Apple Reveals the Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2021 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Reveals the Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2021

Along with naming its editorial picks for the top apps and games of 2021, Apple today shared charts for the most downloaded free and paid apps and games in the United States across 2021.

apple top apps games 2020
The number one most downloaded free iPhone app was TikTok, followed by YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. The top paid iPhone apps included Procreate Pocket, HotSchedules, The Wonder Weeks, and TouchRetouch.

Popular free iPad apps included Netflix, Disney+, and Zoom, while GoodNotes 5, Notability, Duet Display, and Procreate were popular paid iPad apps.

Top games on iPhone and iPad included Among Us!, Roblox, Project Makeover, Minecraft, and Heads Up. Apple this year also highlighted the top Apple Arcade games, which included The Oregon Trail, NBA 2K21, and Sneaky Sasquatch. Apple's top 10 lists for each category are listed below.

top iphone apps

iPhone

top ipad apps

iPad

apple arcade orange feature

Apple Arcade

Top Apple Arcade Games:

The top charts can also be viewed in the Today section of the App Store on the iPhone and the iPad.

Popular Stories

rave app

Apple Sued for Pulling Co-Viewing App Rave From the App Store

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:41 am PDT by
Rave, a cross-platform service that lets users watch movies and TV shows together, today filed a series of antitrust lawsuits against Apple after Apple removed the Rave app from the App Store in August 2025. According to Rave, Apple cited "unspecified allegations of fraud and vague concerns about content moderation" when pulling the app. Rave alleges Apple targeted the service because Rave...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Working on Plan to Allow AI Agent Apps on the App Store

Wednesday May 13, 2026 11:02 am PDT by
Apple is looking into ways to better support apps that include AI agents and AI coding capabilities in the App Store, reports The Information. Apple is designing a system that would maintain its security and privacy standards while allowing for AI app features, but details on how the system will work are unavailable. Apple started blocking updates for some popular vibe coding apps in March...
apple india

India Refuses to Let Apple Pause App Store Antitrust Case

Tuesday May 19, 2026 4:52 am PDT by
An Indian court has ruled that Apple must cooperate with a government investigation into its App Store practices, rejecting the company's attempt to put the case on hold (via Reuters). The Delhi High Court ruling keeps a probe by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) alive, which found in 2024 that Apple had abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market. The CCI wants Apple's...

Top Rated Comments

59 months ago
Congratulations TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Youtube and Facebook. What a time to live in and have our lives enriched.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
59 months ago
How about the top apps and games that are totally without in app purchasing?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
59 months ago
In my iPhone I have only 1 of the 10 top free apps… probably I am too old 😂
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VintageDude Avatar
59 months ago
Congratulations Procreate. Well deserved!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
59 months ago

Congratulations TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Youtube and Facebook. What a time to live in and have our lives enriched.
Sarcasm?!! Because TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook enriched my life a bit but ruined it in way more ways.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
59 months ago
Woo Hoo! Congratulations to all well-deserving developers.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)