Apple has released its annual list of the most downloaded apps and games, and for 2025, OpenAI’s ChatGPT claimed the No. 1 spot among free iPhone apps in the U.S. The AI chatbot surpassed major social apps and utilities, followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s Gemini.
ChatGPT’s rise has been rapid. Last year, it ranked No. 4, while Temu dominated the charts. In 2023, ChatGPT didn’t even break the top 10 despite a strong launch on iPhone. Its leap to No. 1 reflects how deeply AI tools have embedded themselves in daily mobile use — and underscores the growing threat ChatGPT poses to Google’s search dominance as users increasingly ask a chatbot before using a browser. The momentum was clear earlier this year when ChatGPT became the most-downloaded app globally in March.
Apple also announced its top games: Block Blast! led free iPhone games, Minecraft topped paid titles, YouTube was the No. 1 free app on iPad, and Procreate ranked as the top paid download. Roblox remained the most popular free iPad game. And as Apple highlighted in its broader 2025 App Awards, AI continues to define the year’s biggest trends, from productivity to photography — further cementing how central AI has become across the App Store ecosystem.
