Category playbook

Plan the right screenshot story for your app category

Different products need different proof. Match the first frames, supporting screens and trust signals to the decision a user makes in your category.

Features and sources verified 2026-10-11.

Productivity, utilities and education

Show speed, structure and the completed outcome. A productivity set can move from capture to organization to collaboration; an education set can show lesson, practice and progress. Keep the first frame focused on the core job rather than the settings screen.

  • Productivity: outcome, workflow, collaboration
  • Utilities: problem, one-tap action, result
  • Education: learning path, interaction, progress

Finance, health and trust-sensitive categories

Lead with clarity and control, then prove it with authentic dashboards, transaction flows or progress views. Do not imply guaranteed returns, medical outcomes or certifications that the product cannot support.

Use readable privacy or security signals only when they accurately describe implemented behavior. Store review policies and local regulation still apply beyond screenshot design.

Shopping, travel, social and games

Shopping screenshots can show discovery, product detail and a frictionless checkout path. Travel products should connect inspiration to planning and live trip utility. Social apps need to demonstrate the interaction model without exposing personal data.

Games benefit from compelling gameplay and recognizable mechanics. Google recommends real game experience and separate landscape assets for some discovery surfaces; avoid making cinematic art look like playable UI when it is not.