Definition
Keyword difficulty
An estimate of how hard it is to reach the top results for a keyword.
What is Keyword difficulty?
Keyword difficulty describes how strong the apps already ranking for a keyword are. Tools often give a score, but on Google Play the most reliable method is to inspect the top 10 results yourself.
Why it matters for ASO
Targeting keywords you can’t realistically win wastes your most valuable listing space.
How to improve it
- Search the keyword in the target country.
- Look at the top 10: big brands and huge rating counts mean hard; weak or off-topic apps mean easy.
- Prefer specific long-tail variants when the head term is hard.
Related terms
Long-tail keyword
A longer, more specific search phrase — lower volume, less competition and higher intent.
Keyword ranking
Your app’s position in Google Play search results for a specific keyword, country and language.
Found rate
In ASODrift, the share of checks in which your app appeared in the top 100 for a keyword.