The Chinese shopping app Temu has once again captured the attention of U.S. users, topping the charts as the most downloaded free app, according to Apple’s recently released list of popular apps and games on the App Store. This achievement marks a significant comeback for Temu, which previously unseated TikTok for the top position in 2022.
TikTok, currently grappling with a potential U.S. ban, found itself in third place this year. Meanwhile, Instagram Threads climbed to number two, moving up a notch from its previous third-place ranking in 2023.
Apple’s year-end roundup provides a snapshot of what consumers are actually installing on their devices, rather than spotlighting editor-selected apps. Interestingly, this year marks the entry of ChatGPT into the spotlight. Despite Apple not highlighting AI chatbots heavily in its editorial choices, ChatGPT emerged as the fourth most downloaded app for 2024 in the U.S., surpassing Google’s Search app. This is a remarkable leap, considering it did not even feature in the top 10 the previous year.
Meta’s popular apps continue to appear on this influential list, though they have seen a shift in rankings over time. Instagram and WhatsApp held the sixth and seventh spots respectively, followed by other well-known apps like CapCut (from ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company), YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, the fashion retailer Shein, and Facebook, which landed at number 13.
Closing out the top 20 downloads were apps such as Telegram, Snapchat, Cash App, Spotify, Max, McDonald’s, and Amazon, reflecting a diverse range of user interests from communication to entertainment and shopping.
In addition to these insights, Apple also announced its list of leading free games, paid games, paid apps, and Apple Arcade titles for 2024. Topping the free games category was the highly addictive, Tetris-inspired “Block Blast!”, followed by fan favorites like “Monopoly Go!”, “Roblox”, “Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile”, and “Township”.
For Apple Arcade enthusiasts, the NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition won the top spot, followed by “Snake.io+”, “Hello Kitty Island Adventure”, “Sneaky Sasquatch”, and “Bloons TD 6+”. These lists can provide a glimpse into the evolving preferences of app users and gamers alike, reflecting both emerging trends and enduring favorites gripping the digital landscape.
