AppWage vs. App Store Connect
App Store Connect is where Apple gives you your sales, subscription, and review data. AppWage is a native Mac app that reads that same data and makes it faster to live with day to day. They are not really rivals; most developers use both. Here is how they differ.
| App Store Connect | AppWage | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Web dashboard and API | Native macOS app |
| Where your data lives | Apple’s servers | Locally on your Mac |
| History retention | Daily, weekly, and monthly reports kept for 1 year | Permanent local history that never expires |
| Charts | Built-in dashboards (greatly expanded in 2026) | Customizable charts: pick the metrics and colors you want |
| Reviews | View and respond on the web | Download, translate, and filter reviews locally |
| Keyword & chart rankings | Limited; no keyword rank tracking over time | Tracks your keyword search rank and chart positions over time |
| Multiple accounts | Sign in and switch between accounts | See all your apps and accounts at a glance |
| Setup | Nothing to set up; built into your developer account | Add an App Store Connect API key once (guide) |
| Availability | Included with the Apple Developer Program | On Setapp |
The big difference: you keep your history
This is the one that bit me. App Store Connect only keeps your daily, weekly, and monthly reports for a year, and then they are gone (yearly reports hang around for ten). So if you want to compare last spring to this one, that window may already have closed. AppWage downloads those reports and keeps a permanent copy on your Mac, so your full history is always there. I wrote more about that in how long App Store Connect keeps your data.
What App Store Connect does well
Apple rebuilt its Analytics in 2026 with over 100 metrics, native MRR and churn, cohorts, peer benchmarks, and an API. It is genuinely good, and it is included with your developer account. AppWage does not try to replace all of that. It is a fast, local companion: a Mac window you can open any time to see your sales, proceeds, MRR, and trials in your own charts, and to read and translate reviews, without logging into a web dashboard.
When to reach for AppWage
- You want a permanent local archive of your sales and financial reports.
- You prefer a native Mac app over a browser tab.
- You read reviews from many countries and want them translated and filterable.
- You manage several apps or accounts and want them all in one view.
Weighing more options? I keep them all on the alternatives page, including the roundup of the best App Store analytics tools for Mac.