App Name Length Limits: App Store vs Google Play

Details here are as of October 2026.

I read both stores' own guidance before writing this.

The name limit is identical. What differs is everything around it.

Apple gives you a subtitle and a hidden keywords field. Google Play relies more on your title and descriptions.

Apple's product page guidance says an app name can be up to 30 characters long.

It also says the name plays a critical role in how users discover your app.

Apple's advice is to choose a simple, memorable name that's easy to spell and hints at what the app does.

It warns against names that use generic terms or that are too similar to existing app names.

That's guidance, not just a character count.

Google's metadata policy states it directly: your app title must be 30 characters or less.

The same policy covers the title, icon and developer name together.

It says these elements are particularly helpful for users to find and learn about your app.

That's why Google applies extra rules to them, beyond the character count.

Breaking those rules can get a listing rejected, even if the title fits in 30 characters.

Google's policy lists what not to put in a title, icon or developer name.

1. 1Emojis, emoticons or repeated special characters.
2. 2ALL CAPS, unless it's part of your brand name.
3. 3Text showing store performance or rank, like 'App of the year', '#1' or 'Popular'.
4. 4Price or promotion text, like '10% off' or 'free for limited time only'.
5. 5Text suggesting Google Play programs, like 'Editor's choice' or 'New'.

I checked each of those examples against the policy page itself. They're quoted directly.

Apple gives you a second line that Google doesn't.

A subtitle can be up to 30 characters long. It appears below your app's name throughout the App Store.

Apple suggests using it, rather than the name, to explain your app's value in more detail.

It also warns against generic phrases like world's best app.

This takes pressure off the name. You don't need to cram a description into it.

Our guide to subtitles and promotional text covers that field in depth.

Google Play has no subtitle, so the short description carries more weight.

That's the line users see near the top of your listing.

Use it to say what your app does, the way Apple's subtitle would.

The full description then covers features and details.

Keep the title for your brand plus, at most, a short hint of what the app does.

Our post on short vs full descriptions explains how to split the work between them.

Thirty characters goes fast. Spaces count too.

A common pattern is brand plus a short descriptor, like Brand: Habit Tracker.

Keep the brand first. People remember the first word.

Cut filler words such as app, the and best.

Count the separator. A colon and a space use two characters.

If you can't fit both brand and descriptor, keep the brand. On Apple, the descriptor can move to the subtitle.

Here are made up examples, written to show the pattern.

Each fits with room to spare.

None uses emojis, prices, ranks or ALL CAPS.

These aren't real apps. They're illustrations of the structure.

Here's what not to do, using the examples from Google's own policy.

All four fit in 30 characters. All four break Google's metadata rules.

Avoid them on Apple too. Apple's guidance asks for names that are simple and distinctive, not loud.

Apple warns against names too similar to existing apps.

That's a common trap for new developers who copy a popular app's naming style.

Before choosing a name, search both stores for it.

If a well known app already uses something close, pick a different direction.

A distinctive name is easier to remember and harder to confuse.

It also lowers the risk of a trademark dispute later, which is far more costly than renaming before launch.

Your store title isn't always what users see after installing.

On a phone's home screen, the name under the icon has very little room.

Long names often get cut off there.

That's another reason to put your brand first. If the label gets cut short, the brand should still show.

On Android, the label under the icon comes from the app itself, so it can be shorter than your store title.

Plan both: a store title for search and a short label for the home screen.

Apple has a separate keywords field, limited to 100 characters in total.

Terms are separated by commas, with no spaces after the commas.

This field isn't visible to users, so it's where extra search terms belong, not your name.

Apple's guidance suggests avoiding plurals of words you already use, category names, the word app, and duplicate words.

That frees your name from keyword stuffing.

Google Play has no equivalent field, so its title and descriptions carry search terms instead.

You can change your name after launch on both stores, but plan carefully.

Users who know your old name may struggle to find you.

On Apple, Apple's product page guidance notes that the subtitle can be updated with a new app version, which makes it easier to test messaging there instead of in the name.

If you rename, keep the brand recognizable. Changing the descriptor is safer than changing the brand.

And recheck the rules each time. A new title must still meet both stores' policies.

Read the rejection note closely. It usually names the field and the rule.

For Google Play, compare your title against the metadata policy list: emojis, caps, ranks, prices and program names.

For Apple, check for generic terms or a name that's too close to another app.

Fix the issue, then resubmit.

Our guide on what to do after a store listing rejection walks through the steps.

Treat 30 characters as a hard ceiling on both stores, with spaces included.

Put your brand first, then a short descriptor if it fits.

On Apple, move extra detail to the subtitle and keywords. On Google Play, move it to the short description.

Skip emojis, ALL CAPS, rankings, prices and words like New.

A plain, clear name passes review and is easier to remember.

Once the name is set, your screenshots do the rest. You can place them in a free device frame before you upload.