How to track and improve rankings by country
Follow these steps in order. Each one is something we do on client work.
- List your top countries. From App Analytics or Play Console.
- Track keywords per storefront. Rankings differ by country.
- Localize metadata. Each localization gets its own keywords on iOS.
- Know which localizations a storefront indexes. Apple's docs list storefront languages; check them.
- Adapt screenshots. Local language and examples.
- Compare monthly. Per country.
App Store ranking by country: key rules and context
Why it differs. Separate storefronts, languages and competitors; downloads are counted per country.
How to check. Rank trackers show per-country positions (tools); App Store Connect shows impressions by territory.
How to improve. Localization keywords, localization package.
Charts. Chart positions are also per country: ranking guide.
Worked example (hypothetical)
This example is illustrative. The app is made up, and so are any numbers in it.
Say BudgetBuddy ranks in the US but not in Mexico. We'd add a Spanish (Mexico) localization with locally researched terms and translated screenshots.
Common mistakes
- One global keyword set. Countries differ.
- Ignoring local languages. Missed searches.
- Comparing countries directly. Different competition.
- Never checking. Drift.
In our experience, the fastest wins come from markets where you already get some impressions but have no localized listing. We start there, give each storefront a few weeks of data, and only then decide whether to add the next country.
If you want this handled for you, our pricing page lists every fixed package.
What you can localize in each store
Both stores let you localize the parts that drive search and conversion.
| Asset | App Store | Google Play |
|---|---|---|
| Name / title | Per localization, 30 characters | One localized name per language, 30 characters |
| Keywords | Keyword field per localization, 100 bytes | No keyword field; localize the descriptions |
| Descriptions | Description and promotional text per localization | Short and full description per language |
| Screenshots | Per localization and device size | Localized graphic assets per language |
| Fallback | Primary language if not localized | Automated Google Translate view if not translated |
How we measure the result
Here is how we judge whether App Store ranking by country work is paying off. Search changes move slowly and the daily numbers are noisy, so we read trends over weeks rather than single days. We log the date of each metadata change and compare the four weeks before it with the four weeks after it.
Remember that the same English localization can serve several storefronts, so changes you make for one English-speaking country can show up in others.
Checklist
Copy this list into your release notes or ticket and tick each item off before you ship.
- Top countries listed
- Per-country tracking
- Localized metadata
- Storefront languages checked
- Local screenshots
Sources
- Apple: App Store localizations (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple: Search on the App Store (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple App Store Connect Help: App information (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple App Store Connect Help: Platform version information (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Create and set up your app (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Translate and localize your app (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple Developer: Localization (accessed 26 October 2026)
Questions
Why am I top 10 in one country only?
Less competition or local relevance there.
Can I set metadata per country?
Per localization, and some storefronts index several.
Can I change price per country?
Yes, in pricing settings.
Which country first?
Where you already have impressions.
Can you help?
Yes.
Why is my app ranked differently in each country?
Each storefront has different search behaviour, competitors and languages.