In the highly competitive world of mobile apps, growth is not just desirable—it's essential for survival. Whether you're a startup looking to gain traction or an established app seeking to expand your user base, having the right tools in your arsenal can make all the difference. This comprehensive blog post will explore the best tools available to help you grow your mobile app, covering everything from user acquisition and engagement to analytics and monetization.

The Mobile App Growth Landscape

The mobile app market is more crowded than ever, with millions of apps fighting for users' attention. To stand out and grow sustainably, app developers and marketers need to leverage a combination of strategies and tools. From acquiring new users to retaining existing ones, from optimizing your app store presence to implementing effective monetization strategies, each aspect of app growth requires specific tools and approaches.

In this guide, we'll explore the best tools across various categories that can help grow your mobile app. Let's dive in!

User Acquisition Tools

Acquiring new users is often the first challenge app developers face. Here are some top tools to help you attract and convert potential users:

Facebook Ads Manager

• Features: Precise audience targeting, custom audiences, lookalike audiences

• Benefits: Wide reach, detailed analytics, integration with Instagram

• Pricing: Pay-per-click or impression, with flexible budgets

Google Ads

• Features: Search ads, display ads, YouTube ads, app install campaigns

• Benefits: Intent-based targeting, extensive reach across Google's network

• Pricing: Pay-per-click, with various bidding strategies available

Apple Search Ads

• Features: Keyword-based advertising within the App Store

• Benefits: High relevance, users ready to download

• Pricing: Pay-per-install model

TikTok Ads

• Features: In-feed ads, branded hashtag challenges, brand takeovers

• Benefits: Access to a younger demographic, highly engaging ad formats

• Pricing: Varies by ad format, with minimum spends required

While these tools can be highly effective, it's important to note that user acquisition costs can add up quickly. That's why many app developers are turning to more cost-effective growth strategies, such as referral programs. Tools like Advato, which we'll discuss later, can help you implement and grow referral programs, often resulting in lower acquisition costs and higher-quality users.

App Store Optimization (ASO) Tools

ASO is crucial for improving your app's visibility in app stores. Here are some top ASO tools:

Sensor Tower

• Features: Keyword research, competitor tracking, ad intelligence

• Benefits: Accurate data, user-friendly interface

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on needs

AppTweak

• Features: Keyword optimization, metadata translation, app update timing

• Benefits: AI-powered recommendations, intuitive dashboard

• Pricing: Plans starting from $69/month

ASOdesk

• Features: Keyword research, app page A/B testing, review management

• Benefits: All-in-one ASO platform, supports multiple app stores

• Pricing: Plans starting from $59/month

Optimizing your app store presence can significantly boost organic downloads, reducing your reliance on paid user acquisition.

User Engagement and Retention Tools

Acquiring users is just the first step; keeping them engaged is crucial for long-term success. Here are some top tools for user engagement and retention:

Braze

• Features: Multi-channel messaging, personalization, automation

• Benefits: Robust segmentation, real-time data processing

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on monthly active users

CleverTap

• Features: User segmentation, omnichannel engagement, predictive modeling

• Benefits: AI-powered insights, easy-to-use interface

• Pricing: Plans starting from $75/month

OneSignal

• Features: Push notifications, in-app messaging, email, SMS

• Benefits: Easy integration, powerful segmentation

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $9/month

Engaging users effectively can significantly improve retention rates and lifetime value, making your user acquisition efforts more worthwhile.

Analytics and Performance Tracking Tools

To grow your app effectively, you need to understand how it's performing. Here are some top analytics tools:

Google Analytics for Firebase

• Features: Real-time analytics, crash reporting, user behavior tracking

• Benefits: Free, deep integration with Google's ecosystem

• Pricing: Free

Mixpanel

• Features: User behavior analytics, funnel analysis, retention tracking

• Benefits: Powerful querying capabilities, custom event tracking

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $28/month

Amplitude

• Features: User journey mapping, cohort analysis, predictive analytics

• Benefits: Advanced behavioral analytics, intuitive interface

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $61/month

AppsFlyer

• Features: Attribution, deep linking, fraud prevention

• Benefits: Accurate attribution data, extensive partner integrations

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at 7¢ / conversion

Adjust

• Features: Multi-touch attribution, cohort analysis, fraud prevention

• Benefits: Accurate ROI measurement, deep linking capabilities, extensive partner integrations

• Pricing: Free plan available, custom pricing based on app size and needs

These tools can provide valuable insights into user behavior, helping you make data-driven decisions to fuel your app's growth.

Monetization Tools

For many apps, effective monetization is key to sustainable growth. Here are some top monetization tools:

AdMob by Google

• Features: In-app advertising, mediation, app bidding

• Benefits: Large ad inventory, easy integration with Google ecosystem

• Pricing: Free to use, revenue share model

ironSource

• Features: In-app advertising, offerwall, cross-promotion

• Benefits: High eCPMs, advanced ad formats

• Pricing: Revenue share model

Stripe

• Features: In-app purchases, subscriptions, payment processing

• Benefits: Easy integration, supports multiple payment methods

• Pricing: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge

Adapty

• Features: Subscription analytics, A/B testing for paywalls, user segmentation

• Benefits: Increases subscription conversion rates, provides insights into subscriber behavior, easy integration

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans based on monthly tracked revenue

RevenueCat

• Features: Subscription management, analytics, cross-platform support

• Benefits: Simplifies subscription implementation and management

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans based on monthly tracked revenue

Effective monetization can provide the resources needed for continued growth and improvement of your app.

Referral and Viral Growth Tools

Referral marketing can be one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your app. Here are some top tools in this category:

Advato

• Features: Easy referral program implementation, customizable rewards, fraud prevention

• Benefits: Lower user acquisition costs, higher quality users, increased viral growth

• Pricing: Free to start with, paid plans coming later

Advato stands out in this category as the easiest way to implement and grow referrals in mobile apps. It helps acquire users at a much lower price point compared to traditional acquisition methods, while also bringing in higher quality users. By leveraging the power of word-of-mouth marketing, Advato can significantly boost your app's viral growth potential.

Ambassador

• Features: Referral, partner, and affiliate marketing tools. Not tailored for mobile apps.

• Benefits: Omnichannel campaigns, detailed analytics

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on needs, paid plans start at $300/month

Implementing a referral program can create a viral growth loop for your app, dramatically reducing your overall user acquisition costs.

A/B Testing and Experimentation Tools

Continuous improvement is key to sustained app growth. Here are some top A/B testing tools:

Optimizely

• Features: A/B testing, multi-page experiments, personalization

• Benefits: Visual editor, statistical rigor, SDK for mobile apps

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on needs

Firebase A/B Testing

• Features: A/B testing for app store listings, in-app experiences

• Benefits: Integration with Firebase ecosystem, free to use

• Pricing: Free

Airship

• Features: Multivariate testing, audience segmentation, real-time analytics

• Benefits: Seamless integration with engagement tools, AI-powered optimization

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on needs

LaunchDarkly

• Features: Feature flags, targeted rollouts, experimentation

• Benefits: Reduces risk of new feature launches, enables rapid iteration

• Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $12/month

A/B testing can help you optimize every aspect of your app, from the onboarding process to in-app experiences, driving better retention and conversion rates.

Customer Support and Feedback Tools

Happy users are more likely to stick around and recommend your app. Here are some top customer support and feedback tools:

Zendesk

• Features: Ticketing system, knowledge base, live chat

• Benefits: Omnichannel support, extensive integrations

• Pricing: Plans start at $19/agent/month

Intercom

• Features: Live chat, chatbots, help center

• Benefits: Proactive support, customer engagement tools

• Pricing: Plans start at $39/month

UserVoice

• Features: Feedback collection, idea management, roadmap planning

• Benefits: Prioritize feature requests, close the feedback loop

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on needs

Userpilot

• Features: In-app surveys, user segmentation, behavior tracking

• Benefits: Improves user activation and feature adoption, provides actionable user insights

• Pricing: Plans start at $249/month

Effective customer support can improve user satisfaction and retention, while user feedback can guide your app's evolution.

Building Your App Growth Toolkit

Growing a mobile app in today's competitive market requires a multi-faceted approach and the right set of tools. From user acquisition and engagement to analytics and monetization, each aspect of app growth has specialized tools that can enhance your efforts.

While the tools mentioned in this guide are all great in their respective categories, it's important to remember that no single tool is a magic bullet for app growth. The key is to select a combination of tools that align with your app's specific needs and growth strategy.

One tool that stands out for its ability to drive cost-effective, high-quality user growth is Advato. By making it easy to implement and grow referral programs, Advato taps into the power of word-of-mouth marketing, often resulting in lower acquisition costs and higher-quality users compared to traditional acquisition methods.

As you craft your app growth toolkit, consider how each tool fits into your overall strategy. Look for tools that integrate well with each other, provide actionable insights, and offer a good return on investment. Remember, the goal is not just to acquire users, but to create a sustainable growth engine for your app. Happy growing!