Following last week’s App Store Awards, Apple has now released its annual list of the most downloaded apps and games of 2025. The charts reveal which services dominated iPhone and iPad users’ attention over the past year.
For iPhone users, the free app landscape was led by artificial intelligence. ChatGPT secured the top spot as the most downloaded free app. It was followed by Meta’s Threads, then Google, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
In the paid apps category for iPhone, workforce management tool HotSchedules ranked first. It was followed by utility app Shadowrocket, art studio Procreate Pocket, study aid AnkiMobile Flashcards, and cooking app Paprika Recipe Manager 3.
The gaming charts showed diverse tastes. The puzzle game BlockBlast! was the year’s most downloaded free iPhone game. For paid games, Minecraft: Dream it, Build it! led on iPhone. The Apple Arcade service was topped by the retro-style sports title NFL Retro Bowl ’26.
iPad users showed a strong preference for creativity and entertainment. YouTube was the most downloaded free app on the larger screen. The powerful design app Procreate was the top paid download.
In gaming, the immersive platform Roblox was the most downloaded free iPad game. The paid games chart for iPad mirrored the iPhone, with Minecraft: Dream it, Build it! again taking first place. NFL Retro Bowl ’26 also repeated its success as the top Apple Arcade game on iPad.
Apple noted that these rankings are specific to the U.S. App Store and may differ in other countries. The complete lists are available on Apple’s official website.