ChatGPT Becomes Most Downloaded iPhone App of 2025

Apple has officially unveiled its annual rankings for the most downloaded applications and games, revealing a significant milestone for artificial intelligence. In the U.S. market, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has claimed the number one position among free iPhone apps for 2025, marking a rapid ascent for the tool.

The dominance of ChatGPT underscores how deeply generative AI has integrated into daily routines, often outpacing established social media platforms and essential digital utilities. The list of top free iPhone apps follows a competitive hierarchy:

1. ChatGPT
2. Threads
3. Google
4. TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
5. WhatsApp Messenger
6. Instagram
7. YouTube
8. Google Maps
9. Gmail – Email by Google
10. Google Gemini

A Shift in Mobile Engagement

The rise to the top spot represents a stark evolution in usage patterns. In 2024, ChatGPT held the fourth position, while the Chinese shopping platform Temu led the charts. Even more telling is the fact that the app did not crack the top 10 in 2023, despite its high-profile launch in May of that year.

Industry analysts point to this shift as a potential challenge to Google’s long-standing influence over mobile search. As more users turn to chatbots for direct answers rather than browsing search results, the reliance on traditional search tools is being tested.

Earlier indicators of this trend emerged in March, when ChatGPT surpassed mainstays like TikTok and Instagram to become the most downloaded app globally.

Broader Ecosystem Trends

Beyond the primary iPhone category, Apple’s data highlights diverse preferences across its platforms. In the gaming sector, Block Blast! secured the lead for free iPhone games, while Minecraft remained the most popular paid title. On the iPad, YouTube took the lead in the free apps category, and Procreate continued its reign as the top paid creative tool.

Top Paid iPhone Apps

1. HotSchedules
2. Shadowrocket
3. Procreate Pocket
4. AnkiMobile Flashcards
5. Paprika Recipe Manager 3
6. SkyView®
7. TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome
8. AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
9. Forest: Focus for Productivity
10. RadarScope

Top Free iPhone Games

1. Block Blast!
2. Fortnite
3. Roblox
4. Township
5. Pokémon TCG Pocket
6. Royal Kingdom
7. Clash Royale
8. Vita Mahjong
9. Whiteout Survival
10. Last War: Survival

Top Paid iPhone Games

1. Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!
2. Balatro
3. Heads Up!
4. Plague Inc.
5. Geometry Dash
6. Bloons TD 6
7. Stardew Valley
8. Papa’s Freezeria To Go!
9. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
10. Red’s First Flight

Top Free iPad Apps

1. YouTube
2. ChatGPT
3. Netflix
4. Disney+
5. Amazon Prime Video
6. TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
7. Google Chrome
8. Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
9. Canva: AI Photo & Video Editor
10. HBO Max: Stream Movies & TV

Top Paid iPad Apps

1. Procreate
2. Procreate Dreams
3. forScore
4. ToonSquid
5. Nomad Sculpt
6. Shadowrocket
7. AnkiMobile Flashcards
8. Bluebeam Revu for iPad
9. Teach Your Monster to Read
10. Feather: Draw in 3D

Top Free iPad Games

1. Roblox
2. Block Blast!
3. Fortnite
4. Perfect Tidy
5. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
6. Mini Games: Calm & Chill
7. Goods Puzzle: Sort Challenge
8. hole.io
9. Subway Surfers
10. Township

Top Paid iPad Games

1. Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!
2. Geometry Dash
3. Stardew Valley
4. Balatro
5. Bloons TD 6
6. Plague Inc.
7. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C
8. Poppy Playtime Chapter 3
9. Purple Place – Classic Games
10. Papa’s Sushiria To Go!

Top Apple Arcade Games

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