Apple has released its annual roundup of the most downloaded apps and games for 2025, and ChatGPT has claimed the No. 1 spot among free iPhone apps in the U.S., marking a major milestone for AI adoption on mobile devices.
ChatGPT climbed from No. 4 last year to the top position, overtaking competing social platforms and essential utilities. The top free apps following ChatGPT include Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s Gemini.
The jump reflects how deeply AI has entered everyday life in the U.S., and highlights the growing challenge ChatGPT poses to Google’s long-standing dominance in mobile search. Earlier this year, ChatGPT also became the most-downloaded app globally, surpassing TikTok and Instagram.
Read Also: How ChatGPT Rewired the World in Three Years
Apple’s annual list also details the most popular paid apps and the top free and paid games across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Arcade.
Among games, Block Blast! ranked as the top free iPhone game, while Minecraft remained the most-purchased paid game. On iPad, YouTube led the charts as the top free app, with Procreate ranked as the top paid app. Roblox dominated as the top free iPad game.
Below is Apple’s full list of category winners for 2025:
Top Free iPhone Apps
- ChatGPT
- Threads
- Google
- TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Instagram
- 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+
