Apple released its annual list of the most downloaded apps and games for the year on Wednesday. For the U.S. market, OpenAI’s ChatGPT claimed the top spot among free iPhone apps, excluding games, for 2025. The AI app was followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s Gemini.
ChatGPT ranked fourth last year, when the Chinese shopping app Temu held the number one position. In 2023, despite a strong debut after its May release, the AI application did not break into the top ten list.
ChatGPT’s rise above established social networks and essential utilities like Google Maps signals how deeply artificial intelligence has integrated into everyday American life. It also highlights OpenAI’s potential to challenge Google’s dominant hold on the mobile search market, as increasing numbers of people turn to a chatbot for initial answers.
Signs of ChatGPT’s ascent appeared earlier in the year when it became the most-downloaded app globally in March, surpassing other leading apps like TikTok and Instagram.
Apple also published its rankings for top paid apps, top free and paid games for iPhone and iPad, and top Apple Arcade games. Block Blast! was the year’s top free game, while Minecraft was the top paid game. On iPad, YouTube was the number one free app, and users downloaded the creativity app Procreate as the top paid app. Roblox was the top free iPad game.
The complete lists are as follows:
Top free iPhone apps: ChatGPT, Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Gemini.
Top paid iPhone apps: HotSchedules, Shadowrocket, Procreate Pocket, AnkiMobile Flashcards, Paprika Recipe Manager 3, SkyView, TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome, AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch, Forest: Focus for Productivity, RadarScope.
Top free iPhone games: Block Blast!, Fortnite, Roblox, Township, Pokémon TCG Pocket, Royal Kingdom, Clash Royale, Vita Mahjong, Whiteout Survival, Last War: Survival.
Top paid iPhone games: Minecraft, Balatro, Heads Up!, Plague Inc., Geometry Dash, Bloons TD 6, Stardew Valley, Papa’s Freezeria To Go!, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Red’s First Flight.
Top free iPad apps: YouTube, ChatGPT, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, TikTok, Google Chrome, Goodnotes, Canva, HBO Max.
Top paid iPad apps: Procreate, Procreate Dreams, forScore, ToonSquid, Nomad Sculpt, Shadowrocket, AnkiMobile Flashcards, Bluebeam Revu for iPad, Teach Your Monster to Read, Feather: Draw in 3D.
Top free iPad games: Roblox, Block Blast!, Fortnite, Perfect Tidy, Magic Tiles 3, Mini Games: Calm & Chill, Goods Puzzle: Sort Challenge, hole.io, Subway Surfers, Township.
Top paid iPad games: Minecraft, Geometry Dash, Stardew Valley, Balatro, Bloons TD 6, Plague Inc., Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, Purple Place, Papa’s Sushiria To Go!
Top Apple Arcade games: NFL Retro Bowl ’26, NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, Balatro+, Snake.io+, Sneaky Sasquatch, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Fruit Ninja Classic+, Bloons TD 6+, PGA TOUR Pro Golf, Solitaire by MobilityWare.