The 8 best ASO tools in 2026, by budget and use case
The best ASO tool depends on where your app lives: gaintage is the best ASO tool for apps inside AI app stores like ChatGPT and Claude, AppTweak is the strongest all-round tool for the App Store and Google Play, and Appfigures is the best value for small teams. Budgets fall into three groups: under $50 a month, $100 to $200 a month, and enterprise plans priced on a call. We tested each tool in 2026.
Disclosure: gaintage is our product. It does not track the App Store or Google Play, so you can use it next to one of the other tools here.
ASO tools at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Stores covered | Keyword tracking | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gaintage | AI app stores | ChatGPT, Claude, Muse, Meta AI, MCP registries (not App Store or Google Play) | Yes, daily | $29/mo | Trial |
| AppTweak | All-round ASO | App Store, Google Play | Yes | — | — |
| Sensor Tower | Market intelligence | App Store, Google Play | Yes | Quote | — |
| Appfigures | Indie developers | App Store, Google Play | Yes | — | — |
| MobileAction | ASO plus Apple Search Ads | App Store, Google Play | Yes | — | — |
| App Radar (SplitMetrics) | A/B testing store pages | App Store, Google Play | Yes | — | — |
| AppFollow | Reviews and replies | App Store, Google Play | — | — | — |
| — | Budget keyword tracking | App Store | Yes | — | — |
What an ASO tool does and why you need one
An ASO tool tracks where your app ranks in an app store for each keyword and shows which keywords to add to your listing. Most also track competitors, ratings and reviews.
How we picked and scored these ASO tools
- Store coverage. Which stores the tool tracks.
- Keyword data quality. Whether search volume and rank data match what we saw in the store.
- Competitor tracking. How easy it is to watch competitors' ranks and listing changes.
- Price per app. What one app costs per month.
- Ease of use. How fast a new user gets a useful answer.
gaintage: best for AI app stores (ChatGPT, Claude, MCP)
1. gaintage
gaintage is ASO for the app stores inside AI assistants: the ChatGPT plugin directory, the Claude connector directory, Muse, Meta AI and MCP registries. It tracks your rank in directory search and categories, and how often ChatGPT or Claude suggests your app inside a chat. For AI app stores, track your app's ranking in ChatGPT and Claude every day.
- Daily keyword and category rank in each AI store
- Chat keywords (Growth plan): prompts where the assistant suggests you or a competitor
- Listing fixes checked against OpenAI and Anthropic rules
Pricing: Starter $29/month, Growth $99/month, Enterprise on a call. Yearly is 20% off.
Not for: apps that only live in the App Store and Google Play. gaintage does not track those stores.
AppTweak: best all-round ASO suite
2. AppTweak
AppTweak covers keyword research, rank tracking, competitor data and store page analysis for the App Store and Google Play. It also has an AI visibility module for mobile apps in ChatGPT and Gemini answers.
Not for: plugins and connectors in AI app stores. Compare gaintage vs AppTweak.
Sensor Tower: best for market intelligence
3. Sensor Tower
Sensor Tower estimates downloads, revenue and ad spend across the App Store and Google Play, with ASO keyword data on top. Pricing is quote-based.
Not for: small teams on a tight budget. Compare gaintage vs Sensor Tower on price and AI store coverage.
Appfigures: best value for indie developers
4. Appfigures
Appfigures tracks ranks, reviews, downloads and revenue estimates at a price indie developers can pay.
Not for: enterprise reporting. Compare gaintage vs Appfigures.
MobileAction: best for ASO plus Apple Search Ads
5. MobileAction
MobileAction joins ASO keyword data with Apple Search Ads management, so one team can run organic and paid in one place.
Compare gaintage vs MobileAction.
App Radar (SplitMetrics): best for A/B testing store pages
6. App Radar (SplitMetrics)
App Radar tracks keywords and lets you edit listings, and SplitMetrics adds tests of store page variants.
Compare gaintage vs App Radar.
AppFollow: best for reviews and replies
7. AppFollow
AppFollow collects reviews from both stores and helps support teams reply fast, with ASO tracking alongside.
Which ASO tool fits each budget tier
| Budget | Pick |
|---|---|
| Under $50 a month | gaintage Starter ($29) for AI stores; Appfigures for Apple and Google |
| $100 to $200 a month | gaintage Growth ($99) for AI stores; AppTweak or MobileAction |
| Enterprise | Sensor Tower, AppTweak enterprise plans, gaintage Enterprise |
Free ASO tools and what they cover
Yes, with limits. Some paid tools offer a trial (see the table). Apple's App Store Connect and Google Play Console show your own search terms for free. For AI stores, you can grade your listing with our free AI app listing grader, and our free ASO keyword tool finds terms.
Why you need a separate tool for AI app stores
App Store and Google Play tools cannot see the ChatGPT plugin directory or the Claude connector directory. Those stores rank apps on their name, description and example prompts, and ChatGPT and Claude also suggest apps inside a chat. Muse, Meta AI and MCP registries are separate stores again. You need to track both directory rank and chat suggestions, and gaintage does both.
Five steps to improve your app store rankings
- Research keywords. List the words your users type, with their search volume.
- Put the best keywords in your title and subtitle. Stores give these fields the most weight.
- Improve your icon and screenshots. They decide whether people tap Install.
- Ask for ratings at the right moment. For example, after a user finishes a task.
- Track your rank every week. Change one thing at a time so you know what worked.
Frequently asked questions
What is ASO vs SEO?
ASO ranks apps inside app stores. SEO ranks web pages in search engines. Read ASO vs SEO for the full comparison.
Which ASO tool has the most accurate keyword data?
No tool sees Apple's or Google's real search counts, so every tool estimates.
Can one tool cover Apple, Google and ChatGPT?
Not today. Use an Apple and Google tool for mobile stores and gaintage for AI app stores.
How much do ASO tools cost?
From free trials to about $200 a month for one app. Enterprise suites are priced on a call.