Apple has released its annual App Store rankings for 2025, and the results highlight just how mainstream artificial intelligence has become. In the United States, ChatGPT emerged as the most downloaded free iPhone app of the year, excluding games.
The OpenAI app surpassed long-established mobile favorites, finishing ahead of platforms such as Threads, Google Search, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google’s own Gemini app.
This milestone marks a major shift in how people use their smartphones and where they turn first for information.
A Sharp Rise From Previous Years
ChatGPT’s climb to the top has been rapid. In 2024, the app finished in fourth place, with the No. 1 spot going to Temu, the Chinese e-commerce platform. In 2023, despite a strong debut after launching on iPhone in May of that year, ChatGPT failed to break into the top ten.
Reaching the top position in 2025 reflects both growing trust in AI tools and a change in everyday digital habits.
What ChatGPT’s Ranking Signals About User Behavior
Outperforming social media giants and essential utility apps suggests that AI has become deeply embedded in daily life for U.S. users. Many people are now opening a chatbot before opening a browser, map, or social network.
This trend also points to a potential disruption of Google’s long-standing dominance in mobile search. As conversational AI becomes a first stop for answers, discovery on smartphones is beginning to shift away from traditional search apps.
Signs of this momentum appeared earlier in the year when ChatGPT became the most downloaded app worldwide in March, surpassing major platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Apple’s Broader App Store Rankings for 2025
Alongside the free app rankings, Apple also published its lists of the most downloaded paid apps and games across iPhone and iPad, as well as top Apple Arcade titles.
Among games, Block Blast! claimed the top spot as the most downloaded free iPhone game, while Minecraft remained the best-selling paid game. On iPad, YouTube led the free app category, while creative tools such as Procreate dominated paid downloads. Roblox was the most popular free iPad game of the year.
Apple Arcade users gravitated toward titles like NFL Retro Bowl ’26, NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, Balatro+, and Sneaky Sasquatch.
A Defining Moment for AI on Mobile
ChatGPT’s position at the top of Apple’s 2025 download rankings underscores a larger transformation in consumer technology. AI is no longer a novelty or niche productivity tool. It is becoming a default interface for learning, searching, planning, and problem-solving.
As mobile behavior continues to evolve, ChatGPT’s rise suggests that conversational AI is now competing directly with social platforms, utilities, and search engines for users’ attention. For OpenAI, it is a clear signal that AI has crossed into true mass adoption on smartphones.