Comparison posts for apps: old way vs new way, done fairly

Comparison posts for apps work best when they compare two ways of doing a task, not two brands. An "old way vs new way" post sets your app against the habit it replaces (a spreadsheet, a paper list, a group chat), and a "this vs that" post compares two approaches fairly, including where the other side wins. Neither needs a competitor's name, which keeps the post credible and avoids picking a public fight.

What is a comparison post for an app?

A comparison post puts two options side by side so the viewer sees the difference at a glance. Two kinds work well for apps:

• Old way vs new way. Your app against the method people use today: a notes app, a spreadsheet, sticky notes, memory or doing nothing at all.
• This vs that. Two approaches to the same goal, such as tracking every expense vs setting a weekly limit, or streaks vs flexible goals. Your app belongs to one side, or supports both.

What they share: neither names a competing app. The comparison is between methods, and your app represents one of them.

Why compare against a method instead of a competitor?

Your real competitor is usually a habit. Many people who could use a budgeting app aren't using a rival app. They're using their bank's app, a spreadsheet or nothing. Comparing against that habit speaks to far more of your audience than comparing against a brand they may never have heard of.

Attacks read as insecure. A post that mocks another app tells viewers more about you than about the rival. It also invites that app's fans into your comments.

It's lower risk. Naming a competitor brings in questions about trademarks, accuracy and fair comparison that a method comparison mostly avoids. More on that below.

The viewer chose the old way. Respect it. Something about the spreadsheet worked for them, or they wouldn't use it.

How to make an "old way vs new way" post

An old way vs new way post shows the same task done twice. It's close to a before and after post, but the subject is the method rather than the person's day.

Structure it like this:

• Name the task. "Splitting a dinner bill with six friends."
• Show the old way, step by step. The calculator, the photo of the receipt, the group chat, the "who still owes?" message three days later.
• Show the new way. The same task with the steps your app removes, using a real screen.
• Give the old way its due. "A calculator is free and already on your phone." This one line makes the whole comparison believable.

Each "new way" assumes the fictional app's listing describes that feature. Yours should come straight from your listing. If you struggle to say what the new way does in one line, start with your one-sentence value proposition.

How to make a "this vs that" post

A this vs that post compares two approaches and helps the viewer pick one. It's the more generous format, because the honest answer is often "it depends".

Good this vs that topics:

• Streaks vs flexible goals for a habit tracker.
• Tracking every expense vs a weekly spending limit for a budgeting app.
• Flashcards vs short stories for a language app.
• Background sound vs silence for a sleep app.

The structure: a cover that poses the question ("Streaks or flexible goals?"), one slide on who each approach suits, one slide on the trade-off, and a last slide showing how your app handles your side, or both if it does. Question hooks like "Which one are you?" fit this format well; see the question hooks in our formula list.

When your app supports only one side, say so plainly. "If streaks motivate you, this isn't the app for you" loses a few viewers and earns the trust of the rest.

How do you keep a comparison fair?

• Compare the same task. Not your app's best case against the old way's worst case.
• Name at least one thing the other side does well. Free, familiar, offline, flexible: there's always something.
• Use only claims your listing supports. If your App Store page doesn't say it, the comparison can't either.
• Skip invented numbers. "10x faster" or "saves 3 hours" needs a source you can show. Without one, describe the difference instead: "two taps instead of a spreadsheet row".
• Show, don't sneer. The old way should look a little tedious, not ridiculous.
• Let the viewer decide. End with "pick what fits", not "only fools still use paper".

Table formats that work on a slide

Tables are the natural format for comparisons, but a slide is small. A few rules keep them readable on a phone:

• Three or four rows at most. Split longer comparisons across slides.
• Two option columns plus one label column. No more.
• Short cells. Two to four words each.
• Words, not only symbols. Ticks and crosses are fast, but "yes, by hand" says more than a tick.

Here's a slide-sized comparison for a fictional shared list app:

Look at the last two rows: the old way wins both. That's on purpose. A table where your app wins every row looks like an ad. A table with honest rows looks like advice.

Other layouts that work on carousels:

• The checklist pair. Two short lists, "With a spreadsheet" and "With the app", three lines each.
• The "when to use each" slide. Rows for situations ("You share costs every week", "You split one dinner a year") with a recommendation for each. The honest answer for the one dinner is often the calculator.
• One contrast per slide. A single row per slide, repeated across three slides, for a slower reveal.

The carousel playbook covers sizes and slide copy rules that apply to all of these.

Comparison formats for short video

• Split screen. The old way on one half, the new way on the other, doing the same task at the same time.
• Twice through. The task done the old way, then a cut, then the same task again with the app.
• Voice-over list. One calm shot while the voice compares the two approaches point by point.

Be careful with races. If the video implies the new way takes ten seconds, it should really take about ten seconds in the app. Speeding up footage or skipping steps is the video version of an invented statistic.

How to make a comparison post, step by step

1. Pick one task your audience already does.
2. Name the method you're comparing against, not a brand.
3. List the real steps of the old way, in the order people actually do them.
4. List the steps with your app, using only features on your App Store listing.
5. Find at least one thing the old way does well, and include it.
6. Choose a format: a slide table, a checklist pair or a split-screen video.
7. Write the cover or hook as the contrast or the question.
8. End with the real app and one call to action.

ReelMyApp helps most with steps 4, 7 and 8. It reads your App Store or Google Play listing and only uses facts from it, never inventing features, prices, rankings or reviews, which is the same discipline a fair comparison needs. Its carousels open with a hook slide and end on your real icon and a real screenshot, and you can rewrite any slide's headline if you want it phrased as a comparison. A five-slide Draft carousel in one language costs 10 credits, and new accounts get 20 free credits after verifying their email.

A few legal and ethical cautions

This isn't legal advice, and the rules differ by country and by platform. But a few general points are worth knowing before you publish any comparison.

• Naming a competitor raises the stakes. Many countries regulate comparative advertising, and a common thread is that claims about a rival should be accurate, fair and possible to back up. If you plan to name a brand, especially in paid ads, talk to a lawyer first.
• Don't use other apps' logos, screenshots or interface. They belong to someone else, and using them can raise trademark or copyright questions.
• Don't imply a rival is unsafe, dishonest or failing. Even a joke can read as a factual claim.
• Check platform ad policies before boosting. Paid posts are often reviewed more strictly than organic ones, and policies change, so read the current rules for each platform.
• Keep your own claims current. If a feature changes or disappears, update or remove the comparison.

Comparing against a method sidesteps most of this. "The spreadsheet way" doesn't have a legal department.

Key takeaways

• Comparison posts for apps work best between methods, not brands.
• "Old way vs new way" shows the same task twice; "this vs that" helps the viewer choose an approach.
• Give the other side at least one honest win, and use only claims from your App Store listing.
• Keep slide tables to three or four rows of short cells, in words rather than only symbols.
• Don't use other apps' names, logos or screenshots without legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I name a competitor in a comparison post?

Rules on comparative advertising differ by country and platform, and naming a rival raises questions about trademarks and accuracy. The simpler default is to compare against a method; if you want to name a brand, get legal advice first.

What is an old way vs new way post?

A post that shows the same task done twice: once with the method people use today, like a spreadsheet or a group chat, and once with your app. It compares methods, not brands.

How do I keep a comparison fair?

Compare the same task, give the other side at least one honest win, and only use claims your App Store listing supports. Skip invented numbers like 10x faster.

What format works best for comparison posts?

On carousels, a slide-sized table or a pair of short checklists. On video, a split screen or the same task shown twice. Keep tables to three or four rows of short cells.

Should I compare prices in a comparison post?

Only when both sides are verifiable and current. Prices change, so a price comparison can become wrong without you noticing. Comparing steps or effort is usually safer.