Apple reveals the Best Apps of 2024 finalists

Every year, Apple lists its favourite iPhone and iPad apps on its website as part of a competition to identify the best app of 2024. Really, any application that makes the final list is usually quite trustworthy, so selecting a winner is mostly a formality. As much as the competition is a commercial for Apple's platforms, the true value is in discovering new games, services, or tools that you were previously unaware of. For example Dropout is arguably the best streaming service available, and Sonic Dream Team, a fully-fledged 3D platformer that feels like a throwback to the Sonic Adventure days.

Following is a full list of Apple’s best apps of 2024, across all 12 categories.

iPhone App of the Year Finalists

• Kino
• Runna
• Tripsy

iPhone Game of the Year Finalists

• AFK Journey
• The WereCleaner
• Zenless Zone Zero

iPad App of the Year Finalists

• Bluey: Let's Play
• Moises
• Procreate Dreams

iPad Game of the Year Finalists

• Assassin's Creed Mirage
• Disney Speedstorm
• Squad Busters

Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists

• Balatro+
• Outlanders 2
• Sonic Dream Team

Mac App of the Year Finalists

• Adobe Lightroom
• OmniFocus 4
• Shapr3D

Mac Game of the Year Finalists

• Frostpunk 2
• Stray
• Thank Goodness You're Here!

Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists

• LookUp
• Lumy
• Watch to 5K

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year Finalists

• JigSpace
• NBA
• What If…? An Immersive Story

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year Finalists

• Loóna
• THRASHER
• Vacation Simulator

Apple TV App of the Year Finalists

• DROPOUT
• F1 TV
• Zoom

Cultural Impact Finalists

• Arco
• The Bear
• BetterSleep
• Brawl Stars
• DailyArt
• Do You Really Want to Know 2
• EF Hello
• NYT Games
• Oko
• Partiful
• Pinterest
• The Wreck