ChatGPT Tops US App Store in 2025
▼ Summary
– OpenAI’s ChatGPT was the most downloaded free iPhone app (excluding games) in the U.S. for 2025, according to Apple’s annual list.
– The AI app’s rise to the top spot, surpassing social media and utility apps, signals AI’s deep integration into everyday life and its potential to disrupt mobile search.
– ChatGPT’s ranking climbed from not being in the top 10 in 2023 to number 4 in 2024, before reaching number 1 this year.
– In other categories, Block Blast! was the top free iPhone game, while Minecraft was the top paid iPhone game for the year.
– For iPad, YouTube was the top free app, and the creativity app Procreate was the top paid app.
The landscape of mobile applications saw a significant shift in 2025, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT claiming the top spot as the most downloaded free iPhone app in the United States. This achievement, announced in Apple’s annual year-end rankings, marks a pivotal moment for artificial intelligence in the consumer space. The conversational AI tool surpassed major social media platforms and essential utilities, signaling a profound change in how users interact with their devices for information and assistance.
Following ChatGPT on the list of top free iPhone apps were Meta’s Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s own AI offering, Gemini. This ascent represents a dramatic climb for ChatGPT, which placed fourth in 2024 and was absent from the top ten entirely in 2023, the same year it launched on iOS. The app’s rise to the number one position, previously held by the shopping platform Temu, underscores a rapidly growing user reliance on AI-powered chat for everyday queries. This trend highlights the potential for AI assistants to challenge traditional search engines, particularly on mobile devices where convenience is paramount.
Momentum for ChatGPT’s dominance was evident earlier in the year when it became the world’s most downloaded app in March, outperforming giants like TikTok and Instagram. Apple’s comprehensive report also detailed leading apps across other categories. In gaming, Block Blast! led the free iPhone games, while the classic title Minecraft was the top paid game. On the iPad, YouTube was the most downloaded free app, and the digital art studio Procreate was the top paid app. Roblox proved most popular among free iPad games.
The full rankings provided by Apple offer a clear snapshot of app ecosystem trends:
Top Free iPhone Apps ChatGPT, Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Gemini
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, Balatro, Heads Up!, Plague Inc., Geometry Dash, Bloons TD 6, Stardew Valley, Papa’s Freezeria To Go!, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Red’s First Flight
Top Free iPad Apps YouTube, ChatGPT, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, TikTok, Google Chrome, Goodnotes, Canva, HBO Max
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, Geometry Dash, Stardew Valley, Balatro, Bloons TD 6, Plague Inc., Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, Purple Place – Classic Games, Papa’s Sushiria To Go!
(Source: TechCrunch)
