What's the best ASO tool for keyword tracking?

It depends on the job. Applyra or Astro for unlimited tracking, AppTweak for research depth, Sonar for agent workflows, Appfigures if you also want sales analytics, and ASOSurge for a free tracker with an AI weekly plan.

Is there a free ASO keyword tracker?

Yes. ASOSurge's free plan tracks 25 keywords for one app in one country with daily ranks and the AI strategist. Applyra's free plan covers 1 app and 5 keywords. The App Store Connect and Play Console dashboards are free too.

What plans does ASOSurge have?

There's a free-forever plan, then Starter, Indie, Growth and Agency plans billed every 30 days and cancellable any time. Current prices are on asosurge.com/pricing.

Are install campaigns included in ASOSurge plans?

No. Install campaigns are separate. They're optional, paid from a prepaid wallet and quoted before they start, and none of them guarantees a rank. Launch packs bundle keyword installs with 3 months of a plan and never include ratings or reviews.

Are paid installs allowed by Apple and Google?

Both stores prohibit manipulating search placement, ratings or install counts. See Apple's App Review Guideline 5.6.3 and Google Play's policy on ratings, reviews and installs. Read both and weigh the risk for your app before buying any campaign.

Which ASO tools work for both the App Store and Google Play?

Most of them: Applyra, ASOSurge, AppTweak, Sonar, MobileAction and Appfigures all cover both. Astro is App Store only.

Do I need an ASO tool if I'm just launching?

Not on day one. Start with the stores' own consoles and autocomplete, then add a tool when you're choosing between keywords or tracking more than a handful.

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The best ASO tools for keyword tracking, picked by job

Disclosure: we build ASOSurge, so weigh this accordingly. This isn't a ranking. Each tool gets the job it does best, including jobs where a competitor beats us. Every fact was checked on the vendor's own site on October 21, 2026. No affiliate links.

Updated October 23, 2026

Quick answer

There's no single best ASO tool. For unlimited keyword tracking, Applyra, or Astro on a Mac for iOS only. For deep keyword data, AppTweak. For AI-agent workflows, Sonar. ASOSurge combines a free tracker and AI weekly plan with optional paid install campaigns.

Comparison

Tool	Best for	Free option	What the entry paid plan includes	Stores
Applyra	Unlimited keywords on both stores at a low tier	Permanent free plan (1 app, 5 keywords)	Unlimited apps and keywords	App Store, Google Play
Astro	iOS-only indies on a Mac	No (annual license)	Unlimited keywords, 60+ countries	App Store only, Mac app
ASOScan	Keyword pool shared across apps	7-day trial, no card	Solo: 3 apps, 500 keywords	Not stated on its pricing page
MobileAction	ASO plus Apple Ads	7-day trial	ASO and Apple Ads tooling	App Store, Google Play
Sonar	AI-agent / API / MCP workflows	7-day trial, card required	Indie: 10 apps, MCP server, CLI and API	App Store, Google Play
AppTweak	Keyword research depth for teams	7-day trial	Essential: 5 apps, 500 keywords, 1 seat	App Store, Google Play
Appfigures	Your own sales + ASO in one dashboard	Limited free	Keyword tracking starts at the Monitor tier	App Store, Google Play and more
ASOSurge	Free tracker + AI weekly plan, plus optional install campaigns and launch packs	Free forever: 1 app, 1 country, 25 keywords, 1 competitor, daily ranks, AI strategist	Starter adds weekly keyword difficulty & install estimates; Indie: 3 apps × 3 countries, 150 keywords	App Store, Google Play, 120+ countries

What ASOSurge offers

Current prices for every item below are on asosurge.com/pricing (See plans).

Offering	What it is
Software plans	Free, Starter, Indie, Growth and Agency. Daily rank tracking, keyword research, competitor radar, listing tools, Surge AI weekly plan (billed every 30 days)
Keyword install campaigns	Real users search a keyword you choose and install your app; delivery is spread over days, minimum 10 installs. App Store standard, premium and auto-suggest options, and Google Play; per-install rate drops on higher plans
Direct installs	Installs without a keyword, to lift overall download velocity (App Store and Google Play)
Smart campaigns / auto-suggest	A ready campaign built from the keywords Surge AI recommends; App Store search-suggestion targeting
Launch packs	Starter Launch, Growth Push and Ranking Pro: keyword installs plus 3 months of a plan (no ratings or reviews)

All campaigns are optional, paid from a prepaid wallet, and quoted before they start. Only delivered installs are charged, and undelivered amounts return to the wallet as credit. Wallet top-ups are non-refundable except for duplicate or mistaken charges or where the law requires.

What the stores' rules say, so you can decide for yourself: Apple's App Review Guideline 5.6.3 (Discovery Fraud) says that "manipulating any element of the App Store customer experience such as charts, search, reviews, or referrals to your app … is not permitted." Google Play's policy says developers "must not attempt to manipulate the placement of any apps on Google Play", including "inflating product ratings, reviews, or install counts by illegitimate means". Google has also said it detects and filters installs meant to manipulate placement. No campaign can guarantee a rank. Read both policies and weigh the risk for your app before buying any install campaign, from us or anyone else.

Where ASOSurge fits — and where it doesn't

Pick ASOSurge if:

You want to start free with real daily rank tracking and an AI strategist (Surge AI) that writes a ranked weekly plan from your rankings, listing and competitors.
You want a free ASO health score for any App Store or Google Play link, without connecting a developer account.
You want tracking, an AI plan and paid growth services in one place, with a quote before anything runs, and a rank chart afterwards showing whether it worked.
Its free plan includes daily rank tracking and the AI strategist. Applyra's free plan tracks 5 keywords; ASOSurge's tracks 25.

Pick something else if:

You need unlimited keywords on an entry plan. Our free and Starter plans track 25 keywords. Applyra and Astro include unlimited keywords on their entry plans.
You need market intelligence (download and revenue estimates across the market). Sensor Tower, AppTweak or Appfigures are built for that.
You run Apple Ads at scale. MobileAction and AppTweak have dedicated Apple Ads tooling.
You script ASO through AI agents. Sonar ships an MCP server, CLI and REST API on every plan.
You don't want paid installs anywhere near your account. Pick a tracking-only tool such as Applyra, Astro or AppTweak, and read the store policies above.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best ASO tool for keyword tracking?: It depends on the job. Applyra or Astro for unlimited tracking, AppTweak for research depth, Sonar for agent workflows, Appfigures if you also want sales analytics, and ASOSurge for a free tracker with an AI weekly plan.
Is there a free ASO keyword tracker?: Yes. ASOSurge's free plan tracks 25 keywords for one app in one country with daily ranks and the AI strategist. Applyra's free plan covers 1 app and 5 keywords. The App Store Connect and Play Console dashboards are free too.
What plans does ASOSurge have?: There's a free-forever plan, then Starter, Indie, Growth and Agency plans billed every 30 days and cancellable any time. Current prices are on asosurge.com/pricing.
Are install campaigns included in ASOSurge plans?: No. Install campaigns are separate. They're optional, paid from a prepaid wallet and quoted before they start, and none of them guarantees a rank. Launch packs bundle keyword installs with 3 months of a plan and never include ratings or reviews.
Are paid installs allowed by Apple and Google?: Both stores prohibit manipulating search placement, ratings or install counts. See Apple's App Review Guideline 5.6.3 and Google Play's policy on ratings, reviews and installs. Read both and weigh the risk for your app before buying any campaign.
Which ASO tools work for both the App Store and Google Play?: Most of them: Applyra, ASOSurge, AppTweak, Sonar, MobileAction and Appfigures all cover both. Astro is App Store only.
Do I need an ASO tool if I'm just launching?: Not on day one. Start with the stores' own consoles and autocomplete, then add a tool when you're choosing between keywords or tracking more than a handful.