What Should You Analyse in Your Top Competitors' App Reviews?

Building a mobile app without understanding what users think about your competitors is like trying to navigate London without looking at the roads around you—you might get somewhere, but it won't be where you intended to go. I've watched countless app launches fail because the development team was so focused on their own vision that they completely ignored the treasure trove of information sitting right there in competitor app reviews.

Your competitors' app store reviews are packed with honest, unfiltered feedback from real users who've actually paid money and spent time with similar products. These aren't focus group participants trying to be polite or survey respondents rushing through questions—these are people frustrated enough to write reviews or excited enough to share praise. The insights hiding in these reviews can save you months of mobile app development costs and thousands of pounds in user acquisition costs.

The most successful apps aren't built by copying competitors—they're built by understanding what competitors get wrong and what users really need instead

Most developers skim through competitor reviews looking for obvious complaints about bugs or crashes, but that barely scratches the surface. The real gold lies in understanding user sentiment patterns, spotting gaps in functionality, and identifying the emotional triggers that make people love or abandon apps. When you know how to read between the lines of user reviews, you can spot opportunities that your competitors haven't even noticed yet—and that's where market-winning apps are born.

Understanding User Sentiment and Tone

Reading app reviews isn't just about counting stars—it's about understanding the emotional journey users experience with your competitors' apps. The tone of a review tells you far more than the rating itself; a disappointed three-star review from someone who expected more often contains more valuable insights than a brief five-star "good app" comment.

When I analyse competitor reviews, I pay close attention to the language patterns users employ. Frustrated users tend to use specific words that signal deeper issues: "confusing," "slow," "buggy," or "waste of time" all point to different problems. Meanwhile, genuinely satisfied users often describe how an app fits into their daily routine or solves a specific problem they face.

Key Sentiment Indicators to Track

The emotional intensity behind reviews reveals which features matter most to users. Someone writing a paragraph about a missing feature clearly cares more than someone leaving a one-sentence complaint. Look for reviews where users explain their context—these often reveal unmet needs in the market that your mobile app strategy could address.

• Emotional language intensity (love, hate, frustrating vs annoying)
• Length and detail of complaints or praise
• Comparison mentions to other apps
• Temporal patterns (recent updates causing sentiment shifts)
• User investment level (mentions of time spent or money paid)

Pay particular attention to reviews that mention switching from or to other apps—these users are actively comparing solutions and their feedback often highlights competitive advantages or weaknesses. The most valuable insights come from users who took time to explain their reasoning, not those who simply vented their immediate reaction.

Spotting Feature Requests and Missing Functionality

When users take the time to write reviews, they're often doing more than just complaining—they're giving you a roadmap for what your own app should include. Feature requests buried in competitor reviews are pure gold for mobile app development because they show you exactly what real users want, not what companies think they want.

The trick is learning to spot these requests even when they're not obviously stated. A user might write "I wish this app could sync with my calendar" or "Why can't I export my data?"—these are direct feature requests that are easy to catch. But sometimes the requests are hidden in complaints like "I have to open three different apps to get my work done" which suggests they want better integration, or "I keep forgetting to check this app" which hints at a need for better notification features.

What to Look For in Reviews

Pay close attention to phrases like "it would be great if", "I wish", "why doesn't this app", and "please add". These are obvious signals, but also watch for comparative language where users mention what other apps do better. When someone says "App X has this feature but this one doesn't", they're telling you exactly what's missing from the market leader.

• Direct feature requests using phrases like "please add" or "I wish"
• Comparisons to other apps and their features
• Workflow complaints that suggest missing integration
• Workaround descriptions that reveal gaps in functionality
• Requests for customisation or personalisation options

Create a simple spreadsheet to track requested features across all competitor apps. When you see the same request appearing in multiple apps' reviews, you've found a genuine market gap that your app could fill.

The most valuable insights come from reading between the lines. When users describe convoluted workarounds or mention switching between multiple apps, they're showing you opportunities to create a more complete solution that addresses real workflow needs rather than just individual features.

Finding Common Pain Points and Frustrations

When you're digging through competitor app reviews, the frustrated users are often your best teachers. These are the people who downloaded an app with genuine intent to use it, hit roadblocks, and took the time to voice their complaints. Their pain points represent real market gaps that your app could potentially fill.

Look for patterns in negative reviews rather than focusing on individual complaints. If five users mention that an app crashes during checkout, that's noteworthy; if fifty users mention it, that's a competitive opportunity. I've seen apps gain significant market share simply by solving problems their competitors consistently ignored.

Technical vs User Experience Frustrations

Not all pain points are created equal. Technical issues like crashes, slow loading times, or login problems are relatively straightforward to identify and fix. But the real gold lies in user experience frustrations—when people say "I can't find anything," "this is too complicated," or "why do I need to do this?"

Pay attention to reviews that mention workflows and processes rather than just bugs. When someone writes "it takes five taps to do something that should take one," they're highlighting a design philosophy problem, not a technical glitch. These insights can inform your iOS app design architecture.

One pattern I see repeatedly is apps that try to do too much, leading to reviews like "confusing interface" or "can't figure out how to use this." Sometimes the biggest opportunity isn't adding more features—it's simplifying the experience so users can actually accomplish what they came to do without getting lost along the way.

Analysing User Experience Feedback

User experience feedback in app reviews gives you a direct window into how people actually use your competitors' apps—not how the developers think they're being used. When users write about their experience, they're telling you exactly where the app succeeds and fails in real-world conditions. I've found that UX feedback often reveals problems that formal usability testing misses because users encounter these issues during their natural daily routines.

Look for reviews that describe the user's journey through the app. Comments like "I couldn't figure out how to get back to the main screen" or "the search function is buried too deep" tell you about navigation problems. Users will also mention when they feel lost or confused—these reviews often start with phrases like "I don't understand why" or "it's not clear how to." Pay attention to reviews that mention having to contact customer support; this usually means the app's interface isn't communicating clearly enough.

The app looks nice but I spent five minutes trying to find where to edit my profile. Why is it hidden in settings instead of being on the main page?

Reviews about user experience often focus on workflow interruptions and cognitive load. Users will complain when they have to remember information between screens, when forms are too long, or when the app doesn't save their progress. They'll also mention positive experiences when an app anticipates their needs—like automatically suggesting relevant options or remembering their preferences. These insights show you exactly where competitors are creating friction and where they're removing it successfully.

Examining Onboarding and Learning Curve Issues

First impressions matter more in mobile apps than almost any other digital product—users typically decide within the first 30 seconds whether they'll stick around or delete your app forever. When I analyse competitor app reviews, onboarding feedback tells me exactly where users are getting stuck and why they're abandoning the experience before they even get started.

Look for reviews that mention "confusing," "don't understand how to," or "wish there was a tutorial." These comments reveal gaps in the onboarding process that you can address in your own app. Users often describe specific moments where they felt lost, like "couldn't figure out how to set up my profile" or "too many screens before I could actually use the app." Pay attention to reviews from users who say they "gave up" or "uninstalled after five minutes"—these represent a significant portion of users who never leave reviews but have the same experience.

Common Onboarding Red Flags to Watch For

• Too many permission requests upfront without explanation
• Lengthy registration processes with unnecessary fields
• Overwhelming feature introductions that try to show everything at once
• Lack of clear next steps after initial setup
• Missing explanations for unique interface elements or gestures
• No way to skip or return to tutorial content

The most telling reviews come from users who describe themselves as "not tech-savvy" or mention their age group. These reviews highlight assumptions that app designers make about user knowledge. When someone writes "my teenage daughter had to show me how to use this," it indicates the app relies too heavily on implicit understanding rather than clear guidance.

Reviewing Performance and Technical Complaints

Performance issues are often the loudest voices in app reviews, and they tell you exactly where your competitors are struggling technically. Users don't hold back when an app crashes, loads slowly, or drains their battery—these reviews give you a clear picture of technical weaknesses you can avoid in your own app development.

Start by looking for patterns in crash reports and stability complaints. If multiple users mention that a competitor's app crashes when they try to upload photos or freezes during checkout, you've found a significant technical gap. These aren't just isolated incidents; they represent systematic problems that are likely frustrating thousands of users who never bother to write reviews.

Common Technical Issues to Track

• Loading times and app startup speed complaints
• Battery drain and memory usage problems
• Compatibility issues with specific phone models or operating system versions
• Network connectivity problems and offline functionality gaps
• Login and authentication failures
• Data syncing issues between devices

Pay special attention to reviews that mention specific devices or circumstances. When someone says "crashes every time on iPhone 12 when switching between apps" or "won't work on Android 13," you're getting valuable information about compatibility testing gaps. This tells you exactly which devices and scenarios to prioritise during your own quality assurance process.

Create a simple spreadsheet to track technical complaints by category and frequency. This helps you spot which performance issues appear most often across different competitor apps, giving you a clear roadmap of technical pitfalls to avoid.

Remember that users often abandon apps silently when they encounter technical problems. The complaints you see in reviews represent just the tip of the iceberg—for every person who writes about a crash, there are probably ten others who simply deleted the app and moved on.

Identifying Monetisation and Pricing Reactions

Money talks, and nowhere is this more apparent than in app reviews where users discuss pricing models. When analysing competitor reviews, pay close attention to how users respond to subscription fees, in-app purchases, premium tiers, and pricing changes—these reactions reveal exactly what your target market considers fair value.

Users often compare pricing directly to competitors in their reviews, which gives you a goldmine of market intelligence. Look for phrases like "too expensive compared to..." or "finally, an app that doesn't charge monthly for basic features." These comparisons tell you precisely where your competitors sit in the pricing hierarchy and how users perceive value across different apps in your space.

Key Pricing Signals to Track

Free trial periods generate particularly telling feedback—users will specify whether seven days felt rushed or if thirty days was perfect for making a decision. They'll also mention if the transition from free to paid felt jarring or if the paywall appeared at an inconvenient moment during their user journey.

• Complaints about sudden price increases or subscription model changes
• Praise for transparent pricing or fair trial periods
• Requests for different payment options or pricing tiers
• Comparisons to competitor pricing structures
• Reactions to freemium limitations and premium feature access

Watch for regional pricing complaints too—users often mention when an app costs significantly more in their country compared to others. This feedback helps you understand global pricing sensitivity and potential market entry strategies. The most valuable insights come from users who explicitly state they'd pay more for specific features or would switch from a competitor if pricing were adjusted, giving you clear app ROI justification for your own monetisation strategy.

Discovering What Users Love Most

While spotting problems in competitor reviews gets most of the attention during competitive research, the real goldmine lies in understanding what makes users genuinely happy. When someone takes time to leave a positive review, they're telling you exactly what your own app needs to deliver—and often revealing opportunities you hadn't considered.

Look for patterns in what users celebrate most. Is it the speed of the checkout process? The way notifications are perfectly timed? How easy it is to find specific features? These positive mentions show you what users value in your market space, which becomes your blueprint for meeting and exceeding expectations.

Finding the Emotional Drivers

Pay close attention to reviews where users describe how the app makes them feel. Words like "confident," "relieved," or "excited" reveal emotional benefits that go far beyond basic functionality. A fitness app user might love how the progress tracking makes them feel motivated; a banking app user might appreciate how quickly they can check their balance when they're worried about a purchase.

This app just gets it right. I don't have to think about where anything is, and it remembers exactly what I need when I need it

Spotting Unexpected Use Cases

Users often love apps for reasons that weren't part of the original design intent. A note-taking app might be praised for how well it works as a shopping list; a photo editing app might be celebrated for its social sharing features rather than its filters. These unexpected use cases can inform your own feature development and marketing messaging, showing you how real people integrate apps into their daily routines in ways you might not have anticipated.

Conclusion

After spending countless hours digging through competitor app reviews over the years, I can tell you that this research method has saved my clients more money and prevented more mistakes than almost any other single practice. The information hiding in plain sight within those one-star and five-star reviews is pure gold—you just need to know how to mine it properly.

When you make review analysis a regular part of your app development process, you're not just learning about your competitors; you're getting direct access to what real users actually want, need, and struggle with in your market space. This isn't focus group feedback or survey responses where people might tell you what they think you want to hear—this is raw, honest reaction from people who've spent their own money and time on these apps.

The most successful apps I've built have been those where we spent serious time understanding the competitive landscape through user reviews before we wrote a single line of code. We knew which features users were begging for, which pain points were driving people away, and which aspects of the user experience were making people genuinely happy. That knowledge shaped everything from our core functionality to our onboarding flow to our pricing strategy.

Remember that app review analysis isn't a one-time task—make it part of your ongoing research routine. Markets change, user expectations evolve, and new competitors appear regularly. Set aside time each month to check in on what users are saying about the apps in your space. Your future users will thank you for it, and your app's success metrics will show the difference.