For both Android and iOS app stores, you can find a dedicated section for ‘featured apps’. These curated lists, developed by editors, showcase the very best the app stores have on offer, making it easy for app users to find something different.

This means getting your app featured is a great opportunity to tap into a large user base, full of those looking for something exciting and new.

If there was ever a way to make your app a fixture on everyone’s phone, this is it.

What is a featured app?

In both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store, featured apps are apps that have been chosen by their respective editorial teams. The intent for these editors is to identify games and apps that they think will be popular amongst their users.

These apps will sit on the different sets of curated lists, ready to be accessed by app store visitors.

What does being a featured app look like?

Being a featured app looks different in the iOS App Store when compared to the Google Play Store.

Where to find featured apps on the App Store?

On an iPhone you will find the various featured app selections mixed in with ‘top charts’ on the ‘Today’ tab. This is the first page you will encounter when you open the iOS App Store on your cell phone.

According to Apple, the iOS app store has a worldwide team of editors which curate selection on the App Store for each Apple platform, be it iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Where to find Google Play Store featured apps

On Android phones you will find the featured apps in the Editor’s Choice tab, located in the navigation bar at the top of the app store. Alternatively, you can also find curated lists mixed in with ‘top rated’ apps as you browse the store.

Why do you want to be a featured app?

There are many reasons why you would want to be a featured app on both app stores.

Firstly, being a featured app has a positive impact on conversion and is an effective means to increase your visibility amongst potential users. If your app is featured, it demonstrates to users that the app has been qualified and is of a high market standard.

This is extremely important for getting noticed. The iOS App Store has nearly 2 million apps and the Play Store has over 2 million apps. This is heated competition and you need to stand out.

We can take Editor’s Choice as an example. Getting featured here can increase the chance your app gets downloaded by around 4x.

Apple’s themed list in particular can help you convert users who have an actual interest in your content. This leads to a loyal user base, which in turn, leads to higher retention and engagement rates.

Not to mention that with increased visibility comes greater downloads. More downloads will not only have a positive effect on your rankings, it can lower your acquisition costs and increase your revenue.

For those looking for further help, we recommend reading our support guide to getting featured.

How to get featured in the iOS App Store and Google Play store

Although both stores are different, there are several similar improvements you can use to increase the likelihood of your app becoming featured on both app stores.

Update your app regularly

Even the best QA process will not pick up every error in your app. Although you can iron out the most significant issues in your own testing, you will only find some once it’s out in the wild.

To get featured, you're going to want to make sure your app is error free. So before you upload it to either app store, check that it is free of any serious bugs.

You should also be aware of any reports coming in as more people start using your app. Keep it up to date with the error fixing patches and all of the latest security measures.

Above all, you want to make sure your app adapts to the evolving nature of your users' needs.

Localize your app

Each app store has a global appeal. This means you’re going to be releasing an app into many different geographical markets.

App localization is much more than just a translation of the app. With localization, you are actively building a relationship with new markets by making an app specific to a location.

To make sure your app is ready and personalized for these different locations, be sure to learn how to localize your app.

Make the app accessible

Alongside localizing your app, you should strive to make it as accessible as possible.

Making it accessible means considering the range of challenges your customer may face, helping as many as possible use it.

Use ASO to optimize your store product page

App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of optimizing your app to help promote a mobile app or game in app stores like Google Play or the iOS App Store.

Its goal is to make sure everyone who is searching for something like your app, will end up seeing your app.

A key way of getting your app featured is making sure people are using your app.

And the best way to get people to use your app is to make it as easy as possible to find. If more people are using your app, it is more likely to get the attention of those curating the featured lists.

Not only that, optimizing your app means ‌you are following the best practice guidelines outlined by the respective app stores. This will also carry favor with the list creators, looking for new apps to feature.

Build an app that’s ready to be featured

Build an app that’s ready to be featured and support it with an app analytics package that lets you know what your customers think.

Keep improving your product by learning user needs, and find new areas to grow by analyzing your competitors.