For developers

How to market your iOS app for free

You shipped the app. Now nobody knows it exists. These are the steps we used to get indie-apps.com in front of developers with no ad budget, in the order we would do them again.

In short

  1. Fix your App Store page first.
  2. Ask Apple to feature it.
  3. List it on a few launch sites.
  4. Post on Reddit, one subreddit a day.
  5. Price it for every country.
  6. Pitch Apple blogs and newsletters.
  7. Run a sale when you update.

Step 1

Fix your App Store page first

Every other step sends people to your App Store page, so start there. In search results people see your name, subtitle and first few screenshots before they decide to tap.

  • Name: up to 30 characters. Say what the app is, not only its brand.
  • Subtitle: up to 30 characters. The one line that sells it.
  • Keywords: 100 characters, separated by commas. Do not repeat words already in your name or subtitle.
  • Screenshots: make the first two or three explain the app on their own, with a short caption on each.

Step 2

Ask Apple to feature it

Any developer can nominate an app from the Featuring section of App Store Connect. It is free, and Apple recommends sending it about three weeks before a launch or a big update. Tell them what is new and who it is for, in a few plain sentences.

Step 3

List it on a few launch sites

Launch sites give you a listing, a link back and a little early traffic. Most have a free option with a catch: a badge on your site, a link back, or a queue that can run for months.

We tried 10 of them. Findly.tools, Turbo0, Fazier went live quickly. The full list, with what each one asks for, is in Product Hunt alternatives for iOS apps, and every place to launch an iOS app is listed here too.

You can also list your app on Indie Apps for free. Paste the App Store link and it goes live straight away.

Step 4

Post on Reddit, one subreddit a day

Reddit worked best for us, and it is also the easiest place to get a post removed. What we learned:

  • Read the rules first. Some subreddits only allow promotion on one day a week, and some quietly remove posts from accounts with little karma in that community.
  • Post in one subreddit a day and change the wording each time. The same text in two places within minutes looks like spam to Reddit.
  • Keep to one link, and reply to every comment in the first hour.
  • Ask for something. The post that worked best for us invited developers to share their own apps.
  • Never repost a post that was removed. Message the moderators instead.

Step 5

Price it for every country

A price that feels fair in the US can be a lot in India or Brazil. Lower prices in those countries can bring buyers you would otherwise miss. Our free App Store price calculator suggests a price for all 175 App Store countries from your US price.

Step 6

Pitch Apple blogs and newsletters

A few Apple sites and newsletters look for indie apps on purpose. Keep your pitch short: what the app does, who it is for, and a link. One good pitch beats ten copied ones.

Step 7

Run a sale when you update

A price cut gives people a reason to look again. When a listed app drops its price, Indie Apps spots it from Apple’s own data and shows it on the deals page for two weeks, with nothing to submit.

List your app freeLaunch sites we tried

Questions

How do I market my app for free?

Start with your App Store page, since every other step sends people there. Then list it on a few launch sites, post in the right subreddits one at a time, nominate it to Apple for featuring, and pitch it to a newsletter or two. None of these costs money, only time.

How do I promote my app on Reddit without getting removed?

Read each subreddit’s rules first, since many only allow promotion on one day a week or need karma earned in that community. Post in one subreddit a day, change the wording each time, keep to one link, and reply to every comment. Never repost a post that was removed.

Should I launch my app on Product Hunt?

It can help, but Product Hunt is a general tech feed and an iPhone app competes with every kind of product there. Use it alongside sites that list iOS apps specifically.

What should I fix on my App Store page first?

Your first two or three screenshots and your subtitle. They are what people see in search results before they decide to tap. Use the 100-character keyword field for words that are not already in your app name or subtitle.

Can Apple feature my app?

Yes. Any developer can nominate an app for featuring from the Featuring section of App Store Connect. Apple recommends sending it about three weeks before a launch or major update.