Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Angry Bird cake Tray Dee via Angry Birds Facebook page
Apple
The 25 most popular free iPhone apps of all time
Sorry, Android users. You’re probably not going to want to read this article.
- Australia's largest state hits record-high COVID-19 cases despite weeks of strict lockdown. 'It's a tinderbox ready to explode,' one official said.
- eToro says crypto made up 73% of trading commissions in the last quarter, as retail customers dived in
- A flight attendant says she was too exhausted to report a passenger who shoved her when a flight was overbooked: report
- US jobless claims climb for first time in 5 weeks, to 353,000
APPLE IS CLOSE to hitting 50 billion app downloads from the App Store. To celebrate, it revealed the most popular apps of all time.
Since free apps are significantly more popular than paid apps, and since Apple’s App Store has more downloads than any other app store, there’s a strong chance that these could be the most popular mobile apps of all time. Some of the apps are US-centric or haven’t been released or taken off in Ireland yet, but the majority are popular in many countries where the App Store is available. Because hey, who doesn’t like playing Angry Birds?
1: Facebook
It’s the most popular social network in the world so it makes sense that it’s the most popular app of all time.
2: Pandora
Some see this as the alternative to radio stations. The iPhone made Pandora into a big business.
3: Instagram
A great way to share photos with friends (and add arty filters)
4: YouTube
YouTube hit the App Store just last year when Apple took YouTube off the iPhone as a default app. It’s already one of the five most popular apps of all time.
5: Skype
The best way to video chat with people around the world.
6: Words with Friends Free
This social take on Scrabble is super popular
7: Weather Channel
This US-based app has proved to be the most popular of all the weather apps.
8: Twitter
Twitter is the best way to get a quick update on what’s happening around the world on your iPhone.
9: Temple Run
Some people we know think this is the best iPhone game ever. You run and run and run, trying to beat your friends’ best scores.
10: Google search
Google’s app is especially great now that it’s added Google Now.
11: Netflix
Watching movies and TV shows on your little iPhone screen is surprisingly popular.
12: Shazam
Shazam is one of those apps. The kind of app that when the iPhone came out was just mind blowing. Your phone can figure out what’s on the radio with Shazam
13: Angry Birds Free
The most popular iPhone game of all time. Of course a free version is going to be downloaded a lot.
14: Draw Something free
This is one of the all-time most popular apps in the free, paid, and (we assume) top-grossing category. It was the hottest mobile game for a while.
15: Flashlight
Apple should make this a default feature on the iPhone since the flash in the back of the phone is a perfect flashlight. It didn’t, though, thus the popularity of this app.
16: Facebook Messenger
A free alternative to text messaging using Facebook’s platform.
17: Google Earth
The entire world in your pocket, what’s not to like?
18: Fruit Ninja Free
Fruit Ninja is the second-most popular paid app of all time, so it makes sense that the free version is popular.
19: iHeartRadio
This is a Pandora-like music application.
20: Movies by Flixster
The most popular app for movie times, reviews, and trailers.
21: Bump
This app lets you bump your iPhone with another person’s iPhone and exchange files, photos, and other stuff.
22: eBay
The eBay app is a really great way to track auctions and search the site. In many ways, it’s superior to eBay’s website.
23: Pac-Man lite
People love getting retro games for free on the iPhone
24: Groupon
Groupon’s daily deals app was downloaded by millions of people looking for good prices in their neighborhood. Groupon’s stock has been crushed, and its CEO was ousted, but at least it has a strong base of mobile users
25: Google Maps
This app just came out last year and it’s already one of the most popular. This tells you what people really think about Apple maps. They’re looking for a replacement.
have your say