Analysis vs monitoring
A competitor app analysis is a one-off deep look at the apps you compete with — before a launch, a redesign or a pitch. Competitor monitoring is the lightweight, ongoing part that keeps the analysis current; see competitor monitoring for apps.
A step-by-step framework
1. Pick three to five competitors
One direct rival, one bigger app you lose users to, and one newcomer. Search your main keywords in both stores and note who ranks.
2. Audit their store listings
Name, subtitle, icon, the first three screenshots, rating and number of ratings, last update. The free App Store listing analyzer gives each listing a score in seconds.
3. Compare keywords
Which words do they put in their names and subtitles? The ASO keyword tool shows the words the top apps for a search use. Look for searches where they rank and you don’t — see App Store keywords.
4. Read their reviews
The most honest source. Export their latest reviews with the free App Store review downloader and tag them:
- One-star reviews: problems you can solve better.
- Five-star reviews: what users value — the baseline you must match.
- “Switched from …” reviews: why people move between apps.
5. Check releases and pricing
Version history shows how often they ship and what. Note pricing, trials and what’s behind the paywall.
6. Summarize in one grid
| App | Rating (count) | Last update | Top complaint | Top praise | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competitor A | 4.6 (12,400) | 5 days ago | Sync bugs | Clean design | $4.99/month |
| Competitor B | 4.1 (3,200) | 4 months ago | Missing widget | Free tier | Free + ads |
| Your app | … | … | … | … | … |
End with three decisions: what to build, what to fix, how to position.
Where to find download estimates
The stores don’t publish competitors’ downloads or revenue. Market intelligence tools estimate them; treat those numbers as rough. Ratings count and review volume over time are a free, public proxy.
Example
A team building a habit tracker follows reviews of three competing apps. Recurring complaints about “no Apple Watch app” and “data lost after reinstall” become the two features they launch with — and the first two lines of their store description.
allstarsbot works with any public app, not only your own: add a competitor and its new reviews arrive in your Slack or Teams channel.