This month’s ASO Monthly edition outlines the most relevant March developments. Here, we shed light on trends in App Store Optimization, algorithm changes, insights into conversion rate optimization, and tool updates.

 

March 5

Apple releases iOS 17.4 — Enabling alternative app stores and sideloading for users in the EU

As we reported back in January, the EU’s new set of regulations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) forced Apple to open up to alternative app stores and allow app sideloading on their devices. Since the release of iOS 17.4 on Feb. 15, these new features and changes are now available to all Apple users in the European Union.

While popular developers like Epic Games and Setapp have already announced their alternative app stores for iOS, AltStore was actually the first one to be available to the general public — just days after the release of iOS 17.4. AltStore has been available for years, but users had to jump through quite a few hoops to get it working on their devices. This process now became “easier” — well, at least a little. Ex-Phiturian Anton Tatarynovich (Freeletics) broke down the whole process on his LinkedIn here.

 

Source: Anton Tatarynovich, LinkedIn

 

March 5

Apple updates App Store Connect API with access to more data points

With version 3.4 of the App Store Connect API, Apple opened up their API to include access to Analytics Reports. The new endpoints can be used to pull data about App Store Engagement, App Store Commerce, App Usage, Framework Usage, and Performance. If you use Apple’s frameworks (i.e. HealthKit, CloudKit, …) in your app, you’ll also be able to get data on how your users interact with these features.

This will make your life much easier if you build custom reporting dashboards with App Store data, or if you’re using other 3rd-party analytics solutions. We expect vendors to update their tools in the coming days and weeks to take advantage of these API changes.

 

March 31

Eligibility criteria for Promotional Content on Google Play

Google now provides more transparency about which apps and games are eligible for “Premium growth tools” like Promotional Content and additional Custom Store Listings.

Developers “in good standing” with Google have to meet these thresholds in order to be eligible:

  • At least 1.6 million 28DAU daily over the previous 3 months, and a minimum of 1.6 million active installs.
  • At least 2 million 28DAU daily over the previous month, and a minimum of 2 million active installs.
  • At least $40,000 USD/month in consumer spend over the previous 3 calendar months, or at least $50,000 USD in the previous calendar month.

Additionally, if…

  • You are a developer in the Google Play Partner program
  • You are a developer in the Media Experience program
  • Your title has consistently maintained a top 10 ranking by 28DAU on every day of the previous calendar month, in at least one of the following countries and categories:
    • Countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
    • Categories: Entertainment, Music and Audio, Health and Fitness, Sports, Beauty, Lifestyle, Books and Reference, Food and Drink, Shopping, Travel, Education, Social

… these reduced criteria apply to you:

  • At least 800,000 28DAU daily over the previous 3 months, and a minimum of 800,000 active installs.
  • At least 1 million 28DAU daily over the previous month, and a minimum of 1 million active installs
  • At least $20,000 USD/month in consumer spend over the previous 3 calendar months, or at least $25,000 USD in the previous calendar month

While these thresholds are fairly high, fear not — if you are part of the Google Play Partner Program or Media Experience Program, new launches will get access to Promotional Content and additional Custom Store Listings for at least two quarters.

Remember that if your app falls in any of these categories, you currently won’t get access to Google Play’s Premium Growth Tools: Finance, Dating, News, Video Players, Business, Medical, Parenting, Tools, Casino.

Find the full guidelines here: https://play.google.com/console/about/guides/premium-growth-tools/

 

Bonus

Superwall’s founder & CEO Jake Mor shared an awesome iOS Shortcut, utilizing the SensorTower API to quickly get data about any app right from the App Store page on your iPhone: