Blog

Guides, research, and tactics for indie iOS developers.

Data & Insights·12 min read·Aug 2, 2026

What App Store Download Estimates Actually Tell You

App Store download estimates are modelled, not measured — and Apple's own numbers disagree with each other. How to read one and still decide with it.

iOS Business·12 min read·Aug 2, 2026

How to Price an iOS App: A Framework for Indie Developers

How to price an iOS app: pick the monetisation model your category already supports, price on gross, and plan around what Apple actually pays you.

Data & Insights·11 min read·Aug 1, 2026

How to Get Free iOS App Download Estimates (Four Methods, Ranked)

You can get competitor download estimates for free. Four methods, ranked by how directly each answers the question — plus what none of them will ever give you.

iOS Business·11 min read·Jul 29, 2026

What It Costs to Publish an iOS App on the App Store

Publishing an iOS app costs 99 USD a year for the Apple Developer Program, plus Apple's commission on anything you sell. Some organisations pay nothing. Here is what is mandatory, what is waived, and what is included.

AI Tooling·11 min read·Jul 25, 2026

How MCP Directories Actually Work — and Which One to Install From

Most MCP directories are catalogs, not install surfaces — they list servers and hand you the same npx command. Here is how the official registry feeds them, how to spot a stale listing, and where it actually matters which one you use.

Competitive Research·12 min read·Jul 22, 2026

Before You Launch: The Competitive Research Every Indie Developer Should Do

A pre-launch competitive research checklist for indie iOS developers: seven questions to answer with real download, revenue, and publisher data before you submit your app.

AI Tooling·9 min read·Jul 15, 2026

How to Set Up App Store Operator with Claude Desktop and Claude Code

A complete setup guide for App Store Operator: the one-line Claude Code install, the Claude Desktop JSON config, the first-run SensorTower login, and how to verify the MCP server is actually working.

ASO Tactics·13 min read·Jul 8, 2026

iOS In-App Events: What They Are, When They Work, and How to Write One

An In-App Event is a timely, time-boxed event inside your app that gets its own discoverable card on the App Store. Apple's seven badges, the real character limits, and how to write copy that fits them.

Competitive Research·11 min read·Jun 24, 2026

How to Analyze App Store Competition for a Keyword (With Real Examples)

A data-rich walkthrough of App Store competition analysis: how to turn downloads, revenue, ratings, and publisher data into a real decision — enter the keyword, avoid it, or find a niche.

Competitive Research·9 min read·Jun 24, 2026

App Store Operator vs. SensorTower: Which One Should You Use?

An honest comparison of App Store Operator and SensorTower: a lightweight AI-native research tool inside Claude vs. a full deep ASO platform. Which one fits your workflow and budget.

ASO Tactics·12 min read·Jun 10, 2026

App Store Title, Subtitle, and Keyword Field: What Goes Where

The App Store gives you 30 characters of name, 30 of subtitle, and 100 of keywords. Here are Apple's actual limits and rules, and how to decide which term belongs in which field.

ASO Tactics·11 min read·May 19, 2026

What Is App Store Optimization? A Definition and What Actually Moves Rankings

App Store Optimization is the practice of improving how an app ranks in App Store search and how many people install it once they find it. Here is what Apple documents as a ranking input, and what is folklore.

Competitive Research·8 min read·Apr 28, 2026

How to Research App Store Competitors in Under 60 Seconds

Run App Store competitor research in Claude: get download estimates, revenue, publisher data, and top markets for any keyword in under 60 seconds.

AI Tooling·9 min read·Apr 28, 2026

What Is an MCP Server? A Plain-English Explanation for Developers

MCP servers extend Claude with real tools and live data. Here is what the model context protocol actually is, how it works, and how to install your first MCP server.

ASO Tactics·10 min read·Apr 27, 2026

App Store Keyword Research: A Step-by-Step Guide for Indie Developers

A practical guide to App Store keyword research: find seed keywords, evaluate competition, choose long-tail vs. head terms, and validate with real download data.

App Store Operator connects Claude to App Store and SensorTower data — no browser, no API keys, no manual copy-paste.

npx app-store-operator@latest
View setup guide →