Keyword Explorer
Keyword Explorer
The Keyword Explorer lets you look up any keyword in the Shopify App Store and see the full ranked list of apps. Use it
to research competition before targeting a new keyword, check where you appear for a term you're not yet tracking, or
analyse what makes the top-ranking apps successful.
Accessing the Keyword Explorer
Go to Explore → Keyword Explorer in the sidebar. No integrations are required — keyword data comes from Ranksy's daily
scraper and is available to all users.
Browsing and searching keywords
The main view shows all keywords in Ranksy's database with summary data:
| Column | What it shows | | --- | --- | | Keyword | The search term | | Apps | Number of apps that currently rank for
this keyword | | Avg. Rating | Average star rating of ranking apps | | Total Reviews | Combined review count of ranking
apps | | Last Updated | When ranking data was last refreshed |
A high Apps count indicates a competitive keyword. A low count indicates a niche term that may be easier to rank for but
has lower search volume.
Use the search box in the top right to filter to a specific keyword or prefix. Results filter as you type.
Keyword detail page
Click any keyword to open its detail page. Two main sections:
Competition over time chart
A line chart showing how many apps have ranked for this keyword over time. A rising line means competition is growing. A
falling line means apps are leaving the space. Use this to distinguish evergreen keywords from fads.
Ranking apps table
All apps currently ranking for this keyword, in order:
| Column | What it shows | | --- | --- | | Rank | Current position in search results | | App Name | App name, logo, and
developer | | Rating | Current star rating | | Reviews | Review count | | Launched | When the app was released | | Last
Updated | Most recent listing update |
Rank change indicators next to each position show movement since the last scrape: green (+N) means the app moved up, red
(−N) means it dropped.
Click any app row to open its full app profile page.
Finding your own ranking for a keyword
Search for a keyword you care about, open its detail page, and scroll through the ranking apps table. If your app
appears, your current position is shown. If it doesn't appear, you are either not in Shopify's results for that keyword
or rank outside the range Ranksy captures.
For continuous monitoring of specific keywords and daily rank tracking, use ASO → Keywords (your organic search
performance) or add keywords to your tracked list via ASO → Tracked.
Tracking a keyword from the Keyword Explorer
From a keyword's detail page, you can track it directly. Tracking adds it to your ASO → Tracked list and enables daily
rank monitoring, movers filters, and 14-day sparklines. Click the Track button on the keyword detail page.
Using Keyword Explorer for research
Before targeting a new keyword:
1. Look up the keyword and check the Apps count — fewer than 30 apps indicates low competition
2. Review the top-ranking apps and their ratings/review counts
3. Check whether the competition trend is stable, rising, or falling
4. Decide whether you can realistically reach the top 10
Competitor keyword discovery:
1. Open a top competitor's app profile
2. Their ranked keywords may appear on their profile
3. Use Keyword Explorer to check those keywords and see if you also rank
Market research:
1. Search broad category terms (e.g., "email", "inventory") to understand overall competition
2. Then narrow to long-tail terms (e.g., "abandoned cart email automation") where competition is lower
3. Identify the sweet spot: moderate competition, relevant to your app's purpose
FAQ
Q: How often is keyword data refreshed? A: Daily, overnight. The scraper checks rankings once per day for each keyword
in the database.
Q: A keyword I care about isn't in the database — how do I add it? A: Track it via ASO → Tracked → Add Keywords. Once
tracked, Ranksy scrapes it daily and it appears in the Keyword Explorer.
Q: Why does my rank on the Keyword Explorer differ from what I see searching the Shopify App Store directly? A: Shopify
can personalise search results based on location, language, and browsing history. Ranksy scrapes from a fixed location
to produce consistent comparable data. Your real-world position may vary slightly.
Q: How do I see which keywords are driving my app's installs? A: That data is in ASO → Keywords (requires BigQuery). The
Keyword Explorer shows organic rankings only, not traffic attribution.
Next steps
- Tracked Keywords (ASO) — monitor specific keywords daily with rank history and movers filters
- Keywords (ASO) — all keywords your app appears in, with traffic and conversion data
- AI Keyword Suggestions — get AI-recommended keywords to target based on your existing rankings
- Browse Apps — explore any app's full profile, including its category rankings
