---
title: "App Store Category: Primary vs Secondary, and How to Pick"
canonical: "https://asoitis.com/glossary/app-store-category"
description: "App Store categories explained: what the primary and secondary category affect in search and browsing, Apple's rules, and the categories top apps actually pick."
kind: "reference-library/glossary"
published: "2026-10-11"
lastUpdated: "2026-10-11"
verifiedAgainst: "Apple's categories, search and discoverability guides, App Store Connect Help, the App Review Guidelines, Apple Developer News (Mar 26, 2026), and iTunes Search API results for eight searches, on Oct 11, 2026"
author: "Ahmed Gagan (https://asoitis.com/about)"
---

# App Store category: primary vs secondary, what each one affects, and what top apps choose

> Every App Store app has a primary category and can add a secondary one. Apple says both are indexed by its search algorithm, while the primary decides where the app appears when people browse or filter search and which tab it sits on. Pick the category that describes the app's main function, add a relevant secondary, and remember that changing either needs a new version.

Two dropdowns in App Store Connect that decide where your app is browsed, which charts it competes in, and — since 2026 — whether you owe Apple a medical device declaration.

> According to ASOitis's check of 71 top App Store results across eight common searches on October 11, 2026, 60 apps set a secondary category and 40 list Health & Fitness or Medical as one of their two — including five of nine habit trackers that file under Productivity first — which makes all 40 subject to Apple's regulated medical device declaration.

**Definition — App Store category:** An App Store category is one of Apple's subject groupings, such as Health & Fitness or Productivity. Each app picks a primary and an optional secondary category; Apple indexes both for search, and the primary decides where the app is browsed and charted.

## Key facts

- **Categories per app:** 2 — Primary plus optional secondary
- **Indexed for search:** Both — Apple's search guide says so
- **Change without new version:** No — Not in Apple's editable-anytime list
- **Top apps with a secondary:** 60 of 71 — Our check, Oct 11, 2026

## What your category does

> Your primary category and optional secondary category are indexed by our search algorithm. For games, you can select the Games category as the primary or secondary category and you can select up to two additional subcategories to better define your game.
>
> — [Apple — App Store search](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/)

**Primary vs secondary category, from Apple's guides**

|  | Primary category | Secondary category |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Indexed for search | Yes | Yes |
| Where people browse and filter search | Yes — “the category in which the app appears” | Not stated by Apple |
| Apps tab or Games tab placement | Decides it | No |
| Required | Yes | Optional |
| Triggers the medical device declaration | If Health & Fitness or Medical | If Health & Fitness or Medical |

Apple's [categories guide](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/categories/) calls the primary category “important for your app's discoverability” and says it should be “the one that best describes the main function or subject matter of your app.” Because the category is already indexed, Apple also tells you not to repeat words from it in your keyword field — see our [keywords field playbook](https://asoitis.com/blog/app-store-keywords).

## What top apps actually choose

We pulled the top results for eight common searches from Apple's iTunes Search API (US) on October 11, 2026 — 71 apps — and read their categories:

**Categories of top App Store results, by search (71 apps, Oct 11, 2026)**

| Search | Most common primary | Most common secondary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| budget | Finance (9 of 9) | Productivity (8) |
| calorie tracker | Health & Fitness (8 of 8) | Food & Drink (4) |
| habit tracker | Productivity (8 of 9) | Health & Fitness (4) |
| language learning | Education (9 of 9) | Travel (5) |
| meditation | Health & Fitness (9 of 9) | Lifestyle (6) |
| photo editor | Photo & Video (9 of 9) | Graphics & Design (4) |
| sleep tracker | Health & Fitness (7 of 9) | Lifestyle (3) |
| workout | Health & Fitness (9 of 9) | Lifestyle (4) |

_Secondary category read from each app's genre IDs, excluding game subcategories. Category fields observed in iTunes Search API responses._

Two patterns stand out. Competitors in a niche almost always agree on the primary category — fighting the consensus puts you in a different browse list from everyone your users compare you with. And the secondary is where they differ: habit trackers mostly file under Productivity and add Health & Fitness second, while language apps lean on Travel. Sixty of the 71 apps set a secondary at all.

## Apple's rules

- **Pick honestly.** Guideline 2.3.5: “Select the most appropriate category for your app… If you're way off base, we may change the category for you.” Our [Guideline 2.3 page](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-3-accurate-metadata) covers metadata rejections.
- **Changing needs a version.** Apple's list of properties you can edit “at any time without submitting a new version” doesn't include the primary or secondary category.
- **Games get subcategories.** If you choose Games, you can add up to two subcategories such as puzzle or strategy.
- **Kids is one-way.** Once an app marked Made for Kids is approved, Apple says “this selection cannot be changed and all subsequent updates will need to follow the Kids category guidelines.”
- **Health & Fitness and Medical carry an obligation.** Since March 26, 2026, apps with either as their primary or secondary category must declare regulated medical device status in the EEA, UK and US; existing apps by early 2027 — see [Guideline 1.4.1](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-1-4-1-health-medical-apps).

> **Check what your secondary category costs you.** In our sample, five of nine habit trackers only fall under the medical device declaration because Health & Fitness is their secondary category. Most can simply answer No — but it's a form you owe Apple before early 2027 or your updates stop.

> **The Audit ($99).** The $99 audit checks your categories against the apps you compete with, alongside your name, subtitle and keywords. https://asoitis.com/checkout/start?plan=audit

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the App Store category affect search ranking?

Apple says your primary and optional secondary category are indexed by its search algorithm, and lists the primary category among the text-relevance factors for search results. Choose a category that matches what people search for your app to do.

### What's the difference between primary and secondary category?

Both are indexed for search. The primary category also decides where your app appears when people browse or filter search results and whether it sits on the Apps or Games tab. The secondary is optional.

### Can I change my app's category without an update?

No. Apple's list of App Store Connect properties you can edit at any time doesn't include the primary or secondary category, so change them when you submit a new version.

### How many categories can an App Store app have?

Two: a primary and an optional secondary category. Games can also choose up to two Games subcategories.

### Which category should a habit tracker choose?

In our October 2026 check, eight of the nine top habit tracker results used Productivity as their primary category, and four added Health & Fitness as secondary. Note that a Health & Fitness category in either slot means declaring medical device status.

## Sources

1. [Choosing a category](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/categories/) — Apple Developer
2. [App Store search](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/) — Apple Developer
3. [Required, localizable, and editable properties](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/required-localizable-and-editable-properties) — App Store Connect Help
4. [App information (categories and Kids)](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/app-information) — App Store Connect Help
5. [Regulated medical device status (Mar 26, 2026)](https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=nyqbfz1y) — Apple Developer News
6. [iTunes Search API](https://performance-partners.apple.com/search-api) — Apple

## Related

- [The App Store keywords field](https://asoitis.com/blog/app-store-keywords) — Don't repeat your category's words in your keywords.
- [App Store ranking factors](https://asoitis.com/blog/app-store-ranking-factors) — Where category fits among Apple's search signals.
- [Guideline 1.4.1: health apps](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-1-4-1-health-medical-apps) — The medical device declaration your category may trigger.
- [ASO for habit tracker apps](https://asoitis.com/aso/habit-tracker-apps) — Category and listing data for one niche.
- [All aso glossary](https://asoitis.com/glossary)


## Have it done for you

**The Audit — $99 one-time.** The $99 audit checks your primary and secondary category against your competitors, together with your name, subtitle and keyword field.

- Buy: https://asoitis.com/checkout/start?plan=audit
- 15-minute founder call: https://cal.com/ahmedgagan/asoitis-chat

## About ASOitis

ASOitis is a founder-run App Store Optimization (ASO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) agency for indie iOS apps. iOS only; organic ASO + GEO + funnel work, implemented for you. Reference library: https://asoitis.com/app-review, https://asoitis.com/reviews, https://asoitis.com/compare, https://asoitis.com/glossary, https://asoitis.com/aso