Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio: setup guide

Looker Studio is a powerful free tool to visualize and analyze your advertising performance. If you run campaigns on Apple Search Ads, connecting your account to Looker Studio lets you monitor spend, keyword performance, and conversions, all in one place.

There are two main ways to connect your Apple Search Ads data to Looker Studio:

• Automatically, using a partner connector like Catchr.
• Manually, using Google Sheets as an intermediary.

Why connect Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio

Connecting Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio helps you analyze search performance, track ROI, and automate reporting. Instead of switching between Apple Search Ads dashboards and spreadsheets, you can visualize everything in one dynamic report.

With Looker Studio, you can:

• Track spend, impressions, taps, installs, CPT, CPA, conversion rate, and ROAS.
• Identify top-performing campaigns, ad groups, keywords, search terms, and creatives.
• Blend Apple Search Ads with Meta Ads, Google Ads, or GA4 for a full-funnel view from ad to install to event/conversion.
• Automate reporting and share live dashboards with your team or clients.

In short, connecting Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio gives you a centralized, real-time view of your app acquisition performance.

Method 1: Connect Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio using Catchr (recommended)

For most marketers and agencies, the automated connection is the most efficient and scalable solution. It uses the Apple Search Ads API to sync your data directly into Looker Studio.

How it works

Partner connectors like Catchr act as a bridge between Apple Search Ads and Looker Studio. Once authorized, Catchr connects to your Apple Search Ads account and automatically imports your campaign, ad group, keyword, and search term metrics.

Your metrics and dimensions refresh daily, ensuring your reports always reflect the latest results, no manual exports needed.

Steps

1. Create a new data source on Looker Studio
   • Go to the Looker Studio homepage.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

2. Search for Apple Search Ads
   • In the search bar, type Apple Search Ads.
   • From the list, select a certified connector such as Catchr.

3. Authorize your Catchr and Apple Search Ads accounts in Looker Studio
   • Click Authorize to link your Catchr account with Looker Studio.
   • Then, authorize again to sign in to Apple Search Ads and allow access to your accounts.

4. Choose your account(s)
   • Select one or multiple accounts to include in your report.
   • (Optional) Start from a prebuilt Looker Studio template to save time.

5. Click Create report
   • Click Create Report to finish the setup.
   • Your Apple Search Ads data, including impressions, taps, installs, spend, CPT, CPA, and ROAS, will automatically load into Looker Studio and refresh daily.

Common Use Cases

Connecting Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio allows you to track performance in real time and automate granular, keyword-level reporting.

• User acquisition managers monitor CPT, CPA, and ROAS across markets and campaigns.
• Agencies automate client reports and build white-labeled dashboards.
• Mobile app teams analyze keyword efficiency, search term coverage, and creative performance.
• Finance/ops align spend with installs and in-app conversion value to validate ROI.

To help you get started faster, Catchr provides ready-to-use Looker Studio template for Apple Search Ads.

Method 2: Connect Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio using Google Sheets

If you prefer a free, manual approach, you can use Google Sheets as an intermediary between Apple Search Ads and Looker Studio. This method is simple but requires regular exports or an automation tool (like Zapier or Make) to refresh data automatically.

How it works

You’ll export your Apple Search Ads performance from the dashboard (or via scheduled reports) and import it into Google Sheets. Then, you’ll connect that spreadsheet to Looker Studio using the Google Sheets connector.

Steps

1. Export your Apple Search Ads data to Google Sheets
   • From your Apple Search Ads dashboard, go to Campaign.
   • Select the campaign you want, then click Actions > Download the data.
   • Open the downloaded file and import it into Google Sheets.

2. Create a new data source in Looker Studio
   • Go to the Looker Studio homepage.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

3. Connect the Google Sheets connector
   • In the connector list, search for Google Sheets.
   • Select it and, if prompted, authorize access to your Google account.

4. Choose your Apple Search Ads Google Sheets
   • Select the spreadsheet and worksheet containing your Apple Search Ads export.
   • Click Connect to link your data to Looker Studio.

5. Create your Apple Search Ads report
   • Click Create Report to start building your dashboard.

Which method should you choose?

If you want dashboards that automatically refresh and always reflect your latest Apple Search Ads data, Catchr is the most reliable option, especially for UA teams and agencies. Google Sheets remains a good choice for occasional or one-time reports.

FAQ: Apple Search Ads and Looker Studio

Can I connect multiple Apple Search Ads accounts?

‍Yes. Catchr supports multiple Apple Search Ads accounts in a single Looker Studio report.

Are Apple Search Ads data updates automatic?

‍Yes, with Catchr your data refreshes daily. Google Sheets, however, requires manual exports or automation tools.

Can I combine Apple Search Ads with other platforms?

‍Absolutely. You can blend Apple Search Ads with GA4, product analytics, or other ad platforms to measure end-to-end ROI.

What data can I pull from Apple Search Ads?

‍You can access metrics such as impressions, taps, installs, spend, CPT, CPA, conversion rate, creative metrics, and ROAS. See Catchr’s documentation for the full Apple Search Ads field list.

Is the Catchr Apple Search Ads connector free?

‍Catchr offers a free trial to connect your Apple Search Ads account to Looker Studio. After the trial, a paid plan is required to keep your data automatically synchronized and access advanced features.

Make Apple Search Ads work with Looker Studio

Connecting Apple Search Ads to Looker Studio helps you visualize performance, optimize keywords and bids, and make smarter, data-driven decisions. Whether you use the manual Google Sheets method or automate everything with Catchr, you’ll turn your Apple Search Ads data into actionable insights that fuel growth.