How to Reach Millions of Users on the App Store and Google Play

The App Store and Google Play aren't just download buttons — they're two of the largest discovery engines on earth, with billions of users actively searching for apps to install. If your product only lives on the web, you're invisible to all of them. Here's how to reach those millions in 2026, even if you started with just a website.

The app stores are a discovery channel you're ignoring

Most businesses obsess over Google SEO and ignore app-store search entirely. But people browse the stores with intent to install — that's a warmer audience than a casual web visitor. A store listing puts you in front of that audience through search and category browsing, a channel a website simply can't access.

Get listed on both stores

To reach store users, you need a published app on the App Store and Google Play. If you have a website or web app, you don't need to build one from scratch — a website-to-app converter wraps your existing site in a native app and gets you listed in days. See our guide to turning a website into an app or compare the tools.

Win store search with ASO

Being listed isn't enough — you need to rank. App Store Optimization is how you show up for the searches your audience makes. Your title, keywords, icon, screenshots and ratings all decide your visibility and install rate. Our ASO guide walks through the essentials.

Turn reach into retained users

Millions of impressions mean little without retention. Once users install, push notifications bring them back and a home-screen icon keeps you visible. That retention loop is what turns app-store reach into a growing user base rather than a one-time spike. See our push notifications guide.

Amplify with promotion

Combine store discovery with your owned channels — website badges, email, social — and reviews to compound your growth. Our app promotion guide covers the highest-impact tactics, most of them free.

FAQ

How do I reach more users on the App Store?

Get listed, optimise your listing with ASO so you rank in store search, and retain installs with push notifications so growth compounds.

Can I reach app-store users if I only have a website?

Yes. Convert your website into a native app to get listed on the App Store and Google Play, then optimise and promote it.

Is app-store traffic better than web traffic?

It's different and complementary — store users browse with intent to install, while web search reaches people earlier in their journey.