After last week’s App Store Awards, Apple has unveiled its yearly compilation of the most downloaded apps and games for 2025. The rankings highlight which services captured the attention of iPhone and iPad users throughout the past year.
For iPhone users, the free app category was dominated by artificial intelligence. ChatGPT claimed the top position as the most downloaded free app, followed by Meta’s Threads, Google, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
In the paid apps segment for iPhone, the workforce management tool HotSchedules took the lead. It was succeeded by the utility app Shadowrocket, the art studio Procreate Pocket, the study aid AnkiMobile Flashcards, and the cooking app Paprika Recipe Manager 3.
The gaming charts reflected a variety of preferences. The puzzle game BlockBlast! emerged as the most downloaded free iPhone game of the year. For paid games, Minecraft: Dream it, Build it! led the iPhone category. The Apple Arcade service was topped by the retro-style sports game NFL Retro Bowl ’26.
iPad users displayed a strong inclination towards creativity and entertainment. YouTube was the most downloaded free app on the larger device, while the powerful design app Procreate was the top paid download.
In the gaming sector, the immersive platform Roblox was the most downloaded free iPad game. The paid games chart for iPad mirrored that of the iPhone, with Minecraft: Dream it, Build it! again securing the top spot. NFL Retro Bowl ’26 also repeated its success as the leading Apple Arcade game on iPad.
Apple emphasized that these rankings pertain specifically to the U.S. App Store and may vary in other regions. The complete lists can be found on Apple’s official website.
