How to use SoftwareApplication Schema

Adding SoftwareApplication schema to your site is a simple way to help your software stand out in search results.

It gives search engines the details they need to display things like ratings, pricing, and supported platforms—right in the SERPs.

In this guide, I will show you what to include, and a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

What is the SoftwareApplication schema?

The SoftwareApplication schema provides search engines with clear, machine-readable information about a software application.

It is also a supported structured data type for Google rich results, which showcase app details, such as rating and platform, directly in SERPs; thus potentially increasing click-through rates and enhancing user engagement.

SoftwareApplication schema example

Here’s a simple example of what SoftwareApplication schema might look like:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "Example Software",
  "operatingSystem": "Windows, macOS, Linux",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "AggregateOffer",
    "priceCurrency": "USD",
    "lowPrice": "29.99",
    "highPrice": "199.99",
    "offerCount": 2,
    "priceSpecification": [
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "29.99",
        "billingDuration": "P1M"
      },
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "199.99",
        "billingDuration": "P1Y"
      }
    ]
  },
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.6",
    "ratingCount": "125"
  }
}

What to include in SoftwareApplication schema?

Here are some properties you can include in your SoftwareApplication structured data:

name: Clearly specify the software name.
offers: Pricing details.
aggregateRating: Enable star rating snippet
applicationCategory: Define the type of app (e.g., “BusinessApplication”).
operatingSystem: List supported platforms.
applicationSuite: Specify the software suite to which the application belongs (if applicable).
featureList: Features provided by the application. It can be either a list of features in plain text or an URL that contains all your features’ information.
softwareVersion: Include if you regularly update your application.
screenshot: Visual representation boosts engagement.
isAccessibleForFree: If you have a free trial or free version, you can indicate this as True.

If you want to specify more details about your software, refer to the Schema.org documentation for more properties.

Best practices for SoftwareApplication schema

Choose the most relevant category

The applicationCategory field clearly identifies the type of software. Accurately selecting this category helps search engines better match user intent. This information also shows in the Google Rich Results.

Common categories include:

BusinessApplication
GameApplication
SocialNetworkingApplication
TravelApplication
DeveloperApplication

Include Images

Adding images to your SoftwareApplication schema helps users quickly understand what your software looks like and what it does.

You can link directly to image files in the screenshot property.

Make sure your images are:

High quality and relevant
Accessible via a public URL
Reflective of the actual product experience

Keep Information Updated and Complete

Regularly review and update your structured data to reflect software updates, new ratings, changes in pricing, or additional features.

Always test and validate your structured data after making changes using Google’s Rich Results Test or the Schema Markup Validator. Accurate and updated information signals reliability to both users and search engines.

I know with the increasing popularity of AI-driven search, people are skeptical about structured data. However, Bing confirmed recently that they use schema markup to help LLM understand the content.

Google and Bing shows different software details from the same structured data.

As you can see from the above example, Bing will utilize more properties in the SoftwareApplication structure data in their results. So don’t limit yourselves only with the properties that are recommended by Google.

Use aggregateRatings thoughtfully

Using aggregate ratings can enhance credibility by accurately representing genuine user feedback. Always ensure that ratings are truthful, relevant to your software, and sourced from real users. The rating should also be visible on your website.

If you are collecting user’s feedback, don’t manipulate reviews, and never selectively showcase only positive feedback.

Refer to Google’s Review Snippet guidelines to clearly specify rating sources and ensure structured data aligns with displayed user ratings.

Provide offer details

If your software is subscription-based or offers multiple pricing plans, it’s important to clearly communicate those options in your structured data.

Using AggregateOffer along with UnitPriceSpecification, you can define various plans—such as monthly and annual subscriptions—with precise details like price, billing cycle, and plan names.

Here’s an example of how to indicate different subscription plan:

{
  "offers": {
    "@type": "AggregateOffer",
    "priceCurrency": "USD",
    "lowPrice": "10.00",
    "highPrice": "200.00",
    "offerCount": 4,
    "priceSpecification": [
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "10.00",
        "priceCurrency": "USD",
        "name": "Basic Monthly Plan",
        "billingDuration": "P1M",
        "referenceQuantity": {
          "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
          "value": 1,
          "unitCode": "MON"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "20.00",
        "priceCurrency": "USD",
        "name": "Pro Monthly Plan",
        "billingDuration": "P1M",
        "referenceQuantity": {
          "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
          "value": 1,
          "unitCode": "MON"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "100.00",
        "priceCurrency": "USD",
        "name": "Basic Annual Plan",
        "billingDuration": "P1Y",
        "referenceQuantity": {
          "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
          "value": 1,
          "unitCode": "ANN"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification",
        "price": "200.00",
        "priceCurrency": "USD",
        "name": "Pro Annual Plan",
        "billingDuration": "P1Y",
        "referenceQuantity": {
          "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
          "value": 1,
          "unitCode": "ANN"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Make sure your structured data reflects all available plans. If you offer more than just monthly and yearly subscriptions—like quarterly or one-time purchases—those can be added too.

Clear, complete offer information not only supports richer search results but also gives potential users a better understanding of your product at a glance.

⭐ Pro Tips:
Use Offer for a single price, and AggregateOffer when you have multiple plans or tiers.

Conclusion

Using the SoftwareApplication schema effectively can improve your visibility in search results. Implement structured data correctly, clearly highlight your app’s key details, and leverage validation tools regularly.

From my experience, structured data is a powerful, underutilized tool in SEO. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your online visibility.

Start implementing your SoftwareApplication schema today!