Astro alternatives
Compare Astro with the leading ASO tools in 2026, side by side.
Astro (tryastro.app) is a beautiful native macOS ASO app for indie iOS developers, sold as a lifetime license. Sonar is a web-based ASO platform covering both iOS App Store and Google Play, billed as a subscription. Different shapes, overlapping audience — pick the one whose model and platform reach fit your stack.
Pick Sonar for
Indie developers who ship on both iOS and Android, want a web/CLI/API workflow, and value daily rank tracking on a server.
Pick Astro for
iOS-only Mac-using indies who prefer a native desktop app and a one-time purchase over a subscription.
Bottom line
Astro is gorgeous and has a one-time price tag — but it's iOS-only, Mac-only, and your data lives on your machine. Sonar covers both stores, runs in the cloud, and has API + CLI for automation.
Pricing
Sonar
Self-serve- $9/moAgent Plan — API-only, 7 stateless endpoints, no rate limit
- $19/moFull Plan (annual) — Unlimited apps & keywords, dashboard, API + CLI, billed annually
- $29/moFull Plan (monthly) — Same as annual, monthly billing
Astro
Self-serve- ~$99–149Lifetime license — One-time purchase via LemonSqueezy/Gumroad, no subscription
- FreeDemo — Limited to 1 app and 10 keywords
Pricing reflects publicly available info as of 2026-05-07. Confirm current rates on Astro's site.
Feature comparison
About Astro
Astro is an indie-built native macOS app for App Store Optimization. It covers keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis, and ASO scoring for iOS apps. Data syncs locally via Core Data and CloudKit; sold as a lifetime license through LemonSqueezy and Gumroad.
Best for: iOS-only indie developers who want a native Mac experience, prefer one-time purchases, and don't need Google Play or web/API access.
Strengths
- Beautiful native macOS app with fast local UI
- One-time purchase — no recurring subscription
- iCloud sync between Macs
- Indie-built and indie-priced
- Local data ownership (Core Data + CloudKit)
Trade-offs
- iOS App Store only — no Google Play coverage
- Mac-only — requires macOS, no web or mobile access
- No public API; limited automation possibilities
- Daily rank tracking depends on your Mac being awake to fetch
- Demo limits (1 app, 10 keywords) require purchase to evaluate fully
Choose Sonar if…
- You ship on both iOS and Google Play
- You need rank tracking that runs whether your Mac is on or off
- You want API and CLI for automation and AI agents
- You don't use macOS as your daily driver
- You'd rather pay $19–29/month than commit to a one-time purchase upfront
Choose Astro if…
- You only ship on iOS and only use a Mac
- You strongly prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions
- You value a native desktop UI over a web app
- Local data ownership and iCloud sync matter to you
- You don't need automation, API, or CLI access
Frequently asked questions
Is Sonar an Astro alternative?
Yes — Sonar covers the same ASO workflow as Astro (keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis) with two key differences: it works for both iOS and Google Play, and it's web-based with API + CLI rather than a native Mac app.
How does Astro's pricing compare to Sonar's?
Astro is sold as a one-time lifetime license, typically $99–149 via LemonSqueezy or Gumroad. Sonar is $29/month (or $19/month annual) — over a multi-year horizon Astro is cheaper, but you forfeit Google Play coverage, server-side tracking, and API access.
Does Astro track Google Play?
No — Astro is iOS-only. If you ship to both stores, Sonar (or another cross-platform tool) is required.
Does Astro have an API?
Astro does not publish a public API; it's a desktop application with local Core Data storage and iCloud sync. Sonar's API and CLI are first-class — every paid plan includes them.
Other comparisons
Try Sonar — $29/month, everything included
Unlimited apps, unlimited keywords, all countries, daily rank tracking, API and CLI on every plan. 7-day free trial.