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2026 ASO Report: Keyword trends, visibility benchmarks, and top apps in the US App Store

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Weather

Weather apps are judged on planning value, so keywords prioritize forecasts, alerts, and the specific conditions that change daily decisions.

“Weather” remains the primary keyword because it captures the highest-volume, category-defining searches. “Forecast” stays prominent because planning hours, days, or weekends is the core usage pattern of weather apps.

“Temperature” is one of the most actionable data points, immediately influencing clothing and comfort. “Conditions” supports it by signaling overall feel and context without listing individual metrics. “wind” and “rain” repeat frequently because they reliably change plans, affecting travel, outdoor activities, and timing.

Visual clarity is another driver. “radar” and “map” indicate the ability to see weather patterns and movement, helping users assess what’s coming. “alerts” position the app as a safety layer by promising timely notifications. The inclusion of “UV” reflects a growing focus on exposure and outdoor safety, connecting weather data to health-related decisions.

Navigation

Navigation metadata is about reliability on the move, so keywords focus on maps/routes plus real-life needs like tracking, parking, and EV charging.

“Map” stays on top because it’s the universal interface. “GPS” and “location” appear frequently because accuracy is the product itself. These words signal reliable positioning and real-time awareness, which every navigation feature depends on.

The core job is captured by “route”, “routes”, and “navigation”. Together, they promise path planning, alternatives, and turn-by-turn guidance. They repeat because they’re the minimum vocabulary needed to explain what a navigation app does at all.

High-frequency secondary keywords highlight common pain points during a trip. “Speed” is closely linked to driving and safety, covering speed limits and alerts. “Charging” reflects the growing importance of EV routing and planning charging stops. “Parking” appears because navigation extends beyond arrival to finding a place to park. “Tracking” signals use cases beyond driving, such as monitoring people, vehicles, or deliveries.

This year, use the core terms to stay eligible, then lean into the one friction you solve best (EV charging, speed tools, parking help, or tracking) so you’re not competing only on generic “navigation and route” language.

"MobileAction actually gave us the visibility we needed. With their tools and support, we’ve more than doubled our downloads this year and reduced our cost per install by over 15%. The confidence we gained from having the right tools in place has been game-changing for our user acquisition strategy. You could tell they’d really taken the time to understand our business and KPIs and how the platform could be built around our needs."
Eric Rosenthal
Eric Rosenthal
Marketing Director @Wavve Boating

Books

Books apps sell the reading habit and access, so keywords combine activity terms with strong sub-niches like Bible reading, audio, and offline use.

Core keywords like “reading”, “books”, and “stories” dominate because they match how users think about the category. People search for the activity and the experience first, not formats or genres, and these words fit naturally into almost every Books app.

The prominence of “bible” and “verse” shows that Bible reading is a big pillar of the category. These apps follow a distinct reading workflow, daily verses, study plans, and reference, so their metadata uses the exact language users expect when searching. “Library” reinforces scale and access, signaling a collection of content plus organization through saved books, progress, and bookmarks.

Reading today also includes listening, which keeps “audio” high as audiobooks and read-aloud features become standard. “Offline” reflects how often reading happens without reliable connectivity, making download-and-read-later a key promise. The appearance of “bedtime” highlights reading as a nightly routine, especially for kids’ stories and calming, sleep-focused content.

The rise of “AI” points to assistance layered on top of reading, such as recommendations, summaries, explanations, and study support, rather than AI replacing books themselves.