The Astro Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Astro 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.
Astro
The Insider’s Guide
Mac app for App Store keyword research and daily rank tracking
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among app store optimization tools, read from Astro’s own pages.
Made by 28 bit S.R.L. · 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 Astro’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Astro’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
2.2
GPA, above 18 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade
Astro is a Mac app for App Store optimization. It shows keyword popularity taken from Apple Ads and its own difficulty score, tracks where an app ranks for each keyword every day, and suggests keywords an app or a competitor already ranks for. One annual subscription covers unlimited apps and keywords on a single Mac.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Astro, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's a Mac app you install, then you search a keyword or paste an App Store link and add your app, with no store account to connect.
- 1
Best for App Store keyword research on a Mac
Astro is a Mac app that shows App Store keyword popularity from Apple Ads with its own difficulty score, tracks your ranks every day and finds the keywords competitors rank for, at $108 a year for unlimited apps and keywords on one Mac.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $9 per month, billed annually ($108 a year).
- 3
There is a free plan
The free version tracks up to 10 keywords, without the popularity and difficulty scores.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Popularity and difficulty scores
Popularity comes from Apple Ads; difficulty is Astro's own estimate of how hard it is to reach the top 10. Both need the paid license.
- 6
Daily keyword rank tracking
Keywords are re-checked every 24 hours while the app is running, with position changes and a day-by-day ranking chart.
- 7
Keyword suggestions
Lists keywords an app ranks or has ranked for, drawn from searches made by all Astro users, so new or niche apps may get few suggestions.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 18 of 42
That is against the other app store optimization tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Astro 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.
Astro at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9 per month, billed annually ($108 a year)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- 28 bit S.R.L.
- Category
- App Store Optimization (ASO)
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for App Store keyword research on a Mac
Astro is a Mac app that shows App Store keyword popularity from Apple Ads with its own difficulty score, tracks your ranks every day and finds the keywords competitors rank for, at $108 a year for unlimited apps and keywords on one Mac. It doesn't cover Google Play, it needs macOS 14 or later, and ranks only update while the app is open.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $108 a year, about $9 a month, for unlimited apps and keywords, inside this category's cheaper quarter, which runs to $10. Billing is annual only, and the license works on one Mac at a time. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free version tracks up to 10 keywords with daily updates, but leaves out the popularity and difficulty scores, which is most of the point. No trial is on record. |
| Features | C | Popularity and difficulty scores, daily rank tracking, keyword suggestions, competitors' keywords, ratings across every country's store and a local MCP server. It does App Store keyword work fully, but that's a smaller job, and Google Play isn't mentioned. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. It's a Mac app you install, then you search a keyword or paste an App Store link and add your app, with no store account to connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 14 or later, one Mac per license. It links to Apple Ads and DeepL, and its MCP server works with Claude, Cursor and VS Code. |
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 Astro is for
- Fits if you're an indie iOS or Mac developer doing your own keyword work
- Works for people tracking thousands of App Store keywords who want one flat yearly price
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your app is on Google Play too, as the pages read only cover Apple's App Store
- Not for you if you work on Windows or in a browser, as it runs only on Macs with macOS 14 or later
- Watch out: ranks only update while the app is open on your Mac, and a license covers one Mac at a time
- Tight if you stay free, since the free version tracks 10 keywords without popularity or difficulty
- Watch out: billing is yearly only at $108, and suggestions come from Astro users' searches, so niche apps may get few
Good to know
Good for
- Indie iOS and Mac developers doing their own ASO
- Tracking thousands of keywords for one flat annual price
- Researching keywords for an app idea before it is published
Worth knowing
- It runs only on Macs with macOS 14 or later, and each license is active on one Mac at a time.
- It covers Apple's App Store (iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS apps); the pages read make no mention of Google Play.
- Billing is annual only, at $108 a year; refunds can be requested within 14 days.
- Rankings update only while the app is open on the Mac.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Astro has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9 per month, billed annually ($108 a year).
Billing is annual only, and the license works on one Mac at a time.
Free version
$0
Up to 10 keywords with daily rank updates; popularity and difficulty scores are left out.
Single Mac License
$9
per month, billed annually ($108 a year)
Unlimited apps and keywords, popularity and difficulty data, suggestions, competitor keywords, ratings analysis and translations.
The free plan
The free version tracks up to 10 keywords, without the popularity and difficulty scores.
Read from tryastro.app on Oct 23, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Mac app for App Store keyword research and daily rank tracking. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: keyword research, rank tracking, app store optimization.
It does App Store keyword work fully, but that's a smaller job, and Google Play isn't mentioned.
- Popularity and difficulty scores
- Popularity comes from Apple Ads; difficulty is Astro's own estimate of how hard it is to reach the top 10. Both need the paid license.
- Daily keyword rank tracking
- Keywords are re-checked every 24 hours while the app is running, with position changes and a day-by-day ranking chart.
- Keyword suggestions
- Lists keywords an app ranks or has ranked for, drawn from searches made by all Astro users, so new or niche apps may get few suggestions.
- Competitor keywords
- Paste a competitor's App Store link to see the keywords it ranks for in a chosen store, sorted by popularity and difficulty.
- Ratings across stores
- A ratings view sums ratings from every country's App Store, with daily changes, per-store counts and a chart over time.
- MCP server (beta)
- A local MCP server, switched on in Settings, lets AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor and VS Code Copilot query Astro's data.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Ads
- DeepL
- Claude
- Cursor
- VS Code
Astro is made by 28 bit S.R.L.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/42
Other app store optimization tools it is graded above
Astro's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 18 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 39 of 42) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $9 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 5 of the 33 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 app store optimization tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Astro’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 31 of 42
- CFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 42
- BEase of useAbove 39 of 42
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Astro 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 Astro 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.
It costs $108 a year.
What you could not
- Keyword rankings and popularity scores from both app stores, gathered every day.
- Search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.
- Daily checks of where your pages rank in search results.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Ads, DeepL and Claude among them.
What this rests on. Astro’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
ASO.dev, RespectASO, ASOTool, Appfigures and AppTweak
The 5 tools Astro is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
ASO.dev
Free trial · from $15/mo
App Store Connect manager with unlimited ASO keyword tracking.
- Astro has a free plan. ASO.dev does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ASO.dev lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
RespectASO
Free plan · from ₹1,800/mo
Open-source Mac app for App Store keyword research, with AI Pro tools.
- RespectASO is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
ASOTool
Free plan · from $12.99/mo
Keyword research and rank tracking for App Store and Google Play.
- Only Astro lists a macOS app.
- Only ASOTool lists a web app.
- 2.2GPA
Appfigures
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
App analytics, review replies and ASO keyword tracking in one account.
- Only Astro lists a macOS app.
- Only Appfigures lists a web app.
- Appfigures also covers reports.
- 2.0GPA
AppTweak
Free trial · from $79/mo
App store optimization and Apple Ads platform for apps and games.
- Astro has a free plan. AppTweak does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Astro lists a macOS app.
- Only AppTweak lists a web app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Astro free?
Astro has a free plan. The free version tracks up to 10 keywords, without the popularity and difficulty scores.
How much does Astro cost?
Astro lists 2 plans. Free version: $0.
What platforms does Astro work on?
Astro is available on macOS.
Does Astro have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Astro is listed for macOS.
Does Astro have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Astro is listed for macOS.
Is Astro open source?
Astro is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
What does Astro integrate with?
Astro's listing names Apple Ads, DeepL, Claude, Cursor and VS Code. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Astro?
Astro is made by 28 bit S.R.L.
What are the alternatives to Astro?
The closest alternatives to Astro in our directory are ASO.dev, RespectASO, ASOTool, Appfigures and AppTweak.
How does Astro compare with other app store optimization tools?
Astro's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 18 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 11.
Is Astro good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Astro B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $9 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 5 of the 33 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Astro?
To replace Astro 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 Astro’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 Astro'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 28 bit S.R.L. Prices change, so check tryastro.app before you buy.
- tryastro.app/
- tryastro.app/docs/installation
- tryastro.app/docs/add-your-first-app
- tryastro.app/docs/how-to-add-keywords
- tryastro.app/docs/data-overview-keywords
- tryastro.app/docs/data-overview-ratings
- tryastro.app/docs/spy-on-competitors-keywords
- tryastro.app/docs/temporary-apps
- tryastro.app/docs/license-transfer
- tryastro.app/docs/mcp
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
- Astro, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/astro
- 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, "Astro: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/astro
Know someone choosing between app store optimization tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/astro/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded app store optimization tools after Astro, 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 Astro’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. Astro is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by 28 bit S.R.L. Prices and plans change: check tryastro.app before you buy.