Are ARC Reviews Legal on Amazon?
ARC (Advance Review Copy) reviews are explicitly permitted by Amazon's Terms of Service. Here's exactly what the policy says, what makes reviews compliant, and what can get them removed.
What Amazon Actually Says About ARC Reviews
Amazon's Community Guidelines explicitly allow authors to give free copies of books in exchange for honest reviews. The platform labels these as "unverified purchases" but still displays them. What Amazon prohibits is incentivized reviews — where compensation beyond the free book is tied to a positive review or specific rating.
✅ What Makes ARC Reviews Legal
- ✓Free copy given with no required rating
- ✓Reviewer free to post any honest opinion
- ✓Reviewer discloses receiving a free copy
- ✓No payment, gift cards, or other compensation
- ✓No requirement to post a positive review
- ✓Reviewer is not friends, family, or business partner
❌ What Makes ARC Reviews Illegal/Removable
- ✗Requiring a minimum star rating (e.g., "only 4–5 star")
- ✗Paying reviewers for positive reviews
- ✗Direct review swaps ("I review yours, you review mine")
- ✗Reviewer is author's friend, family, or business partner
- ✗No disclosure of receiving a free copy
- ✗Fake or fabricated reviews from non-readers
The FTC Disclosure Requirement
Beyond Amazon's own rules, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) requires disclosure whenever a reviewer received compensation — including free products — for a review.
Example Compliant Disclosure
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/iWrity in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own."
This disclosure doesn't need to be long. A single sentence satisfies both FTC and Amazon requirements. iWrity reminds all reviewers to include this disclosure when posting their Amazon reviews.
How iWrity Ensures Legal ARC Reviews
No Rating Requirements
iWrity never requires a minimum rating or positive review. All reviewers are explicitly told to post their honest opinion, including low ratings.
Disclosure Reminders
The iWrity platform reminds reviewers to include proper disclosure when posting to Amazon. This keeps reviews FTC and Amazon TOS compliant.
Community Pool Model
iWrity uses a points pool rather than direct swaps. Readers earn points reviewing any book, spend points on any book. This eliminates the direct quid-pro-quo that Amazon prohibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ARC reviews legal on Amazon?+
Yes. Amazon explicitly permits giving free copies for honest reviews. The key is that no specific rating can be required and reviewers must disclose receiving the free copy.
Do ARC reviews get removed by Amazon?+
Legal ARC reviews following Amazon's guidelines should not be removed. Reviews are at risk of removal if they're part of a review manipulation scheme, if reviewers have a relationship with the author, or if no disclosure was made.
Is it illegal to ask readers to leave a positive review?+
Yes — asking specifically for a "positive review" or "5-star review" crosses the line into incentivized reviewing. You can ask for an "honest review" or "your opinion on Amazon" — just not a specifically positive one.
Can traditional publishers give ARCs? Can indie authors?+
Both can. Traditional publishers have always used ARCs. Amazon's ARC policy applies equally to indie and traditionally published authors. The same rules apply: free copy, honest review, proper disclosure.
What platforms offer legal ARC reviews?+
iWrity, Booksprout, NetGalley, and BookSirens all offer ARC distribution services. For Amazon-specific legal compliance, iWrity's community model is specifically designed to meet Amazon's requirements.