An Astro alternative: VisualASO vs Astro
Facts from each product's own website, with a link for every cell. The page says when Astro is the better fit.
Last checked 29 October 2026
Both are Mac apps for App Store keywords. Astro is a subscription ($108 a year) built on Apple Search Ads popularity in more than 60 stores. VisualASO is one payment, has a free tier, labels which source measured each number, and writes and translates your listing with the AI tool you already use. Pick Astro if you want its store coverage and do not need listing help.
Table
Side by side
| VisualASO | Astro | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Mac app, macOS 14 or later | Mac app, macOS 14 and up[1] |
| Price | $99 once (Pro); free tier | $108 a year (“$9/m”, billed annually)[1] |
| Free tier | Yes, no time limit | Not shown[1] |
| Demand source | Apple's search suggestions, plus Apple Ads popularity if you sign in; each number labelled | Apple Search Ads popularity[1] |
| App Store countries | 52 | “More than 60”[1] |
| AI listing options | From your Claude Code, Codex or Ollama | Not shown[1] |
| Fills an App Store Connect version | Yes, and never submits | Not shown[1] |
| Agent tools (MCP) | 69 tools | An MCP server, in beta[2] |
| Google Play | Ranks (Pro) | Not shown[1] |
| Your keyword data | On your Mac | Projects on your Mac; the server stores aggregated keyword data[3] |
| App analytics sent | Anonymous usage counts and crash reports (Firebase); no keywords, apps or keys | Usage (Mixpanel) and crash reports (Sentry); may be tied to your purchase email[3] |
| Better fit when | You want demand with its source shown, the listing written and translated, and one price | You want Apple Ads popularity across more than 60 stores in one Mac app[1] |
Checked 2026-10-29 on each product's own website. Prices in the vendor's currency. “Not shown” means the product's public pages did not say so on that date.
- Astro home page: price, stores, macOS version: https://tryastro.app, checked 2026-10-29
- Astro docs: MCP server (beta): https://tryastro.app/docs/mcp, checked 2026-10-29
- Astro privacy policy, sections 3.2 and 3.3: https://tryastro.app/privacy, checked 2026-10-29
How demand is measured
VisualASO. Apple's search suggestions in each country, plus Apple Ads popularity if you sign in to your Apple Ads account. Each number carries the letter of its source; an unmeasured phrase shows “?”.
Astro. “over 60 stores where Apple Search Ads is available” — popularity from Apple Search Ads, as Astro's home page says.
Price over three years
| Product | Three years | How |
|---|---|---|
| VisualASO | $99 | one payment |
| Astro | $324 | $108 a year × 3 |
| Wow Keywords | $109 or more | one payment; the price rises $10 every 50 licences |
| AppFigures | $1,619.64 | Monitor $44.99 a month × 36 |
Arithmetic from each product's published price on 2026-10-29. Taxes not included.
When Astro is the better fit
- You want one tool for more than 60 Apple Search Ads stores.
- You prefer a yearly plan to a one-time price.
- You do not need listing options, translations or a filled App Store Connect version.
Moving from Astro
Export your keywords from Astro, then in VisualASO choose File → Import Astro Export. Your popularity numbers come in labelled as Astro's, shown 3 lower to match Apple's scale.
More comparisons: VisualASO vs Wow Keywords · VisualASO vs AppFigures · all four side by side.
Questions
Can I use both?
Yes. VisualASO imports an Astro export and keeps those numbers labelled as Astro's, beside its own readings.
Is VisualASO cheaper than Astro?
Over one year they cost about the same: $99 once against $108 a year. From the second year VisualASO costs nothing more.
Does Astro have a free tier?
Astro's home page did not show one on 2026-10-29; it lists one plan, a single Mac licence at $108 a year.
Try it on your own app.
Free for one app in three countries, with no time limit. Pro is one payment of $99.
One-time purchase of a VisualASO Pro licence for 3 Macs. No subscription; nothing renews. Payment is handled by Stripe (merchant of record), who charges any sales tax or VAT.