Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does RespectASO Pro include?

Pro adds three AI-powered features: AI Niche Researcher, AI Competitor Analyzer, and ASO Score Simulator. These use LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, or OpenRouter) to generate keyword strategies, analyze competitors, and score your metadata.

Q: What platforms does RespectASO support?

RespectASO Pro requires the native macOS app (.dmg) on Apple Silicon (M1 or later). A free Docker image with core features is available for non-Mac users, but AI-powered Pro features are macOS-only.

General

Is RespectASO really free?

Yes. The core app is free and open-source under AGPL-3.0. Keyword research, difficulty scoring, ranking tracking, competitor analysis, and opportunity discovery are all free forever. Pro features (AI-powered tools) require a paid annual license.

What platforms does RespectASO support?

RespectASO is a native macOS desktop app (Apple Silicon — M1 or later) distributed as a .dmg. A free Docker image with core features (keyword research, difficulty scoring, ranking tracking) is available for Linux/Windows users. AI-powered Pro features require the native macOS app and are not available via Docker.

Does it support the Google Play Store?

Not currently. RespectASO is focused on the iOS App Store. Google Play support may be added in the future.

Does RespectASO require an internet connection?

Yes. Keyword searches query Apple's iTunes API, which requires internet. Pro features also need internet to call LLM provider APIs. There is no offline mode.

Privacy & Data

Is my data private?

Yes. RespectASO is a local desktop app. Your data stays on your machine in a local SQLite database. We have no servers, no user accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. The only network calls are to:

Apple's iTunes API — for keyword search results
Your LLM provider — only if using Pro features, and only to the provider you chose
GitHub API — to check for new releases (version check)

Where is my data stored?

On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/RespectASO/. In Docker: the mounted volume at /app/data/.

Are my API keys safe?

API keys are stored locally with file permissions 600 (only your user account can read them). Keys are never transmitted anywhere except to the chosen LLM provider's API.

Licensing

What does RespectASO Pro include?

Pro adds three AI-powered features: AI Niche Researcher, AI Competitor Analyzer, and ASO Score Simulator. These use LLMs to generate keyword strategies, analyze competitors, and score your metadata.

How does licensing work?

You purchase a license at respectaso.com/pricing. You receive a license key by email. Paste it into Settings → License in the app.

What happens when my license expires?

Pro features stop working, but the free features continue working normally. Your data is never deleted or locked. You can renew your license to reactivate Pro features.

I lost my license key. How do I get it back?

Use the license lookup page to resend your key to the email address you used for purchase.

Troubleshooting

macOS says the app is damaged or from an unidentified developer

RespectASO is signed and notarized by Apple, but macOS Gatekeeper can occasionally be overzealous. Try: right-click the app → Open → Open. If that fails, run xattr -cr /Applications/RespectASO.app in Terminal.

Search returns no results

Check your internet connection. If the issue persists, Apple's iTunes API may be temporarily unavailable — try again in a few minutes.

AI features return an error

Check that your API key is valid and has remaining credits. Go to Settings → AI to verify. Common causes: expired key, rate limiting, or insufficient API credits.

How do I update RespectASO?

The Dashboard shows an update banner when a new version is available. Click the download link, install the new .dmg, and drag the app to Applications (replacing the old version). Your data is preserved — it's stored separately from the app.

Still Have Questions?

Email [email protected] or open a GitHub issue.