“free” keyword difficulty & traffic
How hard it is to rank for free on Google Play in United States, how much it is searched, and the apps you would compete with.
Difficulty
MediumModerate competition. With quality content and targeted optimization, ranking is achievable.
Search traffic
HighExcellent traffic potential: this keyword is popular and could drive significant installs.
Efficiency (KEI)
ExcellentHigh demand with manageable competition.
KEI 1.59 · traffic vs difficulty
Competitor strength
StrongEstablished apps hold the ranks that matter, so breaking in is hard.
100/100 across the top apps
Should you target it?
High traffic but hard. Established apps hold the top spots, so target long-tail variations of it instead.
- Top apps for it see an estimated 36.2M installs on average.
- Top-3 app strength: 100/100 (higher means tougher incumbents).
- Top apps updated their listing about 1 days ago on average.
Top apps ranking for “free”
The listings you would compete with. These hold the top spots on Google Play in United States right now.
- 1
4.3Free Fire: Undersea Mystery
game action
- 2
4.4Free Fire MAX
game action
- 3
4.0Instagram
social
- 4
4.7WhatsApp Messenger
communication
- 5
4.2Roblox
game adventure
- 6
4.7Messenger
communication
- 7
4.6Facebook
social
- 8
4.0TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE
social
- 9
3.9YouTube
video players
- 10
4.4Google Messages
communication
- 11
4.2Snapchat
communication
- 12
4.3Spotify: Music and Podcasts
music and audio
What the top apps have in common
The words that recur most across the apps ranking for “free”. Weave the relevant ones into your title, subtitle, and description.
Related keywords
A basket of related long-tail terms usually beats chasing one hard head keyword.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to rank for "free" on Google Play?
"free" scores 63 out of 100 for difficulty on Google Play in United States, which is medium. The apps in the top 3 are very strong (app power 100/100). High traffic but hard. Established apps hold the top spots, so target long-tail variations of it instead.
How much search traffic does "free" get?
It scores 100 out of 100 for search traffic (high), with the top apps for it seeing an estimated 36.2M installs on average. Traffic scores are relative to the whole store, so a moderate score still means real, steady searches.
Which apps rank for "free"?
Right now the top apps for "free" on Google Play include Free Fire: Undersea Mystery, Free Fire MAX, Instagram, WhatsApp Messenger, Roblox. Those are the listings you would need to outrank.
Is "free" worth targeting for an indie app?
High traffic but hard. Established apps hold the top spots, so target long-tail variations of it instead.
What keywords are related to "free"?
Related search terms include music and audio. Building a basket of related long-tail keywords usually beats chasing one hard head term.
Check “free” in your market, free
This page covers free on Google Play in United States. A free Applyra account unlocks its difficulty, traffic and ranking apps on the App Store too, in any country and language, and tracks your own app’s live rank for it, updated daily.
New to keyword research? Read the complete ASO guide, or browse more in keyword insights.