Most Downloaded iPhone Apps of 2025: ChatGPT, Threads, and Google

[MacRumors]

Apple today shared a list of the most downloaded U.S. App Store apps and games in 2025, highlighting the top free and paid iPhone and iPad titles.

ChatGPT was the number one free app that iPhone users downloaded in 2025, followed by Threads, Google, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Google Gemini was the only other chatbot app to make the list, coming in at number 10. Top paid iPhone apps included HotSchedules, Shadowrocket, and Procreate Pocket.

Top free iPhone games included Block Blast, Fortnite, and Roblox, while Minecraft, Balatro, and Heads Up were among the top paid iPhone games.

YouTube was the number one free iPad app downloaded in 2025, followed by ChatGPT, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Procreate, Procreate Dreams, forScore, ToonSquid, and Nomad Sculpt were the top paid iPad apps.

Roblox, Block Blast, and Fortnite were the top free iPad games, with Minecraft, Geometry Dash, and Stardew Valley taking the top three spots on the paid iPad game list.

Apple also included the most downloaded Apple Arcade games. NFL Retro Bowl '26, NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, and Balatro+ were at the top of the list.

Apple's full list of top downloaded apps and games across 2025 can be found in the App Store.

Article Link: Most Downloaded iPhone Apps of 2025: ChatGPT, Threads, and Google

 

[MacUserFella]

People are actually using Threads?

 

[jz0309]

I didn't download any of those in 2025, nor in previous years... I guess I am not "trending"

 

[haydn!]

Google is unsurprising given you’re redirected to download it from every other Google search.

 

[DavidLeblond]

People are actually using Threads?

Even if not many people use it (although they do) Threads was the first post Twitter turning to X mainstream text social media, and at the time that blew up. Mastadon was too clunky, and for some reason Bluesky decided to be invite only for way too long.

 

[ghanwani]

I have only 1 out of the top 20 — WhatsApp.

 

[iamgalt]

Even if not many people use it (although they do) Threads was the first post Twitter turning to X mainstream text social media, and at the time that blew up. Mastadon was too clunky, and for some reason Bluesky decided to be invite only for way too long.

I don't think the lack of users on Bluesky has much, if anything, to do with it being invite only.

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

For some reason, I'm not surprised

 

[gleepskip]

.

 

[DavidLeblond]

I don't think the lack of users on Bluesky has much, if anything, to do with it being invite only.

I'm saying at the time, a lot of people were looking for a place to go. Bluesky was there, but was invite only. When Threads appeared, they got a ton of views very very fast.

Personally, I don't like Threads. Same issue I have with Twitter, crappy algorithm that favors engagement bait.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Threads is an app you download and delete after ten minutes because you see it sucks.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Boy that's a depressing top 3

😞

 

[artifex]

I'm not surprised a lot of people downloaded Threads to try it out. But what are the ongoing numbers for activity?
I hardly ever remember it's there, and it's already subject to influencer garbage because of the algorithm pushing "for you" suggestions over "following," like everything else Meta owns.

 

[Abydos]

well, a big goose egg here in so far as the top list is concerned

 

[contacos]

Threads is an app you download and delete after ten minutes because you see it sucks.

It has over 150 million daily active users

 

[chabig]

I trust Apple with many things. But I don't trust them to be honest with these lists. I fear they play favorites. For example, ChatGPT at number 1 and X nowhere in the list? That's not believable.

 

[carestudio]

I didn't download any of those in 2025, nor in previous years... I guess I am not "trending"

me either. but I am going to download them b/c of this report. got to be something interesting in these apps.

 

[vantelimus]

People are actually using Threads?

There's one person I follow who posts mostly to Threads. It is annoying.

 

[GioGiusi]

It has over 150 million daily active users

LMAO no it absolutely does not.

 

[contacos]

LMAO no it absolutely does not.

Yes? Lying to it's shareholders wouldn't be a good idea

Threads has grown to 150 million daily active users. Mark Zuckerberg shared the latest milestone for the company's text-based app during Meta's third-quarter earnings call. The company previously reported in August that Threads had reached more than 400 million monthly users.

 

[NightfallOrchid]

I trust Apple with many things. But I don't trust them to be honest with these lists. I fear they play favorites. For example, ChatGPT at number 1 and X nowhere in the list? That's not believable.

Maybe X is so ubiquitous, that most people didn’t need to download it in 2025, because they already had it before?

 

[threesixty360]

Threads was always going to be bigger than Twitter / X. It was never in question. Social media is literally Meta’s core business. They know how to do it and at scale. Why would anyone ever bet against them on something like that? Elon buying Twitter only made the job even easier.

people think X is bigger than it is because Elon inflates numbers and media companies got hooked on it and so it has an outsized presence compared to how many people actually use it. Perception isn’t reality.

 

[JosephAW]

Some of these sites are only accessed through Safari web browser on iOS devices, not gonna let some of these apps in our front door to let them ransack our data.

 

[cateye]

I love how the reality of how people use their phones, iPhone or otherwise, is always so shocking to the MacRumors crowd.

Newsflash: It's turtles social media, all the way down. Plus a bunch of gacha games with a direct line to their wallets and Apple's 30%. Not really much else.

 

[zenmacx]

There's a little "smoke and mirrors" going on here.

Loosely defined as something that distorts or blurs facts, figures, etc. This technique is often widely used to promote and support a certain product, service, company or belief. All in the interest of increased profits.