On Wednesday, Apple unveiled its yearly compilation of the most downloaded apps and games. In the United States, OpenAI’s ChatGPT led the free iPhone app rankings—excluding games—for 2025 based on total installations.

The AI application was followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s Gemini. ChatGPT had placed fourth the previous year, when the leading position was held by the Chinese shopping platform Temu. Back in 2023, despite launching on iPhone in May to a robust start, the AI tool did not break into the top ten.

ChatGPT’s ability to surpass established social networks and essential utilities like Google Maps highlights how integral AI has become in daily American life. It also signals OpenAI’s potential to challenge Google’s dominant position in mobile search, as increasing numbers of users turn to a chatbot for initial answers.

Earlier indications pointed toward this top ranking—ChatGPT became the world’s most-downloaded app in March, exceeding popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Apple also shared rankings for top paid apps, along with leading free and paid games for both iPhone and iPad, plus top Apple Arcade titles. Block Blast. claimed the spot for top free game this year, while Minecraft emerged as the leading paid game.

On iPad, YouTube ranked as the number one free app, and the creative tool Procreate was the most downloaded paid app. Roblox led as the top free iPad game.

The complete rankings are as follows:

**Top Free iPhone Apps** ChatGPT Threads Google TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE WhatsApp Messenger Instagram YouTube Google Maps Gmail - Email by GoogleGoogleGemini

**Top Paid iPhone Apps** HotSchedules Shadowrocket Procreate Pocket AnkiMobile Flashcards Paprika Recipe Manager 3 SkyView® TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch Forest: Focus for Productivity RadarScope

**Top Free iPhone Games** Block Blast. Fortnite Roblox Township Pokémon TCG Pocket Royal Kingdom Clash Royale Vita Mahjong Whiteout Survival Last War: Survival

**Top Paid iPhone Games** Minecraft: Dream it, Build it. Balatro Heads Up. Plague Inc. Geometry Dash Bloons TD 6 Stardew Valley Papa’s Freezeria To Go. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C Red’s First Flight

**Top Free iPad Apps** YouTube ChatGPTNetflixDisney+ Amazon Prime Video TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE Google Chrome Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF Canva: AI Photo & Video Editor HBO Max: Stream Movies & TV

**Top Paid iPad Apps** Procreate Procreate Dreams forScore ToonSquid Nomad Sculpt Shadowrocket AnkiMobile Flashcards Bluebeam Revu for iPad Teach Your Monster to Read Feather: Draw in 3D

**Top Free iPad Games** Roblox Block Blast. Fortnite Perfect Tidy Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game Mini Games: Calm & Chill Goods Puzzle: Sort Challenge hole. io Subway Surfers Township

**Top Paid iPad Games** Minecraft: Dream it, Build it. Geometry Dash Stardew Valley Balatro Bloons TD 6 Plague Inc. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp C Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 Purple Place - Classic Games Papa’s Sushiria To Go.

**Top Apple Arcade Games** NFL Retro Bowl ’26 NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition Balatro+ Snake. io+ Sneaky Sasquatch Hello Kitty Island Adventure Fruit Ninja Classic+ Bloons TD 6+ PGA TOUR Pro Golf Solitaire by MobilityWare+