The Sensor Tower Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Sensor Tower 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.
Sensor Tower
The Insider’s Guide
Market intelligence on app downloads, revenue, usage and ads
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among app store optimization tools, read from Sensor Tower’s own pages.
Made by Sensor Tower · 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 Sensor Tower’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Sensor Tower’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
2.4
GPA, above 30 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade
Sensor Tower is a market intelligence platform that estimates downloads, revenue, active users and retention for apps on the App Store and Google Play, and tracks keyword rankings and search ads for store optimization. It also covers mobile and digital advertising, audiences, web traffic and games, and it acquired data.ai, formerly App Annie, in 2024. Prices are quoted per customer.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Sensor Tower, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The free account's limits aren't described, and ad, audience, web and gaming data are separate products.
- 1
Best for app market estimates alongside store keyword data
No price is published, so you only find out what it costs on a sales call.
- 2
There is a free plan
A free account can be created on the site; Sensor Tower says full access to App Performance Insights needs a paid plan and does not list what the free account includes.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Download and revenue estimates
Estimated downloads, revenue, active users and engagement for apps by country, category and platform, built from a consumer panel and app store data.
- 5
Store optimization data
Keyword rankings, keyword opportunities, store listings and competitor positioning on the App Store and Google Play, with Apple Search Ads analysis.
- 6
App advertising insights
Share of voice across the larger mobile ad networks, with the top advertisers, publishers and ad creatives by region.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 30 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 Sensor Tower 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.
Sensor Tower at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Sensor Tower, since 2013
- Category
- App Store Optimization (ASO)
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for app market estimates alongside store keyword data
Sensor Tower is a market intelligence platform: it estimates any app's downloads, revenue, active users and retention, and tracks keyword rankings and search ads on both stores. No price is published, so you only find out what it costs on a sales call. The free account's limits aren't described, and ad, audience, web and gaming data are separate products.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published: the pricing page leads to a demo request, and Sensor Tower prices each customer's plan itself, so the price is only given on a sales call. |
| Free plan and trial | C | You can make a free account, but Sensor Tower doesn't say what it includes, and full App Performance Insights access needs a paid plan. No trial is on record. |
| Features | B | Download, revenue, usage and retention estimates by country and category, keyword rankings and opportunities on both stores, Apple Search Ads analysis and ad intelligence. It covers the job; advertising, audience, web and gaming data are separate products. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. It's a data platform reached through a demo, with a lot of datasets to learn before it answers a store question quickly. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with no desktop or phone app and no integrations named. There's an API, and an MCP server for AI assistants that needs an active API subscription. |
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 Sensor Tower is for
- Fits if you size app markets or competitors' downloads and revenue, not just your own keywords
- Works for publishers and investors who want app, ad and gaming data from one vendor
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a price before you talk to anyone, as every plan is quoted on a sales call
- Skip it if you want to know what's free first, as the free account's limits aren't listed and full app insights are paid
- Watch out: advertising, audience, web and gaming data are separate products from the app performance data
- Watch out: the MCP server works only with an active Sensor Tower API subscription
Good to know
Good for
- Publishers and investors sizing app markets and competitors' downloads and revenue
- Growth teams that want store keyword data next to market and ad intelligence
- Companies tracking competitors' mobile ad spend and creatives
Worth knowing
- No prices are published: the pricing page leads to a demo request, and plans are priced per customer.
- The free account's limits are not described; full App Performance Insights access is paid.
- Advertising, audience, web and gaming data are separate products from the app performance data.
- The MCP server needs an active Sensor Tower API subscription.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Sensor Tower's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
You can make a free account, but Sensor Tower doesn't say what it includes, and full App Performance Insights access needs a paid plan.
We could not confirm Sensor Tower’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. sensortower.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Market intelligence on app downloads, revenue, usage and ads. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, keyword research, rank tracking, app store optimization.
It covers the job; advertising, audience, web and gaming data are separate products.
- Download and revenue estimates
- Estimated downloads, revenue, active users and engagement for apps by country, category and platform, built from a consumer panel and app store data.
- Store optimization data
- Keyword rankings, keyword opportunities, store listings and competitor positioning on the App Store and Google Play, with Apple Search Ads analysis.
- App advertising insights
- Share of voice across the larger mobile ad networks, with the top advertisers, publishers and ad creatives by region.
- Usage and retention benchmarks
- Sessions per user, time spent and new, retained and churned users, compared with the apps that perform best in a category.
- Gaming, web and audience data
- Separate products cover game metrics, website traffic, the audiences of apps and the ads they see, and ads across social, video and display channels.
- MCP server
- Ask questions of Sensor Tower's estimates from an AI chatbot. It needs an active API subscription and covers the datasets on that subscription.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Sensor Tower is made by Sensor Tower, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/42
Other app store optimization tools it is graded above
Sensor Tower's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 30 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on features (B, above 30 of 42) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 app store optimization tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Sensor Tower’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 10 of 42
- CFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 42
- BFeaturesAbove 30 of 42
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 42
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 18 of 42
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 Sensor Tower 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 is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.4 is higher than 30 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade.
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.
- An API that other software can build on.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Sensor Tower’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
AppTweak, Appfigures, Apptopia, AppMagic and MobileAction
The 5 tools Sensor Tower is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
AppTweak
Free trial · from $79/mo
App store optimization and Apple Ads platform for apps and games.
- Sensor Tower has a free plan. AppTweak does not, though it has a free trial.
- AppTweak also covers reports and AI search visibility.
- 2.2GPA
Appfigures
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
App analytics, review replies and ASO keyword tracking in one account.
- Appfigures also covers reports.
- 2.0GPA
Apptopia
Free trial
Mobile app performance data for investors, brands and sales teams.
- Sensor Tower has a free plan. Apptopia does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sensor Tower also covers keyword research, rank tracking and app store optimization.
- Apptopia also covers reports and dashboards.
- 1.6GPA
AppMagic
Paid
Mobile and Steam market data: revenue, downloads, ads and ASO.
- Sensor Tower has a free plan. AppMagic does not.
- Sensor Tower also covers rank tracking.
- AppMagic also covers dashboards.
- 2.2GPA
MobileAction
Free trial · from $12.50/mo
ASO keyword tools and Apple Ads campaign management for app teams.
- Sensor Tower has a free plan. MobileAction does not, though it has a free trial.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 Sensor Tower free?
Sensor Tower has a free plan. A free account can be created on the site; Sensor Tower says full access to App Performance Insights needs a paid plan and does not list what the free account includes.
What platforms does Sensor Tower work on?
Sensor Tower is available on Web.
Does Sensor Tower have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Sensor Tower is listed for Web.
Does Sensor Tower have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Sensor Tower is listed for Web.
Is Sensor Tower open source?
Sensor Tower is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
Does Sensor Tower have an API?
Yes. Sensor Tower offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes Sensor Tower?
Sensor Tower is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Sensor Tower?
The closest alternatives to Sensor Tower in our directory are AppTweak, Appfigures, Apptopia, AppMagic and MobileAction.
How does Sensor Tower compare with other app store optimization tools?
Sensor Tower's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 30 of the 42 other app store optimization tools we grade, and level with 6.
Could I make my own version of Sensor Tower?
To replace Sensor Tower 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 Sensor Tower’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 Sensor Tower'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 Sensor Tower. Prices change, so check sensortower.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
- Sensor Tower, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sensor-tower
- 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, "Sensor Tower: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sensor-tower
Know someone choosing between app store optimization tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sensor-tower/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded app store optimization tools after Sensor Tower, 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 Sensor Tower’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. Sensor Tower is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Sensor Tower. Prices and plans change: check sensortower.com before you buy.