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

iOS App Store General Feature JoeBlue

Apple Adds Personalized Recommendations and New Marketing Tools to the App Store

Monday June 15, 2026 5:18 am PDT by
Apple last week announced a series of new App Store features, including personalized app recommendations and expanded tools for developers to market their apps. The most visible change for users is Personalized Collections, a new discovery feature that surfaces app and game recommendations tailored to individual interests and behavior. Alongside each recommendation, new "App Notes" explain...
iOS App Store General Feature JoeBlue

Apple 'Records Every Tap' in App Store to Filter New Personalized Recommendations Feature

Wednesday June 17, 2026 6:27 am PDT by
Last week, Apple introduced a new discovery feature for the App Store called Personalized Collections, or app recommendations based on individual interests and behavior. Apple pitched the announcement as another way for developers to have their app discovered, but there has already been some pushback from a privacy perspective. App Store user analytics collected by Apple (Image: Mysk) The new ...
iOS App Store Icons

Apple Announces Major App Store Changes on iOS in Brazil

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:50 am PDT by
Apple today announced that developers in Brazil will be allowed to distribute iPhone apps through alternative app marketplaces on iOS, and accept payments through third-party platforms. In other words, developers in Brazil will be able to circumvent the App Store and Apple's in-app purchase system, but there are still fees. Alternative app marketplaces will have to be authorized by Apple and ...

Top Rated Comments

60 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)
60 months ago
How about the top apps and games that are totally without in app purchasing?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 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
60 months ago
Congratulations Procreate. Well deserved!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
60 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
60 months ago
Woo Hoo! Congratulations to all well-deserving developers.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)