App Guardians
Mobile-first advertising and growth agency for app user acquisition, ASO and retention
- Founded
- 2018
- Team size
- 11-50
- Headquarters
- Vancouver, Canada
- Hourly rate
- $150–$199/hr
Overview
About App Guardians
App Guardians is a Vancouver mobile-first advertising agency, founded in 2018, covering paid user acquisition, creative, app store optimisation, retention and CRM, and subscription revenue optimisation. It says it has served 300+ apps. Clutch reviewers include Keap, ThinkUp and Alma, and typical engagements sit well above $10,000.
App Guardians is a mobile-first advertising agency based in Vancouver, Canada, with a second office listed on Clutch in Seattle. It was born in 2018, and its site names Fred Saeidi as founder and CEO, with heads of user acquisition, creative, lifecycle and retention, and ASO beneath him. The agency says it has served more than 300 apps. Clutch places the team in the 10 to 49 band, and some older reviews refer to it as App Growth Network, which the site still names as its parent division.
Its work is split into five areas: paid user acquisition, creative services, app store optimisation, retention and CRM, and subscription revenue optimisation. Paid UA runs through Apple Search Ads and Google Ads, with UGC-style ads on Meta, Instagram and TikTok. The creative team produces screenshots, preview videos, static and video ads in house. The site publishes case studies, and the headline figures it reports include a 76% ROAS increase on Apple Search Ads and 6x ROAS with a 220% rise in downloads. Those numbers come from the agency, not from independent audit.
On Clutch it holds 4.8 across 30 reviews, with a $10,000+ minimum project size and an hourly rate band of $150 to $199. The summary describes engagements typically running from $25,000 to $100,000. Reviewers named include Keap, ThinkUp, Alma and Sentry Parental Control. They praise communication, delivery on time and app marketing results, including lower acquisition cost and more downloads. The recurring criticism is creative: a few clients found screenshots and videos weaker than the media buying, and some wanted clearer communication.
App Guardians suits funded consumer apps, subscription apps and games that already have a product in market and want a team to scale paid acquisition and store visibility. It is a poor match if you need B2B positioning, a launch narrative or channel strategy for a non-app product. Ask who will run your account day to day, and ask to see creative samples before committing to a retainer.
What they do
Services
- Paid user acquisition
- Apple Search Ads
- Paid social and UGC creative
- Google Ads
- Creative services
- App store optimisation
- Retention and CRM
- Subscription revenue optimisation
Specializations
Industries served
Ideal client
Who they help
Best for consumer app teams that need paid user acquisition, creative and ASO from one specialist shop. Less relevant for web-only SaaS or companies without an app.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Narrow mobile focus, with about 70% of its Clutch service mix in app marketing
- Covers UA, creative, ASO, CRM and subscription revenue in one team
- Clutch reviewers praise communication, timeliness and results
- Publishes case studies with ROAS and install figures
Cons
- Clutch lists a $10,000+ minimum, with typical projects reported at $25,000 to $100,000
- Some reviewers found creative deliverables such as app screenshots weaker than the growth work
- Business-to-business GTM and positioning work is not its focus
Pricing
Notable clients
Common questions
FAQ
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What services does App Guardians offer?
App Guardians offers Paid user acquisition, Apple Search Ads, Paid social and UGC creative, Google Ads, Creative services, App store optimisation, and more.
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Where is App Guardians based?
App Guardians is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and works with clients remotely worldwide, with additional offices in Seattle, WA, United States.
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How much does App Guardians cost?
App Guardians with an hourly rate of $150–$199/hr, a minimum engagement of $10,000.
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Who is App Guardians best for?
Best for consumer app teams that need paid user acquisition, creative and ASO from one specialist shop. Less relevant for web-only SaaS or companies without an app.
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What industries does App Guardians serve?
App Guardians serves clients in Mobile apps, Gaming, Fitness, Music, Hospitality, Health.
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How big is App Guardians and when was it founded?
App Guardians was founded in 2018 and has a team of 11-50 people.
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How do I contact App Guardians?
You can visit appguardians.com, or email hello@appguardians.com.
Editor’s take
A sound specialist for consumer apps that want paid UA and ASO under one roof. Budget matters, and creative quality is worth testing in a pilot.
