Topic / Subject

The Verge dug into what it really means to be the #1 app on Apple’s App Store, after “moment apps” (and OpenAI’s Sora) grabbed the crown and then watched it flip again.

TL;DR

The #1 spot is usually a spike, not a kingdom. It can unlock bragging rights and attention fast, but the crown changes hands quickly and the real download math is still a black box.

Key Details

The Verge’s feature breaks down how apps hit #1, and what that label actually represents. The story uses Focus Friend as a case study: a promotion wave pushed it to #1, but it only stayed there briefly. The author points to OpenAI’s Sora as another example of a sudden chart takeover that raised the question: “How big is #1, really?” Apple’s own scale stats are part of the backdrop: huge weekly App Store usage and massive cumulative developer earnings.

Breakdown

The Verge’s big point is that “#1 app in the world” is often more like “won the internet today.” It’s a moment you can screenshot, put on a pitch deck, and brag about forever — even if the run only lasts a day.

Focus Friend fits the modern playbook: creator promotion + media coverage + a burst of installs. The app didn’t need to become a permanent giant to become a permanent flex.

Sora is the flip side: a mega-brand can take over the chart for weeks and still feel weirdly invisible in your group chat. That’s the hidden truth of rankings: charts measure downloads and momentum, not necessarily lasting daily habits.

The takeaway: #1 is valuable, but mostly as a spotlight. The long game is retention, not trophies.

What to Watch Next

Whether Apple ever makes ranking metrics more transparent (beyond charts). More “influencer wave” apps doing one-week runs, then disappearing. How developers turn a #1 moment into a real business (subscriptions, long-term usage, partnerships).

Sources

The Verge — The biggest app in the whole wide world

Apple Newsroom — 2025 marked a record-breaking year for Apple services

Comment

If your favorite app hit #1 for one day, would you care more about bragging rights or actually keeping users after the spike?