Apple has revamped its App Store Connect service for developers, allowing for over 100 new metrics to help track in-app purchase trends and more.
App Store Connect was launched in 2018 as an improvement on, and a replacement for, the previously long-standing iTunes Connect service. It streamlined how developers could access what App Store data Apple made available, but Apple famously does not release as much as its rivals.
Now Apple has announced an expanded and refreshed App Store Connect, which it calls its "biggest update since its launch." It includes the improved ability for developers to compare the performance of their app against those of competitors.
Apple says that it has added over 100 new metrics that allow developers access to "monetization and subscription data... to better understand the performance of your In-App Purchases and offers." Its full guide to the new update on the Apple Developer site says that businesses can:
- Monitor how often apps are displayed, discovered and downloaded
- Measure feature performance such as pre-orders
- Use benchmarks to compare your results to others
- Filter data by territory, user device and more
The most immediately significant change is that the analytics are now available first at the app level. Developers no longer get an overview of all their apps and then have to drill down for more detail.
Apple intends for developers to not only have more data, but to be able to see and use it more quickly than before. So the revised sales report will first present the headline numbers, such as paying users and proceeds, that developers want to know.
There's also a new Cohort section which shows developers details about the use of their app. Specifically, if the download is a trial version, how long it typically takes users to buy the app.
The revised App Store Connect is also available as an iPhone app
With subscription apps, a new analytics section provides over 50 options. Each of which can further be filtered to provide specific answers about such detail as churn rate, and when users' subscription plans start.
App Store Connect is available as an iPhone and iPad app, but it's also presented as an online dashboard. Apple recommends that for quick updates on performance.
Developers do not need to add anything to their apps to get this data, but there is also a special API they can use for accessing the revised App Store Connect. That includes managing beta builds of apps in TestFlight, and downloading detailed reports.
