How to Use the App Store 100-Character Keyword Field

Apple combines words from three fields for search indexing: App Name (30 chars), Subtitle (30 chars), and the Keyword Field (100 chars). The algorithm automatically creates all possible combinations across these fields. This means you never need to repeat a word that already appears in your title or subtitle.

Separate keywords with commas and no spaces after commas. For example: budget,tracker,expense,money,spending,planner. Every space wastes a character. Apple treats each comma-separated value as a single keyword or phrase.

Apple's algorithm automatically matches both singular and plural forms. Writing "tracker" covers "trackers" too. Using the plural wastes characters on the "s" that provides no additional ranking benefit.

Since Apple combines all three indexed fields, repeating a word wastes characters. If your app name is "BudgetPal—Money Tracker," do not include "budget," "money," or "tracker" in the keyword field. Use those 20+ saved characters for additional keywords.

Apple ignores common stop words like "the," "and," "for," "with," "a," and "an" during search indexing. Including them in your keyword field wastes characters. Also skip your app name and category name—Apple indexes those automatically.

With only 100 characters, every keyword must earn its place. Use keyword research tools to evaluate search volume and difficulty. Prioritize mid-volume, low-competition terms for newer apps. AppDrift's AI metadata generator analyzes your app and produces keyword-optimized suggestions that maximize your 100-character budget.

Keyword optimization is iterative. After publishing, track your rankings for 2–4 weeks, then swap underperforming keywords for new candidates. AppDrift's batch updates let you push keyword changes across all localizations simultaneously, and keyword tracking monitors your rank changes over time.