Google Play Store testing feature to compare similar apps

The Google Play Store continues to test new features almost weekly, the latest of which is a direct app-to-app comparison called the “Compare Apps” option that pops up for some, allowing direct feature verification between several similar apps.

Initially seen by the team at Android PoliceIt doesn’t seem like app comparisons are widely available on the Google Play Store. However, this is a really nifty little plugin that will make navigating and choosing specific apps a lot easier than it currently is, that’s for sure.

At the moment, trying to compare important features and functions between Android apps is quite frustrating. This new feature would mean that you will be able to see things like the current rating, top features, and even control information.

In the example shared by AP, the “Compare app” section appears below the review panel. Apps similar, in this case to VLC, are displayed in a scrollable list from left to right with information such as video codec support, offline streaming information, and visible control data along with the average app rating and rates. download. You can see it in action below:

For developers, this could be a great way to highlight the main features and differentiators between their apps and those of their rivals. The data could easily be collected from the Google Play developer console or extracted from reviews left by happy (or indeed) dissatisfied customers as well. Being able to compare similar apps on the Google Play Store is a feature we didn’t know we wanted until now.

Top app lists are often dominated by the same apps over and over again, having the ability to compare apps directly on the Play Store could help smaller developers gain traction in one of the largest software stores in the world. As with all A / B interface tests, there is no information on when we could see the option being deployed more widely.

Hopefully this option doesn’t just disappear into the ether like many of the proposed features and A / B testing we’ve seen before, as it seems really useful on a day-to-day basis. If you’ve seen the app comparison option appear on the Play Store, be sure to let us know in the comment section below.

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