Apple's algorithm now reads text in your screenshots to rank your app. In this guide, we break down how to create screenshots that convert and improve discovery by tearing down real-world examples and their top competitors.
Apple recently made a significant change to the App Store algorithm that almost no one is talking about—not even Apple. Up until now, screenshots were crucial for converting page views into downloads. But Apple has raised the stakes: they are now reading the text in your screenshots with AI and using that information to rank your app.
This means your screenshots are not only critical for conversion but also for discovery. We’ve observed this over the last month and a half; apps that get their screenshots right are getting a boost in ranks, while those that don't are seeing their visibility drop.
Today, we're going to tear down screenshots from real apps to see what works, what doesn’t, and how you can optimize your product page to drive more downloads.
The first app from our submissions is Cooknest Recipe Organizer. Let's take a look at their screenshots.
[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Cooknest Recipe Organizer]
My first impression is that I'm missing pictures of food. For a recipe app, you have a huge opportunity to get me salivating and excited to download. The food pictures you do have are small and appear on the third screenshot, which many users won't see, especially since you have an app preview video first.
Key Takeaways & Advice:
To see what's working in this category, I looked at a leader in the recipe niche: Recime. According to our estimates, they get over half a million downloads a month.
[Ariel shows the product page for The Recipe]
Their screenshots do exactly what I suggested. They are full of interesting, exciting pictures of food with vibrant colors. Their captions are much shorter, and the fonts are chubbier and friendlier. This is your opportunity—you can take inspiration from this and do the same thing for your app.
It's also important to look at their custom product pages. With iOS 16, you can now connect custom pages to organic keywords, allowing you to tailor your screenshots to user intent. The Recipe has three custom product pages. Even when they focus on a feature like importing recipes, they still keep the visuals focused on delicious food. This reinforces my main advice: you need to introduce more food into your screenshots.
Before we move on, let's tackle a few common questions about screenshots.
Next up is a workout tracker. This is a very competitive niche, so your screenshots have to be perfect.
[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Workout Tracker Overlo]
Right off the bat, the first screenshot is a colossal waste of pixels. It shows the app's icon, which the user already sees, and provides no new information. The second screenshot says, "Makes tracking stupid easy," but it doesn't show me what I'm tracking. Unless I'm looking for a "chest dip counter," this screen means nothing to me.
You have limited space to make a first impression, and you're using it to say nothing. From a conversion and a discovery standpoint, this is a huge missed opportunity. There are no keywords for the algorithm to read.
Key Takeaways & Advice:
Let's look at a major player in this space, an app that gets nearly 400,000 downloads a month.
[Ariel shows the product page for Home Workout - No Equipments]
They make full use of their first two screenshots, showing a person, the benefits of working out, and social proof. Their captions are short, to the point, and all about benefits like "Hit target area" and "Maximize effort."
They also use custom product pages brilliantly. They have different sets of screenshots targeting women and men, using colors and imagery that resonate with each audience. This is the power of tailoring your creative to user intent. All their images are vibrant and aspirational. They show you that you can achieve your fitness goals with their app.
The contrast is clear. More exciting screenshots lead to more conversions. Start by replacing your first two screenshots, and you'll see an improvement right away.
This app is for learning to speak English with an AI partner. At first glance, I really like the colors—they jump off the page.
[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Lingup]
This app is already doing a lot of things right. The colors are great, and the captions are short and benefit-oriented ("Get better at speaking English," "English pronunciation checker"). This is a much more challenging teardown because the foundation is solid.
Key Takeaways & Advice:
The biggest opportunity here is to add social proof. When people think of language learning, they think of Duolingo. Your challenge is to convince a user that your app is a better choice for them. How do you do that? By showing that other people already love and trust your app.
Instead of looking at Duolingo, let's look at Babbel, another major competitor. They have 31 custom product pages, which gives us a lot to learn from.
[Ariel shows the product page for Babbel]
What's one of the first things they show? Social proof. "500,000+ five-star ratings." They also feature testimonials like, "I went from total beginner to real-life conversation in three months." This is incredibly powerful. They also use photos of real people, which helps users visualize their own success.
Your screenshots are already good. But by adding a layer of social proof, you can build the trust needed to compete with the giants and take your conversions to the next level.
The final app is an AI avatar and art studio that claims to create "studio quality professional photos" with a single tap.
[Ariel shows the App Store product page for StillIt]
Frankly, the "before and after" shot is so dramatic that I don't believe it. I've tried many of these apps, and this result seems unrealistic, which creates immediate distrust. The screenshots don't clearly explain what the app does or how it works.
Key Takeaways & Advice:
The theme here is a lack of clarity and trust. If you can make it dead simple for a user to understand what they'll get and show them that others have benefited, your conversions will improve dramatically.
Optimizing your screenshots is no longer optional. It's essential for both conversion and discovery. Based on today's teardowns, here are the key principles to remember:
✨ This transcript was generated and enhanced by AI and may differ from the original video.
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Live teardown of 10 app product pages, focusing on screenshot mistakes, keyword strategy, and concrete tips to improve ASO and conversion.