How Do I Study My Competitors Without Copying Them?

A small pet care startup launched their dog walking app last year, confident they'd found a gap in the market. Six months later, they were struggling to get downloads whilst three similar apps dominated their local area. What went wrong? They'd built their entire product without properly studying what was already out there—and more importantly, without understanding how to learn from competitors without just copying them.

Here's the thing about competitor research in the app world: it's not about stealing ideas or creating a carbon copy of what's working. It's about understanding the landscape you're entering and finding your unique position within it. I've seen too many app projects fail because founders either ignored their competition completely or went to the opposite extreme and tried to replicate every feature they found.

Proper competitor analysis is like detective work, really. You're looking for clues about what users actually want, where current solutions fall short, and what opportunities exist for something better. The goal isn't to build the same thing—it's to build something that fills the gaps others have missed.

The best competitor research doesn't tell you what to copy; it reveals what not to do and where the real opportunities lie hidden.

In this guide, we'll walk through how to study your competition systematically without falling into the trap of mindless imitation. You'll learn to identify who you're really competing against (spoiler: it's probably not who you think), analyse their strengths and weaknesses objectively, and most importantly, use that intelligence to make your app genuinely better rather than just different.

Understanding Your Competitive Landscape

Right, let's talk about something that makes most app developers uncomfortable—actually looking at what everyone else is doing. I mean, it feels a bit like cheating, doesn't it? But here's the thing: understanding your competitive landscape isn't about copying; its about learning where you fit in and where you can stand out.

When I'm working with clients, one of the first things we do is map out the competitive environment. And honestly? Most people get this completely wrong. They'll show me three apps that look vaguely similar to their idea and call it a day. But the reality is much more complex than that.

Your competitive landscape includes direct competitors (apps that do exactly what yours does), indirect competitors (apps that solve the same problem differently), and substitute competitors (completely different solutions that your users might choose instead). It's a bit mad really, but sometimes your biggest competition isn't even an app—it might be a simple website, a physical service, or people just deciding to do nothing at all.

Types of Competitors to Consider

• Direct competitors: Apps with identical or near-identical functionality
• Feature competitors: Apps that share key features but serve different primary purposes
• Substitute competitors: Non-app solutions that address the same user need
• Aspirational competitors: Apps your users might graduate to as their needs evolve
• Platform competitors: Built-in phone features that might replace your app's function

The mistake I see constantly is people focusing only on apps that look like theirs. But your users don't think that way—they think about problems they need solving, and they'll use whatever works best for them in that moment. Understanding this broader view of competition is what helps you build something that actually matters to people rather than just another "me too" app.

Identifying Your Real Competitors

Right, here's where things get interesting—and where most people get it completely wrong. When I ask clients who their competitors are, they usually rattle off the biggest names in their space. "We're competing with Uber" or "We're going up against Instagram." But honestly? That's not always helpful for competitor analysis.

Your real competitors aren't necessarily the household names; they're the apps that are actually fighting for the same users you want. I mean, if you're building a local dog walking app, you're not really competing with Rover everywhere—you're competing with that scrappy little startup that launched in your city last month and is already booking half the dog owners in your neighbourhood.

Search the app stores using the exact keywords your potential users would type. The apps that show up in those results? Those are your real competitors, not the industry giants.

There are three types of competitors you need to identify: direct competitors (apps that do exactly what yours does), indirect competitors (apps that solve the same problem differently), and substitute competitors (completely different solutions to your users' problems). That local dog walking app? Its direct competitor is another dog walking app, its indirect competitor might be a pet care marketplace, and its substitute competitor could be... well, asking the neighbour's kid to do it.

Finding Your Competition

Start your competitor research with these approaches:

• Search app stores using keywords your users would actually type
• Check what apps appear in "customers also downloaded" sections
• Look at social media discussions in your target market
• Ask potential users what they currently use to solve the problem
• Use tools like App Annie or Sensor Tower for market analysis data

The key is thinking like your users, not like a business owner. What would they search for? What problem are they trying to solve? Once you know that, you'll find competitors you never knew existed—and thats where the real insights live.

Analysing Competitor App Features and Functionality

Right, let's get our hands dirty and actually look at what your competitors have built. This is where things get really interesting—and where most people make their biggest mistakes. I've seen clients who've spent weeks analysing every single feature their competitors offer, then tried to build everything into their own app. That's not competitor analysis, that's copying, and it usually leads to a bloated mess of an app that pleases nobody.

When I'm looking at competitor apps, I'm not just downloading them and having a quick scroll through. I'm putting myself in the shoes of their target users and going through complete user journeys. How easy is their onboarding? What does their navigation feel like? Where do users get stuck or confused? These are the insights that actually matter—not whether they have a dark mode or fancy animations.

What to Look For (And What to Ignore)

Here's what I focus on when I'm doing competitor app analysis:

• Core user flows and how smoothly they work
• Onboarding process—how do they get users to their "aha moment"?
• Navigation patterns and information architecture
• Key features that users actually engage with (not just what's prominently displayed)
• Performance issues, bugs, or friction points
• Monetisation strategies and where they place premium features

But here's the thing—don't get distracted by surface-level stuff like colour schemes or trendy UI elements. I mean, sure, note them down if they're relevant, but that's not where the real competitive intelligence lies. Focus on functionality that directly impacts user experience and business outcomes.

Testing Like a Real User

I always recommend creating fake accounts and going through the entire user journey multiple times. Try to break things. See what happens when you don't follow the happy path. Some of my best insights come from finding the edge cases where competitor apps fall down—those are genuine opportunities to do better.

Studying User Reviews and Feedback

Right, here's where things get really interesting—and honestly, a bit painful to read sometimes! User reviews are like having a window into your competitors' soul. They'll tell you exactly what's working, what's broken, and what users desperately wish existed. I've spent countless hours scrolling through App Store and Google Play reviews, and let me tell you, users don't hold back.

Start by reading the most recent reviews first; these give you a snapshot of how the app is performing right now. Then dig into the older reviews to spot patterns over time. Has the same complaint been popping up for months without being fixed? That's a massive opportunity for your competitor analysis right there.

What to Look For

Pay attention to specific language users employ when describing problems. They might say "the checkout process is confusing" or "I can never find the search button." These aren't just complaints—they're detailed user research handed to you on a silver platter. Also notice what features users are begging for in their reviews; if multiple people want the same thing, that's valuable market research.

The best competitor research comes from listening to what users actually say, not what companies claim their apps do.

Don't just focus on negative reviews though. The positive ones tell you what your competitors are doing well—features you'll need to match or exceed. Look for patterns in language; if users consistently praise an app for being "fast" or "simple," that tells you what this particular market values most. And here's a pro tip: check how companies respond to negative reviews. Their responses reveal their priorities and give you insight into their customer service approach, which can influence your own app marketing strategy.

Examining Competitor Marketing and Positioning

Here's where things get really interesting—and where most app developers miss a trick. You can learn more from studying how your competitors market themselves than from reverse-engineering their features. I mean, anyone can copy a button layout, but understanding why users choose one app over another? That's where the real insights live.

Start with their app store listings. Look at the screenshots they've chosen, the order they present them in, and what features they highlight first. The App Store description isn't just marketing fluff—it's a window into what they think matters most to users. Pay attention to the keywords they're targeting; you'll often spot gaps where they're missing search terms that could be valuable for your app.

Social Media and Content Strategy

Your competitors social media tells you everything about their positioning strategy. Are they going for the professional crowd on LinkedIn? Building a community on Instagram? The platforms they choose and the content they share reveals their target audience better than any market research report. I've seen apps completely pivot their messaging after studying what resonates with their competitor's followers.

Advertising and User Acquisition

Use tools like Facebook Ad Library to see exactly what ads your competitors are running. You can't see their budgets, but you can see their creative approach and messaging. Look for patterns in their ad copy—what problems are they solving? What benefits do they lead with? This gives you a clear picture of what's working in your market right now.

• Screenshot analysis from app store listings
• Social media content themes and engagement rates
• Ad creative messaging and target demographics
• Blog content and SEO keywords they're ranking for
• Partnership announcements and PR strategies

But here's the key—don't copy their approach. Use this research to find your own unique angle. If everyone's positioning themselves as "fast and secure," maybe there's room for "simple and human."

Learning from Competitor Mistakes

Here's something I've learned after years of competitor analysis—sometimes the most valuable insights come from watching other apps fail spectacularly. When I'm researching the competition for clients, I spend just as much time studying what doesn't work as I do analysing successful features. Why? Because learning from other people's mistakes is cheaper than making your own!

The app stores are littered with good ideas that were executed poorly. Maybe the onboarding process was too complicated, or they tried to cram too many features into version one. I've seen apps with brilliant concepts fail because they ignored user feedback for months, or because they prioritised flashy features over basic functionality that actually worked properly.

One pattern I notice repeatedly is apps that launch without proper testing. You'll see them in your competitor research with one-star reviews complaining about crashes, slow loading times, or confusing navigation. These aren't just unfortunate accidents—they're learning opportunities for your development process.

Common Competitor Failures to Watch For

• Overcomplicating the user interface with too many buttons and options
• Poor onboarding that doesn't explain the app's value quickly enough
• Ignoring negative user reviews instead of addressing core issues
• Launching with bugs that should have been caught in testing
• Pricing models that don't match user expectations or market standards
• Feature bloat that dilutes the core purpose of the app

Keep a "failure file" during your competitor research. Document specific problems you spot in competing apps, along with user complaints from reviews. This becomes your "what not to do" checklist during development.

The key is turning these observations into actionable improvements for your own app. If competitors consistently struggle with user onboarding, make that your strength. If their apps are slow and buggy, prioritise performance and thorough testing. Sometimes the best competitive advantage comes from simply not making the same obvious mistakes everyone else is making.

Finding Market Gaps and Opportunities

This is where competitive analysis gets really exciting—and honestly, where most people get it completely wrong. They look at what their competitors are doing and think "right, I need to do that too but better." But here's the thing: the real goldmine isn't in copying what exists; its in spotting what doesn't exist yet.

When I'm studying competitors with clients, I spend most of my time looking at what they're NOT doing. What features are missing? What user complaints keep popping up in reviews that nobody seems to be addressing? Where are people saying "I wish this app could..." but getting no response? These gaps are your opportunities.

I remember working on a fitness app where every competitor was focused on tracking workouts and calories. Sounds logical, right? But when we dug into user reviews, people kept mentioning they felt overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. Nobody was solving the beginner problem—they were all fighting over experienced fitness enthusiasts. We built something completely different that focused on simplicity and guidance. It worked brilliantly.

Common Market Gaps to Look For

• Underserved user segments (beginners, seniors, specific demographics)
• Missing platform support (some apps ignore Android or vice versa)
• Poor accessibility features across the board
• Complicated onboarding processes that put people off
• Lack of offline functionality when users clearly need it
• Missing integrations with popular tools or services

The key is looking at competitor analysis as market research, not a copying exercise. You're trying to understand the entire landscape so you can find the empty spaces where your app can thrive. Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from doing something completely different rather than doing the same thing slightly better.

Using Competitive Intelligence to Improve Your App

Right, so you've done all this competitor research—now what? This is where the rubber meets the road, really. The whole point of studying your competition isn't to copy what they're doing (that would be pretty pointless, wouldn't it?) but to use what you've learned to make your app genuinely better.

First things first: look for patterns in user complaints across competitor apps. If everyone's struggling with the same issue, thats your golden opportunity. I've seen this play out countless times—users moaning about complicated onboarding processes, confusing navigation, or features that just don't work properly. These pain points are basically a roadmap for what not to do.

Turning Intelligence into Action

But here's the thing—you can't just fix problems and call it a day. The best apps take competitor insights and push them further. Maybe your competitors all have basic search functionality; you could implement AI-powered search suggestions. Perhaps they're all using standard push notifications whilst you develop contextual, behaviour-based messaging.

The goal isn't to be different for the sake of being different, but to be meaningfully better at solving your users real problems.

Avoiding the Copy Trap

Actually, one mistake I see constantly is teams getting so focused on what competitors are doing that they lose sight of their own vision. Use competitor analysis as a starting point, not a blueprint. Your app should feel familiar enough that users understand it immediately, but unique enough that they have a reason to choose you over everyone else. That balance? It's what separates successful apps from the forgettable ones.

Conclusion

Right, so we've covered a lot of ground here—from identifying who your real competitors actually are (spoiler: its not always who you think) to finding those golden opportunities they've missed. The whole point of studying your competition isn't to become a copycat; it's to become better than them by understanding what works, what doesn't, and where the gaps are.

Here's the thing though: competitive analysis isn't a one-and-done task. The mobile app world moves fast, and your competitors are constantly updating their apps, changing their strategies, and responding to market shifts. What I've learned over the years is that the most successful apps I've built have come from clients who made competitor research an ongoing habit, not just something they did once at the beginning.

You know what separates the apps that succeed from those that disappear into the App Store abyss? It's not copying what everyone else is doing—it's taking those insights and making them uniquely yours. Maybe you spotted a feature gap in your competitor's onboarding process, or you noticed their users are constantly complaining about something specific in reviews. That's pure gold for your own development process.

The real secret sauce comes from combining all these insights with your own vision and understanding of your users needs. Use what you've learned to build something that's unmistakably better, not just different. Because at the end of the day, users don't care how much competitive research you did; they care about whether your app solves their problems better than anything else out there.