OpenAI's ChatGPT has officially claimed the top spot as the most downloaded free iPhone app on the U.S. Apple App Store for 2025, according to Apple's annual list released on Wednesday. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the AI chatbot, highlighting the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into everyday mobile usage and signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape of digital services.

Following ChatGPT in the rankings were Threads, Google, TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE, WhatsApp Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail – Email by Google, and Google's Gemini, showcasing a mix of social media, utility, and AI applications.

This year's success is a notable jump for ChatGPT, which ranked fourth last year (2024) and did not even make the top ten in 2023. In contrast, the top spot in 2024 was held by Chinese shopping app Temu. Despite a strong debut in May 2023, where it quickly garnered over half a million installs in its first six days, ChatGPT's ascent to the number one position has been remarkably swift.

ChatGPT's ability to surpass established social networking platforms and essential utilities like Google Maps underscores the profound impact AI is having on daily life for users across the U.S. Furthermore, its dominance suggests a growing potential for OpenAI to challenge Google's long-standing stronghold on the mobile search market, as more users increasingly turn to AI chatbots for immediate answers and information.

Signs of ChatGPT's impending rise to the top were evident earlier in the year, as it became the most-downloaded app globally in March, outperforming other giants like TikTok and Instagram on a worldwide scale.

Beyond the top free iPhone apps, Apple also released comprehensive lists for other categories, including top paid apps, and the leading free and paid games for both iPhone and iPad, as well as top Apple Arcade titles.

For games, Block Blast! emerged as the top free iPhone game, while Minecraft: Dream it, Build it! secured the leading position among paid iPhone games. On the iPad, YouTube was the most downloaded free app, and the creativity app Procreate topped the paid app charts. Roblox was the most popular free iPad game.

The full list of top apps and games is provided below:

Top Free iPhone Apps

  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

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+