on your listing is what truly helps improve organic ranking. In most cases, receiving 10 reviews, even if not all are verified purchases, is more beneficial than only having 3 verified purchase reviews.
We understand you may have a different approach, but our system is built on data-backed insights—not on trends or advice from YouTube “gurus.” While this might not align with every strategy, we appreciate you sharing your thoughts for the benefit of others.
