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The App Store displays a collection of extraordinary applications and games that positively influence users all around the world. Apart from appreciating the developers’ community for great work, a featured application also gives a push to businesses.
App Store shares multiple lists to showcase great work, from great stories and significant updates to in-app events and new applications. And for developers wondering how to get your app featured on the app store, understanding Apple’s editorial process and expectations is the first step toward increasing visibility and downloads.
Today with the help of this blog, we will be learning more about App Store featuring processes and the related factors to guide you through the selection process.
So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
With a global team focused on helping users engage and discover relevant applications, App Store has set standards for mobile apps to get featured on their platform. In addition, the company runs campaigns and programs to help, inspire and inform its user base. Simultaneously the company also allows applications to drive downloads.
For businesses researching how to get your app featured on the app store, it is important to understand that Apple’s editorial team carefully selects apps that deliver strong user value and quality experiences.
In order to get an app in front of the audience, the App Store’s worldwide team of editors creates different sections on the platform to feature the handpicked ones. Therefore, they play a massive role in bringing your app closer to the audience at the right time and place.
Here’s what App Store highlights in its featured lists-
The unique story is a fairly exciting highlight as here the platform features the behind-the-scenes at how a development team launched the app that transformed the industry, benefited the community, or solved a problem.
Getting featured on the Apple App Store means that Apple’s editorial team highlights your application in prominent sections of the store. These placements can include the Today tab, curated collections, or special editorial stories, all designed to help users discover high-quality apps more easily.
For developers trying to understand how to get your app featured on the app store, it is important to know that these placements are highly curated and chosen by Apple editors.
For businesses and developers, App Store featuring is one of the most powerful ways to increase visibility and downloads. And when an app is highlighted, it often receives a significant boost in traffic because millions of users browse these curated sections every day.
However, getting featured on the App Store is not random. Apple typically selects apps that offer strong design, smooth performance, innovative features, and a reliable user experience. Apps built with thoughtful functionality and solid iOS app development trends and practices tend to stand out.
For companies investing in mobile app development, earning a featured spot can improve brand credibility, attract new users, and accelerate growth. This is why many businesses work closely with an experienced mobile app development company in UAE, USA, or around the world, to build apps that meet Apple’s quality and performance expectations while also supporting effective App Store optimization strategies.
Getting your app featured on the Apple App Store can place it in front of millions of users. But many developers assume “featured” means just one position. In reality, Apple highlights selected apps in several different sections across the store, each designed to attract user attention in a unique way.
If you want to understand how to get your app featured on the app store, it also helps to know where these featured placements appear.
Here are some of the most common placements where featured apps appear.
The Today tab is the editorial heart of the Apple App Store. It is the first screen users see when they open the store. Apple’s editorial team publishes curated stories, app collections, and developer insights here.
Apps featured on the Today tab often appear in App stories, curated recommendations, themed collections, and special campaigns as well.
Being highlighted here can drive a massive spike in downloads because it puts your app directly in front of daily App Store visitors.
The Editors’ Choice badge is one of the most prestigious recognitions an app can receive on the Apple App Store.
Apple awards this label to apps that demonstrate:
Apps that receive this badge often gain long-term visibility and credibility among users.
Another way apps get featured is through curated App Collections. These are lists grouped around themes such as productivity, wellness, education, or creativity.
For example, Apple may create collections like:
If your app fits a trending category or solves a specific user need, it may be included in these curated lists.
Apple also highlights In-App Events, which promote time-limited activities happening inside apps. These could include gaming tournaments, seasonal campaigns, product launches, and live experiences as well.
When an event is approved, it can appear directly on the Apple App Store, helping developers attract both new users and returning audiences.
App Store editors search for top-quality apps and games across different categories and business models. There is no checklist of set requirements or an option for paid placement. The selection entirely depends on the app’s quality, its impact on the community, and a few more factors you will discover here in this blog. These quality signals are extremely important for developers who are researching ‘how to get your app featured on the app store.’
So keep reading to explore the checklist of creating an exceptional app that can get featured.
High quality, appeal, and overall quality are prerequisites for a beautiful UI design. Make sure to add intuitive gestures, impactful visuals, and seamless controls to stand out.
App Store editors are naturally inclined towards user experience that promotes ease of access. Therefore, it is important that you make your design efficient, cohesive, and valuable.
Create an application that delivers a solution for the communities across the world. Make the most of the progressive technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchain, etc, to provide optimal user experience through your application.
Your digital solution needs to stand out in the crowd. If you can develop a new genre or simply integrate a brand new approach to a familiar app domain.
Editors are always looking for finely added features that deliver an exceptional experience for a variety of user bases.
Since we live in a world that celebrates different cultures, the digital world must reflect the same. Therefore, App Store editors make sure to shortlist the apps that include culturally appropriate content, deliver high-quality & relevant localisation, and support multiple languages.
And here are a few additional considerations for gaming applications:
Getting featured on the Apple App Store is not a matter of luck. Apple’s editorial team looks for apps that deliver meaningful value, excellent design, and a smooth user experience. While there is no guaranteed formula, following the right strategies can significantly improve your chances of App Store Featuring or being noticed.
Here are some proven approaches that help apps stand out and increase the likelihood of App Store featuring.
Also Read: 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring an iOS App Development Company
Apple has always prioritized apps that feel intuitive, polished, and easy to use. A clean interface, smooth navigation, and fast performance play a major role in the selection process.
Apps that follow strong iOS app development practices and Apple’s design guidelines are more likely to capture the attention of the editorial team. Consistency in typography, thoughtful layouts, and accessibility features also contribute to a better user experience.
The App Store hosts millions of applications, so standing out requires innovation. Apps that introduce new ideas, solve everyday problems, or offer a unique approach to existing services often receive more attention.
Whether it is a productivity tool, a health platform, or a fintech solution, originality combined with practical value can increase your chances of getting featured on the App Store.
Apps that crash frequently, load slowly, or contain bugs rarely receive editorial attention. Apple generally prefers apps that deliver consistent performance across devices.
Regular updates, performance improvements, and strong backend architecture are essential parts of modern mobile app development. When an app runs smoothly and continues to evolve, it signals reliability and long-term commitment to quality.
Effective App Store optimization helps Apple understand what your app does and who it is for. Optimized titles, clear descriptions, relevant keywords, and appealing screenshots improve discoverability.
A well-optimized app listing also increases downloads and engagement, which can indirectly influence your chances of App Store featuring.
Major updates, new features, or product launches can create opportunities for editorial attention. Apple often highlights apps that introduce exciting improvements or innovative capabilities.
Developers should plan meaningful updates and communicate these changes clearly through release notes and app descriptions.
Apple frequently highlights apps that have a compelling story behind them. Apps built to support communities, improve lifestyles, or introduce creative solutions often attract editorial interest.
Businesses investing in professional mobile app development services in USA or anywhere, often combine technical excellence with a clear product vision, which helps their apps resonate with both users and App Store editors.
If you believe your app meets Apple’s quality standards, you can submit it for editorial consideration through the App Store Connect. Apple allows developers to nominate their apps so the editorial team can review them for potential App Store featuring.
Read in Detail: 10 Steps To Submit Your App To The App Store
This nomination process is an important step for developers actively researching ‘how to get your app featured on the app store.’
Follow these simple steps:
Sign in to your developer account on App Store Connect and open the dashboard where your apps are managed.
Choose the app you want to nominate from the list of published applications on the Apple App Store.
Inside the app dashboard, locate the Featuring Nominations option. This is where developers submit requests for editorial consideration.
Provide important information about your app, such as:
Clear and compelling details help Apple understand why your app deserves App Store featuring.
Once all details are filled in, submit the nomination for review. Apple’s editorial team will evaluate the app based on design quality, user experience, innovation, and overall value.
While submitting a nomination does not guarantee getting featured on the App Store, it increases the chances of your app being reviewed and considered for placement in curated sections.
Many developers want their apps to get featured on the Apple App Store, and they often believe that launching a good app is enough. But it usually is not that simple. Apple’s editorial team looks at many factors, and therefore even a well-built product can be overlooked if certain issues are present. These mistakes are common, and they have been seen across many apps that try to achieve App Store featuring, but fail to reach that stage.
User experience matters a lot on the Apple App Store, because Apple prefers apps that feel smooth and natural to use. If the navigation is confusing, or the layout is cluttered, the experience becomes frustrating for users. And because of that, the chances of being noticed by the editorial team become lower.
You may have strong features in your app, but if the interface is difficult to understand, people may leave quickly. This is why thoughtful iOS app development and careful design planning are important, so that the entire journey inside the app feels simple and clear.
An app may look impressive at first, but if it crashes, or loads slowly, the overall perception changes very quickly. Users expect stability, and Apple also prefers apps that perform reliably across different devices.
When bugs appear frequently, or updates are not fixing issues properly, the app begins to lose credibility. In professional app development, testing and performance improvements have always been critical steps, because a stable app reflects long-term quality and reliability.
The Apple App Store already hosts millions of apps, and many of them solve similar problems. Because of this, apps that simply repeat existing ideas rarely attract editorial attention.
Innovation does not always mean building something completely new, but the app should introduce a different perspective, a smarter feature, or a better way of solving a user problem. Without this originality, even a functional app may struggle to achieve App Store featuring.
Sometimes developers focus heavily on building the product, but they overlook the app listing itself. However, the way your app appears on the Apple App Store also matters a lot.
If the title is unclear, the description is weak, or the screenshots fail to explain the value of the app, users may not understand what the product actually offers. Proper App Store optimization helps communicate the purpose of the app more clearly and therefore increases visibility.
Apps that remain unchanged for long periods often appear inactive. Users expect improvements, and Apple also tends to highlight apps that continue to evolve.
When updates introduce new features, fix issues, and improve performance, it shows that the developers are actively maintaining the product. In many successful cases of Android or iOS mobile app development, regular updates have played an important role in keeping the app relevant.
Another factor that sometimes gets overlooked is the story behind the app. Apple’s editorial team often highlights products that have a meaningful purpose, because those apps connect better with users.
If an app clearly solves a real problem, or supports a specific community, the narrative becomes stronger. Many businesses that invest in professional mobile app development services focus not only on functionality but also on building apps with a clear vision and long-term value.
And when that purpose is communicated well, the chances of getting featured on the App Store can improve.
Yes, developers can nominate their apps for editorial consideration through App Store Connect. Inside the dashboard, there is a Featuring Nominations option where you can submit details about your app, upcoming launches, or major updates. However, submitting a nomination does not guarantee App Store featuring, because Apple’s editorial team still reviews the app’s design, innovation, and overall user experience before selecting it for the Apple App Store.
There is no fixed timeline for getting featured on the Apple App Store. Sometimes apps are highlighted shortly after launch or after a major update, but in other cases it may take weeks or even months. It often depends on factors like the app’s quality, the uniqueness of its features, and whether it fits a specific editorial theme or seasonal campaign.
Yes, it often does. When an app appears in a curated section of the Apple App Store, it becomes visible to millions of users who browse the store daily. Because of this visibility, many apps experience a noticeable spike in downloads, user engagement, and brand recognition after receiving App Store featuring.
Yes, App Store featuring itself is free. Apple does not charge developers to highlight their apps in editorial sections of the Apple App Store. However, building a high-quality application that meets Apple’s standards often requires proper planning, strong iOS app development, and effective App Store optimization.
Apple typically highlights apps that deliver excellent design, smooth performance, and meaningful value to users. Apps that introduce innovative features, strong storytelling, or unique solutions are more likely to attract editorial attention. Apple also tends to showcase apps that use the latest technologies and follow modern mobile app development practices. Developers who understand how to get your app featured on the app store typically focus on building apps with unique functionality and excellent user experience.
Yes, a new app can definitely get featured on the Apple App Store. In fact, Apple often highlights new apps that bring fresh ideas or exceptional user experiences. If a newly launched app demonstrates strong design, innovative features, and clear value for users, it may be selected for App Store featuring, especially during launch campaigns or major product updates.
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