OpenAI’s ChatGPT has claimed the top spot on Apple’s annual U.S. App Store download rankings for 2025, marking a major milestone for artificial intelligence tools on mobile devices (via TechCrunch).
According to Apple’s year-end charts released in early December, the conversational AI app outpaced popular social media and utility apps to emerge as the most downloaded free iPhone app of the year in the U.S.
This achievement reflects how deeply AI-driven assistants like ChatGPT have penetrated everyday mobile usage. Apple’s official list shows ChatGPT leading free iPhone app downloads for 2025, followed by well-known platforms including Threads, Google’s search app, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Another AI chatbot app, Google’s Gemini, also made the top 10.
In previous years, ChatGPT had strong performance but did not finish at the very top. In 2024 it ranked at number four among free apps, while in 2023 it did not crack the top 10 despite a highly successful launch in May of that year. This rise to number one shows a significant shift in consumer behavior toward AI assistants as daily tools rather than niche experiments.
Across the broader App Store landscape, the 2025 list also highlights other trends. Popular free games such as Block Blast, Fortnite, and Roblox remained favorites for players, while creative and productivity titles dominated paid downloads. On iPads, ChatGPT also ranked high among free apps, behind heavy hitters like YouTube and Netflix.
The rise of AI in the app ecosystem mirrors global download patterns earlier in the year. In March 2025, ChatGPT became the most downloaded app worldwide for the month, surpassing giants such as Instagram and TikTok in total installs across iOS and Android platforms.
Despite this strong performance, competition in the AI space continues to intensify. Google’s Gemini has been rapidly gaining users and closing the gap with ChatGPT in key metrics, such as downloads and monthly active accounts, driven in part by deep integration with other Google services.
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