What is Astro ASO?
Astro is a desktop app for App Store keyword research and rank tracking. Its product page lists popularity data from Apple Search Ads, difficulty scores, competitor keywords and ratings analysis.
If you like doing ASO in a native Mac app, it makes sense. I compared it with my tool using Astro’s official docs and what Minimalist Screens does today, on October 26, 2026.
I haven’t run a proper accuracy test between the two. So I won’t tell you which one has better numbers.
Looking for Astro ASO for Windows or Linux?
Astro needs macOS 14 or later. Its installation guide is a Mac .dmg download. I couldn’t find a Windows, Linux or browser version.
Minimalist Screens runs in any modern browser. You sign in, research keywords for your iOS app and check the countries you track. Nothing to install.
This helps if you build on a Mac but do your marketing on another computer. Or if, like me, you spend most of your day on a Windows PC.
Astro ASO vs Minimalist Screens
| What matters | Astro ASO | Minimalist Screens |
|---|---|---|
| Where you work | Native app for macOS 14 or later. Single Mac License. | Web app in any modern browser, on Windows, Linux or Mac. |
| ASO store coverage | Apple App Store. | Apple App Store. No Google Play keyword research or rank tracking. |
| Keyword capacity | Unlimited apps and keywords on the paid plan, as advertised. | Free: 10 keyword-country combinations. Indie: 200. Pro: 600. |
| Free access | A limited demo to try it. | A Free plan with no end date, with limits on research, tracking and history. |
| Workflow beyond research | Keyword suggestions, competitor keywords and ratings analysis. | Keyword research, tracking by country, listing localization and screenshot kits. |
| MCP and public API | Official local MCP server in beta. It runs with the Mac app. | No public MCP server or developer API right now. |
Pick based on the work you actually do. If you want unlimited keywords in a Mac app, Astro is worth a look.
Want the browser, plus screenshots and localization in the same place? Then try Minimalist Screens.
Astro ASO pricing: how much does it cost?
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual payment | Tracking capacity | Access and allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro ASO | $9/month equivalent, billed yearly only | $108/year | Unlimited apps and keywords, as advertised. | Limited demo. No trial length stated. |
| Minimalist Screens Free | €0 | €0 | 1 app, 10 keyword-country slots, 2 app-country pairs. | 50 keyword analyses a month and 7 days of ranking history. |
| Minimalist Screens Indie | €19,99/month | €199,90/year | Unlimited apps. 200 keyword-country slots and 20 app-country pairs. | 100 screenshot kits every 30 days. Each language you render counts as a kit. |
| Minimalist Screens Pro | €49,99/month | €499,90/year | Unlimited apps. 600 keyword-country slots and 60 app-country pairs. | 300 screenshot kits every 30 days. Each language you render counts as a kit. |
Astro’s $9 is what $108 a year works out to per month. It’s a Single Mac License, paid once a year. I didn’t see a month-to-month plan on their page. Taxes can change the final total.
Minimalist Screens has monthly and yearly billing. A year costs the same as 10 months.
I’m not going to say my plans are cheaper than Astro. They also include screenshot kits and localization, and the limits are different.
One thing to watch: one keyword tracked in 2 countries uses 2 slots. So count your list per country, not just the words. All the limits are on the pricing page.
Is Astro ASO free?
The full product is paid. Astro’s privacy page mentions a free, limited demo. I couldn’t find how long it lasts or what’s included, so I wouldn’t count on a full free trial.
Minimalist Screens has a Free plan with no end date: 1 app, 10 keyword-country combinations, 2 app-country pairs, 50 keyword analyses a month and 7 days of ranking history.
It’s not much, but it’s enough to try research and tracking on a small list before you pay.
Start with Free → Making and previewing screenshots is free too. Clean downloads need a paid kit or a subscription.
Does Astro have an MCP server or API?
Yes. Astro has official docs for its MCP Server BETA. You turn it on in the Mac app’s settings and connect an AI client that supports MCP. It runs locally and starts and stops with Astro.
With MCP, an AI client can use Astro’s tools and your local data. A hosted REST API is a different thing: a script could call it without the desktop app open. I only found docs for the local MCP.
Minimalist Screens has no public MCP server and no developer API right now. Everything happens in the browser. If you really need an AI agent connected to your ASO data, Astro has that and I don’t.
When is an Astro ASO alternative worth switching to?
Minimalist Screens makes sense if you’re on Windows or Linux. Or if you want to start free with a small list. Or if you want keywords, localization and screenshots in the same product.
Astro makes more sense if you prefer a Mac app, need MCP or want unlimited keywords.
If you want to test the switch, this is how I’d do it:
- Pick one app and one country.
- Bring a shortlist of keywords and count how many country slots you need.
- Research them in the ASO tool and start a new tracking list.
- Look at the results for a while before you change subscriptions.
Astro has a CSV keyword export. You can use that list as a starting point. But there’s no Astro importer in my tool, and your ranking history and tags don’t come over. Your tracking starts fresh here.
When you compare numbers, use the same keyword, country and date. Popularity and difficulty depend on the source and the method. Different scores don’t mean one tool is wrong.
I compared more tools in ASO tools for indie developers, if you want other options.
And if you do ASO on Windows, what are you using right now? Let me know on X.