App Store Optimization,
written for indie devs.
Practical writing on ASO. What works, what doesn't, and why translating your metadata is the wrong way to localize.
App Store Optimization: The Complete Guide for Indie Devs (2026)
Everything an indie dev or small studio needs to know about ranking on the App Store and Google Play in 2026 — without paying for SensorTower.
ASO Fundamentals
How App Store ranking works, what indie devs need to know first, and where the real levers are.
- Apr 26, 2026·9 min
How App Store ranking actually works (and what indie devs get wrong)
The myth: ranking is keywords + reviews. The reality: it's a feedback loop between metadata, install velocity, retention, and rating — in that order. Here's how to think about it.
Read - Apr 26, 2026·7 min
The iOS keywords field: the 100-char rule explained
Apple gives you 100 characters of pure keyword surface — and most apps waste 30 of them on words already in the title. Here's how to extract every char of value.
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Localization & Markets
How real users in real countries actually search — and why translation alone burns your rankings.
- Apr 26, 2026·10 min
ASO localization: why translating your metadata is killing your rankings
Translation gives you a grammatically correct title. Localization gives you the keyword users actually type into the search bar. They are not the same thing.
Read - Apr 26, 2026·6 min
ASO for Brazil: lámina vs póster vs quadro (and why it matters)
Three Spanish/Portuguese words, three different markets, three different App Stores. Here's how a poster app should localize between Spain, Mexico, and Brazil.
Read - Apr 26, 2026·7 min
Japanese App Store keywords: katakana vs kanji vs romaji
Japanese users search in katakana, kanji, and (sometimes) romaji — often for the same concept. Picking the wrong script in your title silently halves your indexation.
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Tools & Comparisons
Honest breakdowns of ASO Pilot against the established players, plus what's worth paying for.
- Apr 26, 2026·8 min
ASO Pilot vs AppTweak: who's it for, who's it not for
AppTweak is a $79/month tool built for ASO agencies managing 50+ apps. ASO Pilot is a $49/month tool built for indie devs and small studios. Here's the honest breakdown.
Read - Apr 26, 2026·7 min
ASO Pilot vs SensorTower: who's it for, who's it not for
SensorTower is the enterprise option — install data, market intelligence, $1k+/month. ASO Pilot is the indie tool. They solve different problems for different teams.
Read - Apr 26, 2026·8 min
The best free ASO tools in 2026 (and where they fall short)
There's a real free tier of ASO tooling — autocomplete scrapers, rank checkers, keyword pools. Here's what works, what doesn't, and when to graduate to a paid tool.
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