On August 11, 2026, AppTweak released the AppTweak Volume Estimate across the platform. This article explains what it is, what changed, and what to expect in your data from this date on.
Why a new volume estimate?
Over the past year, the way Search Popularity is reported by the App Store has changed, particularly for lower-demand keywords.
đ Many keywords that used to carry a real volume are now grouped into the store's lowest tier and shown as a volume of 5. This is especially visible in non-English markets.
As a result, a Search Popularity of 5 currently reflects how a keyword is classified by the App Store, not how many people are actually searching for it. That makes it harder to tell a genuinely low-demand keyword apart from a valuable one that has simply fallen below the store's reporting threshold.
Introducing the AppTweak Volume Estimate
As of August 11, 2026, the AppTweak Volume Estimate rebuilds a more representative volume for keywords the store reports as volume 5.
Developed and validated by our data science team over months of work, it draws on years of real keyword history and additional market signals to estimate the true demand behind each keyword. As a result, a genuinely low-demand keyword and a high-potential one no longer look the same.
Because our proprietary Keyword Installs and Max Reach are calculated from volume, this improvement carries through to them as well: keywords that were sitting at zero now show more meaningful Keyword Installs and Max Reach.
What changed on August 11
The AppTweak Volume Estimate is now your default volume. Most keywords previously stuck at 5 now show more representative volumes across iOS and Android.
Your existing metrics stay available. The store's raw Search Popularity score (iOS) and Max Search Popularity (formerly "Max Volume") are still there, just hidden by default so you have one clear volume in view. You can reactivate either metric anytime under "Edit columns."
Keyword Installs and Max Reach improved, too. Because these metrics are calculated from volume, you'll see them for affected keywords from this date, in many cases up from 0. This reflects the improved data, not a change in how your app is performing.
Your history stays intact. Past reports like volume/install history and All Ranked Keywords aren't rewritten; the new estimate simply applies from August 11. We mark the change with a line on your charts, so it's easy to spot.
FAQs
How does AppTweak calculate keyword volumes?
AppTweak Volume Estimate (default): AppTweak's own estimate of keyword search demand. It draws on years of real volume history and other search signals to estimate a keyword's search popularity in the stores. It powers meaningful Keyword Installs and Max Reach estimates, and is especially valuable for keywords reported by the store as volume 5. When a keyword's demand is genuinely low (Apple Search Popularity = 5), AppTweak maintains a volume of 5.
Alongside the Volume Estimate, AppTweak also provides two reference metrics for additional context:
Search Popularity (iOS): the App Store's own store-reported data. As more keywords are now reported by the store at volume 5, AppTweak built its Volume Estimate to recover a more representative view of demand.
Max Search Popularity (formerly "Max Volume"): the highest Search Popularity a keyword has reached over the past year, based on real data provided by Apple. Useful for understanding a keyword's peak potential.
Together, these metrics give ASO teams a clear view of keyword potential: a reliable estimate to act on day-to-day, plus the store's raw data and historical peak for extra context.
How does the AppTweak Volume Estimate change my reports?
The AppTweak Volume Estimate applies from August 11 onwards, but your past data isn't rewritten. A keyword that used to have a volume of 5 with 0 installs, for example, keeps the same history and steps up to more meaningful figures from August 11. We mark the change with a vertical line in charts.
All Ranked Keywords reports aren't recomputed retroactively and use the AppTweak Volume Estimate from August 11. This means a step up in your graphs on that date rather than a change to your past data. All Ranked Keywords also cover more keywords, since keywords previously excluded for sitting at 5 can now qualify once they show a real estimated volume.
Does the AppTweak Volume impact Keyword Installs, Impressions, or Visibility Score?
Yes, as these metrics are all calculated from keyword volume. When the store began reporting 5 for so many keywords, AppTweak's Installs and Impressions estimates dropped for affected keywords, in many cases to 0.
From August 11, these metrics are calculated using the AppTweak Volume Estimate, restoring volumes that represent real demand. The jump reflects improved data behind the metrics, not a change in your app's performance, and is marked on your charts with a vertical line on August 11.
Where can I use the Volume Estimate across AppTweak?
The AppTweak Volume Estimate is available anywhere keyword volume is shown, including keyword tables, keyword suggestions, Keyword Explorer, Metadata Simulator, Monitor Performance, All Ranked Keywords, and Campaign Manager.
In Keyword Suggestions, we've also simplified how volume is shown. The "Volume Today | Max Volume" toggle has been removed from all suggestion pickers, and the volume displayed next to each keyword is now always the AppTweak Volume Estimate.
As Trending Keywords looks at trends over the past 3 months of history, it will continue using real store volumes for a short period before switching over.
AppTweak's AI Agents (ASO Agent and Ad Agent) will have access to the AppTweak Volume Estimate shortly after this release.
Reporting Studio, the API, and Automated Exports provide both volumes (AppTweak Volume Estimate and raw Search Popularity scores), so you can keep working with the store values alongside the new estimate.
What is the impact on Volume data through the API?
From August 11, 2026, when you call the volume metric via the AppTweak API, it now returns the AppTweak Volume Estimate.
The AppTweak Volume Estimate is our new estimate of keyword search demand, developed by our data science team and drawing on years of real volume history and additional market signals.
It keeps the same API field name ("volume"), the same 5-100 scale, and the same response format. Only the values become more meaningful, especially for keywords reported at volume 5. Because max_reach and installs are calculated from volume, these estimates improve too, in many cases up from 0.
A new metric, search_popularity, is now available if you still want the App Store's raw store-reported value.
What you need to do:
If you want more representative volume data, do nothing. Your existing queries automatically return the AppTweak Volume Estimate from August 11.
If you want to keep using raw App Store values: from August 11, request search_popularity in your metrics parameter and read that field in the response instead of volume.
One thing to note: the AppTweak Volume Estimate applies from August 11 onward. Historical queries spanning that date return raw App Store values up to August 11 and the estimate from then on, so expect a step up in your volume, installs, and max reach data on August 11. This reflects improved data, not a change in your app's performance.
Will this change affect Google Play?
Yes. The same work behind the AppTweak Volume Estimate has also gone into improving how we estimate keyword volume on Google Play. We've updated AppTweak's own Google Play estimation model, drawing on years of data and additional market signals, so your Google Play volumes also reflect the same improved view of search demand.
What changes have been made to keyword volumes over time?
October 2025: AppTweak observed a shift in how the App Store reports search popularity: many lower-demand keywords were grouped into the lowest tier, volume 5. To preserve context, AppTweak temporarily displayed the last known volumes, installs, and max reach for the affected keywords.
February 2, 2026: AppTweak updated keyword volumes, installs, and max reach to reflect official values coming from the App Store. This meant many keywords began showing a volume of 5, with many installs and max reach dropping to 0.
August 11, 2026: AppTweak introduced the AppTweak Volume Estimate, recovering more representative volumes, installs, and max reach figures for keywords reported at volume 5.
In summary
Reliable keyword data is one of the most essential components of ASO work. From August 11, the AppTweak Volume Estimate puts meaningful volume, installs, and max reach back into the metrics you rely on.
If you have questions or would like to discuss what this means for your strategy, our support team and Customer Success Managers are happy to help.