The Battle of Giants in App Marketing: App Store vs Play Store Strategies

The dominant app stores today are unquestionably the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Consequently, it’s natural for app developers and marketers to aspire to feature their apps on these industry giants. However, it’s crucial to recognize that employing identical app marketing strategies in both the App Store and Play Store may not be effective.

Marketing your app on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store necessitates distinct strategies, given the disparities in their platforms, audiences, and guidelines. Here are key differences to consider:

1. User Base

Google Play Store

The Google Play Store is the primary distribution platform for Android devices, which collectively hold a larger global market share compared to iOS. It accommodates a diverse ecosystem of devices manufactured by various companies, resulting in a wide array of specifications, screen sizes, and hardware capabilities. Android’s popularity extends to emerging markets, making it a global force. Developers targeting the Google Play Store need to consider the diverse range of Android devices, optimizing their apps for different configurations.

Apple App Store

In contrast, the Apple App Store exclusively serves iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch. This closed ecosystem offers a more standardized and controlled hardware environment, providing a consistent user experience across Apple devices. iOS devices are often associated with higher price points, attracting users from more affluent demographics. 

While iOS has a strong presence in developed markets, the variety of device options is comparatively limited. Developers targeting the Apple App Store can focus on a more unified user experience but may need to consider the expectations of an affluent user base.

Understanding these distinctions in the user base is crucial for developers and marketers, shaping decisions related to app design, features, and overall marketing strategies on each platform. The choice between the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store often depends on the specific goals and target audience of the app.

2. App Approval Process

Google Play Store

The app approval process on the Google Play Store is often characterized by its leniency and efficiency. Developers can release apps and updates relatively quickly, sometimes within a few hours. The process involves automated scanning tools to check for potential security risks and malicious content. While there is a pre-publishing review, it is not as exhaustive as Apple’s, allowing for a faster turnaround time for app releases and updates.

Apple App Store

Contrastingly, the app approval process on the Apple App Store is known for its stringent guidelines and meticulous review procedures. Apps undergo a thorough examination by human reviewers, ensuring they meet Apple’s high standards for content, functionality, and user experience. This stringent process, while assuring a curated and secure environment, may result in longer approval durations, often taking several days.

Key Differences

One of the primary distinctions lies in the speed of release. The Google Play Store offers a quicker approval process, providing developers with more agility to push changes promptly. In contrast, the Apple App Store’s controlled and thorough review process may necessitate longer lead times for releases.

Despite these differences, it’s important to note that the variance in the approval processes doesn’t necessarily imply a difference in the overall quality of apps available on the platforms. Both stores are committed to maintaining a high standard of app quality and user experience. Developers and marketers should consider these differences when planning their app release strategies, taking into account the unique characteristics of each platform.

3. Monetization Models

Google Play Store

The Google Play Store provides developers with a more flexible approach to monetization. Developers have the freedom to implement various monetization strategies, including in-app purchases, ads, and freemium models. In-app purchases can take different forms, such as one-time purchases, consumables, and subscriptions.

Ads are commonly integrated into free apps, allowing developers to generate revenue through ad networks. The freemium model, where apps are free to download with optional in-app purchases or ad-supported features, is prevalent on the Google Play Store.

Apple App Store

In contrast, the Apple App Store has stricter monetization policies, particularly regarding in-app purchases and subscriptions. Apple mandates the use of its in-app purchase system for digital goods and subscriptions, and the company takes a percentage (typically 15-30%) of the revenue generated through these transactions.

While ads are allowed, Apple imposes restrictions on the type and content of advertisements. Premium pricing and one-time purchases are more common on the Apple App Store, where users are generally more accustomed to paying upfront for apps.

Considerations for Developers

Developers need to carefully consider the revenue share model, especially on the Apple App Store, where the percentage taken by Apple has been a topic of discussion. Understanding the spending behavior of users on each platform is crucial for shaping the monetization strategy. 

Apple users tend to be more willing to pay for apps and in-app purchases. Compliance with Apple’s guidelines regarding in-app purchases is essential for app approval and adherence to App Store policies. The rise of subscription-based models is observed on both platforms, but developers must navigate the unique requirements of each store to optimize their monetization approach effectively.

4. App Discovery

Google Play Store

The Google Play Store employs a robust algorithmic approach to app discovery. Users searching for apps trigger the algorithm, which considers various factors to present relevant results.

Keyword optimization is crucial for developers, requiring them to fine-tune app names, descriptions, and metadata with relevant terms. Additionally, user engagement metrics, including download numbers, ratings, and reviews, play a significant role.

Apps demonstrating higher engagement often receive better rankings in search results, contributing to enhanced visibility.

Apple App Store

The App Store combines both algorithmic and editorial curation for app discovery. While algorithms influence search results, Apple’s editorial team curates featured apps and collections, showcasing selected apps on the front page. Similar to the Play Store, developers must optimize app names and incorporate relevant keywords in metadata. User ratings and reviews also impact an app’s visibility, with positive feedback contributing to favorable rankings.

Key Considerations for Developers

Understanding the dynamics of each store is pivotal for developers. The Google Play Store is more keyword-centric, emphasizing optimization strategies, whereas the App Store blends algorithmic recommendations with curated content.

Developers must tailor their optimization approaches accordingly, recognizing the significance of keywords, user engagement, and the potential influence of editorial features on the App Store. By grasping these distinctions, developers can maximize app discoverability on both platforms effectively.

5. App Store Optimization

To elevate your app’s ranking and visibility in app stores, implementing effective App Store Optimization (ASO) strategies is paramount. While there are similarities, the approaches to ASO in the App Store and Play Store also entail notable differences. Here are key insights you should be aware of:

App Title

From an ASO perspective, both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store prioritize the app title as a robust ranking signal. Whether it’s iOS or Android, incorporating essential keywords into the app title is crucial. Following Google’s policy update in April 2021, both platforms now adhere to a 30-character limit for app titles.

While the character limit is uniform, the significance of the app title differs in each store. In Google Play, where only the app icon and title are visible for general search terms, crafting a descriptive title is imperative for conveying the app’s purpose.

Conversely, the App Store offers additional elements like subtitles, screenshots, and videos in search results, allowing for a more creative app title and providing users with a comprehensive understanding of the app’s content and intent.

The subtitle in the App Store and the short description in the Google Play Store share the common goal of providing users with more information about your app. Both platforms employ algorithms that index apps based on the content in these fields, impacting app rankings. However, differences arise in character limits and display locations.

Subtitle (iOS) vs Short Description (Android)

In the App Store, the subtitle is restricted to 30 characters and appears alongside the app name and screenshots in search results. On the other hand, Google Play allows up to 80 characters for the short description, although it doesn’t appear in search results, only becoming visible when users click through to the app listing.

Keywords used in these fields significantly influence app rankings and visibility on both platforms. In Google Play, repeating keywords, especially in the app title and short description, can enhance rankings due to the importance of keyword density. In contrast, the App Store prioritizes concise and unique content, making keyword repetition less impactful.

iOS Keyword Field

In Apple’s App Store, a dedicated 100-character keywords field exists, allowing developers to incorporate crucial search terms. Although invisible to users, these keywords significantly influence the app’s ranking, guiding Apple’s algorithm in indexing and determining its position in search results.

Unlike Apple, Google Play does not provide a specific keywords field. Instead, the algorithm assesses keywords and their density in the app title, subtitle, and long description to establish the app’s ranking.

Long Description

The long description serves a critical role in both the App Store and Google Play, focusing on elucidating an app’s features and benefits to users. However, its function in terms of ASO and keyword optimization diverges between the two platforms.

In the App Store, the long description doesn’t impact rankings. This offers the freedom to be creative and brand-focused, allowing iOS app developers to compellingly communicate why users should download their app without stringent keyword considerations.

Conversely, in Google Play, keywords in the long description contribute to rankings. Adhering to SEO best practices is vital for Android apps, emphasizing a 2-3% keyword density for crucial terms within the 4,000-character limit.

However, caution is necessary to avoid keyword stuffing, as this could lead to rejection or suspension of your listing on the Google Play Store. Balancing creativity with SEO precision is key to optimizing the long description effectively for both app stores.

Understanding the Unique Aspects of Each Platform

App stores offer immense potential for business success, but unlocking their full benefits requires a strategic approach to app promotion. Understanding the nuances and commonalities between different app stores can significantly enhance your chances of success.

While you can navigate the app promotion process independently, consider streamlining your efforts by reaching out to ShyftUp. As a leading user acquisition agency, they possess the expertise and tools necessary to facilitate the growth of your app. Take advantage of their services today and witness how your app can achieve greater success with their support.