Definition
Top Charts are curated, algorithmically-generated ranked lists of apps displayed prominently in app stores. They represent the most-downloaded (Top Free, Top Paid), highest-revenue (Top Grossing), and fastest-growing (Trending) apps across the entire store or within specific categories. Top Charts serve as a major browse discovery channel — users who don't search for specific apps often discover new ones by browsing these lists.
While their influence has declined relative to search since 2015-2018, Top Charts remain a significant source of Organic Installs, particularly for games and lifestyle/entertainment categories where browse behavior is more common.
How It Works
Chart Types:
| Chart | Based On | Available On |
|---|---|---|
| Top Free | Download velocity (free apps) | Apple, Google, Amazon |
| Top Paid | Download velocity (paid apps) | Apple, Google, Amazon |
| Top Grossing | Revenue (IAP + subscriptions + paid) | Apple, Google, Amazon |
| Trending | Velocity acceleration (growth rate) | Google Play only |
Scope:
- Overall charts: All apps across the store (highest visibility)
- Category charts: Apps within a specific Category Ranking (see dedicated entry)
- Subcategory charts: Games subcategories (Puzzle, Action, etc.)
Algorithm:
Charts use a time-decayed velocity algorithm. Key characteristics:
- Recent activity (last 24-72 hours) dominates
- The algorithm smooths out spikes to prevent gaming
- Position changes are near-real-time for top positions
- Lower positions update less frequently
Apple App Store
- Top Charts accessible from Apps and Games tabs
- Overall Top 200 per chart visible
- Charts are country-specific
- Editorial features ("Today" tab) partially replaced charts for discovery since iOS 11
- Chart position still referenced by the algorithm for search ranking as a quality signal
Google Play Store
- Charts accessible from main navigation
- Unique "Trending" chart highlights velocity acceleration, not just absolute velocity
- Charts feed into "Top Charts" section in personalized recommendations
- Google has deprioritized charts visibility in favor of personalized recommendations and Google Play Collections
Amazon Appstore
- Charts displayed on Fire device home screens
- Less competitive — fewer apps means easier chart access
- Fire TV and Fire Tablet have separate chart presentations
Formulas & Metrics
Chart velocity requirement (conceptual):
Chart Position ≈ f(Velocity_rank_among_all_apps_in_scope)Where velocity_rank is your app's recent download rate compared to ALL other apps in the same chart scope (overall or category).
Chart impact on installs (rough benchmarks):
| Chart Position | Est. Additional Daily Installs (iOS, US) |
|---|---|
| Top 1-5 | 50,000-500,000+ |
| Top 6-10 | 10,000-50,000 |
| Top 11-25 | 5,000-15,000 |
| Top 26-50 | 2,000-8,000 |
| Top 51-100 | 500-3,000 |
| Top 101-200 | 100-1,000 |
These vary enormously by country, category, and season.
Best Practices
- Don't build strategy around charts — for most apps, search optimization yields higher and more sustainable ROI than chasing chart positions.
- Use charts as a velocity amplifier — coordinate marketing pushes to reach a chart threshold, then let chart visibility sustain momentum.
- Target category charts first — it's much easier (and often sufficient) to reach Top 10 in your category than Top 100 overall.
- Monitor Trending chart on Google Play — if your growth rate is accelerating, you may appear in Trending even with modest absolute numbers.
- International chart arbitrage — some countries have much lower chart thresholds. Launching localized versions in less competitive markets can build global momentum.
Dependencies
Influences (this term affects)
- Organic Installs — chart position drives significant browse installs
- Download Velocity — chart visibility creates a self-reinforcing velocity loop
- Brand Awareness — chart presence increases brand recognition
- App Discovery — charts are a primary discovery surface
Depends On (affected by)
- Download Velocity — the primary factor determining chart position
- Revenue — determines Top Grossing position
- Category Ranking — category chart position is a subset of overall charts
- Featured Apps — featuring creates velocity spikes that propel chart movement
- Seasonal Trends — seasonal demand shifts affect chart dynamics
Platform Comparison
| Aspect | Apple App Store | Google Play | Amazon Appstore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chart prominence in UX | Moderate (reduced since iOS 11) | Reduced (personalization focus) | High (Fire TV home) |
| Trending chart | No | Yes (unique feature) | No |
| Update frequency | Near-real-time (top positions) | Every few hours | Less documented |
| Chart visibility | Top 200 | Top ~500 | Smaller lists |
| Chart influence on search | Yes (quality signal) | Less direct | Unknown |
Related Terms
- Category Ranking
- Download Velocity
- Browse Optimization
- Featured Apps
- Trending Apps
- App Discovery
- Revenue