January 23, 2024
Finding new users feels easy until you realise every brand is chasing the same attention span.
In fact, over the past eight years, customer acquisition costs have risen by 222%, forcing brands to rethink how and where they invest.
Growth demands precision, timing, and people who know how to turn curiosity into action.
That’s when the right expertise makes all the difference.
This article gathers the best 10 user acquisition agencies that know how to scale audiences without burning budgets or creativity.
Each one has a track record of making products visible and irresistible across different markets and platforms.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Keep going, the teams that move metrics are just ahead.
P.S. If you’re into smart scaling, check out our “AI Tools That Streamline Business Growth” article. It’s a quick read packed with tools that actually save time.
1. inBeat: inBeat leads the pack in user acquisition and growth marketing. Their influencer and UGC-driven campaigns deliver measurable results, proven by a 1,700%+ growth in signups and a 92% drop in acquisition costs for Booksy. They merge influencer marketing, paid media, and SEO into a scalable growth engine that consistently drives installs, conversions, and revenue.
2. Utility: Utility combines paid user acquisition with retention-focused design and strategy. Their mix of ASO, referral systems, and conversion optimisation keeps growth compounding even when ad spend pauses. With 150+ projects and 25 awards, they’re masters of tying creative execution to measurable ROI.
3. yellowHEAD: yellowHEAD brings data science to creative performance. Their proprietary tech, Alison, predicts which creatives will convert, cutting CPI by over 2x and boosting ROI by 50%. They excel at fusing in-house production, audience analytics, and campaign optimisation into a single high-performing system.
4. Scalebay: Scalebay runs ROI-obsessed mobile acquisition campaigns in multiple languages, focusing on cost-per-activation precision. Managing over €1M in quarterly ad spend, they ensure every channel (search, display, or native) drives profitable results through rigorous A/B testing and fraud monitoring.
5. Appvertiser AI: Appvertiser AI automates growth through adaptive AI agents that optimise bids, creatives, and targeting in real time. Running 8-figure budgets, they’ve achieved up to 1,965% more organic visibility and 43% higher conversion rates through continuous learning and performance automation.
A user acquisition agency helps apps grow by finding the people who actually download, engage, and stay. They operate within paid and organic ecosystems, using performance marketing and testing frameworks to fine-tune reach and conversion.
User Acquisition for Apps & Games – Complete Beginner Guide
These agencies combine creativity with analytics, crafting user journeys that bring consistent installs and lasting value. The result is a steady flow of new users who actually engage with your product.
With that foundation, it’s easier to understand the real benefits of teaming up with one.
And that brings us to the next point:
Once you bring in specialists, the difference becomes clear from the first campaign.
These agencies manage millions in ad spend across Meta, Google, TikTok, and programmatic platforms. That scale earns them direct communication lines and early access to tools regular advertisers never see.
It changes how campaigns are tested and optimised in real time. You benefit from proven media buying systems and insider updates that push campaigns ahead of algorithm shifts.
For instance, native mobile ads generate 8.8x more clicks than traditional display ads, and agencies know exactly how to secure those placements before they go mainstream. It’s the difference between guessing what works and hearing it first-hand from the platforms themselves.
User acquisition agencies understand how to take your app beyond one market. They manage campaigns across regions, languages, and cultures, adapting creative and messaging for each audience with precision.
After all, 7 of the top 10 iOS markets and 9 of the top 10 Google Play markets are in non-native English locales, underscoring that real scale demands local fluency.
You gain a partner that aligns ad spend with local trends, user habits, and platform behaviour. They localise campaigns without diluting your brand voice, turning one growth system into a global operation that attracts real users anywhere your app launches.
Running user acquisition in-house burns cash fast. Salaries, tech stacks, analytics tools, designers, media buyers - the list expands before results even appear.
Agencies already have that infrastructure built, and you pay purely for performance, without covering any overhead. You tap into an entire growth department for a fraction of what it costs to build one.
Studies show that hiring a marketing agency can be nearly 50% more cost-efficient than maintaining an equivalent in-house team. They bring tech access, tested workflows, and platform relationships without long-term staffing commitments.
With the benefits clear, it’s time to meet the teams that make them happen.
The following names represent what modern user acquisition looks like when it’s done with skill.
inBeat is a top user acquisition and growth marketing agency built for performance in a social-first world.
They specialise in scaling installs, signups, and conversions through precision-tested ad strategies that turn creative into measurable ROI.
Their campaigns blend influencer collaborations, UGC, and paid performance to drive both short-term wins and long-term growth momentum.
At the core of inBeat’s success is its mastery of influencer-driven acquisition.
They connect brands with the top 2% of creators, producing authentic, conversion-focused content that performs across TikTok, Meta, and beyond. Every piece is data-tested, repurposed, and scaled.
Consider their collaboration with Booksy.
inBeat built a TikTok-first UGC strategy aimed at increasing app installs and business registrations among nail techs and barbers. By tackling everyday pain points like double bookings and no-shows, they repositioned Booksy as a must-have tool for professionals.
The results spoke volumes: a 1,700%+ increase in business registrations within three months, 637% MoM growth in installs, and a 92% drop in cost per registration, with TikTok outperforming Meta at $22 vs $136 per registration.
Beyond influencer and UGC campaigns, inBeat strengthens growth through Google Ads, ASO, SEO, and AEO.
Each service complements the other, creating a flywheel of creative testing, data optimisation, and user conversion.
Industries: Food & Beverage, Beauty, Mobile App, Mobile Gaming, CPG and DTC brands, Retail, eCommerce, Agencies, Fashion
Notable clients: New Balance, Deux par Deux, Linktree, Hopper, Nissan, Disney, Hurom
Key services:
Reason to work with inBeat: You scale faster with influencer and UGC campaigns that have delivered up to 1,700% growth in signups and 92% lower acquisition costs for clients like Booksy.
Utility blends user acquisition expertise with strong product and design thinking to help brands scale sustainably.
They combine paid campaigns with organic levers like ASO, referrals, and retention, so performance keeps compounding even when ads pause.
Their process integrates attribution modelling, ROI frameworks, and continuous experimentation to uncover what really drives acquisition efficiency.
When Moves worked with them, the collaboration led to a full rebuild of the app and site, resulting in a 4.9⭐ rating and 180,000 user success stories.
With 150 completed projects and 25 awards, Utility proves that smart execution and data-backed design go hand in hand.
Industries: Media & Publishing, Finance & FinTech, Health & Wellness / MedTech, Sports & Entertainment, Travel & Mobility, Education & EdTech
Notable clients: Moves, Airbnb, pliability
Key services:
Reason to work with Utility: You get an agency with 150 completed projects, 25 awards, and a record of turning user acquisition into 180,000+ real outcomes.
yellowHEAD blends creative intelligence with performance data to turn user acquisition into a high-precision system.
Their in-house Creative Studio and proprietary “Alison” technology analyse user behaviour, platform, and geo to tailor creatives that perform far beyond generic A/B testing.
This approach lets them lift CTR, expand reach, and drive higher-quality installs while scaling ad budgets efficiently.
Their work with GSN’s Bingo Bash proves it: by applying Alison’s Creative Analysis, they found that ads with sound performed 50% better in ROI, achieved a 2.1x lower CPI, drove a 1.8x rise in new user conversion, and improved FTD CPA by 50%.
That’s the kind of performance you get when data and creativity run in sync.
Industries: Gaming & Entertainment, Mobile & App businesses, Finance & FinTech, Consumer Brands / eCommerce, Tech / SaaS, Media & Publishing
Notable clients: Bingo Bash, Canva, HUD
Key services:
Reason to work with yellowHEAD: You’ll partner with a team whose tech delivers 50% higher ROI and 2.1x lower CPI through precise creative optimisation.
Based in Paris and Madrid, ScaleBay runs mobile user acquisition campaigns under a clear philosophy: “Don’t pay for users, pay for ROI.”
They apply a methodical, test-driven process built around A/B testing, KPI refinement, and dynamic budget allocation that filters out low-quality traffic and amplifies performance.
Every campaign is monitored through precise cost-per-activation and cost-per-event metrics to ensure efficiency and profitability.
Since 2020, they’ve collaborated on 50+ apps, managing over €1M in quarterly ad spend across four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
As one client put it:
“Their knowledge of the mobile marketing industry and their user acquisition skills are very valuable; they're always very performance-driven with a pragmatic approach.”
Notable clients: Le Point, Weasyo, Trace +, Mindvalley
Key services:
Reason to work with Scalebay: You’ll team up with a multilingual agency managing €1M quarterly ad spend and delivering ROI-driven campaigns for 50+ mobile apps.
Appvertiser combines AI agents with performance-driven marketing to run user acquisition campaigns that adapt in real time.
Their proprietary system, trained on thousands of campaign patterns, automatically adjusts bids, creatives, and targeting to extract maximum value from every dollar.
The result is consistent improvement across retention, engagement, and install efficiency.
They’ve managed 8-figure budgets, launched 5 soft-launched games, and optimised 27+ titles that climbed to top store rankings.
In their work with ShopThing, Appvertiser increased organic impressions by 1,965%, grew top-ranked keywords by 488%, and lifted conversion rate by 43% through precise metadata optimisation and refreshed assets.
Industries: Mobile Apps & Gaming, FinTech / Mobile Finance, Web3 / Blockchain Apps, eCommerce (app-driven), SaaS / Subscription Mobile Services, Health & Wellness / Utility Apps
Notable clients: ShopThing, Playside, Empire Games,
Key services:
Reason to work with Appvertiser AI: You’ll work with an agency running 8-figure budgets and delivering 1,965 % more organic visibility with AI-driven campaign optimisation.
M+C Saatchi Performance runs mobile user acquisition campaigns through coordinated, multi-channel execution across paid social, search, programmatic, and affiliate platforms.
Their work extends beyond installs into deeper funnel actions like post-install conversions and account creation, giving clients a full-cycle performance strategy.
With offices in Singapore, London, New York, and LA, they deliver both international reach and local market precision.
In just six months, their ASO work for Maya Bank achieved a 31% uplift in visitor‑to‑acquisition rate, a 22% lift in visitor‑to‑open rate, and 106% increase in top keyword acquisition rate.
Industries: Mobile / App platforms, eCommerce & Retail, Music & Audio / Entertainment, FinTech & Digital Finance, Media & Streaming services, SaaS / Subscription businesses
Notable clients: Maya Bank, Rodd & Gunn, Headspace
Key services:
Reason to work with M+C Saatchi Performance: You’ll get a global agency that lifts acquisition conversions by 106 % while optimising every step of the user journey.
GameBiz specialises in user acquisition for mobile games, combining data-driven execution with a deep understanding of player behaviour.
Every partnership starts with a full audit, followed by campaign setup, optimisation, and scaling that aligns with the game’s core metrics.
Their scope covers install optimisation, ROAS-focused campaigns, retention improvement, creative testing, and mediation strategy refinement.
They maintain transparency and speed through Slack support with 2-4-hour response times, weekly optimisation logs, and clear performance reports.
For Tactile, GameBiz restructured mediation, diversified demand, and redesigned in-game ad placements, driving a 101% increase in ad ARPDAU, a 25% rise in eCPM, and an 84% uplift in impressions per DAU while protecting user experience and purchase revenue.
Industries: Mobile Games / Gaming, App-based Entertainment, Mobile Leisure / Casual Game Apps
Notable clients: Tactile, PLAYSTUDIOS, New Moon Productions
Key services:
Reason to work with GameBiz Consulting: You’ll collaborate with a UA team that delivers a 101% ARPDAU lift and 84% higher ad engagement without hurting player retention.
RadASO runs mobile user acquisition through automation and proprietary tech, powered by their “Tech Boosted Solution.”
Their approach connects data, creative, and localisation workflows to scale campaigns across Apple Ads, Google, TikTok, and Meta.
Local content is crafted by native speakers, ensuring every market gets the nuance needed for conversion efficiency.
They report that 95% of clients reach positive ROI using this model.
For a pharmacy app, RadASO refined metadata, updated visuals, and deployed in-app event strategies that delivered a 750% rise in impressions and a 105% increase in downloads within five months.
Industries: Mobile / App-centric businesses, Education / Learning apps, FinTech / Banking apps, Blockchain / Crypto, Games & Entertainment apps, Retail / eCommerce
Notable clients: Mindsnap, IronWallet, INTERTOP
Key services:
Reason to work with RadASO: You’ll partner with a team whose tech delivers 95 % positive ROI and can raise impressions by 750 % in under half a year.
Udonis leads user acquisition for mobile games through data-backed execution, in-house creative, and transparent collaboration where clients keep full access to their accounts.
Since 2015, they’ve operated in digital marketing and shifted fully into gaming in 2018, building expertise that generalist agencies rarely match.
Their track record includes managing over $500 million in combined media and creative budgets, with a focus on efficiency and creative alignment.
So how does that experience translate to results?
A UK studio behind a new fashion makeover game partnered with Udonis and reached 300,000+ soft launch downloads across Western female audiences.
The campaign refined both creative strategy and targeting precision, setting the foundation for long-term scale.
Industries: Mobile gaming, App / mobile entertainment, Game studios
Notable clients: FortuneFish, Playsome, Tastypill
Key services:
Reason to work with Udonis: You’ll team up with an agency managing $500M in budgets and capable of generating 300,000+ high-intent installs for new gaming titles.
Advant Technology focuses on programmatic advertising for mobile user acquisition, connecting channels like display, native, video, social, and DSPs into one orchestrated system.
Their campaigns rely on machine learning, custom bidding logic, and multi-channel coordination to stretch every ad dollar further.
With 364+ campaigns, $17M in media spend, and activity across 61 countries, they’ve proven consistent execution at scale.
So how do they handle global reach and creative precision together?
In their World of Warcraft campaign, Advant launched rewarded video ads in Brazil that hit an 8.6% CTR compared to YouTube’s 0.33% average, maintaining 98% audibility and viewability through completion versus a 22.5% industry norm.
They also added full-funnel retargeting and premium media placements to connect with gaming audiences outside the usual platforms.
Industries: Beauty & Fashion, Business & Productivity, Communication & Social Apps, Education & EdTech, Entertainment & Media, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Travel & Local, eCommerce & Shopping, Gaming
Notable clients: Canon, Vodafone, Cisco, Lenovo
Key services:
Reason to work with Advant Technology: You’ll work with a programmatic team managing $17M in spend that delivers 8.6 % CTR and 98 % completion rates across 61 countries.
Before you commit budget and trust, walk through these checkpoints.
An agency’s data setup decides whether your growth story is accurate or fiction. Attribution across channels (paid social, search, influencer, and in-app) defines how every dollar performs.
Yet in practice, only 29% of marketers feel fully confident in the accuracy of their attribution, which means many are essentially flying blind when it comes to judging performance.
Ask how they verify data across MMPs like AppsFlyer or Adjust. A serious agency explains how they track multi-touch conversions, manage postbacks, and clean duplicate installs.
Red flag? Any team that hides behind platform dashboards without showing custom reports or cohort-level insight.
Creative fuels mobile growth, but it only works if testing runs like a machine. Top agencies operate with structured A/B pipelines, creative fatigue tracking, and speed in iteration.
If you hear “we’ll just test what performs,” that’s a team without a framework. And considering Meta reports that creative alone drives 56% of ad auction outcomes, you can’t afford to leave testing to chance.
Ask how many variations they launch per ad set, how they analyse winning patterns, and what timeline they use for refreshes.
Strong agencies show a library of tested creatives and talk about why certain formats outperform others. If everything looks like guesswork, expect flat results.
Pro tip: Want to level up your creative testing game? Check out our guide on [5 AI Creative Tools Worth Trying] to boost speed, insights, and iteration power.
Every platform runs on rules that change faster than most teams can adapt. A good agency stays ahead of those shifts and protects your app from penalties, bans, or wasted spend. They know the difference between what performs and what gets flagged.
In 2024 alone, Apple rejected about 1,931,400 app submissions and removed 82,509 apps for policy or legal violations, illustrating how strictly policy breaches are enforced.
Ask how they stay updated on Apple’s ATT framework, Google Play policies, and regional data laws like GDPR. Solid agencies have internal compliance checks before every campaign push.
Red flag? Any team that blames “policy shifts” for performance drops or uses grey-zone targeting tactics. A disciplined approach keeps accounts safe and growth sustainable.
You just went through a shortlist of agencies that live and breathe user acquisition. Each one knows how to scale apps fast, measure what matters, and turn campaigns into consistent performance.
Hiring one of these teams gives your growth real traction. You get users who convert, budgets that deliver ROI, and campaigns that stay strong under pressure. The outcome feels different when experts run the numbers, shape the creative, and keep the data clean.
Now it’s about choosing based on your goals and growth stage. You’ve got a smart list of partners who already know what success looks like. Pick the one that fits your vision and start scaling with purpose.
Industries: Mobile & App Products, Gaming / Entertainment Apps, FinTech / Mobile Finance Apps, Health & Wellness Apps. eCommerce / Retail Apps, Social & Utility Apps Growth starts with acquisition but stays with communication. See our “Best Email Marketing Agencies” list to keep your users active.
A user acquisition agency is your partner in growth. They specialise in planning and executing marketing campaigns designed to attract new, high-quality users for your app, game, or product. They handle everything from creative production and media buying on platforms like TikTok and Google to data analysis and performance optimisation, ensuring your marketing budget delivers measurable results.
Hiring an agency gives you immediate access to a team of specialists, established industry relationships, and advanced technology without the high overhead costs of salaries and software subscriptions. Agencies bring a wealth of experience from working across various accounts, allowing them to apply tested strategies to your campaigns from day one, which is often more efficient and cost-effective.
Focus on three key areas. First, check their data and attribution methods to ensure they can accurately track results. Second, look at their creative testing process, a structured framework is essential for finding what resonates with your audience. Lastly, confirm they are diligent about platform compliance to keep your ad accounts safe and your campaigns running smoothly.
Success is measured with concrete data. Agencies track key performance indicators (KPIs) like Cost Per Install (CPI), Return On Ad Spend (ROAS), user Lifetime Value (LTV), and conversion rates. The ultimate goal is to acquire users who not only install your app but also engage with it and generate revenue, proving a positive return on your investment.
While many agencies have deep expertise in mobile gaming, their skills are transferable to a wide range of industries. As you can see from the list in our article, top firms like those featured by Robinwaite also work with FinTech, eCommerce, Health & Wellness, and SaaS companies to help them grow their user base effectively.
