Where should I advertise my app?

Start free: rankraw, Product Hunt, Show HN, and one niche community. Layer paid only after you know activation and retention numbers — usually month 3+. Meta and TikTok work for consumer apps; LinkedIn and Reddit ads work for B2B and dev tools.

How much should I spend advertising a new app?

$0 for the first 60 days. Focus every hour on free distribution and product iteration. After that, cap paid tests at $500–$1,000 per channel until you find one with positive unit economics.

Are app store ads worth it?

For mobile consumer apps, yes — Apple Search Ads on your own brand and top competitor terms is usually the highest-ROI paid channel. For everything else, start elsewhere.

// guide · app advertising

Advertise My App

How to advertise a new app without wasting money — the paid channels worth testing, the free channels that beat them, and the launch sequence that ties it all together.

Free first. Always.

Paid ads amplify what already works. If your organic funnel converts 1% and retains 5% at week 2, ads will burn cash. Fix the funnel first, then scale it.

The first 60 days should be pure free distribution — launch boards, SEO, communities, DMs. Only after activation and retention feel real does paid spend make sense.

Paid channels worth testing

Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram). Strongest for consumer apps with visual hooks. Test creative, not audiences — the algorithm handles targeting.
TikTok Ads. Cheapest impressions for consumer apps if you can produce native-feeling video creative.
Apple Search Ads. The highest-ROI paid channel for mobile — start with brand + top competitor terms.
Reddit Ads. Underrated for niche B2B and dev tools. Target specific subreddits, not interests.
Google Search Ads. Only for high-intent commercial keywords. Never for informational terms — SEO wins those long-term.

The launch sequence

Day -7: soft launch to your DM list and email waitlist. Fix onboarding bugs.
Day 0: coordinated public launch on rankraw + one launch board + Show HN.
Days 1–7: reply to every comment. Ship 1–2 patches based on feedback. Post daily updates.
Days 8–30: convert launch traffic into a repeatable content and community rhythm.
Day 30+: only then start paid tests — with real activation data to make them profitable.

FAQ

Where should I advertise my app?: Start free: rankraw, Product Hunt, Show HN, and one niche community. Layer paid only after you know activation and retention numbers — usually month 3+. Meta and TikTok work for consumer apps; LinkedIn and Reddit ads work for B2B and dev tools.
How much should I spend advertising a new app?: $0 for the first 60 days. Focus every hour on free distribution and product iteration. After that, cap paid tests at $500–$1,000 per channel until you find one with positive unit economics.
Are app store ads worth it?: For mobile consumer apps, yes — Apple Search Ads on your own brand and top competitor terms is usually the highest-ROI paid channel. For everything else, start elsewhere.

Start the launch on rankraw

Free listings, real ranking, and a live sandbox slot for founders who want visitors to actually try the app.

submit your product →see how it works

Related playbooks

Product Showcase

How to put your product in front of the right people.

Product Hunt Alternatives

The best launch boards for indie founders.

Getting Your First Users

How the first 100 users actually show up.

How to Get Users

Channel-by-channel breakdown of what still works.

→ not sure where to start? pick by intent

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