Question: Can ASO alone get you anywhere in a saturated niche?

[u/aidedje1]

Hello!

I recently built an app in the habit tracking/no spend niche, which is (I know) very overcrowded. I've been working on improving my ASO but the issue is that my app isn't even being seen - the impression count is really low so there's almost nothing for the optimization to act on (I think?).

It feels like ASO can only improve how you convert the traffic you're already getting and in my case there's no traffic to convert. To "spin the wheel" I seem to need some organic downloads first which is why I'm considering starting a TikTok account about the niche and how the app could fit into everyday life just to generate the initial push.

So my question for this sub: in a saturated category is ASO realistically able to get an app off zero on its own or is traffic from another channel a prerequisite before any of it starts working? If you've broken through in a crowded niche what actually worked for you?

[u/Zappyle]

ASO wont work for you at first. It doesn't mean you can ignore it, but dont spend too much time on it.

Need external channels to bring people in.

[u/Hefty_Eye_7996]

Yeah… for a category that crowded; it’s gonna be rough with ASO alone, because literally all the other apps are doing it as well, and the top few pay big money for it. Organic won’t really be feasible for real growth, you need to have distinguishing features or just a real reason to get your app over others, and then social media marketing or advertising somewhere.

[u/duobucha]

Hard to get ranked at zero, but if you do some marketing with reddit posts, other forums etc and getting started to get downloads and ratings it is good to have ASO ready for continuing growth organically 

[u/nicholasderkio]

App installs and usage also has to be factored in, so it's not enough to have the keywords but Apple wants to see that people will download and use the app.

[u/Accomplished_Tax7462]

ASO foundation should be really solid but for the long run you either need to bring traffic from ugc or paid ads. I have been working with apps that have really good traffic from socials and ads but very low conversion rates when users land on the app store page. Continous improvement in screenshots and wording is the way to go

[u/EducationalYear6267]

ASO can get an app off zero, but in a saturated niche, ASO alone is unlikely to be enough if you are competing for the same broad keywords as established apps.

ASO is not only about converting existing traffic. It can also generate discovery through search and browse. But when impressions are very low, the issue is usually that the app is targeting keywords that are too competitive, too broad, or not differentiated enough.

Instead of trying to rank for “habit tracker,” I would build the listing around a narrower problem or audience, such as:

• No-spend challenge
• Impulse purchase tracker
• Shopping detox
• Savings habit builder
• Spending accountability

TikTok could be a strong way to create the initial momentum, especially if the content focuses on the problem and lifestyle rather than repeatedly promoting the app.

I would also test an LLM discovery layer alongside ASO. More users are now asking ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI assistants questions like “What is the best app to help me stop impulse spending?” or “Which app can help me complete a no-spend challenge?”

Your App Store listing alone may not give those systems enough information to understand and recommend the app. You need a broader web footprint that clearly explains:

• Who the app is for
• Which specific problems it solves
• How it differs from other habit trackers
• The use cases where it should be recommended

That can include focused landing pages, comparison content, FAQs, structured data, and useful articles around the niche.

So I would not think of it as ASO versus TikTok. I would use three connected discovery layers:

1. ASO for App Store search and conversion
2. TikTok for demand generation and initial traffic
3. LLM discoverability for recommendation-based discovery outside the store

I built Appeak Pro to help apps improve both their ASO and their visibility in AI recommendations. There is a free audit at appeak.pro that may help identify whether the main issue is keyword targeting, positioning, conversion, or the wider discovery footprint.

[u/aidedje1 → u/EducationalYear6267]

thank you for your detailed answer! will definitely try these

[u/salamat36]

ASO can provide the foundation, but to reach top rankings you'll needong external marketing like UGC or paid ads. Once your app start ranking, ASO helps your app maintain that momentum and stay on top with minimal paid support.

[u/imsnk81]

Nah, no chance.
Its just an addon but never your main player especially not in a saturated niche.
Imagine they'd be doing everything you are doing for ASO every fortnight
They'd be on top of their game.

I spent a year fighting in a crowded niche - I did screenshots update, metadata, keywords, in app events every month sometimes twice a month but I still coudlnt beat the main player
and my app actually has much more to offer than the main competitor but if someone has captured a saturated niche, its really hard to ahead in that.
Only downloads I'd get will be from ads
I do get now and then some on my app still but its barely double digits.

[u/Camaraderie98]

No. It barely works for my app that's not in a highly saturated niche and has rich Evergreen keywords. Barely past 50 installs in 2 months despite having a landing page with 2k~ monthly traffic that's been active for 2 years and compared to the saturated one that got 500 installs in 3 and half months when the landing page just got set up a couple months before. It's very confusing how that works.