OpenAI’s ChatGPT has officially secured the top spot as the most downloaded free iPhone app in the United States for 2025. Apple’s annual year-end report confirms the AI chatbot’s meteoric rise, marking a significant shift in mobile user behavior as artificial intelligence becomes a staple of daily digital life.
The rankings highlight a clear departure from traditional social media dominance. ChatGPT outperformed industry giants including Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Furthermore, the app surpassed essential utilities like Google Maps, signaling that users are increasingly prioritizing AI-driven conversational search over conventional navigation and discovery tools.
The Surge of AI in Mobile
This achievement marks a rapid evolution for OpenAI. While the app saw a strong debut in May 2023, it did not crack the top 10 that year. By 2024, it climbed to the number four position, eventually gaining enough momentum to secure the global top spot by March 2025. This trajectory underscores a broader trend: consumers are bypassing traditional search engines in favor of direct, AI-generated answers.
Top Free iPhone Apps
- ChatGPT
- Threads
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Google Maps
- Gmail
- Google Gemini
Beyond the iPhone: Games and iPad
Apple’s data also provides a comprehensive look at the broader software ecosystem. In the gaming sector, Block Blast! claimed the title for the most downloaded free iPhone game, while Minecraft remained the leader among paid titles. On the iPad, YouTube took the top spot for free apps, with Procreate continuing its reign as the most popular paid creative application.
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 Gaming Leaders
The gaming charts reflect a mix of casual puzzles and competitive titles. While Block Blast! dominated free downloads, Roblox held the top free spot on iPad. For Apple Arcade, sports titles led the charge, with NFL Retro Bowl ’26 and NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition securing the top two positions.
Top Free iPad Apps
- YouTube
- ChatGPT
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Amazon Prime Video
- TikTok
- Google Chrome
- Goodnotes
- Canva
- HBO Max
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+