Is this real chart data?

Yes — it is Apple's own real, live top free apps chart.

No. Apple's chart feed is free and key-less.

Which region's chart is shown?

The U.S. App Store chart, Apple's default public feed.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser.

Does a high rank mean an app is good?

No. It reflects how the chart ranks the app, which Apple does not fully document, and says little about quality or how often people keep using it.

Why are paid apps not listed?

This chart is the Top Free list, so apps with an upfront price are not part of it.

Do the icons and names come from Apple?

Yes, the list items are taken from Apple's chart feed, so the names and artwork are those the store lists for each app.

App Store Top Charts Screensaver

Name: App Store Top Charts Screensaver
Author: Afterglow

The App Store Top Charts screensaver shows the real live top free app rankings, pulled straight from the App Store's own public chart feed. It is free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.

How the App Store Top Charts screensaver works

The saver fetches the real live top free apps chart directly from Apple's own public RSS feed.

Real app names, ranks and icons update automatically as the real chart shifts.

No key is required — the chart feed is free and public.

The list refreshes periodically to reflect the real current rankings.

How Apple's top free chart works

Apple publishes public chart feeds listing popular apps in each App Store storefront. Its RSS feed generator lets anyone choose a storefront and a media type, and returns 10, 25 or 50 results as JSON or XML. The Top Free list ranks apps that cost nothing to download, which includes games, social networks, utilities and shopping apps that earn money through subscriptions, advertising or in-app purchases rather than an upfront price.

Apple does not document the formula behind the ranking, and the feed itself carries no download counts, so a gap of one place can hide a large or tiny difference in actual installs. Because an app's position depends on a formula you cannot see, treat it as a rough signal of popularity, not a measured total.

Each storefront has its own list, since the App Store is organised by country, so the same app can rank very differently in different regions. A chart reflects what is being downloaded, not what people use most, so it says little about how often an app is opened or how good it is.

A worked example

A breakout app climbing the real chart overnight appears near the top the next time the saver refreshes, exactly matching the real public ranking.

Settings & tips

Accent recolours the rank numbers.
Rankings reflect the real current U.S. App Store chart.
The chart updates on Apple's own schedule, not ours.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real chart data?: Yes — it is Apple's own real, live top free apps chart.
Is a key needed?: No. Apple's chart feed is free and key-less.
Which region's chart is shown?: The U.S. App Store chart, Apple's default public feed.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser.
Does a high rank mean an app is good?: No. It reflects how the chart ranks the app, which Apple does not fully document, and says little about quality or how often people keep using it.
Why are paid apps not listed?: This chart is the Top Free list, so apps with an upfront price are not part of it.
Do the icons and names come from Apple?: Yes, the list items are taken from Apple's chart feed, so the names and artwork are those the store lists for each app.

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