AppDoctorASO keyword research tools: what to look for
Updated
An ASO keyword research tool tells you which App Store searches are worth your app's name, subtitle and keyword field, and whether the ones you picked are working.
They differ most in where their numbers come from, which countries they cover, where your data is kept and who they're built for. Here's what to check before you pay for one.
What a keyword research tool does
- Finds searches: suggestions from a seed word, related terms and what competing apps rank for.
- Sizes them: how often each one is searched.
- Judges your chances: how strong the apps in the top 10 are.
- Tracks results: your rank for each keyword, in each country, over time.
- Helps you write the listing: character counts, repeated words and which keywords your listing covers.
What to look for
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Where does popularity come from? | Apple publishes its own popularity score through Apple Ads. A tool that uses it shows Apple's numbers; others model their own estimates. |
| How is difficulty worked out? | A useful score is based on the apps that rank today, and you should be able to see those apps. |
| Which countries can it check? | Every storefront ranks differently. You want ranks in each country you sell in, with history. |
| Does it help with the listing? | Research only pays off once the words are in your name, subtitle and keyword field, so live counts, repeated-word checks and keyword coverage save time. |
| Does it handle languages? | Each localization is its own set of keywords. A tool should show which countries you track have no listing in their language. |
| Where is your data kept? | Some tools keep your keywords and App Store Connect access in their cloud; others keep them on your computer. |
| Can your AI use it? | Tools with an MCP server let Claude, Codex or another agent read your keywords and draft changes. |
| What does it cost a small team? | Many tools are priced for agencies. Check the price of the plan with the countries and keywords you need. |
Free ways to start
- App Store search suggestions: type a word into search on your iPhone and note what it offers.
- Apple Ads: its keyword recommendations and popularity score come from Apple's own search data.
- Competitors' listings: the names and subtitles of the apps that rank show the words that work.
- App Store Connect analytics: the App Store Search source shows how many views and downloads come from search.
A spreadsheet and these sources are enough to start. A tool earns its place when you track enough keywords, in enough countries, that checking by hand stops being practical.
The kinds of tools
| Kind | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Web ASO suites | Teams and agencies that want many apps, markets and app stores in one dashboard. | Your data lives in their cloud, and pricing is often per seat or per app. |
| Spreadsheets with Apple Ads | Trying ASO for the first time, with a handful of keywords. | Ranks are checked by hand, one country at a time. |
| Desktop apps such as AppDoctor | Developers who want Apple's numbers through their own accounts and their data on their own computer. | They run on your Mac or PC rather than in a browser. |
Where AppDoctor fits
AppDoctor is an ASO keyword research tool for Mac and Windows, made for indie developers and small teams on the App Store. It shows Apple's popularity score through your Apple Ads account, difficulty from the apps that rank today, and your rank in every country you choose. It also edits your listing in App Store Connect, audits your product page, designs screenshots and preview videos, and works with your own AI. Your keywords and keys stay on your computer, and the code is open source.
If you need Google Play data, or market research across thousands of apps you don't own, a web suite is the better fit: AppDoctor covers the App Store only.
Questions
What is the best ASO keyword research tool?
The one whose numbers you trust and whose price fits. Check where its popularity comes from, whether it covers every country you sell in, and where it keeps your data. For a single developer, a tool that uses Apple's own popularity score and checks ranks in your countries covers most of the work.
Can I do ASO keyword research for free?
Yes. App Store search suggestions, Apple Ads popularity and your competitors' listings are free. A tool saves time once you track more than a handful of keywords or countries.
Are keyword popularity numbers accurate?
Apple's own score, from Apple Ads, comes from real App Store searches. Other tools estimate popularity with their own models, so their numbers can differ. Use any score to compare keywords with each other rather than as an exact search count.
Does AppDoctor work for Google Play?
No. AppDoctor covers the Apple App Store: iPhone, iPad, and the product page header and search art.