ASOTrendHQ

Overview

ASOTrendHQ turns public Apple App Store and Google Play data into keyword, ranking, category, and competitor research. It is aimed at indie developers, small studios, app marketers, and ASO freelancers who need a no-cost way to find terms and investigate rival apps. Its broad set of research tools is a useful starting point, but its estimates and uneven data collection call for verification before decisions.

Key features

Keyword research covers iOS and Android, using available US search observations. Filters for phrase, observed rank, and modeled difficulty help narrow a search, while browser-saved shortlists and CSV export preserve selections and their supporting evidence. These tools make it easier to assemble candidates for further research; the US observations and variable coverage make them less dependable as a complete view of other markets.

Competitor analysis compares collected keyword footprints to surface terms worth investigating. Historical ranking movement can help flag a change, but collection schedules differ and queued refreshes have no guaranteed completion time. Treat a trend as a prompt to check the relevant store console, not as confirmation of a current rank.

Popularity, difficulty, search volume, traffic potential, and opportunity scores are estimates based on public store data, not official Apple or Google metrics. App and keyword records show their own last-refreshed timestamps, giving users a way to judge recency. Coverage and rankings can vary by app, country, and time, and scraping or scheduled jobs can be delayed, incomplete, or temporarily unavailable. ASOTrendHQ is an independent side project, unaffiliated with either store.

Pricing

Free — free. Every feature is currently free while the service is in active development, with no credit card required. There is no paid tier to unlock more capability today, so it is a straightforward fit for developers and small teams who want to explore keyword and competitor research without a subscription. The trade-off is that coverage varies by app and queued refreshes may not finish on a predictable schedule; users needing dependable, timely coverage should not rely on it as their only source.

Platforms

ASOTrendHQ is accessed through the web and provides research on apps listed in both the iOS App Store and Google Play. Its keyword tracking and competitor tracking cover both major mobile stores, making it relevant to teams working across iOS and Android rather than to desktop-software research.

Who it's for

Indie developers, small studios, app marketers, and ASO freelancers can use ASOTrendHQ to build keyword shortlists, examine competitors, and spot ranking movement without paying while the service remains free. It is less suitable as a sole source for teams that need consistently current rankings or market-wide coverage, since records and refresh timing can vary.

Pros and cons

• Pro: All features are free with no card required, so even smaller app teams can explore keyword, competitor, and ranking research without a subscription commitment.
• Pro: Shortlists can be exported as CSV with evidence behind selections, which makes it easier to carry research into another workflow.
• Con: Search observations are available for the US, limiting the direct usefulness of keyword findings for teams focused on other countries.
• Con: Metrics are modeled estimates and collected rankings can be delayed or incomplete, so they need validation against store-console results.

Alternatives

For a directory of other options, see App Store Optimization Software.

• ASOStacks is a better fit if you want explicit free-tier quotas, including 10 tracked keywords, 2 tracked apps, daily rank checks, 20 keyword researches a day, and one daily opportunity scan across 30 countries.
• ASOdesk suits readers seeking a free plan with defined team, competitor, keyword, and API allowances: 200 keywords, one application, one teammate, nine competitor apps per country, 100 monthly API credits, and 400 daily keyword stats.
• ASOTools is another freemium option with a free plan and web, API, and extension platforms.
• AppBrain is the Android-focused alternative if you want up to 20 tracked keywords, basic app details, a developer overview, and access to more than two million app pages on its free plan.
• AppFollow may suit teams prioritizing app and competitor coverage alongside customer replies: its free plan includes 2 apps, 10 competitor apps, 100 manual replies per month, and seven days of historical data.
• APPlyzer is worth considering if you need a free allowance of 100 keywords with unlimited apps, competitors, countries, and languages, accepting limited search-score access.
• AppTweak is an option for users who value three seats, past-month historical data, and download and revenue estimates in a free plan.
• ASOMobile offers a free plan with 20 keywords, 2 apps, one teammate, 10 competitors, and 100 review responses, making its stated allowance broader for teams needing review-response capacity.

Verdict

Choose ASOTrendHQ if you are an indie developer, small studio, app marketer, or ASO freelancer who wants a free, cross-store starting point for keyword and competitor research. Its strongest reason to choose it is that every feature is currently free, including shortlist export and ranking research. Look elsewhere if your work depends on reliably fresh, comprehensive rankings: collection delays, variable coverage, and modeled metrics make verification essential.