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Apple reveals which apps were the most downloaded in 2025

Published on Dec 12, 2025 at 7:13 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid

Last updated on Dec 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Apple has revealed the most downloaded apps of the year, and you might be surprised by what came in second place.

It’s been a busy year for Apple, with the release of the iPhone 17 range and the launch of iOS 26. 

Now, the tech giant has shared its list of the most downloaded apps of 2025. 

Topping the list was ChatGPT, but further down the list, there were some unexpected entries. 

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These were the most downloaded App Store free apps from 2025

We’ve still got a few weeks left of 2025, but Apple has already revealed the most downloaded free apps of the year. 

It’s fair to say that 2025 has been the year that AI technology has really kicked up a notch, so it should come as no surprise that ChatGPT was the most downloaded app on the App Store this year. 

Apple has revealed the most downloaded apps of the year, and you might be surprised by what came in second place
James Yarema/Unsplash

The second spot was taken by the social media platform Threads. 

The Meta-owned social media platform was launched in 2023 and was tipped to be a real competitor to X. 

Although these days its popularity appears to be waning, Threads racked up a staggering 100 million users in its first five days and became the fastest-growing app of all time – and it seems to have held onto some of that momentum into 2025.

It’s also been a good year for Google; the standard Google app was in third place, while Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Gemini took the eighth, ninth, and tenth spots, respectively. 

Elsewhere on the list, the ever-popular video sharing site YouTube made an appearance, as did WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram.

Here’s that list in full:

  • ChatGPT
  • Threads
  • Google
  • TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
  • WhatsApp Messenger
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Google Maps
  • Gmail – Email by Google
  • Google Gemini

Apple has also shared the most downloaded iPhone games

Alongside the hottest apps of the year, Apple has also revealed its most downloaded iPhone games. 

Apple has revealed the most downloaded apps of the year, and you might be surprised by what came in second place
Ralph Olazo/Unsplash

The list contains a bunch of the usual suspects, including Fortnite and Roblox, but neither of them was quite popular enough in 2025 to claim the top spot, which went to Block Blast. 

  • Block Blast！
  • Fortnite
  • Roblox
  • Township
  • Pokémon TCG Pocket
  • Royal Kingdom
  • Clash Royale
  • Vita Mahjong
  • Whiteout Survival
  • Last War: Survival

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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.