Apple has signaled the approaching end of the year by publishing its “Best of 2013” page on the iTunes Store. The dedicated page on iTunes concentrates on digital products which the company offers for users to purchase and download, including iOS apps, music, podcasts, books and movies. As well as listing the most successful consumer downloads of the year, Apple also outlined their own choices in each category by having an Editors’ Pick for things like app and album of the year.
When it comes to the App Store section, it isn’t a great surprise that Candy Crush Saga is sitting at the top of the free downloads list. 2013 has been all about the candy crushing, with iOS and Facebook users from all over the world eager to see how much money they can send King’s way through the use of in-app purchases. The top grossing iOS apps list also shows that Candy Crush Saga gamers were also ready to part with their cash to advance through the levels, with the game being the highest grossing app of 2013.
Mojang’s Minecraft – Pocket Edition managed to see the year at the top of the paid apps download charts, although it doesn’t make an appearance in the top 15 of the top grossing list. It is extremely interesting to see that 13 of the top 15 grossing apps of the year are games that fall under the freemium model, with the other two being dating apps. It seems 2013 was the year for singles to play mobile games.
The complete list of apps can be found below, broken down into sections for both iPhone and iPad.
Top Free iPhone Apps
Candy Crush Saga
YouTube
Temple Run 2
Vine
Google Maps
Snapchat
Instagram
Facebook
Pandora Radio
Despicable Me: Minion Rush
Flashlight
4 Pics 1 Word
Twitter
Subway Surfers
Facebook Messenger
Top Paid iPhone Apps
Minecraft – Pocket Edition
Heads Up!
Temple Run: Oz
Angry Birds Star Wars
Plague Inc.
Afterlight
Free Music Download Pro
Bloons TD 5
Sleep Cycle alarm clock
Plants vs. Zombies
Camera+
Fruit Ninja
Scribblenauts Remix
TETRIS
Wipeout
Top Free iPad Apps
Candy Crush Saga
YouTube
Temple Run 2
Calculator for iPad Free
Skype for iPad
Netflix
Despicable Me: Minion Rush
Facebook
The Weather Channel for iPad
Subway Surfers
Kindle
Pandora Radio
Chrome
Gmail
Real Racing 3
Top Paid iPad Apps
Minecraft – Pocket Edition
Temple Run: Oz
Plants vs. Zombies HD
Angry Birds Star Wars HD
Notability
Angry Birds Star Wars II
Bad Piggies HD
Survivalcraft
Toca Hair Salon 2
Photon Flash Player for iPad
Scribblenauts Remix
Doc McStuffins
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Words With Friends HD
Where’s My Water?
iPhone Game of the Year
Ridiculous Fishing – A Tale of Redemption
DEVICE 6 (Runner-Up)
Plants vs. Zombies 2 (Runner-Up)
iPhone App of the Year
Duolingo
VSCO Cam (Runner-Up)
Endless Alphabet (Runner-Up)
iPad Game of the Year
BADLAND
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Runner-Up)
IMPOSSIBLE ROAD (Runner-Up)
iPad App of the Year
Disney Animated
Traktor DJ (Runner-Up)
WWF Together (Runner-Up)
As we know, iTunes isn’t all about mobile apps and also offers TV shows, movies, books and music downloads. Apple’s award for Best Family Film went to Despicable Me 2, with the Best Documentary accolade being handed to Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s Blackfish that tells the story of an amusement park Orca Whale that killed three people.
The Best of 2013 list appears to be broken down differently depending on which country you are in. Those in the United States will see that Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis’ The Heist was named best album whereas United Kingdom based individuals will see that the Editors’ Choice was handed toLondon Grammar for If You Wait (Deluxe Version).
If you want to see the complete list, simply head over to the official Best of 2013 page.