Astro alternative
The Astro alternative that also tracks Google Play.
Astro and AppRankHero share a belief: ASO deserves a real Mac app. The difference is everything around the app. Google Play, teams, reports, and a server that keeps working while your Mac sleeps.
Quick verdict
The short answer.
Astro is a well made Mac app for iOS keyword tracking, with unlimited keywords for $108 a year. AppRankHero is also native on Mac, costs $49.99 a year for Pro, and adds Google Play, teams with roles, scheduled email and Slack reports, and a hosted MCP server.
Choose Astro
If this sounds like you.
You ship on iOS only, work alone, and like one flat yearly fee with no keyword limit at all.
Choose AppRankHero
If this sounds like you.
You ship on both stores, work with others, or want ranks refreshed on a server every morning.
Side by side
AppRankHero and Astro, line by line.
| Feature | AppRankHero | Astro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, Pro at $5.99/month or $49.99/year, Studio at $14.99/month or $124.99/year | $108/year, billed yearly only |
| Keywords included | 500 on Free, 10,000 on Pro, 100,000 on Studio | Unlimited |
| Apps | 1 on Free, 10 on Pro, 50 on Studio | Unlimited |
| Platforms | App Store and Google Play, every App Store storefront (175+ countries) and Google Play country | Partial: App Store only, 60+ countries |
| Rank depth | App Store top 200, Google Play top 30 | Not verified: Not published |
| Update frequency | Yes: Daily. Pro and Studio refresh on our servers every morning, Free while the Mac app is open | Yes: Daily |
| Popularity and difficulty | Yes: Popularity and difficulty for every keyword | Yes: Based on Apple Search Ads data |
| Competitor tracking | Yes: Per keyword, with who holds each spot | Yes: Yes |
| History | Yes: Rank history with 24h, 7d and 28d changes, plus version and metadata history | Yes: Depth not published |
| Reports | Yes: Scheduled email and Slack rank reports | Not verified: No scheduled reports found |
| MCP and AI | Yes: Hosted remote MCP on Pro and Studio for ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Cursor and more | Partial: Local MCP inside the Mac app |
| Native Mac app | Yes: Native macOS app | Yes: Native macOS app, one license per Mac |
| Free plan | Yes: 1 app, 500 keywords | No: No, 14-day refund window |
Price comparison
What a year costs.
One app. The cheapest plan that fits the list, billed yearly where the vendor offers it.
500 keywords
AppRankHero saves $58 a year.
App Store only. AppRankHero Free also covers 500 keywords for one app at $0, refreshing while the Mac app is open.
2,000 keywords
AppRankHero saves $58 a year.
App Store only. AppRankHero Pro includes up to 10,000 keywords and 10 apps.
Need more room? AppRankHero Studio covers up to 100,000 keywords and 50 apps for $124.99 a year, or $14.99 a month.
What Astro does better.
- Truly unlimited keywords and apps. Our largest plan, Studio, stops at 100,000 keywords and 50 apps.
- Popularity and difficulty built on Apple Search Ads data.
- Keyword translations through DeepL, handy for localized metadata.
- A fast release cadence, with a local MCP server since mid 2026.
Why teams switch to AppRankHero.
- Google Play. Astro’s site and release notes do not mention Google Play ranking. AppRankHero tracks it daily in every Google Play country.
- Ranks arrive even when your Mac is off. Pro refreshes on our servers every morning.
- Teams with roles and scheduled email and Slack reports. Astro is licensed per Mac.
- More storefronts. AppRankHero covers every App Store storefront, 175+ countries. Astro lists 60+.
- Monthly billing if you want it. Astro is billed yearly only.
Who should stay with Astro.
If you only ship on iOS, work alone and prefer a single yearly fee with no keyword ceiling, Astro is a good choice and we will not pretend otherwise. If Google Play, a teammate or a morning Slack report enters the picture, that is where AppRankHero fits.
AppRankHero does not offer ad intelligence, review management, store A/B testing, download estimates, SSO, or a web or Windows app. If you need those, keep them. If you need daily keyword ranks on both stores, we would love to show you.
Astro alternative: questions.
Does Astro support Google Play?
Astro’s website and release notes, checked October 6, 2026, do not mention Google Play ranking support. AppRankHero tracks Google Play keyword ranks daily (top 30) alongside the App Store (top 200).
Is AppRankHero cheaper than Astro?
Yes. Astro is $108 a year, billed yearly only. AppRankHero Pro is $49.99 a year or $5.99 a month, and AppRankHero Free tracks 500 keywords for one app at no cost.
Do both have an MCP server?
Yes. Astro runs a local MCP server inside its Mac app. AppRankHero Pro offers a hosted remote MCP server at apprankhero.com/mcp, so ChatGPT and Claude on the web can connect too.
Your rank is moving.
See where.
Download AppRankHero free and know where you stand by tomorrow morning.
Notarized by Apple·Free for 500 keywords·Pro $5.99/month·Studio $14.99/month
Sources, checked October 6, 2026
- Astro website
- Astro release notes
- Sonar article on Astro pricing (third party)
Official pricing pages are the only source for prices. Third party figures are labelled. Features we could not confirm are marked “Not verified”. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@apprankhero.com.