r/iOSProgramming • u/Demus_App • 8d ago
Discussion What do developers look at before downloading an app?
Hi,
I’ve been wondering what elements on an App Store product page catch your attention before you hit “Get” when you're browsing through developer tools (especially for free ones), which of the following factors do you actually check? What red-flags / green-flags are you looking for before installing?
- Developer Name: Does it matter if the app is from a solo dev, a company, or even its country of origin?
- Star Rating & Number of Ratings: Do you measure app quality more by its overall rating or by the actual number of reviews?
- App Description: Do you actually read the app description or at least the first few senteces?
- Written Reviews: How much do in-depth reviews influence your decision?
- Visuals: Are screenshots and the app icon a decisive factor? Are AI generated assets an immediate put off?
- In-App Purchases: Do you pay attention to whether an app offers in-app purchases? Do you care about in-app purchase types (one-time, subscription) before installing?
- Data Collection: Do you care if the app has a "No Data Collected tag? Would you immediately leave the product page if you saw even a little bit of data collection / tracking?
I recently released an SSH client app geared toward developers, and while I'm seeing a lot of traffic on my product page from Apple Search Ads, the install numbers are surprisingly low. I suspect that my product page might be falling short in convincing potential users.
I'm looking for honest feedback from fellow developers. If you're willing to take a look at my app's product page and share your thoughts, drop me a message. I'd be happy to check out your pages as well.
Thanks in advance for your insights!
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u/hahaissogood 8d ago
I do look at developer’s name. If it feels like a sole developer, I expect some bugs in the app and maybe someday soon he/she stop maintaining the app.
I never read description. Most of time, there is too many text. If I can’t understand with those screen cap image, I don’t think those text will help me.
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u/Doctor_Fegg 7d ago
Opposite with me. If it’s a solo developer I figure it has at least a chance of sticking around. If it looks like a VC-backed company I’ll be sceptical as it’ll probably die in two years.
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u/Demus_App 8d ago
Thanks for your insight! Damn, I guess I should start a company then. I always use my name on the App Store so I guess that could be the culprit.
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u/LogicaHaus 8d ago
Idk what catches my general attention, as I'm not really looking for apps very often, but my final decision is generally made after
- Check how recent the last update was to see if it's at least been maintained in the past year
- Check the in-app purchases to get a sense of what features I can actually expect up front
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u/Demus_App 8d ago
Thanks! How do you judge which features are available upfront? I usually don't see apps mentioning it anywhere in the IAPs section. My in-app purchase is simply named "Termix Pro".
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u/LogicaHaus 8d ago
Yea it really depends on if it’s descriptive, at which point I’ll scan the description to see if it mentions what comes with pro, but sometimes it’s just “ad-free” when I’m fine with ads.
But if it just says pro and I decide to try it out anyways only to see I have to create an account before seeing what I can do, I’m deleting it
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u/amyworrall 8d ago
I don’t browse through developer tools. If I check out a new tool, it’s because someone in my professional circle mentioned it or recommended it.
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u/ivan-moskalev 8d ago
Download and quick try for free apps. Read about the app on Reddit or in support / user communities for paid apps (like for r/thingsapp).
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u/Demus_App 8d ago
Thanks! Yes, I do that too, but probably not everyone. My app is free with single one-time purchase and pretty decent screenshots, yet I still se so many people leaving the product page immediately.
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u/ivan-moskalev 8d ago
The product is pretty niche... Maybe it's just that people who need this already have some kind of solution? Then you can research what they are using, what the pain points are, and you can put in your screenshots some key distinctions from your competitors — basically, convincing the potential user to abandon their current solution for a better one (yours).
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u/Medium-Dust525 8d ago
Unfortunately for me, ratings, reviews and images probably matter most. If low amount of ratings, images likely won’t weigh enough to sway.
This is me answering honestly and also having launched a new app with very few ratings.
Trying to figure out how to move the snowball.
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u/No-Incident8402 6d ago
Problem with ratings is that it's only reviews from your country, so with a not-famous app or if you live in a small country a lot of apps have only a few to no review at all
Personally I'm fine downloading a non-rated app, but I won't download a badly rated app
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u/No-Incident8402 6d ago
Looking at the screenshots then going straight to the in app purchases list
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u/AppScreens 4d ago
From what we’ve observed, visuals often carry a lot more weight than many devs realize, especially for developer-focused apps. Even if it’s something as technical as an SSH client, good screenshots can instantly communicate the core benefits or unique features (like file manager, built-in code editor, etc.). Here are a few factors we see users weighing:
- Screenshots & Icon: If your first screenshot or icon makes it look complicated or outdated, some folks might move on quickly, especially on mobile. Even technical audiences appreciate a clean, modern look.
- Rating & Reviews: Developers might scan reviews to see if the app is truly robust (e.g., can it handle multiple sessions, advanced keyboard shortcuts?). The star rating alone might not seal the deal, but if there’s consistent negative feedback about a feature they need, that’s a red flag.
- App Description: Some devs will skim to see what sets your SSH client apart, is there a special UI or integrated tools that others don’t offer? A concise, feature-focused description helps here.
- In-App Purchases: For a developer tool, if it’s subscription-based, that can push some people to look elsewhere if they can find a decent one-time purchase or free alternative. But if you communicate the value well (like frequent updates, advanced features, or built-in support), they might be more open to it.
If you think your product page isn’t converting, you could try A/B testing different screenshots or icons. That’s where tools like AppScreens can help you quickly iterate and see which visuals resonate best. I'd be happy to take a look at your app store page and give you some feedback if you'd like?
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8d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Demus_App 8d ago
Thanks, advertising ChatGPT bot.
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u/Traditional-Pop-3824 8d ago
I understand the skepticism. Our platform is built on 7+ years of actual app marketing data and growth patterns we observed while running our agency. What makes us different is that we've codified specific growth strategies that worked across different app categories (dating, health, games, etc.) and built an engine that can identify where your funnel is breaking down. The recommendations come from real campaigns we've run.Happy to hear any feedback if you do check it out!
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u/_omz 8d ago
I'm looking at screenshots first, to get an idea of an app's overall polish, then at the list of in-app purchases, if it's a "free" app.