Tips for Improving CodeCanyon Item Approval Rate?

Envato Authors Code Authors
1

Hey fellow authors :waving_hand:

I’ve been submitting a few items to CodeCanyon lately, and while some get accepted, others get soft-rejected or declined outright. I’d love to hear from more experienced authors:

  • What are some non-obvious tips that helped you improve your approval rate?
  • Are there any common pitfalls new authors should avoid?
  • How much does design polish (e.g., UI/UX) matter compared to just clean, functional code?
  • Any advice on writing better documentation or previews?

I’m working mostly in JavaScript and PHP, but I think the general advice would help all of us here.

Also—if any of you have a checklist you follow before uploading, I’d be super grateful if you shared it! :folded_hands:

Gracias

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There is no guide line other than the official requirements However following it won’t guarantee your item will be accepted, but what i can tell you if your item provide value with good design it will be accepted.
for me before creating any item I usually start with the following:

  • Brain storming: ask yourself why do i have to create this item what problem i am going to solve or will it save other people time and provide real value
  • Make research: If you find out your idea can provide value and solve problem start to search to see if there is any other people already tried to solve it, if you found then ask yourself again what will make your item stand out of them, if you didn’t find then ask yourself why no one tried to solve this problem before maybe there is no audience for such problem.
  • Plan before coding: Make a road path with deadline and draw some sketches, take your time with this step as it can make your coding more easy with less surprises.
  • Start coding: Write the basic code that show off your idea and it’s more like creating portotype of your item so you can see your solution in a real world example
  • Create unit test: If you are working with code create unit test to make sure your logic won’t break with each feature or update you will make, and if you are working with design use dummy data from real world with different scenarios to see how your design will adapt on them.
  • Polish your item: You have the prototype already by reaching this stage now start to polish your main features and focus on what can make this item sale !
  • Prepare documentation and demo: Now it’s time to show off what you got and how to use it
  • Submit and let it go !
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There are no rules anymore, is a gambling game at this point, you can create whatever you want if the reviewer has a bad day, and it’s rejected in 30 seconds…

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There is always a risk factor which you should consider when planning for a new project, a solid product will sell on codecanyon or on others.
if you think your item will sell and still rejected then you don’t really need this marketplace, by saying sell I don’t mean license or two. But knowing something like that requires deeper research and good understand of the global market not just codecanyon.
Also note codecanyon unlike themeforest depends more on the idea and the solution you are providing. you can see many items on codecanyon with bad design but with good functionality. however you can’t find an item with good code and bad design on themeforest.
I also think some categories on codecanyon are more risky than others especially the UI and add-ons categories because those depends mainly on the design which leaves the door open for reviews personal opinion.

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