App Screenshot A/B Testing Guide

Learn how to test different screenshot variations to maximize your app store conversion rate.

Why A/B Test Screenshots?

+25-35%

Average increase in conversion rate from optimized screenshots

70%

of users decide based on first impression

3 sec

average time viewing screenshots

2-3

screenshots typically viewed

A/B Testing by Platform

App Store Product Page Optimization

Native A/B testing in App Store Connect

What You Can Test

  • • Screenshots (up to 3 treatments)
  • • App icon
  • • App preview videos

How It Works

  1. 1. Go to App Store Connect → Your App → Product Page Optimization
  2. 2. Create a new test with up to 3 treatments
  3. 3. Upload different screenshot sets for each treatment
  4. 4. Set traffic allocation (recommend 50/50 for 2 variants)
  5. 5. Run for 7+ days or until statistical significance

Pro tip: Test one element at a time (e.g., only headlines, or only background colors) to know exactly what caused the improvement.

Google Play Store Listing Experiments

A/B testing in Google Play Console

What You Can Test

  • • Screenshots
  • • Feature graphic
  • • App icon
  • • Short description
  • • Full description

How It Works

  1. 1. Go to Play Console → Store presence → Store listing experiments
  2. 2. Create a new experiment
  3. 3. Choose what to test (graphics or text)
  4. 4. Upload variant assets
  5. 5. Run until you reach 90%+ confidence

Pro tip: Google recommends running experiments for at least 7 days and getting at least 1,000 installs per variant for reliable results.

What to Test First

Start with high-impact elements that are easy to change:

1

First Screenshot

This is what users see first. Test different value propositions, headlines, or featured screens.

2

Background Colors

Test different gradients or solid colors. Some colors convert better for certain app categories.

3

Headline Copy

Test benefit-focused vs. feature-focused headlines. "Save 2 hours daily" vs. "AI-powered scheduling"

4

With vs. Without Device Frames

Some apps convert better with device mockups, others without. Test to find out.

5

Screenshot Order

The same screenshots in different order can have different conversion rates.

A/B Testing Best Practices

  • Test one variable at a time - If you change multiple things, you won't know which change caused the improvement
  • Wait for statistical significance - Don't make decisions until you have 90%+ confidence (both platforms show this)
  • Run tests for at least 7 days - User behavior varies by day of week
  • Document your tests - Keep a log of what you tested and results for future reference
  • Keep testing - Your first test won't be your last. Continuous optimization compounds over time.

Create Test Variants Quickly

Use AppShotEditor to rapidly create screenshot variations for your A/B tests.

Open Editor