App store keyword research that tells you where each keyword goes
Find keywords from your listing and store autocomplete, see a demand and a difficulty score for each, the 30 apps that rank for it today, and whether it belongs in your title, subtitle, keyword field, or nowhere at all.
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App store keyword research is choosing the search terms your listing should target. ReachFront's Keyword Research gives each keyword a demand score (0 to 100, estimated from App Store and Google Play autocomplete, since Apple publishes no search counts), a difficulty score (0 to 100, from the ratings, rating counts and titles of the apps ranking for it) and the top 30 apps in that store and country. It then recommends a slot for each keyword (title, subtitle, keyword field, track only, or skip) and proposes a title, subtitle and keyword field inside Apple's limits.
From a listing to a keyword plan
What app store keyword research can and cannot measure
Apple does not publish search volume, and neither does Google Play. Any app keyword tool that shows an exact monthly search count for the App Store is estimating. The most direct public signal is autocomplete: whether a store suggests a phrase as people type, and how early.
Demand is only half the decision. A keyword thousands search for is a poor target if the top results are giant apps with millions of ratings. Difficulty measures that wall: how strong the apps on the first page are and how many already put the keyword in their title.
Keyword Research shows both numbers and the apps behind them, then does the last step most tools leave to you: it tells you where each keyword should go in your listing, and which ones are only worth tracking.
A keyword plan, abridged
Four keywords from a plan for a habit tracker on the US App Store.
| Keyword | Demand | Difficulty | Suggested slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| habit tracker | 88 | 91 | Title, and track it |
| routine planner | 54 | 47 | Subtitle |
| streak app | 41 | 33 | Keyword field |
| daily goals | 36 | 62 | Track only |
Keyword research by hand vs. with ReachFront
| By hand | With Keyword Research | |
|---|---|---|
| Finding candidates | Type phrases into the store search box and note the suggestions. | Suggestions from your listing and the store's autocomplete, gathered for you. |
| Judging demand | Trust a volume number that Apple never published. | A demand score from autocomplete, labelled as an estimate. |
| Judging difficulty | Scroll the results and eyeball how big the apps are. | A difficulty score from the top apps' ratings, rating counts and titles. |
| Placing keywords | Guess which field each keyword belongs in. | A slot and a reason for each keyword, and a proposed title, subtitle and keyword field. |
| Several markets | Switch store country and repeat everything. | Up to 20 markets in one run on Max. |
What Keyword Research gives you
The numbers behind a keyword decision, and the decision itself.
Who Keyword Research is for
Anyone choosing keywords for an App Store or Google Play listing.
Keyword Research at a glance
- Apple and Google publish no search volume; Keyword Research estimates demand from store autocomplete.
- Difficulty comes from the ratings, rating counts and titles of the apps ranking for a keyword.
- Each keyword gets a recommended slot: title, subtitle, keyword field, track only, or skip.
- Results are live store searches, cached for up to an hour.
Keyword Research, answered
Where does the demand number come from?
From App Store and Google Play autocomplete: whether the store suggests the phrase and how early. Neither store publishes search counts, so the demand score is an estimate on a 0 to 100 scale, and we label it that way.
How is difficulty calculated?
From the apps ranking for the keyword: their ratings, their rating counts, and how many put the keyword in their title. No AI is involved in the score.
Which stores and countries does it cover?
The App Store and Google Play in 143 storefronts. On Max one run can cover up to 20 markets, 40 on Studio.
How fresh is the data?
Each check is a live store search, cached for up to an hour so repeat lookups are instant. To watch a keyword over time, add it to Rank Tracker, which re-checks your chosen keywords daily.
Is this a keyword tool or a rank tracker?
Keyword Research is for choosing keywords. Rank Tracker is for watching the ones you chose: on Max, 3 keywords per app are re-checked every day (5 on Studio).
Does it write my listing?
It proposes a title, subtitle and keyword field from the keywords that earned a slot. For a full listing with descriptions and promotional text, use the ASO Generator.
How much does Keyword Research cost, and is there a free trial?
Keyword Research is part of ReachFront Max, which is $19 a month (or $15 a month billed annually). Max monthly starts with a 7-day free trial for first-time subscribers: we take your card at checkout, charge nothing for 7 days, and the first payment comes on day 8 unless you cancel before then. Max includes 300 keyword checks a month (Studio 1,000). Studio is $49 a month for higher limits and more apps.
Free tools and guides for this job
- Free app rank checker. See where any app ranks for a keyword in five countries, no account.
- Free ASO checker. Check whether your primary keyword sits where the store reads it.
- App store keyword research guide. How to find and prioritize keywords that rank, iOS and Android.
- Best ASO tools. How the free and paid options compare for indie developers.
Research your app store keywords
Build your first keyword plan today. Max monthly is free for 7 days: your card is taken at checkout and nothing is charged if you cancel before day 8.