Apple today announced its much-anticipated list of the most downloaded apps across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Unsurprisingly, the most popular free iPhone app in the United States was TikTok in 2021, while Procreate was the most popular paid app. As for free games on iPhone, Among Us secured the top rank, while Minecraft dominated the paid games realm.
The Cupertino-based tech giant also announced App Store Award winners, with children’s app maker Toca Boca winning iPhone App of the Year for “Toca Life World,” and Riot Games’ “League of Legends: Wild Rift” being declared the iPhone Game of the Year.
Typically, award winners are relative newcomers and are lauded for having taken advantage of Apple’s tech in innovative ways. However, with “Toca Life World,” the strategy seems to be a bit different this year. Its developer – Toca Boca – celebrated its ten-year anniversary this March, having released over 40 kids’ apps. Apple has accordingly praised the app maker for “masterfully iterating on the art of play and self-expression for kids.”
The past year has been rather tough for the Apple App Store owing to increased regulatory scrutiny and various lawsuits concerning its commission-based business model. The Epic Games case, for example, is still ongoing. As a result, Apple was forced to reduce commission in some cases and even adjust its policies. But despite this, its overall quality of apps remains high, especially when compared to that of Android.
Anyway, following are the lists of the most downloaded apps of the year in the US:
Top Free iPhone Apps
- TikTok
- YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
- Snapchat
- Messenger
- Google Maps
- Gmail – Email by Google
- ZOOM Cloud Meetings
- Amazon Shopping
Top Paid iPhone Apps
- Procreate Pocket
- HotSchedules
- The Wonder Weeks
- TouchRetouch
- Facetune
- Shadowrocket
- 75 Hard
- Dark Sky Weather
- Autosleep Track Sleep on Watch
- SkyView®
Top Free iPhone Games
- Among Us!
- Roblox
- Project Makeover
- Call of Duty®: Mobile
- Subway Surfers
- High Heels!
- Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
- Water Sort Puzzle
- Shortcut Run
- Bridge Race
Top Paid iPhone Games
- Minecraft
- Heads Up!
- Bloons TD 6
- Monopoly
- Geometry Dash
- My Child Lebensborn
- Plague Inc.
- True Skate
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Incredibox
Top Free iPad Apps
- YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
- ZOOM Cloud Meetings
- Disney+
- Netflix
- TikTok
- Google Chrome
- HBO Max: Stream TV & Movies
- Hulu: Watch TV series & movies
- Amazon Prime Video
- Gmail — Email by Google
Top Paid iPad Apps
- Procreate
- GoodNotes 5
- Notability
- Duet Display
- Toca Kitchen 2
- Toca Life: Hospital
- LumaFusion
- Shadowrocket
- Affinity Designer
- Toca Life: Vacation
Top Free iPad Games
- Among Us!
- Roblox
- Project Makeover
- Phone Case DIY
- Subway Surfers
- Hair Challenge
- Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
- Tiles Hop – EDM Rush
- Blob Runner 3D
- Bridge Race
Top Paid iPad Games
- Minecraft
- Bloons TD 6
- Geometry Dash
- Monopoly
- Five Nights at Freddy’s
- Stardew Valley
- Plague Inc.
- Human: Fall Flat
- Ultimate Custom Night
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Top Apple Arcade Games
- The Oregon Trail
- NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
- Sneaky Sasquatch
- Sonic Racing
- SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit
- Skate City
- PAC-MAN Party Royale
- Cut the Rope Remastered
- Hot Lava
- Angry Birds Reloaded
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