Google Play and the App Store are more similar than different when it comes to app store optimization.
Firstly, the ranking factors are very similar, and the differences are mostly technical – for example, Google and Apple handle keywords differently.
Here’s a quick summary of the main ranking factors for Google Play and the App Store.
| App Store | Google Play |
| Listing | Listing |
| App name | App title |
| Subtitle | Short description |
| Long description | |
| Keywords (app name, keyword field) | Keywords (all inputs), incl. keyword density |
| Ratings & reviews | Ratings & reviews |
| Listing CTR | Listing CTR |
| App performance | App performance |
| Downloads | Downloads |
| Engagement | Engagement |
| Uninstall rate | Uninstall rate |
| In-app purchases | In-app purchases |
| Updates | Updates |
As you can see, there’s not much of a difference here – in fact, most of your time will be spent on things like specifications for icons, videos, and other assets for each app listing.
As a general rule, Apple is more strict with its developer guidelines and it’s usually harder to get an app approved for the App Store.
So, if you’re promoting iOS and Android apps, optimizing your listings for Apple’s guidelines will often satisfy both app stores while maintaining consistency and reducing workload.
Now, let’s take a closer look at app store optimization for Google Play and, then, the App Store.
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