What Is an App Category?
Table of Content:
An app category is a classification used by app stores — primarily Apple's App Store and Google Play — to group mobile apps by their core purpose, such as Games, Health & Fitness, Finance, or Productivity. The category an app is assigned to determines which Top Charts it competes in, which editorial features it qualifies for, and how easily users discover it through browse and search.
In this article: the definition of an app category, the full list of categories on the Apple App Store and Google Play, a side-by-side comparison, why category choice matters for ASO, and how to choose, change, and track yours.
Definition (Expanded)
Every app submitted to the Apple App Store or Google Play must be assigned to at least one app category. Categories are the top-level taxonomy that app stores use to organize their catalogs — they group apps by the user need they address, not by the technology behind them. A meditation app belongs in Health & Fitness whether it's built in Swift, Flutter, or React Native, because the category describes what users do with the app.
App categories are distinct from subcategories (Apple uses these for Games — Action, Adventure, Card, etc.) and from tags (Google Play uses these as a secondary signal alongside the main category). The two stores use different taxonomies and different rules for how many categories an app can claim — covered in the comparison below.
App Categories on the Apple App Store
On the Apple App Store, every app must select one primary category and may optionally add a secondary category.
The primary category determines which Top Charts the app competes in and is the strongest single signal Apple uses to organize browse and editorial discovery.
The secondary category broadens reach but does not affect Top Charts placement. Apple offers around two dozen non-game categories, plus a separate Games taxonomy with its own subcategories (Action, Adventure, Board, Card, Casino, Casual, Family, Music, Puzzle, Racing, Role Playing, Simulation, Sports, Strategy, Trivia, Word).
For the official list, see Apple's Choosing a Category documentation.
The full list of Apple App Store categories
Category | Typical examples |
|---|---|
Books | Reading apps, audiobooks, comics |
Business | CRM, expense tracking, invoicing |
Developer Tools | Code editors, API clients, terminals |
Education | Language learning, courses, study aids |
Entertainment | Streaming, fan apps, interactive media |
Finance | Banking, budgeting, investing, crypto |
Food & Drink | Recipe apps, food delivery, restaurant guides |
Games (with subcategories) | Action, Puzzle, Strategy, Casual, etc. |
Graphics & Design | Illustration, photo editing, vector tools |
Health & Fitness | Workout, meditation, sleep, nutrition |
Lifestyle | Home, hobbies, dating, astrology |
Magazines & Newspapers | Publication apps |
Medical | Clinical reference, telehealth, patient records |
Music | Streaming, instruments, music production |
Navigation | Maps, GPS, transit |
News | Aggregators, publisher apps |
Photo & Video | Camera, editing, video apps |
Productivity | To-do, notes, calendars, office suites |
Reference | Dictionaries, encyclopedias |
Shopping | Retail apps, marketplaces |
Social Networking | Messaging, communities, social platforms |
Sports | Scores, fantasy, fitness tracking |
Travel | Booking, itineraries, guides |
Utilities | Calculators, file managers, security |
Weather | Forecasts, radar |
App Categories on Google Play
On Google Play, the taxonomy is split into two top-level groups — Apps and Games. Each app or game selects one primary category (no secondary slot) and may add up to five tags from a controlled list.
Tags are a secondary signal that helps Google Play surface the app in browse and recommendation surfaces but does not change Top Charts eligibility.
For the official rules, see Google's Choose a category and tags for your app or game documentation.
The full list of Google Play categories
Apps (non-game):
Category | Typical examples |
|---|---|
Art & Design | Drawing, coloring, design tools |
Auto & Vehicles | Car management, dealer apps |
Beauty | Hair, makeup, virtual try-on |
Books & Reference | Ebooks, dictionaries |
Business | Productivity for work, CRM |
Comics | Comic readers |
Communication | Messaging, email, calls |
Dating | Dating and matchmaking |
Education | Learning, courses, kids' apps |
Entertainment | Streaming, fan apps |
Events | Ticketing, event management |
Finance | Banking, payments, investing |
Food & Drink | Recipes, delivery |
Health & Fitness | Workout, meditation, tracking |
House & Home | Real estate, smart home |
Libraries & Demo | Developer demos, libraries |
Lifestyle | Hobbies, horoscopes, daily life |
Maps & Navigation | GPS, transit, mapping |
Medical | Clinical, patient apps |
Music & Audio | Streaming, podcasts, audio tools |
News & Magazines | Publishers, aggregators |
Parenting | Pregnancy, baby tracking |
Personalization | Wallpapers, themes, launchers |
Photography | Camera, editing, filters |
Productivity | Notes, tasks, office tools |
Shopping | Retail, marketplaces |
Social | Communities, social networks |
Sports | Scores, fantasy, fan apps |
Tools | Utilities, system tools |
Travel & Local | Booking, local guides |
Video Players & Editors | Video tools |
Weather | Forecasts, climate |
Apple App Store vs. Google Play: Side-by-Side Comparison
Both stores use app categories to group and rank apps, but the systems differ in important details. The table below summarizes the differences app marketers and publishers need to know.
Apple App Store | Google Play | |
|---|---|---|
Number of top-level categories (apps) | ≈ 25 categories | ≈ 32 categories |
Top-level group split | Apps and Games combined under one taxonomy | Apps and Games are separate top-level groups |
Categories per app | 1 primary + 1 optional secondary | 1 primary, no secondary |
Subcategories | Yes — Games only (e.g., Action, Puzzle) | Yes — Games only |
Tags | No (categories only) | Yes — up to 5 tags from a controlled list |
Top Charts behavior | Computed per primary category, per country | Computed per primary category, per country |
Where you set / change it | App Store Connect | Google Play Console |
Apple gives you a free reach lever in the secondary category slot. Google Play does not, but compensates with up to five tags that influence browse and recommendations.
Why App Category Matters
Discoverability and Top Charts
Top Charts (Top Free, Top Paid, Top Grossing) are computed per category, per country. Your category choice defines which charts you compete in — and therefore how visible you are to users browsing for apps in your space. A category with too much volume buries you; one too narrow caps your ceiling.
Editorial featuring
Editorial surfaces — Apple's Today tab, Google Play's Editor's Choice, seasonal collections — are curated category by category. Apps that don't fit cleanly into a category rarely qualify for the editorial features that drive the largest one-day install spikes.
Competitive set
Your real competitors are the apps that share your category, not the apps that share your features. A budgeting app and a stock-trading app both use financial APIs, but they don't compete for the same users — they compete in the same Finance category. Tracking that real competitive set in real time is exactly what AppFollow's category rankings are built for.
Choosing or Changing an App Category
How to choose a category
- Match the user's core intent, not your feature list. Pick the category that describes what users actually do with your app.
- Look at category density. High-volume categories (Games, Lifestyle, Entertainment) have more upside but more competition; smaller categories give faster Top Charts wins.
- On Apple, use the secondary slot strategically. Treat it as a free reach lever, not an afterthought.
- On Google Play, fill all five tag slots. Tags are an underused signal.
How to change your category in App Store Connect
Sign in to App Store Connect, open your app, go to App Information, select a new Primary Category (and optional secondary), and submit a new app version for review. Apple's Choosing a Category guide has the full reference.
How to change your category in Google Play Console
Open Google Play Console, go to Grow → Store presence → Main store listing, select your new category, update tags, and save. The change is reviewed and goes live without requiring a new APK. Google's help article on choosing a category and tags covers the latest details.
What to watch after a change: rankings reset against a new competitor set, editorial eligibility shifts, and your visibility curve changes shape almost immediately. Use AppFollow to monitor the rankings reset and benchmark your app against the new category cohort.
Tracking App Category Performance With AppFollow
Once your app is in the right category, the work isn't done — it's the start of an ongoing measurement loop. AppFollow gives app marketers, publishers, and developers a single view of how their app and competitors perform inside any chosen category.
Real-time category Top Charts
Track Top Free, Top Paid, and Top Grossing positions across 155+ countries, refreshed continuously. Spot ranking drops the moment they happen and connect them to releases, marketing campaigns, or store algorithm changes.
Category-level ASO insights
See which keywords drive installs inside your category, how your visibility compares to competitors, and where you have room to grow. AppFollow's ASO Tools surface category-aware keyword opportunities so you optimize against the apps you actually compete with.
Competitor tracking inside your category
Pin competitors, get Slack and email alerts on category rank movement, and export data to Tableau, BI, or your own dashboards. Competitor analysis in AppFollow is built around category-level benchmarking so the comparisons you make are the ones that actually matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does app category impact ranking?
Yes — but indirectly. App category does not change the algorithmic relevance score for a given keyword, but it determines which Top Charts your app competes in and which editorial surfaces you qualify for. A poorly chosen category can leave your app fighting for visibility against apps that don't even target the same users.
How many categories can an app have?
On the Apple App Store: one primary category plus one optional secondary (two total). On Google Play: one primary category plus up to five tags. Games on both stores can also choose subcategories within the Games taxonomy.
Can I change my app's category after launch?
Yes, on both stores. Apple requires you to update the category in App Store Connect and submit a new app version for review. Google Play allows category changes from the Play Console without a new APK. Expect a rankings reset and a shift in your editorial eligibility within a few days.
What's the difference between Apple App Store and Google Play categories?
Apple has roughly 25 categories with one primary plus one secondary slot. Google Play has roughly 32 categories split into Apps and Games, with one primary slot plus up to five tags. Both compute Top Charts per category, per country.
Which app category is the most competitive?
Globally, Games is the most competitive category by a wide margin, followed by Lifestyle, Entertainment, and Photo & Video. Competition varies sharply by country — a smaller market can flip the order. The right benchmark is always the country and category your app actually targets.
How do I find an app's category in the store?
On the App Store: open the app's product page and scroll to Information; the category is listed there. On Google Play: open the app page; the category appears below the install button. AppFollow displays category and rank for any tracked app in one consolidated view.
Related Terms
Continue exploring the AppFollow Glossary:
Term | What it covers |
|---|---|
The discipline of improving an app's visibility and conversion in app stores. | |
A periodic review of an app's ASO performance, including category rankings. | |
Apps selected for editorial promotion in the App Store or Google Play. | |
The display name of an app — a key ASO ranking factor alongside category. | |
The visual identity of an app in the store, on the home screen, and in Top Charts. | |
The entity that distributes an app on the App Store or Google Play. | |
Google's official Android app marketplace and the home of Google Play categories. | |
Paid placement in Apple App Store search results — works alongside category-driven organic discovery. |
