Hi everyone, I’m looking for guidance because I’m struggling to understand an App Review decision. My app, The Leaf Cellar, is a cigar companion app that includes cigar image scanning, humidor management, cigar journals, tasting notes, lounge discovery, and recommendations. My app was rejected, yet there are multiple applications currently on the App Store with substantially similar functionality, including: Ember: AI Cigar Companion (released this year) My Humidor – Cigar Journal Humidor Journal Pro ACJ These apps continue to receive updates and remain available on the App Store. I’m trying to understand what materially distinguishes my implementation from theirs. If Apple considers my app to violate a specific guideline, I would appreciate understanding what objective difference exists between my app and these already approved apps. Has anyone experienced a similar situation where comparable apps were approved but theirs was rejected? Were you able to resolve it through App Review or the App Review Board? Any advice on how to present the strongest case would be greatly appreciated. I’m not looking for speculation or opinions. I’m looking for a clear explanation of how the App Store Review Guidelines are being applied in this case, especially given that a competing app with substantially similar functionality was approved and released this year. From my perspective, the current outcome appears inconsistent, and I would appreciate any insight from developers who have successfully navigated a similar situation. Thank you.

How can Apple deny my appeal and not approve my app for tobacco when multiple apps like these are on the store?

Details: I'm looking for clarification on how Guideline 1.4.3 is applied to tobacco related apps. My app, The Leaf Cellar, was rejected under 1.4.3 with the reasoning that its "current concept is not appropriate" because it relates to tobacco. The app is a private inventory manager. It has no store, no purchasing, no vendor or affiliate links, no discovery feed, and no content directed at encouraging or using tobacco. its only function is personal record-keeping (logging inventory you already own, aging dates, humidity readings). A 21+ age gate is enforced on launch. What I'm trying to understand is the consistency of the guideline, because functionally identical apps are currently live on the store and receiving updates (which means apple must approve the submitted updates.) Existing Apps (not being enforced by 1.4.3): "My Humidor – Cigar Journal": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-humidor-cigar-journal/id6639582700] "Humidor Journal Pro": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/humidor-journal-pro/id6751737114] Questions: Is there a specific feature or distinction that separates an approvable cigar-journal app from one rejected under 1.4.3 as a "concept"? If apps in this category are already approved, what's the correct path to have an inconsistent rejection reviewed beyond the standard Resolution Center reply? I have already submitted to the App Review Board.