Guides
Start here: how the charts work
- How App Store Top Charts Rankings WorkWhat decides an app's position on Apple's Top Free, Top Paid and Top Grossing charts, how often they update, and why ranks differ by country.
- How Google Play Top Charts Rankings WorkWhat drives an app's place on Google Play's Top Free, Top Paid and Top Grossing charts, how categories and countries differ, and how often the charts refresh.
- Top Grossing vs Top Free vs Top Paid: What They MeanThe three app store chart types explained: what each one counts, which apps lead them, and which chart matters for your goals.
- How to Check Your App's Ranking in Every CountryA free way to see where your iOS or Android app ranks on the top charts in every country and category, and how that changed since yesterday.
- Why Did My App's Rank Drop? Common CausesThe usual reasons an app falls on the App Store or Google Play charts overnight, how to tell them apart, and what you can do about each.
- App Store vs Google Play Charts: 7 DifferencesHow Apple's and Google's top charts differ: depth, apps vs games, categories, update cadence, ranking signals, countries and prices, and what that means when you compare them.
App Metrics Explained: DAU, Retention, ARPU, LTV, CPI
Plain-English definitions and formulas for DAU, retention, ARPU, LTV and CPI, how App Store Connect and Play Console report them, and the traps to avoid.
App Store and Google Play Pricing: Tiers, Tax and Payouts
How price points, base storefronts and equalisation work on both stores, who handles VAT, when you get paid, and what a price change does to Top Paid rank.
App Store Fees in 2026: 30%, 15%, Link-Outs, EU Terms
Apple's 30% and 15% rates, Google Play's new 20%/10% tiers, US link-outs after Epic, and Apple's October 2026 EU terms, dated and sourced.
App Store and Google Play Payouts Explained
When Apple and Google actually pay, the minimum thresholds, bank and tax setup, and the reasons a payout gets held, as reported by developers in 2025–2026.
App Subscription Benchmarks: Trials, Churn and Pricing
Trial-to-paid rates, year-one retention, median prices and regional gaps from RevenueCat's 2024–2026 reports, and how to read them without being misled.
Calm vs Headspace: How Two Meditation Apps Diverged
Case study of Calm and Headspace: revenue, pricing history, the B2B pivot, layoffs, the 2026 Sword Health deal and what their chart positions say.
Free Trial Length and Conversion: 3, 7 or 14 Days?
Trial-to-paid benchmarks by trial length and plan type (RevenueCat, Adapty 2025–2026), intro and win-back offers on iOS and Android, and how to measure.
Freemium vs Hard Paywall vs Free Trial: Which Converts?
Freemium, hard paywall, free trials, reverse trials, paid upfront, ads and hybrid compared with 2025–2026 benchmarks, plus a decision tree for your app.
How Indie Apps Reach $1M ARR: Real Numbers
Documented indie subscription apps that reached $1M ARR (Slopes, Cal AI, Visible, Hevy): models, time to $1M and what the revenue ramp looks like.
In-App Purchases Explained: Types, Fees and the Charts
Consumables, subscriptions and the rest: what each IAP type is for, what Apple and Google keep in 2026, and how IAP revenue feeds the Top Grossing charts.
iOS vs Android: Users, Downloads and Revenue by Region
Where iPhone and Android users are, how downloads and consumer spending split between the App Store and Google Play, and which platform to launch on first.
Mobile Game Monetisation: IAP, Ads, Subs and Hybrid Models
How IAP, ads, subscriptions, battle passes and hybrid models earn money, with ARPDAU and eCPM benchmarks and where each lands on Top Free vs Top Grossing.
Paywall Design Best Practices for Subscription Apps
Paywall anatomy: placement, timing, plan layout, anchoring, annual defaults, trial copy, Apple and Google pricing rules, and views on dark patterns.
Regional App Pricing: Purchasing Power, Tools, Chart Effects
How Apple price equalization and Google Play local pricing work, what PPP-based prices look like by market, and how a local price change moves the charts.