PRODUCT GUIDE · 20 MIN

How to use Hiaso, from A to Z

Set up your workspace, find realistic keyword opportunities, create stronger App Store metadata, localize your listing, and publish validated prices.

The Hiaso home screen is your starting point for apps, settings, documentation and support.

Before you begin

Install Hiaso on a Mac with macOS 14.6 or later and an Apple-silicon processor. Keep your license key nearby. OpenAI and App Store Connect are optional until you use AI writing, translation, validation, or publishing.

Download Hiaso Start setup ↓

STEP 01

Activate your license

Activation unlocks Hiaso’s research, optimization, localization and publishing features on this Mac.

FIND YOUR LICENSE AFTER CHECKOUT

Copy your license key from Whop

After paying, you will be redirected to the Hiaso customer hub on Whop. Your license key and app download are available in its Software section.

On the Hiaso page in Whop, select the Software icon in the left sidebar.
Expand Your License Keys.
Copy the license key shown there. Keep it private because it unlocks your Hiaso purchase.

Hiaso customer hub on Whop with the Software icon in the sidebar — After checkout, open Software from the Hiaso customer hub in Whop.

Whop Software page with Your License Keys and Downloads sections — Expand Your License Keys to reveal and copy your Hiaso license.

Open Hiaso and select License from the home screen or Settings.
Paste the license key you copied from Whop into the License field.
Select Validate. A successful activation is saved for future launches.

Hiaso license activation screen — Enter your license key, then select Validate. Use Buy a license if you do not have one yet.

STEP 02

Connect OpenAI for writing and translation

Hiaso uses your own OpenAI API key for metadata packages and multilingual localization. Keyword research and purchasing-power pricing do not require it.

Open Settings → Open AI.
Paste your API key, choose an available model, and select Save Key.
Select Verify Connection. When connected, Hiaso shows the verified key ending and the models available to that key.

OpenAI API key and model setup in Hiaso — Add your key and choose the model Hiaso should use.

Verified OpenAI connection in Hiaso — A green Connected status confirms that the key works.

STEP 03

Connect App Store Connect

Connect Apple when you want to import live metadata, add localizations, validate Apple price points, or publish changes.

CREATE THE API KEY IN APP STORE CONNECT

Generate a team key with App Manager access

You must be the Account Holder or an Admin to generate a team API key. If API access has never been enabled for the account, the Account Holder must request access first.

Sign in to App Store Connect and open Users and Access.
Select Integrations → App Store Connect API → Team Keys.
Select Generate API Key. If another key already exists, use the plus button to add a new one.
Give the key a recognizable name such as Hiaso.
Under Access, select App Manager or a higher role. App Manager is the minimum recommended access because Hiaso works with pricing and App Store information.
Select Generate. Copy the Issuer ID shown above the active-keys table and the new key’s Key ID.
Select Download API Key to receive the private .p8 file, then store it somewhere secure.

Return to Hiaso and open Settings → Store Connect.
Enter a recognizable key name, then paste the Issuer ID and Key ID you copied from App Store Connect.
Choose the downloaded .p8 signing-key file, then select Save Credentials.

App Store Connect credentials screen in Hiaso — Hiaso stores one team API key securely for the apps on this Mac.

Further reading: Apple’s App Store Connect API guide and RevenueCat’s illustrated key-configuration guide.

STEP 04

Add the app you want to optimize

You can find a published App Store app by name or identify your own app precisely by bundle ID.

Select Add App in the sidebar.
Search by app name for discovery work, or enter the bundle ID when linking your own App Store Connect app.
Confirm the platform and storefront, then select the plus button beside the correct result.
If the app is not on the store yet, use Add Temporary App to begin research before launch.

Searching for an App Store app by name in Hiaso — Search by name and verify the developer before adding a result.

Finding an owned app by bundle ID in Hiaso — A bundle ID is the safest way to identify the exact app you own.

STEP 05

Research keywords and competitors

Build a focused keyword set by comparing demand, difficulty, attainable ranking positions and the apps already winning each search.

Switch the workspace selector to Keywords and choose the country you want to research.
Select Add Keywords. Enter seed terms separated by commas and review live opportunities before adding them.
Compare Popularity, Overall Difficulty, Top 5/10/20 difficulty, current Position and Estimated Downloads.
Use sort, filters and search to find realistic opportunities. Select a keyword to inspect its demand curve and ranking apps.
Open Top Apps to study titles, icons, ratings and competitors that repeatedly appear for the term.

Adding multiple keyword seeds in Hiaso — Add focused seed terms; suggestions are opportunities to investigate, not automatic recommendations.

Hiaso keyword research results table — Read demand and difficulty together. A popular keyword is only useful when the app is relevant and can compete.

Keyword sorting and search controls in Hiaso — Sort by recency, popularity, difficulty or position, then narrow the table with search.

Detailed keyword popularity, difficulty and download estimates in Hiaso — The detail view estimates the upside and the rating strength needed at visible positions.

Top ranking apps for a keyword in Hiaso — Review the top results to understand who owns the search and how strong the weakest visible competitor is.

STEP 06

Turn research into stronger App Store metadata

The App Store Page workspace brings your title, subtitle, keywords, description and promotional text together with product context and AI-generated packages.

Switch to App Store Page. Use Pull from Apple if you want to start from the current live listing.
Select App Context and describe what the app does, its audience, problem, primary benefit, features, differentiator, positioning and tone.
Save the context, then select Generate 3 Packages. Compare Recommended, Keyword Forward and Benefit Forward options.
Select Use Package for the direction you prefer. Review the metadata audit and edit anything that is inaccurate or duplicated.
Select Review & Publish. Compare every Current and Proposed field before confirming Publish Changes.

App Store Page metadata editor in Hiaso — Review indexed and conversion metadata together, with Apple’s field limits visible.

App Context setup form in Hiaso — Specific, verified context produces more useful metadata and prevents invented claims.

Three generated App Store metadata packages in Hiaso — Each package uses a different emphasis while respecting the product context.

A generated package applied with a clean metadata audit — After applying a package, resolve every audit warning and read the full listing as a customer would.

Reviewing current and proposed App Store metadata before publishing — Nothing is sent to Apple until you confirm the field-by-field review.

STEP 07

Add localized App Store languages

Create complete localization drafts from the source listing, then review each market independently before publishing.

From App Store Page, select Add Languages.
Search or scroll for the locales you want and select their checkboxes.
Select Translate & Add, then inspect the title, subtitle, keywords, description and promotional text for every locale.
Adapt search language and positioning where necessary; literal translation is not always good ASO.

Selecting App Store localization languages in Hiaso — Choose only the locales you are prepared to review and maintain.

STEP 08

Localize and publish App Store prices

Hiaso creates purchasing-power-equivalent targets, matches them to Apple’s available price points, and lets you review every territory before publishing.

Switch to Price Localize, choose App Price or a subscription, then enter the base-territory customer price.
Select Generate Prices. Review the PPP target for each market and apply overrides where your strategy needs them.
Select Configure and confirm the local app is linked to the exact Apple app by bundle ID.
Run Validate Prices. Hiaso maps every supported territory to Apple’s closest canonical price point; when two points are equally close, the lower price wins.
Review the validated results, select Publish, check the included territories and confirm only when the schedule is correct.

Starting a localized price plan in Hiaso — Choose the pricing target and enter the base customer price before generating the plan.

A Hiaso app successfully linked to App Store Connect — Verify the local app, bundle ID, Apple app and resource ID before continuing.

Validating localized prices against Apple price points — Validation checks each supported territory against Apple’s canonical prices.

Successfully validated App Store prices in Hiaso — A completed run shows how many territories received a validated Apple price.

Final App Store price publishing review in Hiaso — Review the selected territories and canonical Apple price points before publishing. The current paid-app workflow publishes immediately.

YOU’RE READY

A repeatable Hiaso workflow

Research one market, choose defensible keywords, ground AI in verified product context, review every proposed change, then publish and measure. Repeat the process for each storefront instead of treating ASO as a one-time task.

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