Apple reveals its Best Of 2018 in apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts

By Stephen Fenech On Dec 5, 2018

Apple has just released its extensive list on the best of 2018 and have published top charts and selections from its editors across every category including apps, music, movies, TV shows and podcasts.

And Australians have figured prominently in all categories.

Three of the eight apps chosen as Global Picks by the Apple editorial team are Australian.

In the music section, 5 Seconds of Summer’s album Youngblood was the most streamed Australian album of the year.

Best Apps of 2018

Global Picks — Editorially Selected by Apple:

– iPhone App of the year – Procreate Pocket (Australian – developed in Tasmania)
– iPhone Game of the year – Donut County
– iPad App of the year – Froggipedia
– iPad Game of the year – Gorogoa
– Mac App of the year – Pixelmator Pro
– Mac Game of the year – The Gardens Between (Australian – developed in Melbourne)
– Apple TV App of the year – Sweat (Australian – developed in Adelaide)
– Apple TV Game of the year – Alto’s Odyssey

Most Downloaded Free iPhone Apps in 2018:

Instagram
Messenger
Facebook
Spotify Music
YouTube
Snapchat
WhatsApp Messenger
Google Maps
Netflix
Bitmoji
Uber Eats
Uber
Gmail
Wish
CommBank
ANZ Australia
Gumtree
Microsoft Outlook
Google Chrome
eBay

Most Downloaded PaId iPhone Apps in 2018:

TripView
The Wonder Weeks
WikiCamps Australia
kirakira+
Facetune
PlantSnap Plant Identification
Monash University FODMAP diet
Forest – Stay focused
Afterlight 2
1 Second Everyday: Video Diary
Rain Parrot
AutoSleep Tracker for Watch
My Talking Pet Pro
TouchRetouch
CamToPlan PRO
Glitché
Pocket Secure
Photo Scanner Plus
7 Minute Workout Challenge
SkyView – Explore the Universe

Most Downloaded Free iPhone Games in 2018:

Fortnite
Helix Jump
Hole.io
Rise Up
PUBG MOBILE
Love Balls
Word Link – Word Puzzle Game
Snake VS Block
Subway Surfers
Sling Drift
Wordscapes
Knife Hit
Episode – Choose Your Story
Dune!
Baseball Boy!
Candy Crush Saga
Happy Glass
8 Ball Pool
Hello Stars
Sniper 3D Assassin: Gun Games

Most Downloaded Paid iPhone Games in 2018:

Plague Inc.
Heads Up!
3. Minecraft
4. Bloons TD 6
5. Pocket Build
6. Bloons TD 5
7. Sunday Lawn
8. Earn to Die 2
9. Hitman Sniper
10. True Skate
11. Geometry Dash
12. Papa’s Freezeria To Go!
13. Monument Valley 2
14. Getting Over It
15. The Room: Old Sins
16. The Game of Life
17. hocus.
18. Terraria
19. Doodle Jump
20. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Most Downloaded Free iPad Apps in 2018:
1. Netflix
2. YouTube
3. Messenger
4. Spotify Music
5. Facebook
6. Google Chrome
7. Gmail
8. 7plus
9. 9Now
10. The Calculator
11. Microsoft Word
12. Google Maps
13. ABC iview
14. Wish
15. YouTube Kids
16. SBS On Demand
17. Stan.
18. Google Drive
19. Google Earth
20. Sandbox Coloring
Most Downloaded PaId iPad Apps in 2018:
1. Procreate
2. Book Creator for iPad
3. Notability
4. GoodNotes 4
5. WikiCamps Australia
6. Explain Everything Whiteboard
7. Green Screen by Do Ink
8. Toca Life: Pets
9. Popplet
10. Toca Life: After School
11. GoodReader
12. Duet Display
13. Toca Hair Salon 3
14. MyScript Nebo
15. Toca Life: Office
16. Toca Kitchen 2
17. PDF Expert by Readdle
18. Toca Life: Hospital
19. Toca Lab: Elements
20. PicCollage EDU – Collage Maker
Most Downloaded Free iPad Games in 2018:
1. Fortnite
2. Helix Jump
3. ROBLOX
4. Love Balls
5. Hole.io
6. Color by Number Coloring Game!
7. Kick the Buddy
8. Rise Up
9. Bowmasters – Multiplayer Game
10. Subway Surfers
11. Snake VS Block
12. slither.io
13. Happy Glass
14. Run Sausage Run!
15. PUBG MOBILE
16. Toon Blast
17. Rules of Survival
18. Cooking Fever
19. Pixel Art – Color by Number
20. Paper.io
Most Downloaded Paid iPad Games in 2018:
1. Minecraft
2. Geometry Dash
3. Terraria
4. Plague Inc.
5. The Escapists: Prison Escape
6. Bloons TD 6
7. Goat Simulator
8. Bloons TD 5 HD
9. True Skate
10. Five Nights at Freddy’s
11. LEGO Jurassic World
12. The Room: Old Sins
13. The Game of Life
14. Goat Simulator PAYDAY
15. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
16. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
17. Teen Titans Go! Figure
18. Heads Up!
19. Pocket Build
20. Monument Valley 2

Best Music of 2018

Most Streamed Songs in Australia

— Post Malone’s ‘I Fall Apart’ raced up the charts to become the most streamed song on Apple Music in 2018 after a live version went viral at the end of 2017.
— Post Malone had a huge year with 5 songs in the Top 20.
— 5 Second of Summer’s ‘Youngblood’ is the most streamed Australia song of the year, coming in at #2 on the charts just behind Post Malone.
— Dean Lewis has the second most streamed Australian song of the year with ‘Be Alright.’

I Fall Apart, Post Malone
2. Youngblood, 5 Seconds of Summer
3. God’s Plan, Drake
4. rockstar (feat. 21 Savage), Post Malone
5. Meant to Be, Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
6. Let You Down, NF
7. Havana (feat. Young Thug), Camila Cabello
8. Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign), Post Malone
9. These Days (feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen), Rudimental
10. Silence (feat. Khalid), Marshmello
11. All The Stars, Kendrick Lamar & SZA
12. Be Alright, Dean Lewis
13. Perfect, Ed Sheeran
14. Candy Paint, Post Malone
15. The Middle, Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
16. Better Now, Post Malone
17. River (feat. Ed Sheeran), Eminem
18. IDGAF, Dua Lipa
19. I Said Hi, Amy Shark
20. Nice For What, Drake

Most Streamed Albums in Australia

— Despite being released in March 2017, Ed Sheeran’s album ÷ not only topped the charts in 2017, but is also the most streamed album of 2018.

— Not only is Post Malone’s new album ‘beerbongs & bentleys’ the second most listened to album of the year on Apple Music, but his previous album ‘Stoney’ came in at #4.

— The Greatest Showman soundtrack is the 3rd most streamed album on Apple Music – a favourite for the whole family, this soundtrack raced up the charts straight after the release of the film on Boxing Day 2017.

— 5 Second of Summer’s album ‘Youngblood’ is the most-streamed Australian album of the year.

÷ (Deluxe), Ed Sheeran
beerbongs & bentleys, Post Malone
The Greatest Showman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Various Artists
Stoney, Post Malone
Scorpion, Drake
?, XXXTENTACION
Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By, Kendrick Lamar,The Weeknd & SZA
reputation, Taylor Swift
Evolve, Imagine Dragons
American Teen, Khalid
Dua Lipa, Dua Lipa
Beautiful Trauma, P!nk
Youngblood, 5 Seconds of Summer
Baby Lullaby: Relaxing Piano Lullabies and Natural Sleep Aid for Baby Sleep Music, Einstein Baby Lullaby Academy
17, XXXTENTACION
Heartbreak on a Full Moon, Chris Brown
The Thrill of It All, Sam Smith
Revival, Eminem
Shawn Mendes, Shawn Mendes
DAMN., Kendrick Lamar

Apple Music Best of 2018 – Editorially selected by Apple

Artist of the year: Drake

Breakout Artist of the Year: Juice WRLD

Song of the Year: I Like It – Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny & J. Balvin

Album of the Year: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves

Best Podcasts of 2018

Australian podcasting becomes bigger, more interesting and increasingly innovative every year. For proof, look no further than this list. From offbeat comedies (Alice Fraser Trilogy) and guilty pleasure shows…about guilty pleasures (Shameless) to the best in science and social issues (Australian Birth Stories, Science Friction), these podcasts will make you laugh, cry, think and learn. Explore our personal favourites and shows that topped our charts.

Best Australian Podcasts of 2018 – Editorially Selected by Apple:
1. The Alice Fraser Triology by ABC
2. The Squiz Podcast by The Squiz
3. Is It On? by BuzzFeed Australia
4. Chat 10 Looks 3 by Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb
5. Lady Startup by Mamamia
6. Dispatch to a Friend by Gillian Bell & Annabelle Hickson
7. Science Friction by ABC National Radio
8. Ask Me Anything by Mamamia
9. Please Explain by The Age and SMH
10. Teacher’s Pet by The Australian
11. Totally Obsessed by Dan Debuf
12. Deep Listening by Oscar Trimboli
13. Cher and Retweet by Lipp Media
14. The Betoota Advocate Podcast by The Betoota Advocate
15. Healthy-ish by myBody+Soul Podcasts
16. Story Club by Giant Dwarf
17. Shirtloads of Science by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
18. Crappy to Happy by PodcastOne Australia
19. The Prospectives by Adam Hurly
20. Australian Birth Stories by Sophie Walker: Childbirth and Pregnancy Blogger
21. Shameless by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews

Most Downloaded Podcast Shows of 2018: (Australian listeners)
1. ABC Radio:Conversations
2. The Joe Rogan Experience
3. TED Talks Daily
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. Casefile Ture Crime
6. The Teacher’s Pet
7. Hamish & Andy
8. Kate, Tim, & Marty
9. Hack (triple j)
10. The Daily (The New York Times)
11. Australian True Crime
12. My Favorite Murder
13. Global News Podcast
14. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
15. My Dad Wrote a Porno
16. This American Life
17. All In the Mind (ABC)
18. The GaryVee Audio Experience
19. Freakonomics Radio
20. Serial
21. RN Breakfast
22. Mamamia Out Loud
23. The Tim Ferriss Show
24. No Filter
25. Dr Karl on triple j

Most Downloaded Podcast Shows that Launched in 2018: (Australian listeners)
1. The Teacher’s Pet
2. Unravel True Crime
3. The Betoota Advocate
4. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
5. Russia, If You’re Listening
6. The Sunday Triple M NRL Catch Up — Paul Kent, Gordon Tallis, Ryan Girdler, Anthony Maroon
7. The Signal (ABC)
8. The Pineapple Project
9. Caliphate
10. Dr Death
11. Crawf & Hirdy – We Talk Football
12. The Health Code
13. Talk is Jericho
14. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: Ears Edition
15. The Rush Hour with MG
16. Wrong Skin
17. Jase & PJ
18. Conspiracy Theories
19. Today, Explained
20. Death in Ice Valley
21. Fierce Girls
22. The goop Podcast
23. Business Wars
24. The Hub (ABC)
25. Mafia

Best Movies & TV Shows of 2018

One hundred bags of popcorn and many sleepless nights later, we’ve finally decided on our favourite movies of 2018. In “A Star Is Born,” Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sang their way into our hearts; the special effects of superhero extravaganza “Avengers: Infinity War” were a delight for the eyes, and we were terrified beyond belief in the John Krasinski-directed horror, “A Quiet Place”.

Best Movies of 2018 – Editorially selected by Apple