The App Store Connect Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about App Store Connect in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
App Store Connect
The Insider’s Guide
Apple's tools to publish, test and measure apps on the App Store
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among app store optimization tools, read from App Store Connect’s own pages.
Made by Apple · checked Oct 23, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from App Store Connect’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on App Store Connect’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 8 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade
App Store Connect is Apple's portal for developers who sell apps on the App Store. It is where the product page is written, with the app's name, subtitle, keywords, screenshots and previews in up to 40 languages, and where builds are submitted to App Review and released. For store optimization it adds A/B tests of the product page, up to 70 custom product pages, App Analytics on impressions, sources and conversion, and replies to reviews. It comes with the Apple Developer Program membership.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about App Store Connect, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Enrolment is verified by Apple, and product page tests, custom pages and analytics each take setup and learning.
- 1
Best for running and testing your own App Store page
It has no keyword research, rank tracking or rival data, and it covers the App Store only.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $99 per membership year for the Apple Developer Program.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and iOS.
- 4
Product page
Enter the app name, subtitle, keywords and description in up to 40 languages, with up to 10 screenshots and three app previews for each language.
- 5
Product page optimization
Test up to three alternate versions of the app icon, screenshots and previews against the original, then show the winner to everyone.
- 6
Custom product pages
Publish up to 70 extra versions of the product page, each with its own URL, screenshots and promotional text, and assign keywords so they can appear in search.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 8 of 42
That is against the other app store optimization tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace App Store Connect you would be making keyword rankings and popularity scores from both app stores, gathered every day. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
App Store Connect at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $99 per membership year for the Apple Developer Program
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS
- Made by
- Apple
- Category
- App Store Optimization (ASO)
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for running and testing your own App Store page
App Store Connect is Apple's portal where your App Store page is written and released, with product page A/B tests, up to 70 custom product pages and App Analytics. It comes with the Apple Developer Program at $99 a year, and Apple takes 30% of digital sales (15% for small businesses). It has no keyword research, rank tracking or rival data, and it covers the App Store only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $99 a membership year for the Apple Developer Program, about $8.25 a month, inside this category's cheaper quarter ($10). Apple also takes 30% of digital sales, or 15% in the Small Business Program and for qualifying subscriptions. |
| Free plan and trial | F | Nothing free: access needs the $99 membership. Only eligible nonprofits, schools and government bodies can ask for the fee to be waived. |
| Features | C | Product pages in 40 languages, A/B tests of icon, screenshots and previews, 70 custom product pages, App Analytics and review replies. It runs your own Apple listing fully, but there's no keyword research, rank tracking or rival data. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. Enrolment is verified by Apple, and product page tests, custom pages and analytics each take setup and learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | The web portal and an iPhone app, with the App Store Connect API and links to Xcode, TestFlight, Apple Ads and Game Center. It manages the App Store only. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who App Store Connect is for
- Fits if you publish on the App Store and want to test which icon or screenshots convert
- Works for matching custom product pages to ad campaigns and keywords
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need keyword research or rank tracking, as none is built in
- Watch out: Apple takes 30% of digital sales, 15% for small businesses, with other terms in some countries
- Not for you if you ship on Google Play too, as Android listings live in Google Play Console
- Tight if you count on test data, as tests reach only iOS and iPadOS 15+ and usage counts only users who share diagnostics
- Not for you if you want it free, as the $99 yearly membership comes first
Good to know
Good for
- Developers publishing apps on the App Store
- Testing which icon or screenshots convert store visitors best
- Matching custom product pages to ad campaigns and keywords
Worth knowing
- Access comes with the Apple Developer Program at 99 USD per membership year; App Store Connect has no separate price.
- Apple takes a 30% commission on digital sales (15% in the Small Business Program and for qualifying subscriptions), with different terms in some countries.
- Product page tests are shown only to App Store visitors on iOS and iPadOS 15 or later, and usage data counts only users who share diagnostics.
- It covers Apple's App Store only; Google Play listings are run in Google Play Console.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.25
A month to start, paid by the year
App Store Connect is a paid product, starting at $99 per membership year for the Apple Developer Program.
Only eligible nonprofits, schools and government bodies can ask for the fee to be waived.
Apple Developer Program
$99
per membership year
Includes App Store Connect: product pages, TestFlight, App Review submission, App Analytics, sales reports and the App Store Connect API.
Read from developer.apple.com on Oct 23, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Nonprofit
Fee waiver for nonprofits, schools and government
Eligible nonprofits, accredited educational institutions and government entities can ask Apple to waive the Apple Developer Program membership fee.
Stated on developer.apple.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and iOS
Apple's tools to publish, test and measure apps on the App Store. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, reports, a/B testing, app store optimization.
It runs your own Apple listing fully, but there's no keyword research, rank tracking or rival data.
- Product page
- Enter the app name, subtitle, keywords and description in up to 40 languages, with up to 10 screenshots and three app previews for each language.
- Product page optimization
- Test up to three alternate versions of the app icon, screenshots and previews against the original, then show the winner to everyone.
- Custom product pages
- Publish up to 70 extra versions of the product page, each with its own URL, screenshots and promotional text, and assign keywords so they can appear in search.
- App Analytics
- Downloads by source such as App Store Search and Browse, impressions and conversion rate, retention, cohorts and peer group benchmarks.
- Reviews, events and promo codes
- Reply to user reviews on the product page, publish In-App Events that show on the App Store, and hand out promo codes for free downloads.
- TestFlight and releases
- Invite up to 10,000 testers by email or public link, submit builds to App Review, and release manually, on a date or in phases over seven days.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
What it works with
- Xcode
- TestFlight
- Apple Ads
- Game Center
App Store Connect is made by Apple.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/42
Other app store optimization tools it is graded above
App Store Connect's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 8 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 31 of 42) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 3 of the 33 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 app store optimization tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. App Store Connect’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 31 of 42
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 42
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 42
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 18 of 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 app store optimization tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. App Store Connect is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace App Store Connect you would be making keyword rankings and popularity scores from both app stores, gathered every day. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 25 of the 42 other app store optimization tools grade higher. It costs $99 a year.
What you could make
- Reports: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Keyword rankings and popularity scores from both app stores, gathered every day.
- Splitting visitors between versions and telling you which won.
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Xcode, TestFlight and Apple Ads among them, and has an API.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. App Store Connect’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Google Play Console, AppTweak, Sensor Tower, Appfigures and App Radar
The 5 tools App Store Connect is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Google Play Console
From $25 one-time
Google's console to publish, test and grow Android apps on Google Play.
- Only App Store Connect lists an iOS app.
- Only Google Play Console lists an Android app.
- 2.0GPA
AppTweak
Free trial · from $79/mo
App store optimization and Apple Ads platform for apps and games.
- Only App Store Connect lists an iOS app.
- App Store Connect also covers a/B testing.
- AppTweak also covers keyword research, rank tracking and AI search visibility.
- 2.4GPA
Sensor Tower
Free plan
Market intelligence on app downloads, revenue, usage and ads.
- Sensor Tower has a free plan. App Store Connect does not.
- Only App Store Connect lists an iOS app.
- App Store Connect also covers reports and a/B testing.
- 2.2GPA
Appfigures
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
App analytics, review replies and ASO keyword tracking in one account.
- Appfigures has a free plan. App Store Connect does not.
- Only App Store Connect lists an iOS app.
- App Store Connect also covers a/B testing.
- 2.0GPA
App Radar
Free trial · from €58/mo
ASO platform with keyword tracking and a store listing editor.
- Only App Store Connect lists an iOS app.
- App Store Connect also covers a/B testing.
- App Radar also covers keyword research and rank tracking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is App Store Connect free?
No. App Store Connect is a paid product, starting at $99 per membership year for the Apple Developer Program.
How much does App Store Connect cost?
App Store Connect lists one plan. Apple Developer Program: $99 per membership year.
What platforms does App Store Connect work on?
App Store Connect is available on Web and iOS.
Does App Store Connect offer any discounts?
App Store Connect publicly lists the following: Fee waiver for nonprofits, schools and government.
Does App Store Connect have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. App Store Connect is listed for Web and iOS.
Does App Store Connect have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. App Store Connect is listed for Web and iOS.
Is App Store Connect open source?
App Store Connect is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
Does App Store Connect have an API?
Yes. App Store Connect offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does App Store Connect integrate with?
App Store Connect's listing names Xcode, TestFlight, Apple Ads and Game Center.
Who makes App Store Connect?
App Store Connect is made by Apple.
What are the alternatives to App Store Connect?
The closest alternatives to App Store Connect in our directory are Google Play Console, AppTweak, Sensor Tower, Appfigures and App Radar.
How does App Store Connect compare with other app store optimization tools?
App Store Connect's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 8 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 9.
Is App Store Connect good value for money?
ToolGPA grades App Store Connect B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 3 of the 33 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of App Store Connect?
To replace App Store Connect you would be making keyword rankings and popularity scores from both app stores, gathered every day.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from App Store Connect’s own pages on Oct 23, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 23, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apple's own pages on 23 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices change, so check developer.apple.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- App Store Connect, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/app-store-connect
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "App Store Connect: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/app-store-connect
Know someone choosing between app store optimization tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/app-store-connect/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded app store optimization tools after App Store Connect, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- App Store Optimization (ASO) Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 app store optimization tools we grade, compared
- RespectASO Insider's GuideOpen-source Mac app for App Store keyword research, with AI Pro tools3.0 GPA
- AndroidRank Insider's GuideFree Google Play rankings with install and rating history2.8 GPA
- ASOTools Insider's GuideFree ASO keyword research and app analytics for both app stores2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what App Store Connect’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. App Store Connect is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices and plans change: check developer.apple.com before you buy.