Finishing the year atop Apple's App Store [1] list has never been more competitive. The company announced in October that the App Store features more than one million apps that have combined for more than 60 billion total app downloads.
So, what does it take to reach the top? Apparently lots and lots of candy.
Candy Crush Saga [2] was a star for iOS users in 2013, taking the top spot as the most downloaded free app on both iPhone and iPad this year. The addicting game was also the top grossing app on both iPhone and iPad, an impressive feat considering the app is free and relies on in-app purchases for revenue.
Candy Crush officially earned its crown Monday when Apple released its annual list of the top downloaded apps. The company does not break out specific download figures, but it did reveal a "Top 10" list for multiple categories, including top paid iPhone and iPad apps. Minecraft - Pocket Edition took the top spot on both devices in the paid app category.
Examining the lists for both devices gives a slightly better picture of how users are engaging with iPhones and iPads. Social media sites, for example, were some of the most downloaded apps on iPhone, but only one, Facebook, even cracked the top 10 on iPad.
Twitter, the company behind the year's most highly anticipated tech IPO, did not appear in the Top 10 on any list. Vine, the video sharing app Twitter unveiled in January , was #4 on the Free iPhone Apps list.
Snapchat , the photo-sharing app that automatically deletes images and videos after a recipient views them, was downloaded more times than Facebook and Instagram.
Based on the lists below, it appears as if iPads are primarily used for game playing â€" and gambling. Five of the top 10 highest grossing apps on the iPad in 2013 were gambling-related, including DoubleDown Casino, Big Fish Casino, and Slotomania HD; the other five were games.
Last year's most popular free apps for iPhone and iPad â€" YouTube and Skype for iPad, respectively â€" were both in the top five again this year.
Here's a look at the apps that kept us glued to our iOS devices in 2013.
Top Free iPhone Apps | Top Free iPad Apps |
|---|---|
Candy Crush Saga | Candy Crush Saga |
YouTube | YouTube |
Temple Run 2 | Temple Run 2 |
Vine | Calculator for iPad Free |
Google Maps | Skype for iPad |
Snapchat | Netflix |
Despicable Me: Minion Rush | |
iBooks | |
Pandora Radio | |
Despicable Me: Minion Rush | The Weather Channel for iPad |
Top Paid iPhone Apps | Top Paid iPad Apps |
Minecraft - Pocket Edition | Minecraft - Pocket Edition |
Heads Up! | Pages |
Temple Run: Oz | Temple Run: Oz |
Angry Birds Star Wars | Plants vs. Zombies HD |
Plague Inc. | Angry Birds Star Wars HD |
Afterlight | Notability |
Free Music Download Pro - Mp3 Downloader | Angry Birds Star Wars II |
Bloons TD 5 | iMovie |
Sleep Cycle alarm clock | The Room |
Plants vs. Zombies | Bad Piggies HD |
Top Grossing iPhone Apps | Top Grossing iPad Apps |
Candy Crush Saga | Candy Crush Saga |
Clash of Clans | Clash of Clans |
Pandora Radio | Hay Day |
MARVEL War of Heroes | DoubleDown Casino |
Hay Day | Big Fish Casino |
Big Fish Casino | Modern War |
The Simpsons: Tapped Out | Bingo Bash HD - Free Bingo Casino |
Modern War | The Simpsons: Tapped Out |
Kingdoms of Camelot: Battle for the North | Slotomania HD - FREE Slots |
The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth | GSN Casino |
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Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Links
- ^ Apple's App Store (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Candy Crush Saga (itunes.apple.com)
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