Screenshots That Convert: Live Product Page Teardown

Apple's algorithm now reads text in your screenshots to rank your app. In this guide, we break down how to create screenshots that convert and improve discovery by tearing down real-world examples and their top competitors.

Apple recently made a significant change to the App Store algorithm that almost no one is talking about—not even Apple. Up until now, screenshots were crucial for converting page views into downloads. But Apple has raised the stakes: they are now reading the text in your screenshots with AI and using that information to rank your app.

This means your screenshots are not only critical for conversion but also for discovery. We’ve observed this over the last month and a half; apps that get their screenshots right are getting a boost in ranks, while those that don't are seeing their visibility drop.

Today, we're going to tear down screenshots from real apps to see what works, what doesn’t, and how you can optimize your product page to drive more downloads.

Teardown 1: Cooknest Recipe Organizer

The first app from our submissions is Cooknest Recipe Organizer. Let's take a look at their screenshots.

[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Cooknest Recipe Organizer]

My first impression is that I'm missing pictures of food. For a recipe app, you have a huge opportunity to get me salivating and excited to download. The food pictures you do have are small and appear on the third screenshot, which many users won't see, especially since you have an app preview video first.

Key Takeaways & Advice:

• Lead with a Visual Punch: Your first screenshot should feature exciting, vibrant pictures of food. This will grab attention and immediately communicate the value of a recipe app. Even taking a screenshot from within your app that shows delicious food would be more effective than the current first screen.
• Shorten Your Captions: You have a lot of text here. For example, "Your recipe book always with you, all recipes in one place." People don't read long captions. Try to be more succinct and benefit-oriented. Instead of stating the feature, explain the benefit. Why do I need my recipe book with me? Perhaps something like, "Cook anywhere, anytime."
• Re-evaluate Your Fonts: The current fonts are functional, but they could be friendlier. Fonts that are slightly shorter and "chubbier" often feel more welcoming, which could be a better fit for a cooking app. You can experiment with free, commercially-licensed options from Google Fonts.
• Leverage Keyword Repetition: You do a good job of repeating the word "recipes" across your screenshots. This is a good practice. Based on my research, repeating your core keywords in your screenshot captions helps the algorithm understand what your app is about and rank it accordingly.
• A/B Test Everything: Before you make any permanent changes, use Apple's and Google's free A/B testing frameworks. This is the best way to ensure that these suggestions will actually work for your specific audience. I'd bet that a more food-focused set of screenshots will significantly increase your conversion rate.

Learning from the Competition: Recime

To see what's working in this category, I looked at a leader in the recipe niche: Recime. According to our estimates, they get over half a million downloads a month.

[Ariel shows the product page for The Recipe]

Their screenshots do exactly what I suggested. They are full of interesting, exciting pictures of food with vibrant colors. Their captions are much shorter, and the fonts are chubbier and friendlier. This is your opportunity—you can take inspiration from this and do the same thing for your app.

It's also important to look at their custom product pages. With iOS 16, you can now connect custom pages to organic keywords, allowing you to tailor your screenshots to user intent. The Recipe has three custom product pages. Even when they focus on a feature like importing recipes, they still keep the visuals focused on delicious food. This reinforces my main advice: you need to introduce more food into your screenshots.

Common Questions Answered

Before we move on, let's tackle a few common questions about screenshots.

• Do video previews hurt conversion? They can. Videos are tricky. A professional, well-made video can increase conversion. However, because they often autoplay, a video that looks unprofessional or is irrelevant can cause users to lose interest and move on. If you can't make a great video, it's better not to have one at all.
• Should the font in my screenshots match the font in my app? Not necessarily. There's no rule that they have to be the same, and users are unlikely to compare them. Your screenshot copy is about marketing to your audience, while your in-app UI is about user experience. They can coexist without being identical.
• Can I display other apps' icons (like TikTok) in my screenshots? You can, but only if it makes sense. If your app imports content from TikTok, showing the logo is fine because it explains a technical feature. However, using it to say "Best on TikTok" or "Just like TikTok" could be problematic, as it implies an endorsement or partnership that doesn't exist.

Teardown 2: Workout Tracker Overlo

Next up is a workout tracker. This is a very competitive niche, so your screenshots have to be perfect.

[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Workout Tracker Overlo]

Right off the bat, the first screenshot is a colossal waste of pixels. It shows the app's icon, which the user already sees, and provides no new information. The second screenshot says, "Makes tracking stupid easy," but it doesn't show me what I'm tracking. Unless I'm looking for a "chest dip counter," this screen means nothing to me.

You have limited space to make a first impression, and you're using it to say nothing. From a conversion and a discovery standpoint, this is a huge missed opportunity. There are no keywords for the algorithm to read.

Key Takeaways & Advice:

• Utilize Your First Screenshots: Replace your first two screenshots immediately. This is prime real estate. Show the app in action, highlight a key benefit, or provide social proof. Anything is better than a blank screen with your logo.
• Focus on Benefits, Not Features: Captions like "Check every rep and set" appeal to experts, but they don't explain the benefit to a broader audience. People don't work out to check reps; they work out to lose weight, gain muscle, or get a six-pack. Your captions should communicate those outcomes.
• Eliminate Unread Text: The small, gray sub-captions you have are almost always ignored. Users' eyes are drawn to the larger text and the colorful image below. If the context is important, incorporate it into your main caption.
• Know Your Audience: Read your app reviews to understand the fitness level of your users. Are they advanced athletes or beginners? If they're advanced, lean into specific technical features. If they're beginners, focus on high-level benefits and make the app feel approachable.

Learning from the Competition: Home Workout - No Equipments

Let's look at a major player in this space, an app that gets nearly 400,000 downloads a month.

[Ariel shows the product page for Home Workout - No Equipments]

They make full use of their first two screenshots, showing a person, the benefits of working out, and social proof. Their captions are short, to the point, and all about benefits like "Hit target area" and "Maximize effort."

They also use custom product pages brilliantly. They have different sets of screenshots targeting women and men, using colors and imagery that resonate with each audience. This is the power of tailoring your creative to user intent. All their images are vibrant and aspirational. They show you that you can achieve your fitness goals with their app.

The contrast is clear. More exciting screenshots lead to more conversions. Start by replacing your first two screenshots, and you'll see an improvement right away.

Teardown 3: Lingup - Speak and learn English with AI

This app is for learning to speak English with an AI partner. At first glance, I really like the colors—they jump off the page.

[Ariel shows the App Store product page for Lingup]

This app is already doing a lot of things right. The colors are great, and the captions are short and benefit-oriented ("Get better at speaking English," "English pronunciation checker"). This is a much more challenging teardown because the foundation is solid.

Key Takeaways & Advice:

The biggest opportunity here is to add social proof. When people think of language learning, they think of Duolingo. Your challenge is to convince a user that your app is a better choice for them. How do you do that? By showing that other people already love and trust your app.

• Add Reviews or Media Mentions: If you have great reviews, feature one on a screenshot. If you've been mentioned on a major tech site or news outlet, add their logo. This builds immediate credibility.
• Highlight User Numbers: If you have a significant number of users or positive ratings, showcase that. It doesn't have to be millions. "Loved by 10,000 users" is still powerful social proof.

Learning from the Competition: Babbel

Instead of looking at Duolingo, let's look at Babbel, another major competitor. They have 31 custom product pages, which gives us a lot to learn from.

[Ariel shows the product page for Babbel]

What's one of the first things they show? Social proof. "500,000+ five-star ratings." They also feature testimonials like, "I went from total beginner to real-life conversation in three months." This is incredibly powerful. They also use photos of real people, which helps users visualize their own success.

Your screenshots are already good. But by adding a layer of social proof, you can build the trust needed to compete with the giants and take your conversions to the next level.

Teardown 4: StillIt - AI Avatar and Art Studio

The final app is an AI avatar and art studio that claims to create "studio quality professional photos" with a single tap.

[Ariel shows the App Store product page for StillIt]

Frankly, the "before and after" shot is so dramatic that I don't believe it. I've tried many of these apps, and this result seems unrealistic, which creates immediate distrust. The screenshots don't clearly explain what the app does or how it works.

Key Takeaways & Advice:

• Make it Brutally Simple: You can't make the user think. You need to spell out exactly what your app does. Show a clear progression: "Upload this photo, get this result." Use an arrow if you have to. Be explicit.
• Build Trust with Social Proof: Because your claim is so bold, you need social proof more than anyone. Replace the fake Apple feature graphic with a real five-star review from a user. Show that other people have used this and loved the results.
• Explain the "Why": Give users a reason to want this. Is it for a professional LinkedIn profile? A polished dating profile? Frame the benefit in a real-world context.
• Add Keywords for Discovery: Your captions ("Turn heads, spark envy") are not what people search for. People search for "AI photo editor," "professional headshot," or "transform photos with AI." You need to incorporate these searchable keywords into your captions to improve your discovery. Also, the term "AI" is in your app's name but nowhere in the screenshots. Reinforce that this is an AI-powered tool.

The theme here is a lack of clarity and trust. If you can make it dead simple for a user to understand what they'll get and show them that others have benefited, your conversions will improve dramatically.

Final Takeaways

Optimizing your screenshots is no longer optional. It's essential for both conversion and discovery. Based on today's teardowns, here are the key principles to remember:

1. Keywords are Crucial: Apple is reading your screenshots. Incorporate the keywords people are searching for into your captions to improve your ranking.
2. Repetition Works: Don't be afraid to repeat your most important keywords across multiple screenshots.
3. Benefits Over Features: Explain the outcome, not just the function. Show users how your app will improve their lives.
4. Social Proof Builds Trust: Use reviews, ratings, and testimonials to show that your app is credible and loved by other users.
5. Test Everything: Use A/B testing and custom product pages to learn what resonates with your audience and continuously improve your conversion rate.

✨ This transcript was generated and enhanced by AI and may differ from the original video.