Appstore MCP Server

An MCP server for searching the App Store, checking keyword rankings, analyzing competition, and tracking trends — powered by a native macOS binary

Local serverstdio

What is the Appstore MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Appstore MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. An MCP server for searching the App Store, checking keyword rankings, analyzing competition, and tracking trends — powered by a native macOS binary for fast, direct access to App Store APIs.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 14 tools. What each one is for:

  • full — Includes app descriptions and release notes
  • complete — All fields from the API response. Verbose (~4KB/app)
  • search_apps — iTunes Search API with attribute/genre filtering
  • search_ranked — MZStore API — results match actual App Store rankings
  • lookup_app — Look up an app by ID, bundle ID, or App Store URL
  • top_charts — Current top chart rankings (free, paid, grossing)
  • find_app_rank — Check where an app ranks for a single keyword
  • check_app_rankings — Check an app's rank across auto-generated keywords (slow)
  • analyze_keyword — Competitive analysis with competitiveness score (0-100)
  • app_competitors — Find an app's top competitors via overlapping search results
  • compare_keywords — Compare competitiveness across multiple keywords (slow)
  • discover_trending — Discover trending categories from new chart entries

Getting it running

Installation goes through your MCP client rather than a global install: point it at appstore-mcp-server on PyPI and it is fetched when the client starts. The copy-paste blocks for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are further down this page.

What it needs from you

  • macOS 26+ (Apple Silicon)

How it compares

Among the developer tooling options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Appstore's toolset — full, complete, search_apps and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by drewster99; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Appstore's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Appstore.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
fullIncludes app descriptions and release notes.
completeAll fields from the API response. Verbose (~4KB/app).
search_appsiTunes Search API with attribute/genre filtering
search_rankedMZStore API — results match actual App Store rankings
lookup_appLook up an app by ID, bundle ID, or App Store URL
top_chartsCurrent top chart rankings (free, paid, grossing)
find_app_rankCheck where an app ranks for a single keyword
check_app_rankingsCheck an app's rank across auto-generated keywords (slow)
analyze_keywordCompetitive analysis with competitiveness score (0-100)
app_competitorsFind an app's top competitors via overlapping search results
compare_keywordsCompare competitiveness across multiple keywords (slow)
discover_trendingDiscover trending categories from new chart entries
versionGet the server version
CommandsThe Commands tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Appstore MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "appstore": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["appstore-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • macOS 26+ (Apple Silicon)

Example prompts to try

  • Use Appstore to full.
  • Use Appstore to complete.
  • Use Appstore to search apps.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Appstore to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (full, complete, search_apps, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Appstore directly.