Apple has unveiled its annual ranking of the year’s most downloaded apps and games, and in the U.S., OpenAI’s ChatGPT claimed the top spot among free iPhone apps in 2025. The AI chatbot, which debuted on iPhone in May 2023, has climbed steadily in popularity, surpassing longtime favorites like Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Google Maps. Last year, ChatGPT ranked fourth, while in 2023 it did not make the top 10 despite a strong launch.
The rise of ChatGPT reflects how AI has increasingly become part of daily life in the U.S., and its popularity points to potential competition for Google in mobile search. Earlier this year, ChatGPT also became the most downloaded app globally in March. Apple’s report includes lists of top paid and free apps, games for iPhone and iPad, and top Apple Arcade titles. Highlights include Block Blast! as the top free iPhone game, Minecraft as the top paid iPhone game, YouTube as the top free iPad app, and Procreate as the top paid iPad app. Roblox led the free iPad games category, while NFL Retro Bowl ’26 topped Apple Arcade.
Top Free iPhone Apps: ChatGPT, Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, 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 C, 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 C, 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+