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 Apple Search Ads agency runs the paid ads that appear at the top of App Store search results: it picks and bids on keywords, structures brand, category and competitor campaigns, sets tap and install targets, tests custom product pages and reports on cost per install and revenue. New York fintech, media, retail and subscription apps bid on the same App Store searches, so paid placement drives many of their iOS installs.
To make this list, each of the eight external agencies had to show an Apple Search Ads or Apple Ads service on its own website. Not all of them have an office in New York, so each card names the agency's real base, and clients and prices appear only where published.
Which Apple Search Ads agencies serve New York app teams?
Web Tonic plus eight external agencies with an Apple Search Ads service on their own sites. None is headquartered in the New York metro; all run New York campaigns remotely. Four name a client publicly and none publishes a price.
1. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic runs Apple Search Ads from our New York office alongside ASO and in-house creative, so keywords, bids, custom product pages and store tests sit with one team. Reporting is built around cost per paying user and revenue rather than taps alone, and the Apple Ads account stays 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 New York office, with the main HQ in San Francisco and notable offices in Chicago, 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. Komplex
About: Komplex is a full-service digital marketing agency based in Austin, Texas, with a presence in New York City and Reykjavik. Its paid search team manages Apple Ads campaigns next to Google Ads, paid social, SEO and AI search, mostly for ecommerce, DTC and subscription brands.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, Google Ads, Paid Social, SEO, AI Search Optimization, Conversion Rate Optimization
Industries Served: Ecommerce, DTC Brands, Subscription Businesses, B2B, Startups
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Austin, Texas (headquarters), New York, New York, Reykjavik, Iceland
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Businesses adding Apple Ads to an existing search plan, Brands with an iOS app and a small paid budget, Teams that want one agency for Google and Apple Ads
Website: Komplex
3. Incipia
About: Incipia is an app marketing and development company with an address in Royal Oak, Michigan. It has an Apple Search Ads service page alongside its ASO consulting and publishes regular research on how App Store ranking and paid search change.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, App Store Optimization, App Marketing Consulting, Keyword Research, App Development, Store Analytics
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Gaming, Subscription Apps, Fintech, Health and Fitness
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Royal Oak, Michigan
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams pairing Apple Search Ads with ASO, Companies scaling iOS installs profitably
Website: Incipia
4. Addict Mobile
About: Addict Mobile is an app marketing agency, part of the Digital Virgo group, with its head office in Aix-en-Provence and offices in Paris and Madrid. It runs a dedicated Apple Ads agency service, and its site quotes work on the app launch of French magazine Télérama.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, App Campaigns, Mobile User Acquisition, Creative Production, App Store Optimization, Measurement
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Media and Publishing, Retail, Travel, Gaming
Notable Clients: Télérama
Locations: Aix-en-Provence, France (head office), Paris, France, Madrid, Spain
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Apps launching in several countries, Subscription and gaming apps scaling paid installs, Teams running Apple Ads next to other UA channels
Website: Addict Mobile
5. App Guardians
About: App Guardians is a mobile-first advertising agency on West Georgia Street in Vancouver and a division of App Growth Network. Its user acquisition team runs Apple Search Ads next to ASO, Google and Facebook campaigns, for apps such as TouchTunes, Tynker and Relax Melodies.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, App Store Optimization, Google App Campaigns, Facebook Ads, App Launch, Retention and CRM
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Kids and Education, Entertainment, Health and Wellness, Subscription Apps
Notable Clients: TouchTunes, Tynker, Relax Melodies
Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams pairing Apple Search Ads with ASO, Companies scaling iOS installs profitably
Website: App Guardians
6. NextGrowthLabs
About: NextGrowthLabs is a data-driven digital marketing company based in Bangalore that works on app store optimization, SEO and paid campaigns. It has a dedicated Apple Search Ads agency page and backs its work with more than 20 in-house tools.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, App Store Optimization, SEO, Paid Campaigns, Attribution Tracking, Keyword Research
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Gaming, Subscription Apps, Fintech, Health and Fitness
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Bangalore, India
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Indie and early-stage app developers, Apps testing Apple Search Ads for the first time, Teams that want an audit before a retainer
Website: NextGrowthLabs
7. Strataigize
About: Strataigize is a Vancouver growth agency, operating since 2022, that runs marketing, automation and development as one team. Its mobile app marketing service includes Apple Search Ads and app store optimization, and it names clients such as 3M, Jiffy Lube, Goodwill and Western University.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, Mobile App Marketing, App Store Optimization, Paid Advertising, AI Search Optimization, Automation
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Enterprise, Automotive Services, Nonprofits, Education
Notable Clients: 3M, Jiffy Lube, Goodwill, Western University
Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams pairing Apple Search Ads with ASO, Companies scaling iOS installs profitably
Website: Strataigize
8. Ink Digital
About: Ink Digital is an award-winning digital marketing and SEO agency based in London. It lists Apple Search Ads as its own service within paid media, next to PPC, Google Ads, Microsoft Ads and app advertising, and its site quotes clients such as Dishoom.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, PPC Management, Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, App Advertising, SEO
Industries Served: Hospitality, Travel, Ecommerce, Professional Services, Retail
Notable Clients: Dishoom
Locations: London, UK
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Businesses adding Apple Ads to an existing search plan, Brands with an iOS app and a small paid budget, Teams that want one agency for Google and Apple Ads
Website: Ink Digital
9. ShyftUp
About: ShyftUp is a mobile app growth agency with an office on Market Street in San Francisco. Its Apple Search Ads service covers campaign planning, keyword bidding and reporting, sold alongside ASO, paid user acquisition and creative production.
Key Services: Apple Search Ads Management, App Store Optimization, Paid User Acquisition, Creative Production, Store A/B Testing, Campaign Reporting
Industries Served: Mobile Apps, Gaming, Subscription Apps, Fintech, Health and Fitness
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: San Francisco, California
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Consumer and subscription apps, App teams pairing Apple Search Ads with ASO, Companies scaling iOS installs profitably
Website: ShyftUp
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 New York office) |
| 2. Komplex | Subscription and DTC brands adding Apple Ads to search | Quote-based | Businesses adding Apple Ads to an existing search plan |
| 3. Incipia | ASA consulting backed by App Store research | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 4. Addict Mobile | Apps expanding into European markets | Quote-based | Apps launching in several countries |
| 5. App Guardians | Consumer apps pairing ASA with ASO | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 6. NextGrowthLabs | Data-heavy ASA and ASO on a lean budget | Quote-based | Indie and early-stage app developers |
| 7. Strataigize | App growth plus automation from Vancouver | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
| 8. Ink Digital | Brands running Apple Ads inside a wider PPC plan | Quote-based | Businesses adding Apple Ads to an existing search plan |
| 9. ShyftUp | San Francisco app growth team for ASA and ASO | Quote-based | Consumer and subscription apps |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose an Apple Search Ads agency in New York?
Start with the goal: cheaper installs, more paying subscribers, or protecting your brand name from competitor bids. Then check proof. Four of these eight agencies name a client on their own site (Télérama and TouchTunes among them). Ask how they split brand, category, competitor and discovery campaigns, how they set bids against install value, whether they test custom product pages and how they separate paid from organic installs in reporting.
How much does an Apple Search Ads agency cost in New York?
None of the external agencies here publishes an Apple Search Ads fee, so every figure will come from a proposal. Fees usually depend on monthly ad spend, how many countries and apps are covered and whether ASO or creative work is bundled. Apple bills the media itself on a cost-per-tap basis, so ask whether the agency fee is a flat retainer or a share of spend, and what the notice period is.
What is the difference between Apple Search Ads and ASO?
Apple Search Ads is paid placement: you bid on App Store searches and pay when someone taps your ad. App store optimization is the free side, where keywords, titles, screenshots and ratings lift organic rank and conversion. The two feed each other, because paid search shows which keywords convert and a stronger store page lowers the cost of every paid install. Several agencies here sell both.
How long do Apple Search Ads take to show results?
Campaigns can go live within days, and Apple Search Ads usually shows tap and install data in the first week. Bids and keyword lists need two to six weeks of spend to settle, and judging subscriber or revenue quality takes longer because trial and purchase events arrive later. In a market like New York, give an agency at least one quarter before you judge cost per paying user.
Should a New York business hire a local Apple Search Ads agency or a remote one?
None of the eight agencies here is headquartered in the New York metro; they run campaigns from bases such as Aix-en-Provence, Austin and Bangalore. Komplex, headquartered in Austin, also has a presence in New York City. A local agency helps when you want to meet in person, but bidding, keyword work and reporting in Apple's console all run online. Experience with your audience and a creative process you trust matter more than the address.
Choosing an Apple Search Ads Agency in New York
Start with your own numbers. Know what an install, a trial and a paying subscriber are worth to you, and which keywords already bring organic traffic. An agency can only set bids and targets around numbers it has been given.
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 handles bidding and reporting.
Agree how you will work together. Settle who owns the Apple Ads account, how often bids and keywords are reviewed and which result month three is judged on. Our performance creative team can design the custom product pages your ads point to.
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 New York office.
