App Store Categories
App Store categories are the classifications Apple uses to group apps in browse and featured views — category selection affects both discoverability in browse and how the search algorithm interprets keyword relevance.
Choosing the right primary category affects more than browse visibility — it sets the competitive context for search ranking. An app in the Productivity category competing against other productivity apps for 'task manager' is in a different algorithmic context than the same app miscategorized as a Utilities app.
Secondary category selection adds an additional browse context without affecting the primary ranking classification. Apps that genuinely fit two categories (a journaling app that is both Lifestyle and Productivity, for example) benefit from the secondary category for browse discovery.
Category choice also affects the competition you face: a niche app in a general category competes against every app in that category for rank position, while the same app correctly placed in a more specific sub-category faces fewer direct competitors.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I change my app's category after launch?
- Yes, as part of a metadata update. The change takes effect with the next approved update. Category mischoice at launch is correctable, though the ranking signals in the old category don't transfer.
Related terms
- App Store AlgorithmThe App Store algorithm is Apple's automated system for ranking apps in search results — combining metadata relevance, user engagement signals, and quality indicators to determine which apps appear for each search query.
- App Store Search Ranking FactorsApp Store search ranking factors are the signals Apple's algorithm uses to determine which apps appear at the top of results for a given keyword — primarily metadata relevance, user engagement, and app quality indicators.
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Put this into practice
Score App Store keywords by popularity and difficulty across 109 storefronts — the numbers behind app store categories.
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