How to research a competitor's Apple Search Ads
Apple Search Ads places a single promoted result at the top of App Store search. There is no public library, so research is done by observing live search results for the keywords that matter.
Step by step
1. Search the competitor's brand name in the App Store
If a different app appears in the promoted slot above it, that app is bidding on your competitor's brand term — one of the most common Search Ads tactics.
2. Search the app's top category keywords
Work through the generic terms the app would want to own. Whoever holds the promoted slot is actively spending on that keyword.
3. Repeat across storefronts
Search Ads is bought per country. An app dominating US results may be absent in the UK or Germany, which reveals where its budget is concentrated.
4. Check whether the app buys its own brand term
Apps that defend their own brand keyword are usually under attack from a competitor bidding on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Apple Search Ads library?
No. Apple publishes no public archive of Search Ads campaigns, so research relies on observing live App Store search results.
Do Search Ads results change by country?
Yes. Apple Search Ads campaigns are bought per storefront, so results differ between countries.
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