Apple recently unveiled its annual compilation of the most popular apps and games of the year. In the U.S. market, OpenAI’s ChatGPT emerged as the top free iPhone app with the highest number of installations in 2025, excluding games.
Following ChatGPT on the list were Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s Gemini.
While ChatGPT secured the fourth spot last year, the leading position was held by the Chinese shopping app Temu. Despite a robust debut on the iPhone in May 2023, the AI app failed to make it to the top ten list in 2023.
The dominance of ChatGPT over established social networking platforms and essential utilities like Google Maps indicates the widespread integration of AI into people’s daily routines in the U.S. It also highlights OpenAI’s potential to disrupt Google’s dominance in the mobile search market, as more users turn to chatbots for immediate answers.
Earlier in the year, signs indicated ChatGPT’s trajectory towards the top spot, as it surpassed other popular apps like TikTok and Instagram to become the most downloaded app globally in March.
Apple also disclosed its rankings for top paid apps, free and paid games for iPhone and iPad, as well as the leading Apple Arcade games.
Block Blast! claimed the top spot as the most downloaded free game this year, while Minecraft topped the list as the most purchased game. On the iPad, YouTube ranked as the most downloaded free app, with the creativity app Procreate leading as the top paid game. Roblox secured the position as the leading free iPad game.
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The complete list of top apps and games can be found below:
Top Free iPhone Apps
- ChatGPT
- Threads
- TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
- WhatsApp Messenger
- YouTube
- Google Maps
- Gmail – Email by Google
- 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: Dream it, Build it!
- Balatro
- Heads Up!
- Plague Inc.
- Geometry Dash
- Bloons TD 6
- Stardew Valley
- Papa’s Freezeria To Go!
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
- Red’s First Flight
Top Free iPad Apps
- YouTube
- ChatGPT
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Amazon Prime Video
- TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
- Google Chrome
- Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
- Canva: AI Photo & Video Editor
- HBO Max: Stream Movies & TV
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: Piano Game
- Mini Games: Calm & Chill
- Goods Puzzle: Sort Challenge
- hole.io
- Subway Surfers
- Township
Top Paid iPad Games
- Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!
- Geometry Dash
- Stardew Valley
- Balatro
- Bloons TD 6
- Plague Inc.
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
- Poppy Playtime Chapter 3
- Purple Place – Classic Games
- 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+
