The App Store on Apple devices is bustling with tons of choices, offering over 1.8 million apps. For developers making it high up in the ranks, they sure do deserve a round of applause.

Recently, Apple spilled the beans on the most downloaded iPhone and iPad apps during 2023. They organized it into four parts for each device: the top free and paid apps that led the way, along with the highest-ranking free and paid games.

Additionally, Apple let us know about the best games available on Apple Arcade for the whole year.

Top iPhone Apps of 2023, Free and Paid in the Apple App Store

In the realm of free iPhone apps, the most popular downloads these days include the shopping app Temu for goods, the video editor CapCut to create clips, and the streaming service Max to watch shows on HBO.

Social media is strong with Instagram's Threads and the famous TikTok and Instagram, along with useful apps like the search tool Google, video platform YouTube, messenger WhatsApp, and email service Gmail.

At the same time, paid apps worth the cash include Shadowrocket, work scheduler HotSchedules, drawing program Procreate Pocket, and tools like The Wonder Weeks, the 75 Hard Challenge, and sleep tracker AutoSleep Track on Watch.

Other notable ones are Goblin Tools, musical tuner TonalEnergy Tuner and Metronome, sky viewing app SkyView, and flashcard helper AnkiMobile Flashcards.

Top iPhone Games of 2023, Free and Paid in the Apple App Store

App store's list of top downloaded free-to-play games for iPhone had some entertaining options like "MONOPOLY GO!," "Roblox," "Royal Match," "Subway Surfers," "Gardenscapes," "Call of Duty: Mobile," "Block Blast!," "Makeover Studio: Makeup Games," "Parking Jam 3D," and "Survivor!.io."

On the other hand, paid games featured well-known titles like "Minecraft," "Heads Up!," "Geometry Dash," "Bloons TD 6," "MONOPOLY," "Papa's Freezeria To Go!," "Plague Inc.," "Red's First Flight," "Five Nights at Freddy's," and "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

Top iPad Apps and Games of 2023

The most downloaded Free iPad applications are Max: Stream TV & Movies, YouTube, Netflix, Google Chrome, Disney+, Goodnotes 6, TikTok, Amazon Prime Video, Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire, and Peacock TV: Stream TV & Movies.

Some paid apps that users enjoy include Procreate, Shadowrocket, Nomad Sculpt, forScore, Toca Life: Hospital, Bluebeam Revu for iPad, Teach Your Monster to Read, AnkiMobile Flashcards, Endless Paper, and ToonSquid.

The top free games for an iPad are "Roblox," "Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game," and "Subway Surfers." Like "Among Us!" and "Duet Cats: Cute Cat Games," 'Royal Match" is another game people play without paying.

Some other free options for fun include "Stumble Guys" and "MONOPOLY GO!" You can also try the "Bridge Race" or explore "Gardenscapes."

"Minecraft" is popular among the paid iPad games, along with "Geometry Dash" and "Bloons TD 6." "Stardew Valley" and the classic "MONOPOLY" are choices, too. All-time scary favorites "Five Nights at Freddy's" and the new "Red's First Flight" also get downloaded. "Poppy Playtime Chapter 1" and keeping people sick with "Plague Inc." are also downloaded. Finally, "Garten of Banban 2" is another paid option looked at.