From photo sharing revolutions to on-demand rides and endless games, the iPhone App Store has hosted thousands of hits that reshaped daily life. Decades later, a handful still dominate downloads, ratings, and cultural impact while sparking endless debates over which truly changed everything. Vote to rank them.
What counts: Best means highest cultural impact, longevity, and user engagement since 2008; figures are approximate
Spotify▲ Rising
Spotify brought on-demand streaming to the iPhone in 2010 and forced the music industry to adapt within years. Its playlists and discovery features turned casual listeners into daily users. It remains the benchmark for audio apps.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 1,500 MPrice: $0Category: MusicFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsSpotify
Instagram▲ Rising
Launched in 2010, Instagram turned the iPhone camera into a global social network overnight, hitting 1 billion users by 2018. Its square photos and filters became the default visual language of the 2010s. No other app captured culture faster.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.8/10Downloads: 2,000 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 3 rankingsInstagram
Google Maps▲ Rising
Google Maps on iPhone set the standard for navigation with real-time traffic and transit data starting in 2012. It quickly displaced Apple’s initial maps attempt. Billions still rely on it daily.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.8/10Downloads: 2,000 MPrice: $0Category: NavigationFreemium: —
added by IJRin 3 rankingsGoogle Maps
TikTok▲ Rising
TikTok arrived in 2018 and quickly redefined short-form video, outpacing Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Its algorithm surfaces content faster than any predecessor. It owns Gen Z attention.
Released: 2018Rating: 4.8/10Downloads: 1,500 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 3 rankingsTikTok
YouTube▲ Rising
YouTube's 2012 iPhone app update made mobile video consumption effortless and addictive. It became the second-most-used app for many users and the go-to for tutorials, music, and entertainment. Its scale is unmatched.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 2,500 MPrice: $0Category: VideoFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 4 rankingsYouTube
Netflix▲ Rising
Netflix brought instant streaming to the iPhone in 2010 and accelerated cord-cutting worldwide. Its recommendation engine keeps users engaged for hours. It remains the dominant video app.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 1,200 MPrice: $0Category: EntertainmentFreemium: —
added by IJRin 4 rankingsNetflix
Candy Crush Saga▲ Rising
Candy Crush Saga hit the iPhone in 2012 and turned match-3 into a cultural obsession with over 3 billion downloads. Its level design and social features kept players returning daily. It still earns billions.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.5/10Downloads: 3,000 MPrice: $0Category: GamesFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsCandy Crush Saga
Minecraft▲ Rising
Minecraft arrived on iPhone in 2011 and gave players infinite creative worlds in their pocket. Its building freedom and survival mode created endless replayability. It remains a top-selling title.
Released: 2011Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 400 MPrice: $7Category: GamesFreemium: —
added by IJRin 15 rankingsMinecraft
Angry Birds▲ Rising
Angry Birds launched in 2009 and became the first massive iPhone gaming phenomenon, topping charts for years. Its simple physics and humor hooked casual players worldwide. It defined mobile gaming.
Released: 2009Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 500 MPrice: $0Category: GamesFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsAngry Birds
Duolingo▲ Rising
Duolingo gamified language learning on iPhone from 2012 and made daily practice addictive for millions. Its bite-sized lessons fit any schedule. It remains the top education app.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 700 MPrice: $0Category: EducationFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 4 rankingsDuolingo
Uber▲ Rising
Uber launched on iPhone in 2010 and invented the modern ride-hailing category almost single-handedly. Its seamless booking and tracking changed urban transportation forever. The app still defines the space.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 1,000 MPrice: $0Category: TravelFreemium: —
added by IJRin 3 rankings
DoorDash▲ Rising
DoorDash scaled food delivery on iPhone after 2013 with reliable drivers and restaurant variety. Its real-time tracking made ordering seamless. It leads the US market.
Released: 2013Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 300 MPrice: $0Category: FoodFreemium: —
added by IJRin 5 rankingsDoorDash
Evernote▼ Falling
Evernote launched on iPhone in 2008 and became the gold standard for note-taking and organization. Its search and sync features won professionals for years. It still powers many workflows.
Released: 2008Rating: 4.5/10Downloads: 300 MPrice: $0Category: ProductivityFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 3 rankingsEvernote
Dropbox brought effortless file syncing to the iPhone in 2008 and made cloud storage mainstream. Its simple folder model worked across devices instantly. It remains reliable for many users.
Released: 2008Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 400 MPrice: $0Category: ProductivityFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsDropbox
Shazam’s iPhone app from 2008 let users identify any song in seconds, becoming a must-have before streaming took over. Its speed and accuracy made it iconic. Apple later acquired it.
Released: 2008Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 600 MPrice: $0Category: MusicFreemium: —
added by IJRin 3 rankingsShazam
WhatsApp exploded on iPhone after 2010 by offering free global messaging with end-to-end encryption. It became essential for families and international communication. Its simplicity won over billions.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 3,000 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: —
added by IJRin 5 rankingsWhatsApp
Snapchat▲ Rising
Snapchat pioneered disappearing messages and stories on iPhone in 2011, forcing every social app to copy its format. Its AR lenses and camera-first design remain distinctive. It still leads in teen usage.
Released: 2011Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 800 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 4 rankingsSnapchat
Airbnb’s 2010 iPhone app turned spare rooms into a global travel network and disrupted hotels. Its trust and review system made peer-to-peer stays mainstream. It still leads the category.
Released: 2010Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 500 MPrice: $0Category: TravelFreemium: —
added by IJRin 3 rankingsAirbnb
Venmo popularized peer-to-peer payments on iPhone after 2009 with its social feed and instant transfers. It made splitting bills casual and fun. It still dominates US P2P.
Released: 2009Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 200 MPrice: $0Category: FinanceFreemium: —
added by IJRVenmo
Headspace▼ Falling
Headspace popularized animated meditation on iPhone from 2012 with clear, approachable lessons. Its science-backed approach appealed to beginners. It remains a top wellness app.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 100 MPrice: $0Category: HealthFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 2 rankingsHeadspace
Twitter▼ Falling
Twitter’s iPhone app turned real-time news and conversation into a daily scroll starting in 2008. Its character limit forced concise, viral moments that defined the decade. It remains a public square.
Released: 2008Rating: 4.5/10Downloads: 600 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: ✓
added by IJRTwitter
Zoom▼ Falling
Zoom’s iPhone app exploded in 2020 and became the default for video calls during the pandemic. Its reliability and features scaled to millions instantly. It still leads meetings.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 500 MPrice: $0Category: ProductivityFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 4 rankingsZoom
Facebook▼ Falling
Facebook’s 2008 iPhone app made social networking portable and helped it reach billions. Its feed and groups became daily infrastructure for many users. It still holds massive scale.
Released: 2008Rating: 4.3/10Downloads: 2,000 MPrice: $0Category: SocialFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 3 rankingsFacebook
Calm▼ Falling
Calm brought guided meditation and sleep stories to the iPhone and turned mental wellness into a daily habit for millions. Its celebrity narrators and nature sounds stood out. It leads the space.
Released: 2012Rating: 4.7/10Downloads: 150 MPrice: $0Category: HealthFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 2 rankingsCalm
Apple Music▼ Falling
Apple Music launched in 2015 and integrated deeply with iPhone to challenge Spotify with curated playlists and lossless audio. Its ecosystem lock-in keeps users engaged. It leads among Apple device owners.
Released: 2015Rating: 4.6/10Downloads: 400 MPrice: $0Category: MusicFreemium: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsApple Music
Free account · your comment posts right after signup
Voted, but this order is going to look very different in a month once more people find it.
Wild that Instagram is winning this. Scroll down — the real answer is further down the board.
Somebody explain the Instagram votes to me. Genuinely. I want to understand.
Missing a few names that belong in the top ten, but the top three is basically right.