App Store Optimization can cost $0 or $5,000 a month depending on who you hire and what you need. The price range is wide enough that most developers have no idea what's reasonable — and agencies know it.
This post breaks down every option: what it costs, what you actually get, and which makes sense depending on where your app is right now.
Option 1: Do It Yourself — $0 to $150/month
The cheapest option is also the most time-consuming.
DIY ASO means doing your own keyword research, writing your own metadata, and tracking your own rankings. The tools you'd need:
- AppFollow, ASOdesk, or AppTweak — keyword research and ranking trackers. Free tiers are limited; paid plans start around $60–$150/month per app.
- Astro — lighter keyword ranking tracker, free tier available.
- Google Sheets — for organizing your research and metadata drafts.
What it actually costs in time: Doing ASO properly for a single app in a single language takes 8–15 hours upfront (research, writing, testing) plus 2–4 hours per month to monitor and iterate. Multiply that across multiple languages and it becomes a part-time job.
Who this works for: Developers with time to spare and interest in learning ASO deeply. Not realistic if you're also building the product.
Option 2: ASO Tools Only — $60 to $300/month
Several platforms offer automated ASO recommendations:
- AppTweak — $60–$300/month depending on features. Strong keyword data, competitor analysis, ranking history.
- ASOdesk — similar pricing, strong for Google Play.
- MobileAction — enterprise-focused, higher pricing.
These tools tell you what keywords exist and roughly how competitive they are. They don't write your metadata for you, and they don't tell you which markets to prioritize for your specific app.
What you're paying for: Data access, not strategy or execution. You still need to do the thinking and the writing yourself.
Who this works for: Developers who want data to inform their own decisions and are comfortable interpreting keyword research.
Option 3: ASO Freelancer — $200 to $1,500 per project
Freelance ASO specialists on Upwork, Fiverr, or direct referrals typically charge:
- Fiverr: $50–$300 for basic metadata optimization (usually one language, limited research depth)
- Upwork: $150–$600 for a single-language ASO audit and rewrite
- Specialist freelancers: $500–$1,500 for a full-market localization project
Quality varies enormously. The $50 Fiverr option usually means template-based work with minimal real keyword research. The $500–$1,500 range from an experienced specialist is where you start getting research-backed results.
What to watch for: Ask to see sample deliverables before hiring. A good freelancer shows you exactly what you'll receive — keyword rationale, competitor analysis, structured metadata per field — not just a finished file.
Who this works for: Developers who want professional execution but aren't ready for an agency retainer.
Option 4: ASO Agency — $1,000 to $5,000/month
Full-service ASO agencies offer ongoing optimization: monthly keyword updates, A/B testing on screenshots, competitor monitoring, and regular reporting.
Typical pricing:
- Small agencies / boutique ASO firms: $1,000–$2,500/month
- Mid-size agencies: $2,500–$5,000/month
- Enterprise ASO firms: $5,000+/month
What you're paying for beyond the work itself: account managers, reporting dashboards, strategy calls, and the agency's brand name. Many agencies work well for apps with marketing budgets and a team that can act on recommendations quickly.
What you're not getting: Personalized attention on a $1,000/month retainer. At that price point, your app is one of 20–40 accounts. The work is often templated and junior-led.
Who this works for: Apps generating enough revenue to justify the recurring cost — typically $10,000+/month in App Store revenue. Not indie developers.
Option 5: Done-for-You Localization — $49 to $199 per project
This is where LocalizeRank sits.
Done-for-you localization means you get the research, the keyword gap analysis, and the ready-to-paste metadata — without paying agency rates or managing a freelancer relationship.
LocalizeRank pricing:
- Starter ($49): 5 markets — title, subtitle, keyword field, screenshot text, and Google Sheet delivery in 5 business days.
- Growth ($99): 10 markets — adds deep keyword research and competitor keyword gap per market.
- Pro ($199): 20 markets — full global coverage with ranking opportunity score and ranking tracker sheet.
One-time payment. No retainer. No monthly fee. You pay once, get the sheet, paste it into App Store Connect.
What makes this different from a $50 Fiverr gig: The work is keyword-research-first, not translation-first. Every market is analyzed for actual search volume and competitor gaps before a single character of metadata is written. The deliverable is structured to slot directly into App Store Connect's metadata fields — no reformatting needed.
What's the Right Option for an Indie Developer?
Here's a simple framework:
Revenue under $500/month from the App Store: Skip the agency. Skip the expensive tools. Start with done-for-you localization to unlock organic growth from non-English markets — the fastest path to more downloads without increasing ad spend.
Revenue $500–$5,000/month: Invest in one keyword research tool ($60–$150/month) to monitor rankings yourself, and use a done-for-you service for new market expansions you don't have time to research manually.
Revenue $5,000+/month: At this point an agency relationship starts making financial sense. You have enough margin to justify ongoing optimization and A/B testing on screenshots and previews.
The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
Most indie developers don't spend $5,000/month on ASO. They spend $0 — and their app stays invisible in 90% of the markets where it's technically available.
The cost of no localization isn't a line item. It's the downloads you never see because someone in Japan searched for exactly what your app does and found a competitor instead.
That gap is fixable for $49.