Apple's App Analytics Platform Now Includes Info on Where Customers Discover Apps - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's App Analytics Platform Now Includes Info on Where Customers Discover Apps

by

appanalyticsApple today announced that its App Analytics platform in iTunes Connect now provides developers with insight into where customers discover apps, a welcome change that will give developers more information on where app referrals are coming from.

Developers will be able to see if customers are finding apps from App Store browsing and search, from within other apps, or from web referrals.

App Analytics in iTunes Connect now provides insight on where customers discover your app, including App Store browsing and search, within other apps, or on the web. With key metrics based on source types, you can see your top referring apps and websites, making it easier to optimize your marketing campaigns.

Apple first debuted its app analytics platform in May of 2015, giving developers a detailed look at app usage statistics to enable them to create more effective advertising campaigns.

Top Rated Comments

122 months ago
87% from the bathroom
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlc1978 Avatar
122 months ago
Creepy. Why is Apple tracking this info?
It gives developers an idea of how effective the various ways of driving people to their app on the app store and what drives purchases. For example, if they don't see a lot of searches they may look at how the app is named, etc. If they have a lot of visits to their website but that doesn't translate to app store purchases they can reassess how they present the app on their website. The aggregate data would not identify individuals but give developers an idea of what drives visits to their app and adjust their marketing efforts accordingly..
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smacrumon Avatar
122 months ago
Love this. More detailed factual information.
Well done Apple.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zirel Avatar
122 months ago
Creepy. Why is Apple tracking this info?
Creepy what is creepy?

That the developer know if you got to the App you bought through an AppStore search or from an website link?

So creepy!
[doublepost=1493878765][/doublepost]
Shame they didn't release this a few weeks ago so we could watch all the referrers going out of business in real time.

As for the creeped-out privacy folks, you know if you click on an http link the destination server is usually given the address of the page you came from? It's been that way for about 20 years.
It doesn't across sites now.
[doublepost=1493878798][/doublepost]
Good to know.

*Mental note: never click links to appstore ever again*
Because?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
122 months ago
Good to know.

*Mental note: never click links to appstore ever again*
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfacts Avatar
122 months ago
Creepy. Why is Apple tracking this info?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

app store blue banner epic 1

Apple Can't Delay App Store Fee Fight While Waiting on Supreme Court

Tuesday August 11, 2026 12:14 pm PDT by
Apple has again failed to earn a stay for fee calculations in its ongoing legal fight with Epic Games. Apple's case will be heard by the Supreme Court in the term that begins in October, and Apple asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to pause proceedings until then, but the court said no [PDF]. Apple now has 24 hours to give the court an outline of the fees...
app store blue banner epic 1

Supreme Court Lets Apple Delay App Store Fee Fight for 24 Hours

Wednesday August 12, 2026 4:21 pm PDT by
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan today granted Apple a one-day stay in its legal fight with Epic Games, giving Apple more time to outline the fees it wants to charge developers for linking out to purchase options on the web. Just yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied Apple's request for a stay in the proceedings, giving Apple 24 hours to...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Wants to Charge Developers Up to 15 Percent for Linking Outside the App Store

Thursday August 13, 2026 3:11 pm PDT by
Apple today submitted a court-ordered proposal outlining the commission it believes is reasonable to collect from U.S. apps that link to purchase options outside of the App Store. Apple is asking for half of its commission on standard apps, so apps that would pay 30 percent for an in-app purchase would pay 15 percent when linking to a web purchase option. Small Business Program participants...