Apple has released its annual charts for the most downloaded apps of the year. And for the first time ever, ChatGPT takes the No. 1 spot among free iPhone apps in the U.S.
The AI app jumped from No. 4 last year to the top of the rankings, beating out social staples and everyday essentials like Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Google Maps. Google’s Gemini rounded out the top ten.
For context:
- 2024: Temu held the No. 1 spot; ChatGPT ranked fourth.
- 2023: ChatGPT didn’t even crack the top ten, despite launching in May of that year.
This year’s result is less of a surprise if you’ve been watching download charts closely. ChatGPT briefly became the most downloaded app globally in March, overtaking TikTok and Instagram.
But topping Apple’s U.S. list signals something bigger: AI is no longer a novelty; it’s infrastructure.
What This Means for the Market
ChatGPT’s rise shows how deeply AI has embedded itself into daily routines, enough to surpass both entertainment (TikTok, YouTube) and utility apps (Google Maps). It also underscores OpenAI’s growing threat to Google’s mobile search dominance, as more users turn to conversational answers first.
Other Apple Chart Highlights
- Top Free Game: Block Blast
- Top Paid Game: Minecraft
- Top Free iPad App: YouTube
- Top Paid iPad App: Procreate
- Top Free iPad Game: Roblox
AI is now officially part of the mainstream app stack, and 2026 will tell us whether this was the tipping point or just the beginning.
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Top Free iPhone Apps
- ChatGPT
- Threads
- TikTok – Videos, Shop & LIVE
- WhatsApp Messenger
- YouTube
- Google Maps
- Gmail – Email by Google
- 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: 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
- ChatGPT
- Netflix
- Disney+
- 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 iPadTeach
- 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+