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How to Research Competitors for a Mobile App

Published 2026-09-30

Building an app takes months, so the worst time to discover a strong competitor is after launch. The good news is that app stores make competitor research unusually easy: listings, ratings, reviews and update history are all public.

1. Search the stores like a user

Search the App Store and Google Play for the problem your app solves, not your app's name. Try three or four different phrasings. The apps that keep appearing near the top are your direct competitors. Also think about indirect ones: a spreadsheet, a notes app or a website can be the real alternative. The difference is covered in direct vs indirect competitors.

2. Study their store listings

A listing is a competitor's sales pitch. Look at the title, the first screenshots and the first lines of the description. What do they promise? Who are they talking to? If every app in your category makes the same promise, a clearly different one stands out.

3. Mine the reviews

This is the most valuable step. Read the 2 and 3-star reviews of the top apps, and sort by most recent to see current problems. Look for patterns: missing features, confusing setup, aggressive paywalls, bugs after updates, or no support. Each repeated complaint is a product decision you can get right from day one. See what competitor reviews tell you.

4. Compare pricing models

Note whether each app is free with ads, one-time purchase, freemium or subscription, and what exactly sits behind the paywall. Try their free version and see when they ask you to pay. Users often complain less about price than about paying before they've seen value. More in competitive pricing.

5. Try their onboarding yourself

Install the top three apps and go through signup. Count the steps before you get real value, and note anything confusing. A faster, clearer first five minutes is one of the easiest advantages a new app can have.

6. Check how active they are

Look at each app's update history and when it last changed. An app with thousands of ratings but no updates in a year, and recent reviews saying it's broken, is a competitor whose users are ready to switch.

Decide what to build

Write one sentence: "Unlike [competitor], my app [does the thing their users keep asking for]." If you can't write it, keep researching before building. The wider validation process is in how to validate a business idea.

ScoutBrief can do a first pass for you: describe your app idea and get competitors, pricing and weak spots with a plan. Try the free 3-competitor snapshot without signing up.

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