Cross-Promoting Your Own Mobile Apps (2026)

If you ship multiple apps, cross-promotion between them is one of your cheapest acquisition channels. Each new app launch can pull from your existing user base instead of starting from cold paid acquisition.

But Apple and Google both restrict what you can do here. This is the working playbook.

What's allowed (2026)

Allowed

• "More from this developer" section in your app, linking to your other apps' App Store / Play Store pages.
• Mentioning your other apps in your app's description, screenshots, or in-app content (where contextually appropriate).
• Cross-promoting via email to your user list.
• Cross-promoting via push notifications to your own users.
• Deep linking between your own apps (e.g., "Open in [App B]") if both installed.

Not allowed

• Sending users directly to install a competitor (even your own competing app) in a way that violates platform rules.
• Aggressive interstitials or paywalls promoting another app.
• Misleading users about which app they're using.
• Using App Store Connect to "transfer" users between apps.

The line is usually about user experience — discreet cross-promotion is fine, in-your-face cross-promotion is rejected.

The realistic cross-promotion playbook

Surface 1: "More from this developer" in-app section

A dedicated screen / sidebar listing your other apps:

• App icon + brief description for each.
• "Get on App Store / Play Store" CTA.
• Discreet placement (settings, about page, post-paywall fallback).

This is the standard pattern. Drives 1-5% of installs from existing users at minimal friction cost.

Surface 2: In-context recommendations

Where contextually relevant, mention another of your apps:

• Productivity app → "If you like [App A], try [App B], our calendar focused on developers."
• Photo editor → "Want video editing too? Check [App B]."

Best when there's a real user benefit to using both.

Surface 3: Push notifications to your user list

You can use your push notification permission to recommend your other apps:

"We just launched [App B]. If you use [App A] for fitness, you might like our nutrition app."

Rate-limit aggressively (1-2 per quarter at most). Cross-promotion notifications burn opt-in faster than other notification types.

Surface 4: Email lists

If you have email captured (with consent), this is your highest-impact channel:

• Newsletter announcing new app.
• Welcome email mentioning your app suite.
• Special offers for existing users on new app.

Email cross-promotion converts 5-15× better than in-app surface for new launches.

Surface 5: App-of-the-month / featured app

If your other app is currently in a launch / featured period, an in-app banner ("Our latest: [App B]") with discreet placement can drive meaningful installs.

Specific patterns that work

Pattern 1: Suite branding

If you ship multiple apps, brand them as a suite:

• Use consistent design language.
• Visible developer name in title or subtitle.
• "From the makers of [App A]" callout in App B's screenshots.

Examples: Things + Daylite + Procreate (Procreate has a sister app), the Calm suite.

Pattern 2: Cross-app deep linking

If User has both apps, deep link from one to the other:

• "Open in [App B] for more features" button.
• Shared data sync between your apps.

Requires Universal Links setup. See deep linking guide.

Pattern 3: Loyalty bundling

Offer Pro tier across all your apps as a bundle:

• "Pro Suite: $19.99/mo (covers App A, App B, App C)."
• "$9.99 each, or $14.99 for all three."

Apple supports family-of-apps bundles. Google Play less so. Subscription bundles get tricky with billing — consult tax / legal.

Pattern 4: Migration paths

For developers shipping a new generation:

• "We're sunsetting App A — install App B, our successor."
• Plan a migration period (3-6 months).
• Smooth data migration if possible.

App Store cross-promotion specifically

"More from developer" section

App Store automatically generates a "More from this developer" carousel on your app's product page. You don't control content (it's algorithmic), but well-positioned app pages get into this carousel.

App Store ads (Apple Search Ads)

You can run Apple Search Ads campaigns:

• Bidding on your own brand for App A.
• Bidding on related keywords for App B.
• This is fully allowed (and many big developers do it).

Google Play cross-promotion

Google Play has similar mechanics:

• "More by Developer" section auto-populated.
• Cross-promotion ads via Google App Campaigns (across YouTube, Display, Search).
• "Suggested for you" surfaces (algorithmic).

What to measure

For cross-promotion campaigns:

• Source attribution — which surface drove the install (in-app banner, email, push, web)?
• Conversion rate — installers vs viewers of the cross-promotion surface.
• Retention of cross-promoted installs — often higher than cold-paid (familiar with developer).
• Cannibalization — are users dropping App A to use App B? Watch this if they're competing for time.

Common mistakes

• Aggressive interstitial cross-promo. App Store can reject; users hate.
• Burying "More from developer" so deep nobody sees it. Find balance.
• Promoting unrelated apps. Confuses users; low conversion.
• Cross-promoting too often via push. Burns opt-in.
• No deep linking between own apps. Users opening App A from App B should land in the right place.
• Skipping email channel. Highest-leverage; underused.

What doesn't work

• "You should try our other apps" without context. Users ignore.
• Cross-promoting competing apps in the same category. Cannibalizes; rejected by review sometimes.
• Bundling at deep discount. Cheap bundles make individual apps feel less premium.
• Pop-up cross-promo on launch. Tank reviews.

Run an audit alongside cross-promotion

Cross-promotion succeeds when both apps have polished listings. Run free ASO audit on each app — strengthen all listings before pushing cross-promotion traffic.

Related reading

• Mobile App Deep Linking Guide
• Mobile App Referral Program Design
• Push Notification Best Practices
• App Retargeting Win-Back Lapsed Users
• Mobile App PR Strategy for Indie Developers
• Mobile App Monetization Guide 2026

Try the tools

• Free ASO audit
• Listing Analyzer