Apple just unveiled the most downloaded iPhone apps of the year and, naturally, the usual suspects are there. Social media apps (TikTok, Instagram and Threads), streaming apps (Max, Spotify and YouTube) and shopping apps (Temu, Shein and Amazon Shopping) all dominated the charts for “free” apps.
What’s more interesting, at least in my opinion, is Apple’s list of the most downloaded “paid” apps. There’s more diversity and creatively, and there’s also an element of discovery because, well, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of some of them before.
Below, we’ve highlighted some — not all — of the standout apps that made Apple’s “most downloaded apps” list for 2024.
For the complete list of the most downloaded apps (and games) of the year, both free and paid, check out Apple’s news post.
A utility app for secure browsing
Shadowrocket
Shadowrocket is an advanced proxy client utility for private and secure browsing when using the internet in a restrictive location. It’s sort of like a VPN, but instead of encrypting all internet traffic activity, it lets you set up a proxy connection for specific apps … If you’re the kind of person who needs it, you’ll know what that means.
A 75-day challenge for self-improvement
Apple75 Hard
75 Hard is a self-betterment app for extreme lifestyle changes. It requires you to complete five daily tasks for 75 days in a row. These tasks consist of completing workouts, drinking a set amount of water, following a specific diet and reading for a set amount of time each day. If you miss or skip a day, you have start over from Day 1.
A digital art app
AppleProcreate Paint
Procreate Paint is a digital art app for creative professionals and art enthusiasts. It provides all the advanced tools to create beautifully detailed sketches, paintings, illustrations and animations on your iPhone.
AppleGoblin Tools
Goblin Tools is an app designed for people with neurodivergent conditions, such as ADHD, Autism or OCD. It uses various tools to break down tasks, simplify language, and explain instructions so that it’s more approachable and less overwhelming.
An app for identifying mountains
ApplePeakfinder
Similar to what SkyView is for stars and constellations, Peakfinder is for mountains. It leverages powerful AI and your iPhone’s camera app to identify various mountains, ranges and surrounding landscapes. The app has many other neat features for outdoor enthusiasts, including a solar and lunar tracker and the ability to plan and log hikes and ascents.
A flashcard app for memorization and learning
AppleAnkiMobile Flashcards
AnkiMobile Flashcards is a popular flashcard app that leverages Anki’s open-source program to help you memorize information. It supports text, images, audio and videos, and can help you study for an exam, learn a language, memorize faces and names, or identify geography and landscapes.
An app for managing recipes
ApplePaprika Recipe Manager 3
As its name gives away, Paprika Recipe Manager 3 is a popular app for keeping track of the recipes you love. It allows you to instantly download recipes from popular websites, organize recipes for different times of the year, and create grocery lists of ingredients needed for specific recipes.
