Chinese shopping platform Temu has reclaimed its position as the most downloaded free app in the United States for 2024, according to the year-end rankings released by Apple.
The Temu app dethroned TikTok in 2023 after the latter held the top spot in 2022.
Meanwhile, TikTok, which currently has regulatory challenges in the U.S., has dropped to the third position. The app was overtaken by Instagram Threads, a platform launched by Meta as a direct competitor to Twitter. Threads climbed to the second spot this year, after being the third most-downloaded app in 2023.
Apple’s annual list reveals the most downloaded apps and games on its platform, providing insight into consumer preferences.
Among the highlights for 2024 is the growth of ChatGPT, which has climbed to fourth place in the U.S. App Store rankings. This is a win for the chatbot, which was launched on iPhone in May 2023 but did not feature in last year’s top 10.
Meta’s top place continues, albeit with some decline in ranks. Instagram and WhatsApp occupy the sixth and seventh spots, respectively. Other apps in the top 10 include ByteDance’s video editing tool CapCut, YouTube, and Google Maps.
Shopping platform Shein secured the 12th position, while Facebook, once a perennial leader, landed at No. 13.
The remaining top 20 apps for 2024 include Telegram, Snapchat, Cash App, Spotify, Max, McDonald’s, and Amazon.
Gaming Trends in 2024
In the gaming category, Block Blast!, a Tetris-inspired game, was the most downloaded free game in the U.S. for 2024. It was followed by Monopoly Go!, Roblox, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, and Township.
The top title in Apple Arcade was NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition, with other favourites including Snake.io+, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Sneaky Sasquatch, and Bloons TD 6+.
Apple’s annual lists bring a glimpse into changing user preferences and the changing space of app usage. While long-established apps like TikTok and Facebook see gradual declines in popularity, newcomers and niche applications are gaining traction.
The full rankings, including top paid apps and games, are available on the App Store’s Today page.
