Astro alternatives
Compare Astro with the leading ASO tools in 2026, side by side.
Astro is a well-loved native Mac ASO app — but it's Apple-only twice over: it covers only the iOS App Store, and it runs only on macOS. If you ship to Google Play too, work from a Windows or Linux machine, or want rank tracking that doesn't depend on your Mac being awake, you'll need an alternative. Here's what switching to Sonar looks like — what you gain, what you give up, and how to migrate your keyword list in an afternoon.
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.
Why developers switch from Astro
- You ship on Google Play: Astro has no Android coverage at all, so half your portfolio is invisible to it. Sonar tracks keywords and rankings on both stores.
- You don't live on a Mac: Astro requires macOS. Sonar runs in any browser, plus CLI and API from any machine.
- Tracking that runs without you: Astro fetches ranks when your Mac is on and the app can check; Sonar's rank tracking runs server-side every day, whether you open the dashboard or not.
- Automation and AI agents: Sonar includes a REST API, CLI, and an official MCP server on every plan — script keyword research across your whole portfolio or let an AI agent do it. Astro has no public API.
- Evaluate with real data: Sonar's 7-day trial is full-access (unlimited apps and keywords), versus Astro's demo cap of 1 app and 10 keywords.
Switching from Astro to Sonar
- 01Start the 7-day trial and add your apps — search by name or paste App Store IDs. Sonar auto-discovers the keywords each app already ranks for, so you start with data even before importing anything.
- 02Copy your tracked keyword list out of Astro and bulk-paste it into Sonar (keywords can be added in bulk per app). Popularity, difficulty, and your current rank are fetched immediately.
- 03Add your competitors to a competitor group to unlock gap analysis — the keywords they rank for that you don't.
- 04If you have an Android version, link it to the same product to track both stores side by side.
- 05Optionally set up rank-drop alerts and connect the CLI or MCP server. Daily tracking starts the day you add each keyword — no waiting period.
Pricing
Sonar
Self-serve- $12.42/moFull Plan (annual) — Unlimited apps & keywords, dashboard, API + CLI, billed annually
- $19/moFull Plan (monthly) — Same as annual, monthly billing
- From $10API credits — Prepaid, pay-as-you-go API access for AI agents and MCP — no subscription, 50 free credits to start
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 2026-07-03. 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 $19/month (or $149/year 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.
How accurate is Astro's keyword popularity data?
Astro's popularity scores, like those of most iOS ASO tools, are based on Apple's own Search Ads popularity index (5–100) — the only primary source of iOS keyword volume that exists. Sonar reads the same index directly from the Apple Ads console and refreshes it daily, then pairs it with a difficulty score computed from the apps actually ranking in the live top 10. The practical difference between tools isn't the source — it's how fresh the value is and whether you can act on it with tracking, alerts, and an API.
Does Astro work on Windows or Linux?
No — Astro is a native macOS app and requires a Mac. Sonar is web-based, so it works in any browser on any OS, plus via CLI and API on any machine.
Does Astro have an MCP server for AI agents?
No. Sonar ships an official MCP server (@sonarapp/mcp) covering its full API — keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis — so Claude, Cursor, and other AI agents can run your ASO workflow directly. Astro, as a desktop app without a public API, has no MCP integration.
Other comparisons
Try Sonar — $19/month, everything included
Unlimited apps, unlimited keywords, all countries, daily rank tracking, API and CLI on every plan. 7-day free trial.