On August 11, 2026, AppTweak is releasing a new keyword volume across the platform: the AppTweak Volume Estimate. This article explains what it is, what's changing, and what to expect in your data from that date.
💡 This article will be updated as we roll out the new AppTweak Volume Estimate from August 11.
Why we're making this change
Over the past year, the way search popularity is reported by the App Store has changed, particularly for lower-demand keywords:
👉 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 volume of 5 currently reflects how a keyword is classified by the App Store, not how many people are actually searching for it. This 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
On August 11, 2026, the new AppTweak Volume Estimate will rebuild a more representative volume for keywords currently reported as volume 5.
Developed and validated by our data science team over months of work, it combines years of real keyword history with additional market signals to estimate the true demand behind each keyword.
As a result, a genuinely low-demand keyword and a high-potential one will 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 will show more meaningful installs and reach again.
What will change on August 11
From August 11, AppTweak Volume Estimate becomes your default volume. Most keywords currently stuck at 5 will show more representative volumes across iOS and Android.
Your existing metrics stay available. The store's raw Search Popularity score (iOS) and Max Volume are staying, just hidden by default so there's only one clear volume in view. You can reactivate either anytime under "Edit columns."
Installs and Max Reach improve, too. Because these metrics are calculated from volume, you'll see them rise for affected keywords, 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 won’t be rewritten; you'll simply see the new estimate applied from August 11. We'll 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.
The AppTweak Volume Estimate 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, 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 at volume 5, AppTweak built its Volume Estimate to recover a more representative view of demand.
Max Volume: the highest volume a keyword has reached over the past year, based on real data the store provides. 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 will the AppTweak Volume Estimate change my reports?
The AppTweak Volume Estimate will apply from August 11 onwards, but your past data won't be rewritten. A keyword sitting today at a volume of 5 with 0 installs, for example, will keep its history and step up to more meaningful figures on August 11. We will mark the change with a vertical line in charts.
All Ranked Keywords reports aren't recomputed retroactively and will use the AppTweak Volume Estimate from August 11, so you'll see a step up on that date rather than a change to your past data. All Ranked Keywords will also start covering more keywords, since keywords previously excluded for sitting at 5 can now qualify once they show a real estimated volume.
Will this change 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 will be calculated from the AppTweak Volume Estimate, restoring volumes that represent real demand. The jump will reflect improved data behind the metrics, not a change in your app's performance, and it will be marked on your charts with a vertical line on August 11.
Where can I use this across AppTweak?
The AppTweak Volume Estimate will be available anywhere keyword volume is shown, including keyword tables, keyword suggestions, Keyword Explorer, Metadata Simulator, Monitor Performance, All Ranked Keywords, and Campaign Manager.
As Trending Keywords looks at trends over the past 3 months of history, it will continue using real store volumes for a short period after launch, before switching over.
AppTweak's AI Agents (ASO Agent and Ad Agent) will have access to the AppTweak Volume Estimate shortly after release.
Reporting Studio, the API, and Automated Exports will provide both volumes (AppTweak Volume Estimate and raw Search Popularity scores), so you can keep working with the store values alongside the new estimate.
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 will 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 now 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 introduces the AppTweak Volume Estimate, recovering more representative volumes, installs, and max reach figures for keywords still 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 will put meaningful volume, installs, and max reach back into the metrics you rely on. We're excited to release it!
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.
💡 This article will be updated as we roll out the new AppTweak Volume Estimate from August 11.