App Store Keyword Research: A Practical 2026 Workflow
Keyword research for mobile isn't web SEO in miniature — it's a different game. Here's the 2026 playbook.
App Store search is dominated by short, commercial-intent queries. "Meditation" beats "mindfulness techniques for anxiety" by an order of magnitude. Optimize accordingly.
Sources of keyword ideas
- App Store autocomplete — start typing in Search and note every suggestion.
- Competitor listings — export their keywords field (iOS) or infer from subtitle.
- Review text — users use natural language that reveals intent.
- App Intelligence tools — Sensor Tower, AppTweak, Asolytics (in order of price).
Prioritization
Chase keywords with: high monthly search volume, mid-low competition, and obvious relevance to your app. Skip anything that feels like a stretch — the algorithm punishes mismatched relevance.
iOS keyword field vs Play Store
iOS has a hidden 100-char keyword field. Use commas, no spaces after, no duplicates, no plurals (Apple stems automatically). Play Store has no keyword field — repetition in description and short description is what signals relevance.
Free tools that still work
App Store autocomplete is the single most underused free tool. Combine it with Google Trends and you can skip paid platforms for an indie launch.
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