How to spot breakout apps in their first month

Installs within 30 days, ratings velocity and chart entries: three signals that a launch is working.

Installs in the first 30 days

Most new apps stay under 1,000 installs. Reaching 100,000 in a month puts an app in a small minority, and usually means paid acquisition, a viral loop or a strong brand behind it.

Ratings velocity

Compare the number of ratings with installs. Organic hits often collect ratings faster than bought installs do.

Chart entries

A new app entering a category top 200 in several countries within weeks is a stronger signal than raw installs. The app pages here show chart positions when there are any.

Put together

Each morning, take yesterday's releases above a threshold, add the breakouts of the last 30 days, and watch the ones that keep climbing.