Table of contents
How we vet every listicle
Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:
Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.
Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.
Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:
An app store optimization (ASO) agency improves how an app ranks and converts in the Apple App Store and Google Play: it researches keywords, rewrites titles, subtitles and descriptions, redesigns icons and screenshots, tests store listings and manages ratings and reviews. Chicago fintech, food, logistics and retail apps use ASO to rank for the searches their customers type into the App Store and Google Play.
To make this list, each of the eight external agencies had to show an app store optimization or ASO service page on its own website. Not all of them have an office in Chicago, so each card names the agency's real base, and clients and prices appear only where published.
Where can a Chicago company hire an app store optimization agency?
Web Tonic plus eight external agencies with an ASO service page on their own sites. One is headquartered in the Chicago area; the others run Chicago campaigns remotely. Four name a client publicly and none publishes a price.
1. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic runs app store optimization from our Chicago office with in-house creative, so keyword research, screenshots, store tests and Apple Search Ads sit with one team. Reporting is built around installs, conversion rate and revenue rather than rank alone, and store assets stay in the client's own name.
Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing
Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration
Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L’Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.
Locations: Local Chicago office, with the main HQ in San Francisco and notable offices in New York, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.
Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.
Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.
Website: Web Tonic
2. MOZ Web Media
About: MOZ Web Media is a digital marketing agency headquartered on West Lake Street in Chicago, with meeting locations in Manhattan and Miami. Its app store optimization service sits alongside SEO, PPC, social media and online reputation work for small and mid-size businesses.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, SEO, PPC Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Online Reputation Management, App Development
Industries Served: Small and Mid-size Businesses, Professional Services, Healthcare, Retail, Home Services
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Chicago, Illinois (headquarters), Manhattan, New York, Miami, Florida
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses with an app, Local brands adding ASO to search marketing, Companies launching their first app
Website: MOZ Web Media
3. Direct Online Marketing
About: Direct Online Marketing is a digital marketing agency headquartered in Pittsburgh, with offices in Wheeling, West Virginia and Chicago. It runs an app store optimization practice next to SEO, PPC, analytics and GEO work, and names clients such as Highmark, Kashi and the ARM Institute.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, SEO, PPC Management, Analytics, Generative Engine Optimization, Conversion Rate Optimization
Industries Served: Healthcare, Higher Education, Manufacturing, Ecommerce, Nonprofits
Notable Clients: Highmark, Kashi, ARM Institute
Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (headquarters), Wheeling, West Virginia, Chicago, Illinois
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams that want more organic installs, Companies pairing ASO with paid app campaigns
Website: Direct Online Marketing
4. Digital Success
About: Digital Success is a Dallas digital marketing agency with an address on Ross Avenue that has served businesses in the DFW region for more than a decade. Its app store optimization service covers keyword and description optimization, screenshots and review work for iOS and Android apps.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Programmatic Advertising
Industries Served: Small and Mid-size Businesses, Professional Services, Healthcare, Retail, Home Services
Notable Clients: Genghis Grill
Locations: Dallas, Texas
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses with an app, Local brands adding ASO to search marketing, Companies launching their first app
Website: Digital Success
5. Full Cortex
About: Full Cortex is a growth agency based on Atlantic Avenue in Boston that specializes in app and digital marketing. Its app store optimization service covers keyword research, store listing copy and visual assets as part of a wider app growth program.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, App Marketing, User Acquisition, Paid Social, Digital Marketing, Analytics
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Startups, Consumer Brands, Technology, Ecommerce
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Boston, Massachusetts
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams that want more organic installs, Companies pairing ASO with paid app campaigns
Website: Full Cortex
6. App Masters
About: App Masters is an app marketing agency with an address in Danville, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It sells app store optimization next to Apple Search Ads, Meta Ads and Google Ads management and also runs a paid training community for app developers.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, Apple Search Ads, Meta Ads, Google Ads, Email Marketing, App Marketing Training
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Indie Developers, Subscription Apps, Education, Health and Fitness
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Danville, California
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Apps preparing a launch, Indie and early-stage app developers, Teams pairing ASO with Apple Search Ads
Website: App Masters
7. The ASO Project
About: The ASO Project is a full-service app store optimization agency that gives every client a dedicated team plus unlimited access to its in-house ASO dashboard. Its site shows work for app brands such as Keeper Security, Malwarebytes, Skyscanner, Speedtest and Shipt.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, Apple Search Ads Management, Metadata Optimization, Creative Testing, Ratings and Reviews, Competitor Reports
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Security Software, Travel, Utilities, Retail and Delivery
Notable Clients: Keeper Security, Malwarebytes, Skyscanner, Speedtest, Shipt
Locations: Office address not published on the pages we checked
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams that want more organic installs, Companies pairing ASO with paid app campaigns
Website: The ASO Project
8. M+C Saatchi Performance
About: M+C Saatchi Performance is a global growth marketing agency for digital and app brands, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Singapore, Sydney and several Asian markets. Its app marketing practice includes ASO, and it has published ASO case studies for Headspace and Maya Bank.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, Performance Marketing, Paid Social, App Marketing, SEO and GEO, Creative Production
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Fintech, Gaming, Health and Wellness, Consumer Brands
Notable Clients: Headspace, Maya Bank, Quizlet, SoundCloud
Locations: New York, New York, Los Angeles, California, London, UK, Singapore, Sydney, Australia
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Funded consumer apps, Brands scaling apps across several countries, Teams running ASO and paid user acquisition together
Website: M+C Saatchi Performance
9. Target River
About: Target River is a full-service marketing agency in Salt Lake City, Utah, that offers SEO, paid media, content and email work. Its app store optimization service helps organizations improve how their apps rank and convert in the App Store and Google Play.
Key Services: App Store Optimization, SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Direct Mail
Industries Served: Education, Healthcare, Nonprofits, Professional Services, Local Businesses
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Salt Lake City, Utah
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams that want more organic installs, Companies pairing ASO with paid app campaigns
Website: Target River
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Key Specialty | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Web Tonic | Full-Service Performance Marketing | USD $3,000/mo | Mid-market to Enterprise (local Chicago office) |
| 2. MOZ Web Media | Chicago SMBs bundling ASO with SEO | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses with an app |
| 3. Direct Online Marketing | ASO inside a data-led search agency | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 4. Digital Success | Texas businesses adding ASO to SEO and PPC | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses with an app |
| 5. Full Cortex | Boston app growth agency with an ASO service | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 6. App Masters | ASO plus Apple Search Ads for indie and growing apps | Quote-based | Apps preparing a launch |
| 7. The ASO Project | Dedicated ASO team with its own dashboard | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 8. M+C Saatchi Performance | Global app growth with published ASO cases | Quote-based | Funded consumer apps |
| 9. Target River | Full-service agency adding ASO to paid media | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose an app store optimization agency in Chicago?
Start with the goal: more organic installs, better conversion from store page views, or a stronger rating. Then check proof. Four of these eight agencies name a client on their own site (Highmark and Genghis Grill among them). Ask which keyword and store-testing tools they use, who designs the screenshots, whether they work on both iOS and Android, and how they separate organic installs from paid ones in reporting.
How much does an ASO agency cost in Chicago?
None of the external agencies here publishes an ASO fee, so every figure will come from a proposal. Fees depend on how many apps, platforms and languages are covered, how often the store listing is tested and whether new screenshots and videos are designed. Ask whether creative is billed separately, whether Apple Search Ads management is included and what the notice period is before you sign.
What is the difference between ASO and Apple Search Ads?
ASO works on the free side of the app stores: keywords, titles, descriptions, screenshots, ratings and store tests that lift organic rank and conversion. Apple Search Ads and Google App campaigns are paid placements bought per tap or install. The two feed each other, since paid search reveals which keywords convert. Some agencies here do both; others focus on organic store work only.
How long does app store optimization take to show results?
Metadata changes are indexed within days, and store listing tests usually need two to four weeks of traffic to reach a clear result. Keyword rankings tend to move over one to three months as installs and ratings build. In a market like Chicago, plan on at least a quarter of steady testing and updates before you judge an ASO program, and track conversion rate as well as rank.
Should a Chicago business hire a local ASO agency or a remote one?
One of the eight external agencies is headquartered in the Chicago area; the others work remotely from bases such as Boston, Dallas and Danville. Direct Online Marketing, headquartered in Pittsburgh, also lists a Chicago office. A local agency helps when you want to meet in person or run local research, but keyword work, store testing and reporting all run online. Experience with your audience and a creative process you trust matter more than the address.
Choosing an App Store Optimization Agency in Chicago
Start with your own numbers. Know your current store conversion rate, your top keywords and what an install or subscriber is worth to you. An agency can only plan keyword and creative tests around targets it has been told about.
Check experience you can verify. Four of the eight external agencies name a client on their own site and none publishes a price. Ask the rest for a reference you can call, and see how our Apple Search Ads service supports store work.
Agree how you will work together. Settle who owns the developer console access, how many store tests run each month and which result month three is judged on. Our performance creative team can design icons, screenshots and preview videos.
Never skip the consultation. Book calls with two or three agencies from this list, bring the same brief to each and compare the questions they ask about your users. If you want a team in the city, meet our Chicago office.
