Apple’s list of 2023’s most downloaded apps features the usual suspects, but the company’s free iPhone app being No. 1 means people were looking for a good deal this year. It suggests that.
TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp feature in the top 10 list of most downloaded free apps. But the most popular among them is Temu. Temu is a shopping app known for its lowest prices and gamified shopping experience that includes pop-ups, reward wheels, and other content to keep shoppers engaged. (This success even led Amazon to lower its fees on clothing sales.)
Temu also made it onto the list of most downloaded free iPad apps, coming in at number 9, primarily behind streaming apps like Max and Netflix.
Also joining the free iPhone list: Threads, Meta’s Twitter alternative. This year got off to a strong start, but a lack of features led to a drop in engagement. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says things are looking up as Threads gradually adds features.
Topping the list of the most downloaded paid iPhone apps is Shadowrocket, which, as Inc. points out, can bypass geo-blocks. Apple also details the top free and paid game downloads and most popular titles across Apple Arcade. See it all below.
Popular free iPhone apps
- Temu: Shop like a millionaire
- CapCut – Video Editor
- Max: Stream HBO, TV, and movies
- Threads, Instagram app
- tick tock
- YouTube: watch, listen, stream
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Gmail – Email by Google
Top Paid iPhone Apps
- shadow rocket
- hot schedule
- pro create pocket
- wonder weeks
- 75 hard
- AutoSleep Track your sleep while monitoring
- goblin tools
- TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome
- sky view
- AnkiMobile flashcards
Popular free iPhone games
- Monopoly go!
- roblox
- royal match
- subway surfers
- gardenscape
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- block blast
- Makeover Studio: Makeup Game
- Parking Jam 3D
- survivor!.io
Top paid iPhone games
- Mine Craft
- heads up!
- geometry dash
- Bruins TD 6
- Exclusive
- Papa’s Freezeria to Go!
- PEST LIMITED.
- red’s first flight
- five nights at freddy’s
- grand theft auto san andreas
Popular free iPad apps
- Max: Stream HBO, TV, and movies
- YouTube: watch, listen, stream
- Netflix
- google chrome
- disney plus
- good note 6
- tick tock
- Amazon Prime Video
- Temu: Shop like a millionaire
- Peacock TV: Stream TV and movies
Top paid iPad apps
- leave descendants
- shadow rocket
- nomad sculpt
- for score
- Toca Life: Hospital
- Bluebeam Revu for iPad
- Teach the monster how to read
- AnkiMobile flashcards
- endless paper
- Toon squid
Popular free iPad games
- roblox
- Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
- subway surfers
- royal match
- Among us!
- Duet Cats: Cute cat game
- stumble guy
- Monopoly go!
- bridge lace
- gardenscape
Top paid iPad games
- Mine Craft
- geometry dash
- Bruins TD 6
- stardew valley
- Exclusive
- five nights at freddy’s
- red’s first flight
- Poppy Playtime Chapter 1
- PEST LIMITED.
- Bang Bang’s Garten 2
Top Apple Arcade Games
- NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition
- Cooking Mama: Cooking!
- Bruins TD 6+
- angry birds reloaded
- sneaky sasquatch
- warped kart racer
- Helly Kitty Island Adventure
- Snake Io+
- Fruit Ninja Classic+
- MobilityWare+ Solitaire