Summary

Gruber examines Apple's top iPhone apps list for 2025 in the U.S., noting ChatGPT's #1 position and the dominance of Google and Meta in the top 10. He uses the list to rebut Elon Musk's lawsuit alleging Apple rigs App Store rankings to favor ChatGPT over Grok, arguing that the presence of so many rival apps disproves any favoritism. He observes that Google has 6 apps on the list and likely makes more ad revenue per iPhone user than per Android user. He also highlights the stark contrast between the free and paid app charts, noting the paid list is populated by niche, largely unknown apps rather than household names.

Key Insight

The App Store's top free apps list — dominated by Google, Meta, and other Apple rivals — is itself the strongest evidence against Musk's claim that Apple rigs its rankings.

Spicy Quotes (click to share)

• 7

  Dishonest people presume the whole world is dishonest. That you either cheat and steal, or you're going to be cheated and robbed.

• 8

  If Elon Musk ran the App Store, you can be sure that he'd cook the rankings to put apps that he owns, or even just favors, on top.

• 6

  There's little reason to think they're crooked — unless you think the entire world is crooked.

• 3

  The only apps in the top 10 not from Google or Meta are ChatGPT (#1) and TikTok (#4).

• 6

  I would bet that Google makes more ad revenue from the average iPhone user than from the average Android user.

• 4

  The market for paid apps isn't just different from the market for free apps. It's an entirely different world.

• 3

  Apple recuses its own apps from such rankings.

• 5

  Household names these are not.

Tone

analytical, sardonic