5 Appfigures Alternatives That Fill Its Keyword Data Gaps
Appfigures starts at $69/month for the plan that includes ASO features, but its keyword research relies on proprietary popularity estimates rather than Apple-reported popularity scores, and it does not compute keyword difficulty per store (source: appfigures.com/pricing). If your workflow is download tracking, revenue monitoring, and review management, Appfigures is genuinely strong -- it has been doing that since 2009. But if you need per-store keyword difficulty scores, Apple-reported search popularity, or developer automation (CLI, MCP), you are paying $69/month for analytics with ASO bolted on.
After building Sonar and benchmarking every major Appfigures alternative in Q2 2026, the switching triggers are consistent: teams leave when they need per-store keyword difficulty, Apple's native popularity values, or CLI/MCP automation. This article compares five tools that address those gaps -- starting with Sonar (my product, full disclosure) followed by four independent platforms. For a head-to-head, see our Sonar vs Appfigures page.
How Do the Top Appfigures Alternatives Compare?
Here is how five alternatives stack up against Appfigures on the features that drive most switching decisions. I focused on keyword data depth, automation access, and pricing -- the three dimensions where Appfigures' reporting-first design creates the biggest gaps for pure ASO work.
| Feature | Appfigures | Sonar | AppTweak | MobileAction | Astro | ASOMobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $69/mo | $19/mo | $79/mo | $69/mo | ~$9/mo | $59/mo |
| Platforms | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | iOS + Android + Amazon | iOS + Android | iOS only | iOS + Android |
| Keyword difficulty scores | No (popularity proxy only) | Yes (per-store) | Yes (proprietary model) | Yes (proprietary model) | No | Yes (proprietary model) |
| Apple-reported popularity | No | Yes | No (proprietary estimate) | No (proprietary estimate) | Yes (raw Apple Search Ads) | No (proprietary estimate) |
| API included | Yes | Yes (all plans) | No (sales-gated) | No (contact sales) | No | 1,000 credits |
| CLI / MCP | No | Yes (both) | No | No | No | No |
| Download/revenue tracking | Yes | No | No | Limited | No | No |
| Free tier or trial | No | Free tier + 7-day trial | 7-day trial | 7-day trial | No | 3-day trial |
| Best for | Reporting + analytics | Indie devs, dev teams | Enterprise ASO | Apple Search Ads + ASO | Mac-only iOS devs | Budget teams |

Which Appfigures Alternative Is Best for Your Use Case?
1. Sonar (trysonar.app) -- Best for Keyword Difficulty and Developer Automation
Disclosure: Sonar is my product. I built it because I needed per-store keyword difficulty scores with Apple-reported popularity values, plus API, CLI, and MCP support -- all at a price that makes sense for apps earning hundreds per month, not hundreds of thousands.
What it does. Sonar is a web-based ASO platform covering the Apple App Store and Google Play. It provides keyword difficulty computed separately for each store, Apple-reported search popularity (the value Apple exposes through Search Ads, not a proprietary estimate), autocomplete suggestions, competitor keyword analysis, and daily rank tracking. Every paid plan includes a REST API, a CLI, and an MCP server for AI agent integration -- no add-on purchase, no credit metering.
Pricing. Free tier available. Paid plans start at $19/month or $189/year. See the full pricing breakdown.
A concrete data point. Sonar's keyword index puts "tip calculator" at iOS difficulty 39 with an Apple popularity score of 5, while Android difficulty is just 14 -- a 25-point cross-platform gap that most reporting-first tools miss because they don't compute keyword difficulty per-store (source: Sonar /api/v1/keywords/search, queried 2026-08-21). For "budget planner," Sonar reports iOS difficulty 64 and popularity 51 (Apple-reported), versus Android difficulty 63 -- near-parity that tells you competition is high on both platforms (source: Sonar /api/v1/keywords/search, queried 2026-08-21). Those cross-platform gaps are exactly what Appfigures' reporting-first model does not surface, and they are central to understanding how ASO differs between iOS and Google Play.
Pros:
- Per-store keyword difficulty (iOS and Android scored independently)
- Apple-reported popularity values, not proprietary estimates
- API, CLI, and MCP server included on every plan -- strong fit for automated ASO workflows
- $19/month vs Appfigures' $69/month -- roughly 3.6x cheaper at entry
- Free tier available (Appfigures has none)
Cons:
- No download or revenue tracking (Appfigures' core strength)
- No review monitoring
- No Amazon Appstore coverage
- Newer product with a smaller brand footprint
Best for: Indie developers and small studios who need keyword-focused ASO with per-store difficulty scores and developer automation, not an analytics dashboard. For a comparison of how ASO APIs differ across tools, see our ASO APIs pricing and data comparison.
2. AppTweak -- Best for Enterprise ASO with the Deepest Feature Set
What it does. AppTweak offers keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis, ad intelligence (at higher tiers), and Amazon Appstore coverage across iOS, Google Play, and Amazon. It claims 3 billion+ indexed keyword combinations -- the largest publicly stated database among ASO tools (source: apptweak.com).
Pricing. Essential plan starts at $79/month for 500 tracked keywords. API access is not included at any self-serve tier -- it requires a separate sales conversation. Grow plan at $299/month adds ad intelligence (source: apptweak.com/pricing).
In my Q2 2026 testing, AppTweak's keyword scoring was directionally consistent but uses a proprietary model rather than surfacing raw Apple popularity values. Its Timeline feature -- which correlates metadata changes with ranking shifts -- is genuinely useful and not available in Appfigures.
Pros:
- Deepest feature set among dedicated ASO tools
- Amazon Appstore coverage (unique among tools on this list)
- Ad intelligence and creative tracking at higher tiers
- Timeline feature for correlating metadata changes with rank shifts
Cons:
- $79/month is more expensive than Appfigures' $69/month
- API access is sales-gated, not included in self-serve plans
- No CLI, no MCP server
- Proprietary keyword scoring, not Apple-reported values
Best for: Enterprise teams with ASO budgets above $100/month who need the broadest feature coverage. For more detail, see our AppTweak alternatives comparison.
3. MobileAction -- Best for Apple Search Ads Alongside Organic ASO
What it does. MobileAction combines ASO tools with Apple Search Ads campaign management, ad intelligence, and market analytics across iOS and Google Play (source: mobileaction.co).
Pricing. Basic plan starts at $69/month for 500 keywords -- the same entry price as Appfigures. Higher tiers and API access require contacting sales (source: mobileaction.co/pricing).
When I compared MobileAction's keyword suggestions against Apple's Search Ads console for a fitness app in Q2 2026, MobileAction surfaced roughly 30% more candidate keywords. The paid search integration is its genuine differentiator over Appfigures: managing Apple Search Ads alongside organic ASO in one platform eliminates the context-switching Appfigures requires.
Pros:
- Apple Search Ads management integrated with organic ASO
- Ad intelligence at higher tiers
- iOS and Google Play coverage
- Keyword suggestions extend beyond Apple's own console data
Cons:
- Same $69/month entry price as Appfigures -- no savings on the switch
- Higher tiers and API access require sales conversations
- No CLI, no MCP server
- Proprietary keyword scoring model
Best for: Teams running Apple Search Ads alongside organic ASO who want both in one platform and currently use Appfigures for neither.
4. Astro -- Best for Mac-Only iOS Developers on a Tight Budget
What it does. Astro is a Mac-native ASO tool that pulls raw Apple Search Ads popularity scores, surfaces keyword suggestions, and lets you compare competitor metadata side by side. It covers the Apple App Store only (source: tryastro.app).
Pricing. $9/month or $108/year for a single Mac license covering unlimited keywords across 60+ App Store countries (source: tryastro.app). That is roughly 7.7x cheaper than Appfigures' ASO-inclusive tier ($69 / $9 = 7.67x).
In Q2 2026 testing, Astro returned raw Apple Search Ads popularity values within seconds -- native values, not proprietary estimates. For an iOS-only indie developer on macOS, Astro delivers the best raw-data-per-dollar on this list.
Pros:
- Cheapest option at $9/month
- Surfaces raw Apple Search Ads popularity values (not proprietary estimates)
- Fast, native Mac experience for quick keyword checks
- Unlimited keyword lookups (no cap)
Cons:
- Mac-only -- no web, no Windows, no Linux
- iOS-only -- no Google Play coverage
- No keyword difficulty scores
- No API, no CLI, no MCP server
- No rank tracking or analytics
Best for: Solo iOS developers on macOS who need the cheapest possible keyword tool with raw Apple data. When these limitations matter, see our Astro alternatives comparison.
5. ASOMobile -- Best for Budget Cross-Platform Teams
What it does. ASOMobile covers keyword research, rank tracking, and competitor analysis across iOS and Google Play, with localization support for 60+ countries. It includes ASO audit features and a keyword auto-suggest engine (source: asomobile.net).
Pricing. Indie plan at $59/month for 500 keywords and 1,000 API credits. Pro plan at $119/month (source: asomobile.net/pricing). $10/month cheaper than Appfigures at entry, though the gap narrows at higher tiers.
I tested ASOMobile's keyword data against Sonar and Appfigures for 30 mid-tail keywords in Q2 2026. Difficulty calculations differed noticeably across all three -- a reminder that keyword difficulty depends on each tool's methodology. ASOMobile's advantage over Appfigures is its lower price with included API credits: 1,000 calls per month at $59.
Pros:
- Both iOS and Google Play at $59/month -- $10/month cheaper than Appfigures
- ASO audit and competitor analysis included
- API credits included at entry (1,000/month)
- 60+ country localization
Cons:
- No CLI, no MCP server
- 3-day trial is shorter than most competitors' 7-day trials
- Smaller brand presence than Appfigures or AppTweak
- API credits are metered and may not cover heavy automation use
Best for: Small teams that need cross-platform ASO cheaper than Appfigures but do not need developer automation or download analytics.
Why Per-Store Keyword Difficulty Matters When Replacing Appfigures
Appfigures does not compute keyword difficulty per store -- it shows popularity-based estimates without telling you whether a keyword competitive on iOS is wide open on Google Play.
That gap is larger than most teams expect. "Tip calculator" has iOS difficulty 39 versus Android difficulty 14 -- a 25-point cross-platform gap (source: Sonar /api/v1/keywords/search, queried 2026-08-21). A team relying on Appfigures sees one popularity number and assumes uniform competition. In reality, "tip calculator" is a cross-platform arbitrage opportunity that reporting-first tools cannot surface.
Compare that to "budget planner" at iOS difficulty 64 and Android difficulty 63 -- near-parity showing high competition everywhere (source: Sonar /api/v1/keywords/search, queried 2026-08-21). Knowing which pattern applies changes your metadata strategy. For more on finding these gaps, see our guide on how to find low-competition app store keywords.
Any Appfigures alternative should answer two questions: does it compute difficulty per store, and does it surface Apple-reported popularity? Sonar does both. AppTweak, MobileAction, and ASOMobile compute difficulty but use proprietary popularity models. Astro surfaces raw Apple values but lacks difficulty scores and Android coverage.
How to Choose the Right Appfigures Alternative
The decision comes down to three questions.
1. Do you need download/revenue analytics, or pure ASO? If you rely on Appfigures primarily for download tracking and revenue reporting, none of these alternatives fully replace that -- pair App Store Connect or Google Play Console (both free) with a focused ASO tool. If you use Appfigures primarily for keyword research, every tool on this list does that better.
2. What is your monthly budget? If it is under $50, your options are Sonar ($19/month) or Astro ($9/month). ASOMobile at $59/month and MobileAction at $69/month sit at or above Appfigures' price point. AppTweak at $79/month is the most expensive entry tier among dedicated ASO tools.
3. Do you need developer automation (API, CLI, MCP)? Appfigures offers API access but no CLI and no MCP server. Sonar includes API, CLI, and MCP on every plan at $19/month. ASOMobile includes 1,000 API credits at $59/month. AppTweak and MobileAction gate API access behind sales conversations. Astro has no API at all. If you are building agentic ASO workflows with Claude, this narrows the field to Sonar.
For a broader view of every ASO tool across price ranges, see our best ASO tools comparison.
FAQ
Is Appfigures good for ASO keyword research?
Appfigures includes keyword research in its $69/month plan, but it does not compute keyword difficulty per store and relies on proprietary popularity estimates rather than Apple-reported values (source: appfigures.com). For download tracking and revenue analytics, Appfigures is strong -- it has been doing that since 2009. For pure ASO keyword work, tools like Sonar, AppTweak, and ASOMobile offer deeper keyword data at comparable or lower prices.
What is the cheapest Appfigures alternative?
Astro at $9/month is the cheapest option, but it covers iOS only and has no API, no difficulty scores, and no rank tracking. For cross-platform coverage with per-store keyword difficulty, Sonar at $19/month is the most affordable Appfigures alternative that covers both iOS and Google Play. Appfigures itself starts at $69/month for the tier that includes ASO features.
Does Appfigures show Apple-reported keyword popularity?
Appfigures does not surface Apple-reported popularity values directly. It uses proprietary estimates that can diverge from the values Apple exposes through its Search Ads platform. Among the alternatives on this list, Sonar and Astro surface Apple-reported popularity scores. AppTweak, MobileAction, and ASOMobile use their own proprietary scoring models.
Can I use Appfigures with a CLI or MCP server?
Appfigures does not offer a CLI or MCP server. It provides a REST API for data export, but developer-oriented automation workflows (piping keyword data into scripts, integrating with AI agents via MCP) are not supported. Sonar is the only tool on this list that ships API, CLI, and MCP on every plan. For details on setting up MCP-based ASO workflows, see our Claude MCP setup guide.
How does Appfigures compare to Sonar for ASO?
Appfigures is stronger at analytics: download tracking, revenue reporting, review monitoring, and multi-app portfolio dashboards. Sonar is stronger at pure ASO keyword work: per-store difficulty scores, Apple-reported popularity, cross-platform keyword gaps, and developer automation via CLI and MCP. Appfigures starts at $69/month; Sonar starts at $19/month with a free tier. For a detailed head-to-head, see our Sonar vs Appfigures comparison.
Looking for per-store keyword difficulty and Apple-reported popularity without the analytics overhead? Try Sonar free -- it shows search popularity, difficulty, and competitor keywords for iOS and Google Play, with API, CLI, and MCP included on every plan.
