What Questions Reveal Your Biggest App Rivals?

When Spotify launched in the UK, they didn't just look at other music streaming services as their competition. Sure, Apple Music and Pandora were obvious rivals, but the real insight came from understanding that they were actually competing against YouTube, radio stations, and even podcast apps for people's listening time. This broader view of competition helped them build features that addressed the real ways people consume audio content—not just how they stream music.

Most app developers make the same mistake when analysing their competition. They focus on apps that look similar to theirs or serve the same basic function, missing the bigger picture entirely. But here's the thing—your real competitors aren't always the apps in your exact category. Sometimes they're solving the same user problem in completely different ways.

I've seen brilliant apps fail because their creators spent months perfecting features that seemed important, only to discover users were already getting those needs met elsewhere. Meanwhile, apps with simpler functionality succeed because they understood the competitive landscape properly and found their unique position within it.

Understanding your competition isn't about copying what they do—it's about finding what they don't do and doing it better

The questions in this guide will help you identify not just who your competitors are, but how they operate, where they're vulnerable, and most importantly, how you can position your app to stand out. We'll look at everything from feature analysis to revenue models, user feedback patterns to market gaps. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of your competitive landscape and know exactly where your app fits—or where it should fit—within that ecosystem.

Who Are Your Real Competitors?

Most people get this completely wrong. They think their competition is just other apps that look similar or do the same thing. But honestly? That's only scratching the surface.

Your real competitors aren't always other apps at all. Sometimes they're websites, desktop software, or even offline solutions that people are using right now. I've seen brilliant apps fail because the team spent months analysing direct competitors while completely missing the Excel spreadsheet that 80% of their target users were actually relying on.

Here's what I do with every client—I ask them to map out their user's entire day. What are they doing before they might use your app? What happens after? What tools, apps, or methods are they currently using to solve the problem you're trying to fix? This usually reveals some uncomfortable truths about who you're really up against.

The Three Types of Competitors You Need to Know

Direct competitors are the obvious ones—apps that do exactly what yours does. But indirect competitors? That's where it gets interesting. These solve the same user problem but in completely different ways. Then you've got substitute competitors—things people use instead of solving the problem at all.

I worked with a meal planning app once that was obsessing over other meal planning apps. Turns out their biggest competitor was takeaway apps like Deliveroo. When people couldn't be bothered to plan meals, they just ordered food instead. Once we understood that, everything about their positioning and features changed.

The key is thinking like your users, not like an app developer. What would make someone choose not to download your app? That's your real competition right there.

What Problems Do They Actually Solve?

Right, so you've identified who your competitors are—but here's where most people get it wrong. They look at what their rivals do instead of understanding why people actually use them. It's like focusing on the hammer instead of the nail, if you know what I mean.

I've seen this countless times over the years. A client will come to me saying "we need to build something like Uber but for dog walking" without really understanding what problem Uber solved in the first place. Uber didn't just create a taxi app—they solved the problem of unreliable transport, unclear pricing, and dodgy payment systems. That's completely different from connecting dog owners with walkers.

When you're analysing your competitors, dig deeper than their feature list. What pain point are they actually addressing? Are they solving a time problem, a money problem, a convenience issue, or something emotional like status or belonging? Each competitor might tackle the same core problem from different angles, and that's where things get interesting.

Take food delivery apps. Deliveroo focuses on restaurant quality food delivered fast. Uber Eats leverages their existing driver network for convenience. Just Eat built their business around local takeaways you already knew. Same basic problem—getting food without leaving home—but three different approaches based on what matters most to their users.

Create a simple chart listing each competitor and the specific problem they solve in one sentence. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough yet.

Once you understand the real problems your competitors solve, you can spot where they're missing the mark. Maybe they solve the functional problem but ignore the emotional one, or perhaps they're overcomplicating something that should be simple. That's where your opportunity lies.

How Do Users Discover Similar Apps?

Understanding how people find apps like yours is absolutely critical—yet it's one of the most misunderstood parts of app marketing. Most developers think its all about App Store optimisation, but honestly? That's just scratching the surface.

The reality is that app discovery happens across multiple touchpoints, and each one tells you something different about your competition. I've tracked user journeys for hundreds of apps over the years, and the patterns are fascinating... and sometimes completely unexpected.

The Four Main Discovery Channels

Let me break down how users actually find apps in your space:

• Search-driven discovery - Users type specific problems or features into app stores
• Social recommendations - Friends, family, and online communities suggest apps
• Content-led discovery - Blog posts, YouTube reviews, and "best apps" lists
• Competitive switching - Users actively looking for alternatives to current apps

Here's what most people get wrong: they focus entirely on App Store search rankings. But actually, some of the biggest app successes I've seen came from understanding the other three channels better than their competitors did.

For instance, if users in your category frequently ask "what's a good alternative to [popular app]?" on Reddit or Twitter, that tells you something powerful about market dissatisfaction. Those conversations are pure gold for understanding what people really want.

Tracking Your Competitors' Discovery Strategy

Start by searching for your main keywords across different platforms. Don't just check the App Store—look at Google, YouTube, TikTok, and relevant forums. You'll quickly see which competitors are winning in each channel and, more importantly, which channels nobody's dominating yet. That's where your opportunity lies.

The apps that win long-term aren't just visible in one place; they've built discovery engines that work across multiple channels simultaneously.

What Features Matter Most to Your Market?

Right, this is where things get properly interesting. You've identified your competitors—now you need to figure out which features actually matter to users and which ones are just flashy distractions. I've seen too many apps try to copy every single feature from their rivals, and it never ends well. The key is understanding what users genuinely care about versus what looks good in a marketing video.

Start by looking at the core features that appear across multiple competitor apps. If three or four similar apps all have the same functionality, thats usually a strong signal that users expect it. But here's where it gets tricky—you need to dig deeper than just what exists. Look at how users actually talk about these features in reviews and social media.

The Review Deep Dive

I always tell my clients to spend serious time reading app store reviews, but not just the star ratings. Look for patterns in what people complain about or praise. When users say "I wish this app could..." or "It's annoying that I have to..." - that's gold. Those comments reveal the gap between what features exist and what features actually work well for real people.

The features users mention most in reviews are rarely the ones highlighted in marketing materials—they're usually the small, practical things that make or break daily usage

Pay special attention to feature requests that keep popping up in competitor reviews. If multiple users are asking for the same missing functionality, you've found a potential competitive advantage. Sometimes the most requested features are surprisingly simple to implement; other times they reveal fundamental flaws in how competitors approach the problem. Either way, this research will help you decide which features deserve your development time and budget—and which ones you can skip entirely.

Right, this is where things get interesting. You've mapped out your competitors, studied their features, and now comes the fun part—finding their weak spots. After years of analysing apps across every industry you can think of, I can tell you that every single app has gaps. Even the big players with massive budgets and teams of developers.

Start with the user reviews and pay close attention to what people are complaining about. Not just the one-star rants (though they're useful too), but look for patterns in the three and four-star reviews. These users like the app enough to keep it installed but they're highlighting specific problems. Maybe the checkout process is clunky, or the search function doesn't work properly, or they can't find customer support when they need it.

Features They're Missing

Create a simple spreadsheet listing all the features your competitors offer. Then add a column for features they don't have but should. I've seen apps dominate entire markets simply because they added one feature that seemed obvious in hindsight but none of their competitors had thought to include it.

Look at their update history too. Apps that haven't been updated in months are basically waving a flag saying "we've given up" or "we don't have the resources to keep improving." That's your opportunity right there.

User Experience Problems

Download their apps and actually use them. I mean really use them, not just a quick five-minute test. Try to complete real tasks that your target users would want to do. You'll be surprised how many popular apps have glaring usability issues that users just put up with because there isn't a better alternative. Yet.

The gaps in your competitors' offerings are basically your roadmap to success. Find them, document them, and make sure your app fills those holes better than anyone else could.

How Do They Make Money?

Understanding how your competitors generate revenue is absolutely crucial for your own app strategy. It's not just about copying what they do—it's about spotting opportunities they might be missing and learning from their successes and failures.

Start by looking at the obvious stuff. Do they charge upfront for downloads? Most apps don't these days, but some premium tools and games still do. Are they running a freemium model where basic features are free but advanced ones cost money? This is massively popular because it lets users try before they buy. Or maybe they've gone full subscription—which honestly seems to be where everything's heading.

But here's where it gets interesting; the revenue model isn't always obvious from the outside. That "free" social media app might be making millions from advertising. That simple utility app could be selling user data (within legal boundaries, hopefully). Some apps make money through partnerships or affiliate commissions that you'd never see as a regular user.

Look at their in-app purchases too. Are they selling virtual goods, premium content, or extra functionality? Check if they're running ads—and what type. Banner ads, video ads, sponsored content? Each approach tells you something about their user base and how they balance user experience with revenue generation.

Download your competitors' apps and actually use them for a week. Note every point where they try to monetise—from subtle premium feature prompts to full-screen subscription offers. This hands-on research reveals their real revenue strategy.

Don't forget to check if they're using multiple revenue streams. The smartest apps usually combine several approaches—maybe freemium plus ads plus partnerships. This diversification makes them more resilient and gives you insight into what might work for your own app.

What Do User Reviews Really Say?

User reviews are like having thousands of focus groups running 24/7, but here's the thing—most people read them completely wrong. They focus on star ratings when the real gold is buried in the actual comments, especially the negative ones.

I always tell my clients to ignore five-star reviews that just say "great app!" Those don't help anyone. It's the three-star reviews where users explain what they liked but found frustrating that give you proper insight into what your competitors are getting right and wrong.

What to Look For in Reviews

Start by reading reviews for apps similar to what you're planning. Look for patterns in complaints—if multiple users mention the same issue, that's a gap you can exploit. I've seen entire app concepts born from reading "I wish this app could also..." comments.

• Repeated complaints about specific features or missing functionality
• Users comparing the app to other solutions they've tried
• Comments about pricing being too high or confusing
• Mentions of bugs or performance issues
• Requests for features that don't exist yet

The other thing worth noting is how developers respond to reviews. Some ignore them completely, others get defensive, and the smart ones actually listen and implement changes. This tells you a lot about how customer-focused your competition really is.

Reading Between the Lines

Pay attention to what users don't say too. If nobody mentions security in a banking app's reviews, that might mean it's working well—or that users aren't thinking about it at all. Context matters.

Also, check review dates. An app might have terrible reviews from two years ago but recent ones could be brilliant, suggesting they've fixed their problems. That's competition you need to take seriously.

How Can You Position Differently?

Right, so you've done all this research on your competitors—now what? This is where things get interesting because positioning isn't just about being different; it's about being different in a way that actually matters to your users. I've seen too many apps try to stand out by adding random features that nobody asked for. That's not positioning, that's just noise.

The key is finding your unique angle based on what you've learned about the gaps in the market. Maybe your competitors are all targeting busy professionals, but you've spotted an opportunity with students? Or perhaps everyone's focusing on features while users are actually crying out for simplicity? Sometimes the best positioning comes from doing less, not more.

Find Your Unique Value Proposition

Look at what your competitors are saying about themselves—their taglines, their app store descriptions, their marketing messages. Now ask yourself: what aren't they claiming? What problems are they ignoring? One of my most successful projects came from a client who noticed that all the fitness apps were obsessed with hardcore athletes, so they positioned themselves specifically for people who'd never set foot in a gym. Boom. Instant differentiation.

The most successful apps don't try to be everything to everyone—they try to be perfect for someone specific

Your positioning should feel obvious once you find it. It's not about inventing problems that don't exist; it's about solving existing problems in a way that feels fresh and relevant. And here's the thing—good positioning makes your marketing so much easier because you know exactly who you're talking to and why they should care about your app over all the others.

Conclusion

Right, we've covered a lot of ground here—and honestly, if you've made it this far, you're already ahead of most app developers who skip the competitor research phase entirely. I mean, it's mad how many people build apps without properly understanding who they're up against!

The questions we've walked through aren't just theoretical exercises; they're your roadmap to understanding the competitive landscape properly. Who are your real competitors? What problems do they solve? How do users find them? These questions will keep revealing new insights as your market evolves, which it will.

But here's the thing—competitor analysis isn't a one-time job. Your rivals are constantly updating their apps, changing their strategies, and responding to user feedback. The app that wasn't a threat six months ago might be your biggest competitor today. That's why I always tell my clients to make this a regular part of their process, not something you do once and forget about.

The gaps you discover today become your opportunities tomorrow. Maybe it's a missing feature, a poor user experience, or a monetisation model that doesn't quite work. Whatever it is, these insights help you position your app more effectively and avoid making the same mistakes others have made.

Look, building a successful app is tough enough without flying blind. Use these questions as your compass—they'll help you navigate the crowded app marketplace with confidence. Your competitors aren't going anywhere, but with the right research, you can stay one step ahead of them.