Free App Store keyword tool

An app store keyword tool is software that surfaces the exact search terms people type into the App Store, then scores each term so you know which ones are worth targeting. Instead of guessing at metadata, an app store keyword research tool gives you data: how popular a phrase is, how hard it is to rank for, and which apps currently own the top spots for it. Appstro's free app store keyword tool does all three — find the keywords any iOS app ranks for, uncover untapped opportunities, and compare your keyword strategy against competitors, with no credit card, no trial period, no locked reports and no per-search credits. Keyword suggestions come from Apple's autocomplete in 30 storefronts; rank tracking covers 175+.

App Store Optimization (ASO) is an ongoing process of discovering high-intent search terms, placing them strategically in your app metadata, and tracking rank movements. Follow this step-by-step framework to maximize your organic app visibility.

1. 1

   Brainstorm seed keywords

   Start by listing terms that describe your app’s core functions, features, and target audience. Avoid internal jargon; write down what actual users would type. For example, if you build a calorie tracker, seed words might include "food diary", "macro counter", and "weight tracker". Inspect your competitors' app names for additional inspiration.

2. 2

   Analyze competitor rankings

   Competitors are an excellent source of targeted keyword data. Search for the top-ranking apps in your category using Appstro and inspect their ranking keywords. Focus on terms where they rank in the top 10 but have moderate competition, and analyze how they utilize their app name and subtitle to target them.

3. 3

   Evaluate keyword popularity and difficulty

   Prioritize your keyword list using traffic (popularity) and competition (difficulty) signals. For new or indie apps, targeting broad keywords like "workout" is rarely successful. Instead, focus on long-tail keywords (e.g., "home workout plan no equipment") which have lower difficulty and high intent.

4. 4

   Optimize your App Store metadata fields

   Distribute your selected keywords across the fields Apple matches on: App Name (30 characters), Subtitle (30 characters) and the hidden Keyword Field (100 characters). Apple publishes no weighting between them. Omit spaces around commas in the keyword field to save precious space, and never duplicate words across different fields.

5. 5

   Audit your metadata prior to release

   Before submitting your app update to App Store Connect, use our free ASO Metadata Checker to check for duplicate words, verify character limits, and ensure your metadata complies with the App Store's best practices.

6. 6

   Monitor performance and iterate

   Rankings move as the App Store reorders results. Use our Keyword Rank Checker to track your rankings over time. If your app still does not rank in the top 10 for a targeted keyword once you have measured it for a while, replace it with a new opportunity and try again. Apple publishes no interval to wait.

Appstro's app store keyword research tool reads live App Store data — not a cached database — so every score reflects what's ranking right now. Three signals drive every recommendation:

• Popularity

  Read from where a term sits in Apple's own autocomplete. Apple doesn't publish how it orders suggestions; this tool reads an earlier position as a more-searched term, so the 0–100 score is an ordering between terms, never a search count.

• Difficulty

  Calculated from the live top-10 results for a term: log-scaled rating counts of the incumbent apps (weighted more for the top 3 spots) plus a penalty when many results already contain the exact phrase in their title. Low difficulty means the field is winnable for a smaller app.

• Rank data

  Search any app to see the keywords it currently ranks for and its live position for each one — the same view works for your own app or any competitor, so you can benchmark your keyword footprint against theirs.

For a dedicated view of popularity and difficulty scored side by side, use the Keyword Research tool, or compare your keyword set directly against a rival app with Keyword Gap.

The right keyword balances three factors. Optimizing for only one of them is the most common reason ASO keyword research fails to move the needle.

Apple frames the choice itself: “Consider the trade-off between ranking well for less common terms versus ranking lower for popular terms.” Popular terms “may drive a lot of traffic, but are highly competitive – especially if you are a newer or smaller app.” Apple

Apple Ads reports search popularity for a keyword on a 1 to 5 scale. Apple

Apple says search results match on “your app’s title, subtitle, keywords, and primary category”. Knowing the limit and the rule for each is as important as the keyword research itself.

The limits and the list column come from Apple’s own App Store search and product page documentation. Apple also names user behavior (downloads, ratings and reviews) among the factors, and publishes no weighting between any of them.

Before you ship a metadata update, audit it with our free ASO Metadata Checker to catch duplicate words and character overages, or run raw copy through the Keyword Density Counter to see how many times each term already appears.

“Free” is the most abused word in ASO tooling — it usually means a trial, a capped search count, or a report you have to register to read. Here is exactly what this tool does and does not do, so you can check it against the box above rather than take our word for it.

Most apps lose organic ranking not from a lack of effort, but from a handful of repeatable mistakes. Avoid these when acting on your keyword research:

• Stuffing keywords into the description

  Apple's list of the fields search matches on does not include the description, and stuffing it costs the reader who is deciding whether to install. Keywords belong in the name, subtitle and keyword field.

• Duplicating words across fields

  Repeating a word already in your App Name inside the Subtitle or Keyword Field wastes characters, and Apple says not to: “Don’t repeat any words included in your app name, subtitle, or category.” Use every character for a new term instead.

• Using spaces in the Keyword Field

  Spaces around commas in the 100-character Keyword Field burn space you could use for another term. Use "workout,fitness,diet" instead of "workout, fitness, diet".

• Only targeting high-volume seed terms

  Apple says popular terms are highly competitive, especially for a newer or smaller app, and that less common terms drive lower traffic but are less competitive. Weigh both rather than only chasing the broad term.

• Setting metadata once and never revisiting it

  Rankings shift as competitors update their own metadata and as new apps launch. Re-run your keyword research when you have a reason and check your positions with the Rank Checker rather than assuming last quarter's keywords still work.

• Ignoring keyword relevance for the sake of volume

  Apple lists terms that are not relevant to the app among the keyword uses it calls a common reason for App Store rejections. A term that brings the wrong searchers also shows your listing to people looking for something else.

The Apple App Store is a search-first platform. On its own Apple Ads page Apple states that:

“70% of App Store visitors use search to discover apps” and “almost 65% of downloads happen directly after a search”

Without a deliberate keyword research strategy, your app is invisible to that traffic.

• Zero acquisition cost

  Unlike paid search ads or social campaigns, organic search traffic costs nothing per install, and it does not stop when your ad budget does.

• Capture high-intent users

  Someone searching "calorie counter" or "budget planner" is already looking for a solution, so the term tells you what they want before they see your listing.

• Leverage competitor deficiencies

  Many developers launch their apps and never update their keywords. Systematic keyword research finds relevant terms your competitors are ignoring.

• Find the less competitive queries

  Apple says less common terms drive lower traffic but are less competitive. Specific multi-word queries are where a new app has a realistic chance of a first-page position.

Want to read a full breakdown of App Store search ranking rules?Read our full ASO Guide

Keyword research is one job of several. The full set of free App Store optimization tools covers listing and metadata checks, screenshot and icon teardowns, localization, launch and monetization benchmarks — the pages below are the ones people reach for from here.

• ASO Optimization GuideMaster App Store Optimization with our step-by-step handbook covering metadata limits, creative assets, ratings, and conversions.
• Keyword Rank CheckerMonitor your app's rank and position changes for target search terms across 175+ countries without limits.
• ASO Metadata CheckerAudit your app's Title, Subtitle, and Keyword Field against App Store character counts and duplication rules.
• App Store Keyword SuggestionsThe seed expander on its own: one word in, Apple's autocomplete suggestions out, each scored for traffic and difficulty.
• Keyword Gap AnalysisCompare your app's keyword footprint against a competitor's and find terms they rank for that you don't.
• Keyword ShufflerGenerate every long-tail combination of your seed keywords to fill your 100-character Keyword Field efficiently.
• Keyword Density CounterCheck how many times each keyword already appears across your metadata before you submit an update.
• ASO ChecklistA complete pre-launch and pre-update checklist covering metadata, creatives, ratings, and keyword hygiene.
• iOS Apps DirectoryBrowse top trending apps across different store categories and inspect their ranking keywords and metadata.