Appsee SDK Guide - Appsee Ebook

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THE ULTIMATE

SDK GUIDE
FOR MOBILE APPS
2017 EDITION

THE LEADER IN QUALITATIVE APP ANALYTICS


  

Table of Contents
Click on a title to navigate to your section of interest

  
INTRODUCTION 3
QUANTITATIVE ANALYTICS 4


QUALITATIVE ANALYTICS  8
CRASH REPORTING/BUG REPORTING 9
TESTING/BETA TESTING 12
A/B TESTING 15
ATTRIBUTION 17
DATA HUBS 20
MOBILE MARKETING (INCLUDING PUSH NOTIFICATIONS)
23



BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
 26


MONETIZATION/ADVERTISING
ACQUISITION/RE-TARGETING  29
33
MOBILE MARKETING CLOUDS 35
PAYMENTS 37
ENGAGEMENT/FEEDBACK
40
LOCATION
  43
A WORD ABOUT APP OPTIMIZATION IN 2017 44

  
  
Introduction

SDKs (software development kits) are pivotal for the success of any app. They can help address a
wide range of critical functions and objectives from crash monitoring and a/b testing, to attribution.
Nowadays, the challenge is not whether you should utilize SDKs, but rather which SDKs you should
choose to get the job(s) done. The barrier? There are so many different review sites and discussion
boards that it can be a huge effort to effectively determine which SDKs are best for your business
goals.

Yet in the mobile app world, you have no time to spare. The sooner you can begin efficiently
optimizing your app the better. That is why we wanted to help expedite the research/selection
process by compiling a core list of the top SDKs per objectives.

We hope that this can serve as a valuable roadmap in order to set you on the best path towards the
most optimized app.

Who is it for:

This guide is for mobile product managers, developers, UX designers, marketers and the like.
Basically, it is geared towards any mobile professional who is interested in finding the best solutions
for their app and their overall business needs.

How to use this guide:

This comprehensive guide is broken down into fifteen distinct SDK categories. Each category comes
with a brief explanation, descriptions of a select number of SDKs, and a list of additional SDKs that
fall within that category. When determining which SDKs to highlight, many factors from performance
history to industry influencer evaluation were thoughtfully considered. Our goal for this one-of-a-
kind guide is to provide you with the most dependable, straightforward, and neutral information, so
that you can select your SDKs with the highest level of confidence.
Quantitative Analytics

SDKs focused on standard in-app metrics (e.g. pageviews, bounce rate, churn rate, and
UX data) are absolutely integral when it comes to the growth and enhancement of your
app. With the high standards of today’s user it is important to measure key numerical
metrics. Track, understand, and improve these elements with a thorough traditional
analytics platform- and you will surely be on your way to an overall better app.

Firebase (from Google)

The term “Firebase” includes Google’s entire suite of app developer tools from pre-
launch testing to Adwords. However, at the core of Firebase lies its extensive mobile
analytics- a high-caliber quantitative analytics tool that supports both Android and iOS
apps. The biggest benefit of Firebase’s analytics is that it works with other Firebase
features so that you can measure everything from your ad spend ROI to app crashes in
one place. Its dashboard also provides users with extremely in-depth user segmentation
based on factors such as device data and user behavior.

 Key features
`` In-depth audience segmentation

`` Crash reporting

`` Integration with Adwords

Pricing: Various pricing tiers from free to $25/month.

Page 4 Page 22
Flurry

Flurry is a veteran when it comes to basic mobile analytics and is the most widely
adopted. It is currently integrated with over 900,000 applications worldwide. In terms
of its interface, Flurry allows you to use their standard dashboard or create up to 10 of
your own custom dashboards. In addition, Flurry Analytics is compatible with all other
Flurry offerings, such as Flurry Marketplace and Flurry Personas (which allows users
to segment their audience by interests or other criteria). The SDK integration is quite
seamless and supports iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Java ME.
Key features
`` In-depth audience segmentation

`` Crash reporting

`` Integration with Adwords

Pricing: Free.

Mixpanel

Mixpanel is a solution for mobile professionals who want to understand user journeys


on desktop, mobile web, and mobile apps. In terms of its mobile analytics solution,
Mixpanel is codeless. This means no code is required to track metrics within one’s app.
It also provides in-depth retention cohorts and exceptional conversion funnel analytics,
that enable mobile professionals to answer questions about the past with retroactive
funnels. Lastly, in conjunction with its quantitative analytics, Mixpanel also offers push
notifications and A/B testing services for its clients.
Key features
`` In-depth audience segmentation

`` Crash reporting

`` Integration with Adwords

 Pricing: A variety of pricing plans from free to over $1,000/month.

Page 5 Page 22
Localytics

Localytics is a cloud-based analytics and marketing platform that provides real-time


insights on user behavior. Their mobile engagement solution allows for push notifications
and in-app notifications to be sent to help optimize marketing efforts. And to make sure
these marketing efforts are effective, Localytics provides a variety of analytics tools to
show how customers are using your app exactly. Localytics' dashboard collects all of
your data and gives you a complete picture of your users and how they're interacting
with your app.
Key features
`` Predictive Analytics

`` Attribution

`` A/B Testing

`` Funnels

Pricing: Paid.

Amplitude

 Amplitude’s quantitative analytics are aimed at helping mobile app makers zoom in
on trends in users’ in-app behavior. First, it allows clients to segment their users by a
multitude of parameters such as location, install source etc. and compare these groups
of users across funnels, retention, and IAPs. Mobile professionals also have access to
behavioral cohorting and retention insights, which allow them to detect which user
behaviors/actions are indicative of strong retention. Amplitude also gives clients the
ability to zone in on specific users behind those points and examine the series of actions
they took. Lastly, Amplitude offers helpful third party integrations with attribution, A/B
testing, and marketing & push notifications platforms.
Key features
`` Behavioral cohorting

 `` Single-user analysis

`` User paths

Pricing: A variety of pricing plans from free to over $2,000/month.

Page 6 Page 22
Other SDKs

Page 7 Page 22
Qualitative Analytics

This form of analytics adds an additional visual layer to standard numeric metrics, giving
app developers, product managers, and marketing teams, a new level of insight into the
UX and UI of their apps. Qualitative analytics tries to answer the question "why" people
do what they do. It will help you learn why your users behave the way they do, and show
you exactly what to change and improve in order to give your users a better overall UX
and improve your retention.

Appsee

Appsee is a mobile app analytics platform that provides mobile professionals with
qualitative analytics. One of Appsee's key qualitative tools is its user recordings, which
enable mobile professionals to obtain the complete picture of each user's in-app
experience. Appsee also offers touch heatmaps, which highlight exactly where users are
interacting with each screen and whether users encountered any usability issues. These
tools, paired with real-time analytics, user flows, and crash symbolication, enable mobile
pros to obtain actionable UI and UX insights and create an optimized app.

 Key features
`` User recordings

`` Touch heatmaps

`` User flows & navigation paths

`` Conversion funnels

Pricing: 14 day free trial and then various payment options based on events.

Page 8 Page 22
Crash Reporting/Bug Reporting

Crashes are an inevitable aspect of an app’s life- even the most well-developed,
reputable apps can crash. Yet at the end of the day, how you monitor, analyze, and
troubleshoot your crashes can make the difference between your app’s success and
failure.

Crashlytics

Recently acquired by Google, Crashlytics is one of the most established crash solutions
in the industry. Crashlytics supports both iOS and Android, and is completely free. It is
best known for its highly detailed crash reports which consider a wide range of factors
such as device, battery status, charge in progress, proximity sensor, wifi connection, and
physical phone orientation (just to name a few). Crashlytics also examines your crashes
on an aggregate level and creates reports that highlight significant issues and trends.
Plus, if any crash goes unresolved, it sends a friendly reminder to its clients alerting them
of the matter.

 Key features
`` Comprehensive crash reports

`` Real-time processing and alerts

`` Smart charts on crash trends and insights

Pricing: Free.

Page 9 Page 22
Instabug

Instabug provides in-app feedback and bug reporting for mobile apps. During your beta
testing you can receive user feedback with screenshots and screen recordings which
allows you to fix bugs faster. Beta testers can shake their phones and then draw on a
screenshot to show the exact issue. Once your app is live Instabug helps you retain your
users by providing quality in-app support, so you don’t have to take the conversation out
of the app. You can reply back to your users and ask for more details or tell them you
fixed it.
Key features
`` Screenshot annotations

`` Screen recording

`` User Profiles

`` View Hierarchy

Pricing: A variety of plans from free up to $291/month.

Apteligent

 Apteligent’s three main tools help with app performance, user behavior and business
insights. They are a predictive app intelligence company that provides user experience
insights into apps. The platform analyzes crashes, freezes, and any issues with user
flow. They apply data science to help you improve your app and keep your users happy.
Mobile teams also have access to Apteligent’s big data platform as well as industry and
app benchmarks. Apteligent supports iOS, Android, Unity and Cocos2d-x.
Key features
`` Crash reporting

`` App benchmarks

`` View by user

 `` Release Planner

Pricing: A variety of pricing plans from free to up to $150/month.

Page 10 Page 22
HockeyApp

Although HockeyApp’s open source SDK is known for an array of features such as
tester team management tools and controlled beta distribution- it’s crash reporting
and analysis is certainly one of its strongest and most recommended features. It is also
known as one of the most accurate crash detection tools in the business. HockeyApp
lets you connect your own bug tracking system for further assessment and functionality.
HockeyApp is owned by Microsoft and supports all major mobile and desktop platforms
such as Android, iOS, Windows, and more.
Key features
`` Extensive search tools

`` Smooth symbolication

`` Extensive manual control

Pricing: A variety of pricing plans from free (if you have 10 apps or less) to paid (all
depending on how many apps you have).

Bugsnag

Bugsnag helps you automatically capture any errors and diagnostic data in your app.

 Bugsnag technology is able to group by root cause so you know how many times the
error occurred and how many users were affected. You can fix any error by seeing the
exact line of code where the crash occurred and then even track the progress of your
fixes.
Key features
`` Custom Filters

`` Custom error notifications

`` In-App Collaboration

Pricing: A variety of pricing plans from free up to $999+/month.

 Other SDKs

PLCrashReporter

Page 11 Page 22
Testing/Beta Testing

Beta testing is a very important step before you launch an app, or a new feature/version.
This is to make sure that everything is running smoothly before it is released to all of your
app’s users. Having an SDK that will let you beta test internally, or to a small portion of
your users, will make this process much more effective, and allow you to more quickly
isolate bugs and issues with your new app or feature, so you can launch sooner, and with
a better product!

TestFairy

TestFairy is an Android and iOS mobile beta testing tool. They provide you with a video of
the exact test that was done so you don’t have to guess what was tested and what went
wrong. TestFairy also catches any crashes and reports it to your bug system with a video
of the crash and what led up to it. Testers also have the ability to report bugs within the
app by shaking their phones, logging onto the platform, or by using TestFairy’s native
Testers App.

 Key features
`` App Distribution

`` Video Recording

`` Crash Reports

`` User Feedback

Pricing: Ranges from free to Startup and Enterprise packages.

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Lookback

Lookback offers a variety of testing solutions such as live testing, self-testing as well as
in-person testing. Lookback Live allows you to perform real-time remote user research.
You can see exactly what they’re seeing and how they’re reacting. If this isn’t what you
need, then try Lookback’s Self-test solution. Give your testers more freedom by sending
them the link and letting them test in their own time. When they’re finished the recording
will show up in your dashboard. And Lookback’s final solution is In-person. This is when
you’re going out and testing people face-to-face.
Key features
`` Unlimited participants

`` Touch heatmaps

`` Collaborative dashboards

Pricing: 14 day free trial. Then various paid options.

TestFlight

 TestFlight is Apple’s beta testing solution. It allows you to test your app before releasing
it to the App Store. TestFlight supports internal and external testers. You can have up to
25 team members test up to 30 devices. For external testers, all you have to do is invite
them via email to download the TestFlight app and then they can begin testing. 100 apps
can be tested at a time on TestFlight.
Key features
`` Supports iOS apps

`` TestFlight App

Pricing: Free.

Page 13 Page 22
Lean Testing

Lean Testing is a simple testing tool that can track and report bugs on web and mobile.
Testers can take screenshots and leave any notes about your app. Then report the bugs
directly to your tracker all while never leaving the app.
Key features
`` Bug reports to your bug tracker

Pricing: Free with paid options to unlock more features.

Other SDKs

Page 14 Page 22
A/B Testing

Mobile A/B testing is a powerful tool for optimizing your app. It compares two versions
and/or elements of your app and helps you instantly understand their impact and
success. A/B testing SDKs can help you edit a wide variety of factors from marketing
copy to button color. It is also very valuable when you can make the adjustments in real-
time.

Optimizely

A known giant in the A/B testing world, Optimizely offers solutions for both mobile web
and mobile apps. Optimizely emphasizes that no matter how much you have customized
your app, with Optimizely you can A/B test any feature and make immediate visual
changes to the app without the need for app store approval. In addition to high caliber
testing features, Optimizely also assists with personalization and advanced targeting
tools such as behavioral and precise geo targeting.


Key features
`` Code-free Visual Editor

`` Developer Tools

`` Instant Rollout

Pricing: Starter (free) and Enterprise (customized per business). Optimizely also has a
special package for nonprofit organizations.

Page 15 Page 22
Apptimize

Since its inception, Apptimize has strictly focused on aiding mobile applications with A/B
testing. Apptimize also has a quick editing feature called the “Instant Update” feature,
which allows customers to use Apptimize’s visual editor to make small, quick changes
to their app, even if they’re not going through the standard testing process. Apptimize
is compatible with iOS and Android apps, and is aimed at making mobile app testing as
efficient and seamless as possible. Integration takes maximum five minutes and involves
zero event/element tagging.
Key features
`` Staged rollout

`` Results segmentation

`` Feature flagging

`` Tagless 5 minute integration

Pricing: Free Trial, Standard ($300/mo), and Enterprise (customized per business).

Others SDKs

Page 16 Page 22
Attribution

Attribution is a pivotal measurement, particularly when regarding mobile advertising and


determining the effectiveness and status of your marketing campaigns. In the mobile
realm, it basically encompasses the assessment of user events like downloads/installs
and in-app purchases, and from where your users are coming from (e.g. display, search,
social media). Once you track and analyze these factors you can then better understand
how to optimize your ad spend and increase your campaign ROI and user lifetime value
(LTV).

AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer is a “one-stop-shop” for mobile attribution and marketing analytics. With


Appsflyer attribution tool, you can attribute every app install to a specific marketing
campaign and media source. This way you will always know where installs are coming
from. Then with AppsFlyer’s re-targeting attribution tool you can discover which re-
marketing campaigns are re-engaging your users. AppsFlyer offers a variety of other
tools such as data integrity and various marketing analytic figures.

 Key features
`` Multi-touch attribution

`` Retargeting attribution

`` TV attribution

Pricing: Various pricing tiers depending on installation.

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Kochava

Kochava is another great attribution platform to consider adding to your toolbox. It is also
known for having the most ad network integrations out of any attribution platform. A very
unique Kochava feature is that it offers a special device fingerprinting system. When no
device identifiers are provided by a publisher network, Kochava automatically engages
these “fingerprinting” algorithms to accurately attribute those users with a device
identifier. It also provides pivotal user analytics from avg. revenue per user, user retention
rates, and LTV. Like AppsFlyer, it also offers TV attribution.
Key features
`` Ad Cost and ROI Analytics

`` 360 degree LTV Analysis

`` Identity Link

Pricing: They offer a free version, $0.03/per install, as well as an Enterprise Level.

Adjust

Adjust offers powerful cross-platform attribution and built in retargeting capabilities.


It also provides fully customizable event tracking, powerful user cohort analysis, and
seamless data exports and sharing. All of these metrics are displayed on an easy-to-use
dashboard. adjust also comes fully equipped with an arsenal of fraud combatant tools,
such as in-depth behavioral analysis of every install event.
Key features
`` KPI and Cohort Analysis

`` Fraud Detection and Prevention

`` Cross-Platform Attribution

Pricing: Not disclosed.

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Tune

Another established leader in the mobile attribution field, Tune’s attribution analytics
offers marketers a collection of tools to ensure the highest ROI and LTV of their
acquired users. Tune has efficient, real-time tracking and reporting, smooth 3rd party
ad management, support for universal deep links, and robust data organization
and audience segmentation. It also allows mobile marketers to track keywords and
competitors on the app store and estimates organic downloads.
Key features
`` Ad spend analysis

`` Cross-device attribution

`` App store keyword analysis and ranking comparison

Pricing: Not disclosed.

Branch

Branch uses deep linking technology to help app owners increase mobile conversion,
retention and engagement. They offer branded links which work on every platform


and channel so you can offer the best user experience. With Branch you can also track
your users and see where and what they are doing. Branch also offers marketers the
ability to engage with existing users through deep links in emails, custom onboarding
experiences, and analytics to see which content is performing the best.
Key features
`` Branded Links

`` Content Sharing

`` Dynamic Ads

Pricing: Variety of pricing plans for their different services.

 Other SDKs

Page 19 Page 22
Data Hubs

Data hubs are basically data storage solutions. Using a data hub, you can have all of your
data stored in a safe, secure location (not cloud based), but still have immediate access
to it on all of your devices, as well as route the information to any destination you want.
This is great for running your data through various analytics tools, your CRM, or anywhere
you need.

Chartio

Chartio connects to all your databases so you can start exploring your data. They
are built on SQL so you don’t have to learn a different proprietary language. Chartio’s
dashboard offers you a variety of ways to view your data. You can also use their Data
Pipeline to blend, transform, and layer multiple datasets. They also make it very easy to
share dashboards with fellow team members so everyone can see what’s going on. All
data is encrypted so need to worry about security.
Key features

 `` Data Blending

`` Drill Downs

`` Table Joins

`` Custom Schema

Pricing: Not disclosed.

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Fivetran

Fivetran is a single hub to manage all your data integrations. It integrates your data from
all your saas services and puts it in a single data warehouse. Fivetran’s system makes
sure your data is constantly up to date and is fully secure. You can also receive important
notifications such as if data stops importing. Fivetran stores your data and also sends it to
any of the tools you’re using so you can further dissect it.
Key features
`` Historical Data

`` Full Security

`` Important Notifications

Pricing: Free trial. But further pricing is not disclosed.

Segment

Segment lets you collect all of your data and send it anywhere. You are able to capture
data from all customer touch points such as mobile, web, and cloud apps and then send

 it to any destination such as your emails, analytics or helpdesk.


Key features
`` Open Source

`` Debugger

Pricing: Three main plans: free, $10/month and an Enterprise level.

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22
mParticle

mParticle allows you to collect, transform and connect all your data. You can collect data
from anywhere you need - mobile, web, or cloud-based apps. They help you transform
your raw event data into valuable audience segments. You can then filter how much and
what data gets sent to whom. You can also match customers between browsers and
devices so you can see what they’re doing where.
Key features
`` Configurable Data Filters

`` Redshift Sync

`` Encrypted and Secured Data

Pricing: Not disclosed.

Others SDKs

Page 22 Page 22
Mobile Marketing (including Push Notifications)

Creative, clever user engagement can greatly help with onboarding and retaining your
users, especially when the average person checks their phone over 100 times per
day. Whether it’s reaching out to your users via personal push notifications or in-app
messages, successful engagement can also help establish an underlying base of loyalty
and frequency from your users.

Urban Airship

Urban Airship provides a range services to help boost engagement from your users.
Not only does it offer interactive push notifications and in-app messaging, it also has
a unique “Wallet Studio” which allows you to easily create and distribute loyalty cards
and coupons to your users. In 2014, Urban Airship decided to collaborate with iBeacon
technology to make its push notifications even more targeted and effective. Urban
Airship also provides extensive documentation and guides regarding its tools and
engagement strategies.
Key features

 `` Multiple Message Channels

`` Location Technology and Beacons

`` Detailed Segmentation

Pricing: Starter Plan (free), Basic (starts at $99/mo), Essential (for Enterprise- starts at
$149/mo), Comprehensive (for Enterprise- starts at $349/mo).

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Kahuna

Kahuna’s mantra is to focus on both engagement and “re-engagement” of users. The


engagement channels that Kahuna provides are not only push notifications and in-app
messaging, but also web messaging, hyper-targeted Facebook ads, and smart emails. It
also offers marketing automation tools that can help you make the most targeted, multi-
channel marketing campaigns. Kahuna supports Android and iOS platforms.
Key features
`` Real-time Reporting

`` App Uninstall and Push Opt Out Tracking

`` Person Centric Data

`` Targeted Customer Segments

Pricing: Free trial. But further pricing is not disclosed.

Appboy

Appboy has a variety of omnichannel tools for you to engage and reengage individual
users from push notifications, email, in-app messages, and news feeds. Appboy is

 also known for its comprehensive user profiles, client-tailored marketing strategies,
and predictive analytics and reporting tools. Building and delivering campaigns is also
extremely seamless with Appboy’s user friendly dashboard. When it comes to support,
Appboy provides clients with extensive documentation (AppBoy Academy) and prides
itself on its unique “Success Squad”- a highly dedicated team of experts that are
committed to helping clients harness the most potential from their platform.
Key features
`` Multi-channel Messaging Campaigns

`` Detailed Customer Data

`` Success Squad

 `` Predictive Analytics

Pricing: Not disclosed.

Page 22 Page 24
OneSignal

OneSignal offers high volume, cross platform push notifications on mobile and web. You
can also A/B test various messages to see which perform better. OneSignal also offers
personalized notifications to specific segments of users. It’s easy to set up and only takes
15 minutes and then you’re ready to go. With OneSignal you can customize your push
notifications from the icon to all the text.
Key features
`` Real Time Tracking

`` A/B Testing

`` Automatic Delivery

`` Segmentation Testing

Pricing: Main tool is free. They do offer a premium support options.

Others SDKs

Page 22 Page 25
Business Intelligence/App Store
Intelligence
App Store Intelligence/BI/MI analytics tools provide you with information about how
your app is performing in the app store, as well as mapping the app store, business, or
marketing ecosystem in your market. This information can help you find new marketing
and business strategies to grow your business and increase your market share.

App Annie

App Annie is an analytics platform that helps app professionals make better informed
decisions about their apps. They have a variety of tools such as Market Data Intelligence,
App Analytics and Store Data. With the help of their Market Data Intelligence you can
receive detailed insights on app downloads, revenue, and demographics for all major
mobile apps. App Annie’s App Analytics allows you to track app performance around
usage, downloads, revenue and spend between countries and app stores (all for free).
Another main tool of App Annie’s is their Store Data which allows you to analyze market
data metrics including historical rankings, ratings and reviews.

 Key features
`` ASO & Advertising Analytics

`` App - can view your data on the go

Pricing: Free with paid options to unlock more features.

Page 22 Page 26
Sensor Tower

Sensor Tower gives you the data and insights you need to master the mobile app
ecosystem. They help you see how the top apps are performing and what they are
doing, how your ads are measuring up, and what will help increase traffic to your app.
They also help you optimize your app for the app store by reporting daily downloads
and revenue reports, strategize keyword selection, analyze reviews and many other ASO
tactics. Sensor Tower can also help you shape your acquisition strategy with the help of
their Ad Intelligence platform. It will show you which apps networks partners with, where
competitors target spend and which creatives are performing the best.
Key features
`` App Category Rankings

`` App Rating Leaderboards

`` Custom Alerts

`` Localization Analysis

Pricing: For Small Businesses, pricing starts at $79/month and goes up to $399/month.
They offer Enterprise options, but the prices are not disclosed.

AppTweak
 AppTweak provides you with all data, insights, and tools you need to increase the
number of app users. You’ll receive actionable ASO reports that include an ASO checklist,
app metadata analysis, and a competitor analysis. AppTweak has an app keyword tool
that can suggest the best keywords for your app, the top ranking keywords for an app,
and keywords localization in 10 different languages. They also provide you with basic
mobile app analytics and various tools to help with your mobile app marketing strategy.
Key features
`` Keyword Monitoring

`` Keyword Analysis

 `` ASO Report

`` Reviews and Ratings

Pricing: 7-day free trial. Variety of pricing plans from $50/month up to $550/month
(prices were converted from Euros).

Page 22 Page 27
Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 28
Monetization/Advertising

With the free pricing model reigning supreme, it is fundamental that apps find other
means of monetization aside from their own price tag. This is, of course, where app
monetization SDKs and Ad networks play an important role. By choosing an SDK,
integration and data aggregation is certainly smoother, yet in-app monetization does
not come without risks. As soon as an unsuitable or faulty ad appears on your app- you
risk damaging the UX and worse, losing your users. Thus, it is crucial that you choose an
SDK that not only has large traffic demand but also supplies you with powerful mediation
tools.

Chartboost

With gaming apps being the top category in both the App Store and Google Play, we
believe it is worthwhile to include one of the top monetization SDKs for mobile games-
Chartboost. Chartboost is strictly dedicated to gaming apps and is used amongst the
top mobile games. It is very focused on honoring the user's gameplay by aiming to
deliver the highest quality, native-oriented experience where the “interstitial and mobile

 video ad feels like part of the mobile game.” The ads themselves are primarily centered
around other mobile games, thus targeting the mobile game playing persona. It also has
comprehensive app analytics and a “Direct Deals Marketplace” which allows you to sell
ad inventory to other mobile games and buy installs. In order to get started with the SDK,
you need to add 10 lines of code, which takes approximately 5 minutes.
Key features
`` Cross Promotion Ads

`` Direct Deals Marketplace

`` Game-Ad Network

 Pricing: Cross Promotion (100% Free), Network Advertising & Publishing (Chartboost
keeps 30% of your publisher earnings), Direct Deals (Chartboost keeps 10% of your
earnings).

Page 22 Page 29
AdColony

AdColony is a mobile advertising and marketing platform with a variety of advertising


options. AdColony reaches an audience of 1.4 billion mobile users. They curate the
world’s highest performing mobile environments for advertisers. For publishers,
AdColony can help you monetize and grow your app with their mobile advertising and
marketing platform. They can help you maximize monetization with premium eCPMs
and high fill rates. AdColony is also known for it’s Instant-Play HD video technology, rich
media formats, and their global performance advertising business.
Key features
`` Various media formats

`` Instant-Play Vertical Video

Pricing: Not disclosed.

Google AdMob

Admob is a Google-owned ad network that allows you to monetize your app with
relevant ads from an inventory of over 1 million advertisers. Also, thanks to its association
with Google, users have access to all of Google’s advertiser demand from AdMob,

 AdWords and the DoubleClick Ad Exchange. In terms of size, Admob is certainly the
leader with over 650,000 apps utilizing their platform and $1 billion+ paid to developers.
The Admob SDK also allows you to choose from a wide range of ad formats for both
mobile devices and tablets, including standard banner ads, interstitial (full screen)
ads, interactive ads and exclusive custom search ads. Admob supports Android, iOS,
Windows 8, Unity, and Cocos2d-x.
Key features
`` Behavioral and Flow Visualization Reports

`` Native Ads

`` In-app Purchase House Ads

 Pricing: Account registration is free, and revenue is typically earned on a CPC basis
(although some CPM advertising is available).

Page 22 Page 30
MoPub

Owned by Twitter, MoPub is a well-known name in the mobile monetization world,


especially for its rich creatives/media options such as: Static images, HTML5 Ads,
Banner, Landing Ads, Expand Ads, Interstitial Ads, Video and ORMMArich Media ads.
MoPub also has a unique feature entitled “MoPub Marketplace” which allows you to have
full control over price floors and auction rules as well as bidders to quote prices for your
ad impressions the moment they’re available. MoPub supports only Android and iOS
apps and has two available plans: MoPub Online and MoPub Premier.
Key features
`` Ad Serving

`` Ad Network Mediation

`` MoPub Marketplace

Pricing: MoPub Online is the standard plan (marketplace revenue share 60% to publisher)
while MoPub Premier is for those running at least 100M impressions per month (price not
specified on site).

Vungle

 Vungle is an in-app video advertising platform that optimize technology, targeting,


and HD video ad delivery to reach and acquire high-quality users worldwide, generate
revenue with engaging video ads. Over 40,000 mobile apps use Vungle and they serve
over 2.5 billion videos per month on 500+ million unique devices. Vungle advertisers
are able to provide in-app video ads that are engaging and interactive. You’ll be able to
maximize ad spend and lower costs to acquire consumers. For publishers, Vungle offers
in-app video ads that are designed to blend into the user experience. You also have
control of where your audience sees ads.
Key features
`` HD Videos

`` A/B test ads in real time


 `` Interactive Ad Units

`` Flexible Placements

Pricing: Not disclosed.

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Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 32
Acquisition/Re-Targeting

These SDKs are all about getting users to keep coming back to your app, and re-
engaging users who have stopped using it.

AppLift

AppLift is a mobile ad tech company that empowers mobile app advertisers to take
control of every stage of the app marketing lifecycle. AppLift’s programmatic platform,
DataLift 360, enables advertisers to launch their apps as well as grow and retain quality
users from one interface. With DataLift 360, app marketers can programmatically access
all major mobile ad inventory worldwide and control their campaigns through a single
proprietary technology platform, which provides advanced data integration as well as
extended targeting and audience management capabilities.
Key features
`` Multiple Creative Formats

 `` Real-time Analytics

`` Advanced Targeting

Pricing: Flexible pricing model.

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AppVirality

AppVirality has easy-to-use tools to help launch referral and loyalty programs. Their tool
helps you easily acquire and engage users. They have three main referral marketing
software for E-commerce, SaaS and Business apps. Their various referral tools help
generate more leads with engaging referral programs. You can custom configure
reward rules and keep your campaign consistent with your brand image. If you have an
E-commerce app, you can take advantage of AppVirality’s customer loyalty software
which helps retain your customers.
Key features
`` CRM Integration

`` Fraud Prevention

`` Personalization

`` Automate Rewards

Pricing: Variety of pricing plans some starting at $99/month and going up to $150/
month. Also offer Enterprise level options.

Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 34
Mobile Marketing Clouds

Mobile Marketing Clouds (MMC) are all about using data and digital tech to make the
most effective customer journeys you can. By understanding customers at an individual
level, you can formulate programs tailored to what individuals want and need from your
apps.

Apsalar

Apsalar provides mobile measurement and user intelligence solutions for enterprise
marketers, allowing them to effectively measure mobile marketing efforts and lifetime
value. With Apsalar, app marketers can also unify their user data to enrich mobile user
profiles, analyze their most valuable mobile audiences and segment them for retargeting
or monetization.
Key features
`` Attribution

`` Analytics

 `` Advanced User Segmentation

`` Distribution

Pricing: Not disclosed.

Page 22 Page 35
Tapstream

Tapstream powers user acquisition and engagement for apps in a total app marketing
toolkit which includes analytics, deep links, app invites, and campaign landers. App
marketers can measure, engage, optimize and grow their apps with the help of
Tapstream. With Tapstream’s Onboarding Links you can treat your new users differently,
so everyone receives a unique experience (because not all users are the same).
Onboarding Links track installs, engagement, and revenue, but you can also set your
own metrics.
Key features
`` Onboarding Links

`` Referral Program

`` Campaign Landers

Pricing: Pricing models start at $199/month up to $1,000/month and an Enterprise level.

Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 36
Payments

Payment SDKs provide apps with an easy payment solution to help (mainly commerce)
apps process payments. Most SDKs include some form of fraud detection and security,
so apps can rest assured their payments are safe and secured. Some also help convert
various currencies, so apps can be used anywhere in the world.

Braintree

Braintree, a subsidiary of PayPal, is mainly focused on eCommerce payment systems.


They help companies of all sizes accept, process and split payments. Braintree provides
a seamless checkout experience so you won’t have to worry about any user dropoff.
They also offer advanced fraud protection so you don’t have to worry about potential
fake purchases.
Key features
`` Globally Available

`` White-Glove Support

 `` Fraud Protection

`` 3D Secure

Pricing: Standard plan is based on a successful charge basis (2.9% + 30 cents). Enterprise
plan (customize per needs).

Page 22 Page 37
Stripe

Mobile payments are more popular and relevant than ever before. Stripe’s SDK for
Android and iOS helps make sure that payments are seamless and is compatible with
Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Amex Express Checkout. On top of that, it offers multiple
payment options and works with 100+ currencies. It also provides an easy design tool
entitled “Stripe Checkout” which allows mobile teams to customize a payment flow
without any extra code. In terms of security, it makes sure that no sensitive data is
transferred to your servers and has an “evolving” fraud protection system. There are no
setup or monthly fees for Stripe.
Key features
`` Stripe Checkout

`` Extensive International Support

`` Fraud Protection

`` Recurring Billing

Pricing: Standard plan is based on a successful charge basis (2.9% + 30 cents). Enterprise
plan (customize per needs).

Adyen
 Adyen allows you to accept every payment on one platform. Adyen accepts international
cards and the local payment methods your customers expect. They provide detailed
insights on your transaction data, which in turn can help you spot patterns and better
understand buyer behavior. With Ayden’s RevenueProtect you don’t have to worry about
fraudulent purchases.
Key features
`` RevenueAccelerate

`` Fraud Protection

 `` International Payments

Pricing: Variety of pricing options depending on transactions.

Page 22 Page 38
Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 39
Engagement/Feedback

After a user installs your app, a very important step in maintaining your app’s momentum
is keeping your users engaged. Good in-app engagement will keep your users coming
back again and again. These SDKs can provide you with automated in-app messaging,
pop-ups, live chat buttons, promotional banners, and more.

Swrve

Swrve is a mobile marketing engagement platform. They are a complete marketing


engagement engine for mobile, supporting the design and delivery of mobile
experiences and automated campaigns that engage users with deep analytic
capabilities. Swrve helps you deliver interactions and build strong relationships on
mobile through push notifications, in-app messaging, email/web/SMS.
Key features
`` Campaign Templates

`` Personalization

 `` Targeting & Segmentation

`` Conversion and Funnel Analysis

Pricing: Prices are not disclosed.

Page 22 Page 40
Apptentive

Apptentive is a mobile customer engagement software that helps companies listen to,
engage with, and retain their customers. It gives brands the opportunity to identify who
to talk to, intelligently engage user segments, and mobilize customers to take action
through in-app messages, surveys, and ratings prompts. Which in turn helps companies
engage mobile customers, boost app ratings, drive downloads, and earn customer
loyalty.
Key features
`` Notes

`` Ratings Prompts

`` Surveys

Pricing: 30 day free trial. Pricing beyond that is not disclosed.

Intercom

Intercom helps you understand who your users are and what they’re doing in your app.
They help you keep your users engaged with targeted in-app and email messages


which are automatically triggered by time or behavior. Intercom helps with onboarding
messaging, retaining users through push notifications, and re-engagement messages.
You can use live data to make sure your messages are going to the right users, in the
right place.
Key features
`` Live data and filters

`` User Segments

`` Rich profiles

Pricing: Variety of pricing options from $53/month up to $155/month.

Page 22 Page 41
Other SDKs

Page 22 Page 42
Location

Honorable Mention are the Location SDKs which allow you to track users location, and
use geolocation as a tool for mobile marketing, push notifications, monetization, and as a
feature to provide your app users with relevant information based on location.

Page 22 Page 43
A Word about App Optimization in 2017

We hope that this guide helps you sort through the mass of options and extract
the SDKs that best fit your needs. Remember that these SDKs are supposed to
work for you, not you for them, so be aware not to drown yourself in data along
the way. For any app trying to succeed in 2017, we recommend assembling an
arsenal of SDKs that provides you with both quantitative and qualitative insights.
This combination will make your optimization efforts more accurate, and save you
time and resources along the way. 2017 is also all about embracing the power
of teamwork when it comes to mobile technology, so make sure you explore
the integration options that these SDKs have to offer. We are confident that
these high-caliber SDKs will help you take your app to the next level in 2017 and
beyond.

Page 22 Page 44
UNDERSTAND USER EXPERIENCE.
OPTIMIZE YOUR APP. BOOST RESULTS.
Appsee’s industry leading qualitative analytics
platform provides you with visual, actionable
data on your app’s user behavior, enabling you
to drastically improve your in-app KPIs.

OBTAIN EVERY SINGLE “WHY”


BEHIND YOUR METRICS
Most app analytics on the market rely on
numerical data, which can provide you with
valuable, surface-level information on your
app, but nothing deeper. When it comes to
analyzing your user experience, numbers do
not suffice. Instead, you need to see for yourself
precisely how users experience your app. This
is where Appsee comes to the rescue.

With Appsee’s unique user recordings and


touch heatmaps, you can make better informed
decisions regarding your app’s product design
and functionality and spend less time sifting
through mountains of data. Appsee also
automatically detects all screens, buttons and
user actions within your app without requiring
you to select what to measure in advance and
tag them in advance in your code.

These powerful visualization tools, paired with


Appsee’s real-time analytics, user flows, and
crash symbolication, allow you to gather the
best understanding of what is going on inside
your app and where you need to optimize.

No more asking questions of your analytics


system- just pure, unambiguous answers
regarding your app and its users.

WHY CHOOSE APPSEE?

At 1-800 Contacts, we are always


optimizing our native applications We use Appsee to expertly
on both Android and iOS. Appsee assess and optimize Tripsta’s
has become a valuable tool to UI, from our search capabilities
improve our customer’s experience. to our bookings log. Appsee
The integration was effortless and helps us guarantee the utmost
within two weeks of use we were positive UX for our users- and
able to identify opportunities for our users couldn’t be happier!
improvement.
Pantos Papazoglou
Mobile Product Manager
Dallan Rees
Product Manager - Mobile Applications

USER RECORDINGS
User Recordings provide one of the best ways to get inside the
minds of your users and assess the experience and usability of
your app. Appsee’s User Recordings analyze users on the single-
user level and record all taps, swipes, actions, and habits. By
watching user recordings of real-time user sessions, you’ll have a
clear, visual representation of what is “working” for your mobile app
and what isn’t. The insights are so crystal clear, it’s practically as if
you were sitting right next to your user.

SEE AND UNDERSTAND:


• Why are users not completing registration?
• Why does your app crash?
• Where are users getting frustrated and not returning?

TOUCH HEATMAPS
Appsee automatically tracks all touch gestures (taps, swipes,
pinches etc.) and aggregates them into a slick touch heatmap
for each screen in your app. These touch heatmaps allow you
to assess the effectiveness of your app’s UI and see where your
users are focusing their attention. They can also help you detect
unresponsive gestures on each screen, which if gone unnoticed,
can greatly damage your user experience.

SEE AND UNDERSTAND:


• Why are certain screens more popular than others?
• Why are particular features not being used?
• Why do some screens have a higher quit-rate than others?

TRADITIONAL
ANALYTICS

APPSEE VS. TRADITIONAL ANALYTICS

TRADITIONAL
APPSEE
ANALYTICS

What Why
Data Meaning
Clutter Clarity
Usage UX + UI
Metrics + Graphs Visuals + Videos
Requires you to ask Provides you with the
the questions answers
Actions Behavior
Aggregate Single User Level

WAIT, THERE’S MORE…


On top of our unparalleled visual tools, we also provide

REAL-TIME ANALYTICS SIMPLE INTEGRATION CRASH RECORDINGS


In order to ensure the relevancy Since UX is our forte, we wanted to make Watch recordings of crashed
and accuracy of our insights, all our integration process as seamless as sessions to see the exact sequence
of Appsee’s data is tracked and possible. All it takes is one line of code of user actions that led to your
updated in real-time. and less than 5 minutes. app crashing. This powerful, visual
context will allow you to reproduce a
crash in less than 5 minutes.

LOW FOOTPRINT EASY FUNNEL SETUP AUTOMATIC EVENTS


 ppsee’s SDK is extremely
A Appsee enables you to configure Unlike other analytics platforms, in
lightweight & works in the conversion funnels for relevant which you need to pre-define events
background without impacting your processes within your app, measure the and think about which actions may
app’s performance. conversion rates, and understand the interest you, Appsee automatically
reasons for the success or failure of each detects every screen, button, event,
process. You are also able to watch user and actions. No longer do you
recordings of users who completed or have to decide what to measure in
did not complete certain funnels. advance.

PRIVATE SECURED
Appsee does not record any Customer Data is stored and
personal user information. secured according to the
strictest security standards.

SUPPORTED PLATFORMS

APPSEE IS TRUSTED BY THESE AMAZING MOBILE TEAMS:

SO ARE YOU READY TO GET THE MOST ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS


POSSIBLE ON YOUR APP? THERE’S NOTHING STOPPING YOU.

TRY OUT APPSEE FOR FREE.

GET STARTED NOW

Phone: +1-888-213-9644 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.appsee.com

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