December 11, 2025 | 05:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - ChatGPT emerged as the most downloaded free app on iPhones in 2025, outpacing social media heavyweights like Threads, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, according to Apple’s end-of-year App Store rankings.
A TechCrunch review on December 10 noted that ChatGPT’s success reflects more than just download numbers; it also signals a significant shift in user behavior.
While generative AI was often regarded as a novelty or niche tool in 2023 and 2024, 2025 demonstrated that AI has become an essential part of everyday digital life.
Analysts say AI is now integrated into routine tasks, from productivity and research to problem-solving and personal organization. In the United States, for example, smartphone use has expanded beyond entertainment and social networking to include AI-powered services that help users work smarter and faster.
The App Store rankings offer a glimpse into what captured users’ attention in 2025. From essential AI tools to popular social media platforms and engaging mobile games, these lists reveal the apps that shaped digital habits worldwide this year.
Top Free iPhone Apps of 2025
ChatGPT
Threads
Google
TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE
WhatsApp Messenger
Instagram
YouTube
Google Maps
Gmail - Email by Google
Google Gemini
Top Paid iPhone Apps of 2025
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 of 2025
Block Blast!
Fortnite
Roblox
Township
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Royal Kingdom
Clash Royale
Vita Mahjong
Whiteout Survival
Last War: Survival
The App Store rankings highlight a broader trend: AI is no longer a fringe technology but a mainstream digital tool. ChatGPT’s dominance signals that 2025 may mark a turning point where artificial intelligence becomes an indispensable companion in daily life.
Read: Meta Reportedly Shifts AI Strategy, Develops Closed Model "Avocado"
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