ChatGPT is the most downloaded Apple app of 2025 in the United States

Apple on Wednesday released its annual list of the year’s most downloaded apps and games. For the US market, OpenAI’s ChatGPT topped the rankings of free iPhone apps (not including games) with the most installs in 2025.

The AI ​​application was followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and then Google’s Gemini.

ChatGPT reached fourth place last year, but the top spot was taken by Chinese shopping app Temu. In 2023, the AI ​​app did not make the top 10 list despite having a strong debut on the iPhone in May 2023.

The fact that ChatGPT is outperforming standby social networks and much-needed utilities like Google Maps indicates how deeply AI has penetrated the daily lives of people here in the United States. It also demonstrates OpenAI’s potential to disrupt Google’s tight control of the mobile search market, as more people turn to a chatbot to get answers first.

There were signs that ChatGPT was on its way to number one earlier this year, as it became the most downloaded app globally in March, overtaking other top apps like TikTok and Instagram.

Apple also released its list of the best paid apps, the best free and paid games for iPhone and iPad, as well as the best Apple Arcade games.

Blast block! It was the highest-grossing free-to-play game of the year, while Minecraft took the crown as top paid game. On iPad, YouTube was the No. 1 free app, and users downloaded creativity app Procreate as the top paid game on iPad. Roblox was the best free game on iPad.

The full list of the best apps and games is below:

The best free iPhone apps

1. ChatGPT
2. Topics
3. Google
4. TikTok – videos, shopping, and live streaming
5. WhatsApp Messenger
6. Instagram
7. YouTube
8. Google Maps
9. Gmail – Email from Google
10. Google Gemini

The most important paid iPhone applications

1. HotSchedules
2. Shadow missile
3. Pocket procreation
4. AnkiMobile flashcards
5. Sweet pepper recipe manager 3
6. Sky View®
7. TonalEnergy tuner and metronome
8. AutoSleep sleep tracking on the watch
9. Jungle: Focus on productivity
10. RadarScope

The best free iPhone games

1. Blast block!
2. fortnite
3. Roblox
4. town
5. Pokemon TCG Pocket
6. Royal Kingdom
7. Clash Royale
8. Vita Mahjong
9. White Out Survival
10. The Last War: Survival

The best paid iPhone games

1. Minecraft: Dream it, build it!
2. Balatro
3. attention!
4. Plague company
5. Dash geometry
6. Bloons TD 6
7. Stardew Valley
8. Daddy freeze to go!
9. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
10. The first red flight

The best free iPad apps

1. YouTube
2. ChatGPT
3. Netflix
4. Disney+
5. Amazon Prime Video
6. TikTok – videos, shopping, and live streaming
7. Google Chrome
8. Good Notes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
9. Canva: AI photo and video editor
10. HBO Max: Stream movies and TV

The best paid iPad apps

1. Procreation
2. Giving birth to dreams
3. com. forScore
4. Tonsquied
5. Bedouin sculpture
6. Shadow missile
7. AnkiMobile flashcards
8. Bluebeam Revo for iPad
9. Teach your monster to read
10. Feather: 3D drawing

Best free iPad games

1. Roblox
2. Blast block!
3. fortnite
4. Perfect tidy
5. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
6. Mini-games: Calm and Chill
7. Cargo Puzzle: Sorting Challenge
8. Hole.io
9. Subway surfers
10. town

The best paid iPad games

1. Minecraft: Dream it, build it!
2. Dash geometry
3. Stardew Valley
4. Balatro
5. Bloons TD 6
6. Plague company
7. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
8. Poppy Play Chapter 3
9. Purple Place – Classic Games
10. Papa Sushiria to go!

Best Apple Arcade Games

1. NFL Retro Bowl ’26
2. Arcade version of NBA 2K25
3. Palatro+
4. snake.io+
5. Sneaky Sasquatch
6. Hello Kitty Island Adventure
7. Fruit Ninja Classic+
8. Bloons TD 6+
9. PGA Pro Golf Tour
10. Solitaire by MobilityWare+