Building mobile apps without looking at what already exists is like trying to cook a meal blindfolded—you might get lucky, but you'll probably make a mess. After developing countless apps over the years, I've learnt that competitor analysis isn't just a nice-to-have during your feasibility assessment; it's absolutely critical for understanding whether your app idea has legs.
When we start any new project, one of the first things we do is map out the competitive landscape. Not because we want to copy what others are doing, but because we need to understand what users already have access to and where the gaps might be. This mobile app study phase tells us so much about market demand, user expectations, and potential pitfalls that we'd be mad not to do it properly.
Market research without competitive analysis is like having half a conversation—you're missing the most important part of the story.
The thing is, your competitors have already done some of the heavy lifting for you. They've tested features, discovered what users want, made mistakes you can avoid, and sometimes even validated that there's real demand for what you're planning to build. Smart feasibility assessments use this information to make better decisions about everything from features and pricing to marketing strategies. We're not talking about industrial espionage here—we're talking about learning from publicly available information that can save you months of development time and thousands of pounds in the process.
Understanding Competitive Analysis
Right, let's talk about competitive analysis—something that sounds far more complicated than it actually is. When we're developing an app, we need to understand what's already out there. Think of it like this: if you wanted to open a pizza shop, you'd probably walk around your neighbourhood first to see what other pizza places exist, wouldn't you? Same principle applies to apps.
Competitive analysis is simply the process of researching and studying other apps that do something similar to what you're planning. We're not trying to copy them (that would be boring and probably illegal!), but we want to understand what they're doing well and where they're falling short. This research becomes the foundation for making smart decisions about your own app.
Why Bother with Competitive Analysis?
Here's the thing—every app category has competition. Even if you think you've got the most original idea in the world, there's probably someone out there doing something similar. That's not a bad thing though; it actually proves there's demand for what you're building.
When we analyse competitors, we're looking for patterns. Which features do users love? What complaints keep popping up in reviews? What pricing strategies work? This information helps us make better choices about our own app's features, design, and positioning in the market.
The goal isn't to build a carbon copy of existing apps—it's to build something better. Understanding what already exists gives us the knowledge we need to innovate and improve.
Finding Your Competition
Once you've decided to look at what other apps are doing, the question becomes: where do you actually find them? It's not always as straightforward as you might think. Sure, you could just pop open the App Store or Google Play and search for keywords related to your idea, but that's only scratching the surface.
Start with the obvious places—the app stores themselves. Type in keywords that describe what your app does and see what comes up. Don't just look at the first few results though; scroll down and check out apps that might not be ranking as well but are still solving similar problems. Sometimes the hidden gems are buried on page three or four of search results.
Beyond the App Stores
Social media platforms can be goldmines for competitor research. Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn are full of app developers showing off their latest projects. You'll often find apps that haven't gained much traction in store rankings but are building communities elsewhere.
Product Hunt is another brilliant resource. It's where many new apps launch to get their first wave of users, so you can spot emerging competitors before they become major players. The comments sections often reveal what users actually think about these apps too.
Think Outside Your Category
Don't limit yourself to apps in the same exact category as yours. If you're building a fitness app, look at productivity apps too—they might have features or approaches that could work in your space. Competition can come from unexpected places.
Set up Google Alerts for keywords related to your app idea. You'll get notified when new competitors launch or when existing ones get media coverage.
Remember, your competition isn't just other apps. Sometimes it's websites, sometimes it's offline solutions. Cast your net wide when you're doing this research.
What Makes Apps Successful
After building hundreds of apps over the years, I can tell you that success isn't just about having a brilliant idea—though that helps! The apps that really take off share some common traits that you'll spot when you're studying your competition.
The most successful apps solve a real problem that people actually have. Not a problem we think they have, but one they genuinely struggle with daily. When you're looking at competitor apps, pay attention to their app store descriptions and user reviews. What problem are they claiming to solve? More importantly, are users saying it actually works?
User Experience Matters More Than You Think
Apps that stick around make everything feel effortless. Users shouldn't need to think about how to use your app—they should just be able to use it. When I'm analysing competitor apps, I download them and try to complete their main tasks. If I'm confused or frustrated, that's a red flag. The best apps feel intuitive from the moment you open them.
Timing and Market Readiness
Some apps succeed simply because they launched at the right moment. Look at when your competitors entered the market and what was happening at that time. Were people ready for that solution? Sometimes a great idea fails because it's too early; sometimes it succeeds because the timing is perfect.
The apps that last also keep evolving. They listen to user feedback and adapt. When you're studying successful competitors, check their update history in the app stores. Regular updates usually mean they're actively improving based on what users need. That's a sign of an app that understands its audience—and one you should definitely learn from.
Market Gaps and Opportunities
After years of building apps, I've learnt that the real magic happens when you spot what others have missed. Market gaps aren't just empty spaces—they're goldmines waiting to be discovered. When you're doing your competitor analysis, you're not just looking at what exists; you're hunting for what doesn't exist yet.
Sometimes the biggest opportunities hide in plain sight. Your competitors might be serving the same audience in exactly the same way, leaving entire user groups feeling overlooked. Maybe they're all targeting busy professionals but nobody's thinking about students. Perhaps every fitness app focuses on weight loss but ignores strength building. These aren't accidents—they're opportunities.
Spotting the Obvious Gaps
Look at your competitor research with fresh eyes. What features do users keep requesting in reviews that nobody's building? What complaints appear across multiple apps in your space? These patterns tell you exactly where the market wants to go next.
The best app ideas often come from solving problems that everyone assumes someone else has already solved
Finding Underserved Markets
Don't just focus on direct competitors. Look sideways at related industries and see how they solve similar problems. A booking app for restaurants might inspire a booking solution for fitness classes. Cross-pollination between sectors often reveals untapped potential that your feasibility assessment should account for.
Remember, market gaps exist for reasons—some good, some bad. Technical limitations might have prevented certain features before, but new capabilities could make them possible now. What seemed impossible two years ago might be your competitive advantage today.
User Reviews Tell Stories
User reviews are like treasure maps for app developers—they show you exactly where the gold is buried and where the pitfalls lie. After years of building apps, I can tell you that spending time reading competitor reviews is one of the smartest moves you can make during your feasibility assessment. These aren't just star ratings; they're detailed reports from real users about what works and what doesn't.
When I'm analysing competitor apps, I don't just glance at the overall rating and move on. I dig deep into the one-star and two-star reviews first. These users are frustrated, and they're telling you exactly what your competitor got wrong. Maybe the app crashes constantly, or the checkout process is confusing, or customer support takes days to respond. Each complaint is a potential opportunity for your app to do better.
What to Look For in Reviews
Five-star reviews tell a different story—they reveal what users absolutely love. Pay attention to the features people praise most often, the problems the app solves for them, and the language they use to describe their experience. This feedback helps you understand what your app must include to compete.
- Common complaints about bugs or crashes
- Features users desperately want but can't find
- Praise for specific functionality that works well
- Comments about customer service quality
- Mentions of pricing concerns or value perception
Reading Between the Lines
Sometimes the most valuable insights come from what users don't say directly. If multiple reviewers mention switching from another app, that tells you about user migration patterns. When people write long, detailed reviews, it usually means they're either very happy or very disappointed—both emotions provide useful data for your feasibility assessment.
Pricing and Business Models
When we're deep into competitor analysis, one of the most revealing aspects to study is how other apps make their money. This isn't just about being nosy—it's about understanding what works in your market and what doesn't. I've seen plenty of brilliant apps fail because they couldn't figure out how to monetise properly, while simpler apps thrived with clever business models.
Start by downloading your competitors' apps and experiencing their payment flows firsthand. Are they using freemium models? Subscription tiers? One-off purchases? In-app advertising? Take screenshots of their pricing pages and note how they present their value propositions. This hands-on research gives you insights that you simply can't get from reading about apps online.
Don't just copy your competitors' pricing—use their models as a starting point, then test what works best for your specific audience and value proposition.
Common Mobile App Business Models
- Freemium with premium features locked behind paywall
- Monthly or annual subscription services
- One-time purchase with optional add-ons
- Advertisement-supported free apps
- Transaction-based fees (taking a cut of sales)
- Hybrid models combining multiple revenue streams
Pay special attention to how established competitors handle free trials, refund policies, and pricing psychology. Notice if they're using charm pricing (£4.99 instead of £5.00) or if they're positioning themselves as premium with higher price points. These details matter more than you might think.
The key insight from this competitive pricing research is understanding what users in your market are already willing to pay. If every successful app in your space uses subscriptions, there's probably a good reason. Your feasibility assessment needs to account for these market realities—not fight against them.
Learning from Competitor Mistakes
I've seen plenty of apps fail over the years—and honestly, most of them could have been saved if their creators had just looked at what went wrong for others in their space. Studying competitor mistakes isn't about being mean; it's about being smart. Every failed app teaches us something valuable about what users don't want or what the market won't tolerate.
The biggest mistakes I see competitors make usually fall into a few categories. Some apps try to do too much at once—they become bloated and confusing rather than focused and useful. Others ignore what users are actually saying in reviews, missing clear signals about problems that need fixing. Then there are apps that price themselves completely wrong for their market or choose business models that don't match how their users actually behave.
Spotting the Warning Signs
Look for apps in your space that have dropped off in rankings or haven't updated in months. Check their recent reviews—angry users are often very specific about what's broken. Pay attention to apps that launched with lots of fanfare but then went quiet; there's usually a story there about overestimating demand or underestimating execution challenges.
Turning Mistakes into Opportunities
Every competitor mistake creates a gap you can fill. If users are complaining that existing apps are too complicated, you know simplicity matters. If they're upset about pricing, you've got data about what the market will actually pay. The key is documenting these patterns and making sure your app avoids the same traps. Sometimes the best validation for your app idea comes from seeing how others got it wrong.
Conclusion
After years of building apps and watching countless projects succeed or fail, I can tell you that competitor analysis isn't just a nice-to-have in your feasibility assessment—it's absolutely necessary. Every app we've launched has benefited from understanding what's already out there, and more importantly, what gaps exist in the market.
The mobile app study you conduct on your competitors will shape everything from your feature set to your pricing strategy. It's not about copying what others do; it's about learning from their successes and mistakes so you can build something better. When you understand the competitive landscape, you're making informed decisions rather than educated guesses.
Market research through competitor analysis has saved us from building features nobody wanted and helped us spot opportunities that weren't obvious at first glance. User reviews from competing apps tell you exactly what people love and hate—this feedback is gold dust for your own development process.
The data you gather from studying your competition will either strengthen your app feasibility case or highlight problems you need to solve before moving forward. Both outcomes are valuable. Better to discover issues during research than after you've spent months building something that won't succeed.
Your feasibility assessment should always include a thorough competitive analysis. It's one of the most reliable ways to understand whether your app idea has real potential in the current market. Skip this step and you're building blind—something we never recommend to any client, regardless of their budget or timeline.
