There are almost five million apps in the Apple App Store and more than two million in Google Play. So, how do you ensure your app stands out in a marketplace saturated with millions of competitors?
It’s all about having the right partner. That’s where an app store optimization (ASO) agency comes in.
An ASO agency improves your app’s visibility in app stores, leading to more downloads and purchases. They offer experience, specialized knowledge, and proprietary data and tools that deliver better results faster.
Think of them as the SEO agencies of app stores.
In this guide, you’ll learn about App Store Optimization, why it’s so important, and how an expert agency can help. Together, you’ll navigate the marketplace efficiently, connect with the target audience, and boost your app’s visibility.
Whether you’re an established app owner looking to grow your reach or an up-and-coming developer wanting to make a mark, this article is your roadmap to success. Let’s dive right in!
Key Takeaways
- An App Store Optimization (ASO) agency is a marketing agency that specializes in increasing an app’s organic visibility in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- The level of competition in the app store makes ASO vital if you want to succeed. You’re up against thousands of competitors, and the only way for consumers to find you organically is to optimize for relevant keywords.
- You can optimize your app’s presence on your own, but partnering with an ASO agency lets you tap into a pool of experts. You can also leave it to someone else to stay on top of app store updates and algorithm changes.
- The best ASO agencies are:
- NP Digital
- yellowHead
- Gumicube
- The ASO Project
- AppTweak
- When choosing an ASO agency as your partner, I recommend looking for proven experience in your industry, great case studies, and industry awards.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Why App Store Optimization Is Essential For Digital Marketing
- Why You Should Partner With An App Store Optimization Agency?
- The Best App Store Optimization Agencies of 2025
- Traits of A Good App Store Optimization Agency
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Why App Store Optimization Is Essential For Digital Marketing
With over seven million combined apps across the App Store and Google Play, app developers face a lot of competition. App store optimization increases the chances of users finding your app via an organic search by:
- Optimizing your listing for relevant keywords
- Increasing the number of good reviews
- Adding high-quality images
- Translating your app into local languages
Ultimately, it makes your app listing look less like this:
And more like this:
App store optimization doesn’t just increase your visibility, though. It also drives more organic installs and increases conversion rates. That’s because high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and loads of five-star reviews make users more likely to click install.
Why You Should Partner With An App Store Optimization Agency?
While you might be tempted to handle your app’s optimization internally, this could end up being an uphill struggle. Partnering with an app store optimization agency offers several benefits, including the following:
- Keep up with app store changes. App store optimization agencies are dedicated to understanding the algorithms that dictate app store rankings. They have teams of experts who keep tabs on changes in the industry, devise innovative strategies to stay ahead of the curve, and have the resources to implement these strategies effectively.
- Tap into a pool of experts. By working with an app store optimization company, you can leverage their expertise and experience. They’ll handle the nitty-gritty of ASO and banish the ASO myths, allowing you to focus on other critical aspects of your business, such as product development, customer service, and business expansion.
- Ongoing optimization. ASO isn’t a one-time task; it requires continuous effort, monitoring, and tweaking. The app market is an ever-evolving space, and keeping up with changes can be challenging without the right experience and expertise.
Whether you’re launching a new app or looking to boost downloads for an existing one, employing the services of an ASO agency can give you a significant advantage in a competitive marketplace.
The Best App Store Optimization Agencies of 2025
With many ASO agencies claiming to be the best, we’ve cut through the noise to create a shortlist of industry leaders.
Let’s dive into our curated list of the best app store optimization agencies of 2025.
NP Digital
Leading the pack is NP Digital. We are a full-service agency, which means you get an army of experienced marketers from every vertical imaginable under one roof. Our blended experience lets us create comprehensive and multifaceted ASO campaigns that drive exceptional results.
For example, we worked with finance giant SoFi to establish a dominant non-branded presence in the App Store and Google Play. By the end of the campaign, we had increased downloads from non-branded searches by 57%.
Once we establish our clients at the top of organic app rankings, we keep them there. We know better than anyone how unpredictable algorithms can be. That’s why we combine our expertise with third-party reporting tools to squeeze as much information from app stores as possible.
The quality of our organic and app marketing work is constantly recognized. Recently, we were a winner of the app growth award at the 2023 Google Premier Partner Awards in 2023, thanks to our work with Watcho. We have won the best SEO campaign award at the OMMA Awards in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
yellowHEAD
Next up, we have yellowHEAD — an award-winning performance marketing agency with a penchant for organic optimization.
yellowHEAD’s holistic approach includes app store creative optimization, keyword strategy, and A/B testing, helping your app make an impact in the crowded marketplace. Once they rank your app higher, use the agency’s creative CRO services to increase downloads and ongoing ASO to keep your app ahead of algorithm changes.
yellowHEAD specializes in finding the best creatives for your listing. The agency’s proprietary creative intelligence tool, Alison, identifies key elements that impact the success of your campaign, like color and text. That means no more hunches or second guesses when designing app store creatives, you can leverage real-time data instead.
yellowHEAD has helped major brands like CyberGhost, OkCupid, and Vivid Games to improve app visibility, increase installs, and boost conversion rates.
Gummicube
Since 2009, Gummicube has been making a name for itself with its data-focused ASO services. Its large and highly skilled team of developers and marketers services brands of any size and across any industry. Well-known clients include Microsoft, NBCUniversal, LinkedIn, Sephora, GrubHub, and Staples.
Gummicube offers a suite of services, including conversion optimization, A/B testing, and focus groups. It also specializes in app launch programs for startups and entrepreneurs. As experts in prioritizing early marketing investments and generating maximum returns, the agency has designed bespoke strategies for apps like PlantSnap, Receipt Bank, and Dubsmash.
If that weren’t enough, the team also builds award-winning ASO tools and technologies. DATACUBE, for example, is an ASO tool that provides real-time insights into the App Store and Google Play. Its accurate data makes optimizing your listing and achieving results much easier.
It also has a split-testing tool, Splitcube, which allows you to test creative assets without making changes to the App Store or Google Play.
The ASO Project
The ASO Project is a full-service app store optimization agency that offers a range of fully managed ASO services. The company was founded by mobile and desktop SEP experts and now focuses exclusively on helping companies increase visibility and grow conversions across the App Store and Play Store.
The ASO Project’s services include:
- Keyword optimization
- Screenshot creation
- Preview videos
- Review management
- CRO
- Localization
- Reporting
The ASO Project also has a range of app store-based tools, including the ASO Dashboard. It tracks all of your app’s key metrics, including keyword rankings, installs, and reviews. The dashboard gives you access to the same data as the team, so you can watch your rankings climb.
AppTweak
Born in 2014, AppTweak offers a suite of user-friendly ASO tools coupled with expert consulting services. Data is at the heart of everything they do. Their ASO tools put a goldmine of data at your fingertips, allowing you to see which keywords drive the most traffic, track your rankings, spy on competitors, and uncover trends.
You don’t have to do it on your own, however. The company’s consulting services combine their ASO tools with expert experience to deliver an exceptional service. Their unique approach provides insights into competitor strategies and market trends, enabling them to tailor an optimization strategy that sets your app apart. It’s seen them deliver wins for major brands like Monzo, Adobe, Expedia, and TikTok.
Finally, the company puts a premium on education. They co-wrote the ASO Book (2022) and have launched the “ASO with AppTweak” course and certification.
Phiture
Phiture is an award-winning mobile growth agency that leverages multi-layered ASO strategies to drive results for some of the world’s biggest brands like Deezer and Headspace. The agency’s Mobile Growth Stack acts as a framework for its range of services, which include performance marketing, subscription revenue optimization, and growth consulting alongside ASO.
The company’s managed ASO program leverages a team of data scientists, designers, and engineers to optimize for relevant keywords, A/B test your listing, and run experiments.
You don’t have to work with the agency on an ongoing basis, however. They also offer a one-off ASO health check, which analyzes your presence in both app stores and highlights growth opportunities. You get a comprehensive report that includes keyword data and recommendations on how to drive more traffic.
AppRadar by Splitmetrics
SplitMetrics takes a unique approach to ASO. They specialize in A/B testing, honing in on the most efficient methods to increase conversion rates and boost organic traffic.
They offer a comprehensive ASO service, which includes:
- Market research and app page audits
- Keyword research
- Advanced ASO
- Continuous optimization
- KPI-based reporting
As a Splitmetrics client, you get free access to App Radar, the company’s leading ASO platform that combines an intuitive interface, advanced data, and AI.
This all-in-one ASO dashboard simplifies the optimization process by delivering top-tier market data and insights into your app’s performance and the competition.
Whether you use Splitmetrics’s consulting services or not, improving your app’s visibility with App Radar is easy.
Sensor Tower
Sensor Tower is a well-known name in app analytics. It offers a range of platforms and solutions that deliver robust insights into market trends, competitor performance, and user behavior.
App owners will be most interested in App Intelligence, the company’s comprehensive app store optimization toolkit. App Intelligence rates keywords by effectiveness, predicts ranking results, and helps you localize keywords to domestic markets.
This data-driven approach extends to their ASO services, which help your app be discovered by the right audience at the right time. If you value deep insights and analytics, Sensor Tower may be the app store optimization agency for you.
ConsultMyApp
ConsultMyApp takes a comprehensive approach to ASO. They focus on pre- and post-launch optimization, ensuring your app hits the ground running and continues to gain traction.
The company specializes in app store optimization, paid acquisition, customer engagement and retention, creative design, and strategic planning.
Their expertise spans various fields, including user acquisition, mobile CRM, and in-depth ASO audits. ConsultMyApp prides itself on its proactive approach, which sets it apart from the competition.
Clients include major brands like SEGA, Paramount, Papa Johns, and Tide. They’ve also won a number of industry awards, including the ASO Company of the Year 2024 at the App Growth Awards and one of the Top App Marketing Companies of 2024 by Business of Apps.
Moburst
Moburst is known for its innovative strategies. Since 2013, it has helped clients like Samsung, Discovery, and Reddit grow exponentially in terms of app visibility and downloads. After working with more than 600 apps in total, they know what works, what doesn’t, and how to get results.
Their ASO services focus on creative optimization, keyword research, and maximizing user retention. With a strong focus on results, Moburst has successfully managed to carve a niche for itself in the competitive ASO space. They do this by combining technology and proprietary methodologies to ensure maximum app discovery — and by taking advantage of all the latest features the most recent iOS release offers.
SEM Nexus
SEM Nexus is an award-winning agency that builds and markets mobile apps. Data lies at the heart of its marketing strategies, whether it’s a paid campaign, an influencer-backed effort, or ASO. The agency’s processes use a combination of app store data and tried-and-tested strategies to all but guarantee success.
It starts with rigorous keyword research to uncover the most relevant and trafficked terms. That’s followed up with listing optimization, the creation of beautiful imagery, and ongoing optimization efforts to increase the number of five-star reviews.
Clients come in all shapes and sizes and include ZF, a pioneer of the boating industry, and The Ultimate Playlist App, a revolutionary internet radio platform.
Yodel Mobile
Yodel Mobile is an award-winning app store optimization and paid user acquisition agency.
The agency’s ASO 360 program is a comprehensive and fully managed growth service. Their team handles everything, from essential strategies such as keyword optimization and metadata testing to always-on A/N testing and other forms of continuous optimization.
The agency is an extension of your in-house team, sharing cutting-edge strategies, reports, and tools to upskill your employees and help everyone become an ASO expert.
These services have helped major brands like B&Q, NBCUniversal, and Gymshark to achieve their organic growth objectives.
The agency’s industry recognition is second to none. It won ‘Campaign of the Decade’ from Mobile Marketing Magazine and App Store Optimisation Agency of the Year from the App Growth Awards.
Each of these app store optimization agencies brings something unique to the table. Your choice ultimately depends on your app’s specific needs, your business goals, and your budget. In the end, the best ASO agency for you is one that understands your vision and can translate it into an actionable and effective strategy.
Traits of A Good App Store Optimization Agency
Finding the right ASO agency for your brand can be tricky, especially when there are so many options to choose from. Narrow down your search by looking for the following traits:
- Industry knowledge: Pick an ASO agency with experience in your niche or vertical. Some app store categories are much more competitive than others, so it pays to work with an agency that knows what it takes to rank.
- Case studies: The proof is in the pudding. Always verify an agency’s expertise by looking at their case studies. Choose an agency with specific examples of how they’ve helped brands overcome similar challenges and generate the results you want to see.
- Awards: Peer recognition is the highest compliment an agency can receive. If an agency has won several well-known industry awards, they’ll probably be able to deliver results for you, too.
Use these traits to draw up a shortlist, and then meet with a few agencies individually. There’s nothing better than a one-on-one consultation to see if you want to partner with these people for the long term.
FAQs
What does an app store optimization specialist do?
An app store optimization specialist is a professional who understands the app store algorithms and uses this knowledge to optimize an app’s visibility. They improve the app’s title, keywords, description, and other elements to help it rank higher in app store search results. The specialist also tracks app performance, analyzes competition, and tweaks strategies as necessary to ensure optimal results.
What is the future of app store optimization?
AI is the future of app store optimization. As with search engines, app stores will likely leverage AI to deliver personalized results and suggestions to consumers based on real-time user behavior and predictive analytics. Many of today’s existing ASO strategies will remain relevant, but driving engagement will become even more important. It won’t be enough to have users find your app, you must encourage them to download and engage regularly with it, too.
How are apps optimized for the app store?
Apps are optimized for the app store through a combination of various strategies. This includes optimizing the app’s title, description, and keywords to align with search terms users are likely to use. Visuals such as the app icon, screenshots, and video previews are also optimized to attract user attention. Additionally, collecting positive user reviews and ratings, localizing the app for different regions, and regularly updating the app are all part of a successful ASO strategy.
How much does it cost to hire an app store optimization agency?
The cost of hiring an app store optimization agency can vary widely depending on the agency, the complexity of the project, the state of the app, and the specific goals of the app owner. Some agencies charge a flat rate, while others may charge hourly or offer different pricing models. It’s best to contact specific agencies for a customized quote.
How long does it take to see results from app store optimizations?
The timeline for seeing results from ASO can vary. However, it’s important to remember that ASO is a long-term strategy. While initial improvements may be seen in a few weeks, it can take several months to see significant results. This is because ASO involves continuous testing, tweaking, and optimization to find what works best.
Can I do app store optimization by myself?
Yes, you can do ASO yourself. However, it requires a deep understanding of app store algorithms, user behavior, keyword research, competition analysis, and other complex elements. Without this knowledge and the time to constantly monitor and adjust your strategies, you may not see the desired results. That’s why hiring an app store optimization agency is a good decision.
Conclusion
The right app store optimization agency will make it easy to stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
So once you’ve built your app, partner with one of the above ASO agencies to bring your app to market. Each of the agencies listed above brings a unique approach and experience, so think carefully about which partner aligns best with your vision, goals, and expectations. Learn more about how my award-winning agency can help you or book a free consultation today.
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