Apple announces App Store Awards for 2021

Public health apps were among the most heavily downloaded items across 2021, Apple has revealed as it announces the most popular apps and games for the year across multiple territories

Health, connection, productivity, and entertainment

Reflecting international trends, the NHS vaccination status app was the UK’s most downloaded free app of the year. Among Us, Football Manager, Roblox and Minecraft kept UK users entertained, while Zoom and Teams became the top iPad apps of the year.

This year’s App Award winners

Apple has named 2021’s App Store Award winners, recognizing the 15 best apps and games that helped users grow, learn, create, connect, and relax. Winners came from around the world and their apps and games were selected by Apple’s global App Store editors on the basis of quality, innovation and positive cultural impact.

You’ll find links to all the winning apps on the dedicated App Store page for this year’s awards which is right here. You can explore the apps that led the pack in 2020 here.

What Apple said

“The developers who won App Store Awards in 2021 harnessed their own drive and vision to deliver the best apps and games of the year, sparking the creativity and passion of millions of users around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“From self-taught indie coders to inspiring leaders building global businesses, these standout developers innovated with Apple technology, with many helping to foster the profound sense of togetherness we needed this year.”

[Also read: Apple dev relations chief Ron Okamoto retires]

Apple noted the following:

Ten years after its App Store debut, Toca Life World is still masterfully iterating on the art of play and self-expression for kids.

• The developers behind DAZN guided local sport culture into the global spotlight for everyone to enjoy.
• Carrot Weather brought its best-in-class meteorological forecasts — and the witty character behind it — to users’ wrists.
• LumaFusion made video editing faster, less intimidating, and more portable for creators at every level.
• Craft creatively enabled efficiency and artistry through a notebook with seemingly limitless capabilities.
• The incredible graphics and rich storylines woven into “League of Legends: Wild Rift,” “MARVEL Future Revolution,” “Myst,” “Space Marshals 3,” and Apple Arcade’s “Fantasian” transported players of all ages into immersive gaming experiences.

And the 2021 App Store Award winners are

• iPhone App of the Year: Toca Life World, from Toca Boca.
• iPad App of the Year: LumaFusion, from LumaTouch.
• Mac App of the Year: Craft, from Luki Labs Limited.
• Apple TV App of the Year: DAZN, from DAZN Group.
• Apple Watch App of the Year: Carrot Weather, from Grailr.
• iPhone Game of the Year: “League of Legends: Wild Rift,” from Riot Games.
• iPad Game of the Year: “MARVEL Future Revolution,” from Netmarble Corporation.
• Mac Game of the Year: “Myst,” from Cyan.
• Apple TV Game of the Year: “Space Marshals 3,” from Pixelbite.
• Apple Arcade Game of the Year: “Fantasian,” from Mistwalker.

Staying connected in isolation

Apple declared this year’s Trend of the Year to be apps that boost connection between people. This year’s trend winners brought people together in meaningful ways while meeting social, personal, and professional needs for users around the world.

Among Us! from Innersloth

With a mix of cooperation and competition, Among Us! cultivated community through bite-size matches that urged users to talk — and listen — to each other via banter, bluffing, and teamwork.

Bumble, from Bumble Inc.

Bumble met the moment by adding and enhancing features designed to bridge the gap for users hoping to date, forge platonic friendships, and broaden their professional networks — all while fostering women-powered conversations.

Canva, from Canva 

Offering elegantly simple design tools and gorgeous templates, Canva helps users tap into their entrepreneurial spirit by making design simple for professionals, students, job seekers, community leaders, and teams of every kind.

EatOkra, from Anthony Edwards Jr. and Janique Edwards

EatOkra built a robust, user-driven guide to more than 11,000 Black-owned eateries that helps people find tasty ways to invest in their community.

Peanut, from Peanut App Limited 

By launching social audio Pods led by experts on everything from pregnancy and menopause to relationships and self-care, Peanut is creating space for honest conversations on every aspect of womanhood at every stage of life.

Apple has honored the best apps and games at the end of each year for over a decade. It now awards winners with a physical App Store award inspired by the signature blue App Store icon. These are manufactured using the same 100 percent recycled aluminium used to make Apple products, with the name of the winner engraved on the other side.

UK’s Most Downloaded Apps: 

Top Free iPhone Apps:

NHS App
WhatsApp Messenger
TikTok
Instagram
YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
Microsoft Teams
Snapchat
Facebook
Google Maps
Messenger
NHS COVID-19
Uber Eats: Food Delivery
ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Amazon
Spotify New Music and Podcasts
Shop: package & order tracker
Gmail – Email by Google
My McDonald’s UK
Netflix
Deliveroo: Food Delivery

Top Paid iPhone Apps:

Driving Theory Test 4 in 1 Kit
Official DVSA Theory Test Kit
The Wonder Weeks
Procreate Pocket
CITB Op/Spec HS&E test 2019
Forest – Your Focus Motivation
TouchRetouch
Squeezy NHS Pelvic Floor App
Facetune
Freya • Surge Timer
Dark Sky Weather
AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
Driving Theory by James May
CITB MAP HS&E test 2019
Site Audit Pro
Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector
Carbs & Cals: Diet & Diabetes
ChirpOMatic – Europe
The TeamTOMM App
WiFi Now Remote

Top Free iPhone Games:

Among Us!
Roblox
Project Makeover
Water Sort Puzzle
High Heels!
Count Masters: Crowd Runner 3D
8 Ball Pool™
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Shortcut Run
Subway Surfers
BitLife – Life Simulator
Roof Rails
Stacky Dash
Call of Duty®: Mobile
Score! Hero 2
Bridge Race
Parking Jam 3D
Pokémon GO
Happy Printer
Nail Salon 3D

Top Paid iPhone Games:

Minecraft
Football Manager 2021 Mobile
Monopoly
Heads Up!
Bloons TD 6
Plague Inc.
The Chase: Ultimate Edition
My Child Lebensborn
Geometry Dash
Tipping Point
Pocket Build
Countdown – The Official TV Show App
Earn to Die 2
Bloons TD 5
True Skate
Cluedo: The Official Edition
The Game of Life 2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Incredibox
Tenable

Top Free iPad Apps:

ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Microsoft Teams
YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
Netflix
Disney+
Amazon Prime Video
Google Chrome
BBC iPlayer
TikTok
Microsoft Word
ITV Hub: TV Player & Catchup
All 4 – Watch Live & On Demand
Amazon
Spotify New Music and Podcasts
Facebook
Messenger
Gmail – Email by Google
Sky Go
Google
Microsoft PowerPoint

Top Paid iPad Apps:

Procreate
GoodNotes 5
Notability
Messaging for WhatsApp on iPad
Driving Theory Test 4 in 1 Kit
Teach Your Monster to Read
Hit the Button Maths
Spelling Shed
Official DVSA Theory Test Kit
Toca Life: Hospital
Duet Display
Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar
Toca Kitchen 2
Affinity Designer
Affinity Photo
Toca Life: Neighborhood
LumaFusion
Toca Life: Vacation
Numberblocks: Hide and Seek
Numberblocks: Card Fun!

Top Free iPad Games:

Among Us!
Roblox
Phone Case DIY
Project Makeover
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Hair Challenge
Tiles Hop – EDM Rush
Blob Runner 3D
DOP 2: Delete One Part
Chat Master!
Shortcut Run
Teacher Simulator
Subway Surfers
Bridge Race
Acrylic Nails!
slither.io
Count Masters: Crowd Runner 3D
Sculpt people
Water Sort Puzzle
Mario Kart Tour

Top Paid iPad Games:

Minecraft
Monopoly
Bloons TD 6
Football Manager 2021 Touch
Football Manager 2021 Mobile
Plague Inc.
The Chase: Ultimate Edition
Geometry Dash
Stardew Valley
The Game of Life 2
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Tipping Point
Cluedo: The Official Edition
PAW Patrol: Adventure Bay!
My Child Lebensborn
Human: Fall Flat
LEGO® Jurassic World™
Terraria
Ultimate Custom Night
RFS – Real Flight Simulator

Top Apple Arcade Games:

Sonic Racing
Mini Motorways
Cut the Rope Remastered
Skate City
PAC-MAN Party Royale
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
Angry Birds Reloaded
SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit
Hot Lava
Sneaky Sasquatch
Fruit Ninja Classic+
Rayman Mini
SongPop Party
Crossy Road Castle
Outlanders
Solitaire by MobilityWare +
WHAT THE GOLF?
LEGO® Brawls
Oceanhorn 2
Spire Blast.

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