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Apple Announces 2023 App Store Award Winners

Apple today chose its 2023 App Store Award winners, highlighting the best apps and games on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more. Apple is recognizing 14 apps and games in total, with the winners picked by the global App Store Editorial team.


According to Apple, the 2023 App Store Award Winners provided users "with meaningful experiences" and inspired cultural change. The picks "empowered users to unleash their creativity, discover a world of new adventures, and have fun with family and friends."

"It's inspiring to see the ways developers continue to build incredible apps and games that are redefining the world around us," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "This year's winners represent the limitless potential of developers to bring their visions to life, creating apps and games with remarkable ingenuity, exceptional quality, and purpose-driven missions."

Apple selected App of the Year winners for each of its products, and Game of the Year winners for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apps

  • iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails, from AllTrails, Inc.
  • iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup, from Prêt-à-Template.
  • Mac App of the Year: Photomator, from UAB Pixelmator Team.
  • Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI, from MUBI, Inc.
  • Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym, from Mateus Abras.

Games

Apple selected five Cultural Impact Winners that were "recognized for their ability to drive positive change through apps and games."

According to Apple, the Trend of the Year was generative AI, with apps integrating AI throughout the year in multiple ways.

All App of the Year and Game of the Year winners will receive a physical App Store award modeled after the App Store logo.

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Top Rated Comments

33 months ago
The app store is simply destroyed by in app purchase and subscriptions ..
just the 5 apps alone will set you back 367$ YEARLY!! in my country.. its total greed and a disgrace in my eyes.
I gave up looking in the app store years ago.
And even worse I can’t find a way to filter them away in the app store.

That exercise app look exactly same as a free and one time purchase one from many many years ago..
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33 months ago
The yearly $99 developer program fee is a huge barrier preventing many great open-source free apps from entering the App Store. That's part of the reason why App Store is currently filled with low-quality subscription apps. There is no competition from free alternatives.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve-Jobz Avatar
33 months ago
Tim: Thanks to these apps for paying the most Apple taxes.

Endless price increases, overpricing and subscriptions.

One-off buyouts have become a rarity. Bad money drives out good money.

Example: Agenda's buying model strikes a good balance between customer interests and developer profits.

Unfortunately, there is no limit to human desire. Even this modest business model is hard for other software developers to accept.

I've even seen basic iPad calculators for $5/mo. That's funny. Welcome to ApplePunk 2077.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jethr_o Avatar
33 months ago
Also known as: the most profitable apps and games (from Apple's point of view) for the year?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve-Jobz Avatar
33 months ago

The app store is simply destroyed by in app purchase and subscriptions ..
just the 5 apps alone will set you back 367$ YEARLY!! in my country.. its total greed and a disgrace in my eyes.
I gave up looking in the app store years ago.
And even worse I can’t find a way to filter them away in the app store.

That exercise app look exactly same as a free and one time purchase one from many many years ago..
Agree.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33 months ago
Seems a little early. It's not even December yet.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)