Malaysia is home to 33M people with 81% smartphone penetration and an app market worth $1.2B. With Malay as the primary language and +11.4% YoY year-over-year growth, it represents a significant opportunity for app developers. AppDrift provides full Malay localization support to help you capture this market.
Market Overview
Population
33M
Smartphone Penetration
81%
App Market Revenue
$1.2B
Market Growth
+11.4% YoY
Internet Users
30M
Dominant Store
Google Play
AppDrift supports Malaysia with full Malay localization
Language & Locale
Primary Language
Malay
Locale Code
ms-MY
Keyword Language
Malay and English
Additional Languages
To reach Malaysia's users effectively, your app metadata should be professionally localized in Malay. AppDrift's AI-powered translation and cultural adaptation tools ensure your titles, descriptions, and keywords resonate with local users while maintaining ASO best practices.
Top Categories
1
Social Media
2
Entertainment
3
E-commerce
4
Finance
5
Games
Understanding which categories dominate in Malaysia helps you position your app effectively. Use AppDrift's AI metadata generation to create keyword-optimized listings tailored to Malaysia's most competitive categories.
ASO Tips
Multilingual metadata (Malay, English, Mandarin) captures all three major demographic groups
Touch ’n Go eWallet and GrabPay are dominant — reference them in payment-related listings
Halal-friendly features and compliance are important for the Muslim-majority market
Cultural Insights
Malaysia is a diverse, multilingual market with three major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, Indian). Content should be inclusive and culturally sensitive. Islamic values influence purchasing decisions for the Malay majority.
Adapting your app's visuals is just as important as localizing text. AppDrift's screenshot generator lets you create culturally relevant app store screenshots with localized text overlays for Malaysia's audience.
Competition
Malaysia has a moderately competitive app market. While there is meaningful competition in popular categories, well-optimized listings with proper localization can still achieve strong visibility. Strategic keyword targeting and consistent metadata optimization will give you an edge over competitors who neglect ASO.
Get a competitive advantage in Malaysia with AppDrift's full ASO platform — from AI-powered metadata to automated store publishing, everything you need to outrank competitors.
How AppDrift Helps
Malaysia’s multilingual market requires Malay, English, and Mandarin metadata to reach all demographics — multi-language translation is a competitive advantage.
Translate your app metadata to Malay with AI-powered cultural adaptation.
Generate ASO-optimized metadata for Malaysia's market in Malay.
Create localized screenshots for Malaysia with Malay text overlays.
Deploy to Malaysia with one click via Google Play.
Track keyword rankings in Malaysia with daily updates.
FAQ
The primary language for ASO in Malaysia is Malay (locale: ms-MY). You should also consider localizing for English, Mandarin, Tamil to reach broader audiences. Keywords should be researched in Malay and English to match local search behavior. AppDrift's AI translation tools can help you localize metadata across all relevant languages.
Google Play is the dominant platform in Malaysia. While you should still maintain a presence on both stores, prioritize your ASO efforts on Google Play for maximum impact. AppDrift helps you optimize for both platforms simultaneously.
The five most popular app categories in Malaysia are Social Media, Entertainment, E-commerce, Finance, Games. Understanding category trends helps you position your app metadata and screenshots to appeal to local user preferences. AppDrift's metadata generation uses local market data to optimize your listings for these high-demand categories.
Malaysia has a medium level of competition in the app stores. With the right ASO strategy and proper localization, there are strong opportunities to gain visibility and grow your user base.
AppDrift provides a complete ASO toolkit for Malaysia: AI-powered metadata translation to Malay with cultural adaptation, automated metadata generation optimized for local keywords, a free screenshot generator for creating localized visuals, and one-click store publishing to deploy across Malaysia's app stores. Start with a free account to access the screenshot generator and basic features.
Join thousands of apps reaching Malaysia's 33M smartphone users.