RANKRHow Google Play top charts work
Google Play has three chart types, Top Free, Top Paid and Top Grossing, each kept separately for apps and for games in every country. Google doesn't publish how they're calculated; developers generally observe that recent downloads drive Free and Paid, and recent revenue drives Grossing.
What charts does Google Play have?
| Chart | What it lists | What developers generally observe it follows |
|---|---|---|
| Top Free | Free apps or games | Recent downloads |
| Top Paid | Paid apps or games | Recent downloads |
| Top Grossing | Apps or games, free or paid | Recent revenue |
Apps and games are separate charts, so a hit game never pushes an app down the apps chart. Each of Google Play's 175 storefronts has its own set, there are category charts as well, and charts go up to #200.
What did the charts look like on October 19, 2026?
Here is Japan, from chart data at 12:45 UTC that day:
| # | Top Free apps | Top Grossing apps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TikTok Lite | Google One |
| 2 | Phone Tracker Pro & Locator | ChatGPT |
| 3 | LINE | Piccoma (ピッコマ) |
| 4 | ChatGPT | LINE Manga |
| 5 | Firefox | TikTok |
And the United States at the same moment:
| # | Top Free apps | Top Grossing apps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muse from Meta | Google One |
| 2 | ChatGPT | TikTok |
| 3 | Settings Home | ChatGPT |
| 4 | TikTok Pro | Amazon Shopping |
| 5 | TikTok | Spotify |
Google One led Top Grossing in both countries without making either free top 5. ChatGPT was the only app in both Japanese lists. The live versions are on Japan Top Free, Japan Top Grossing, US Top Free and US Top Grossing. Why the two lists differ so much is covered in Top Free vs Top Grossing.
Reading the two lists side by side is useful. In the US, ChatGPT was #2 in Top Free and #3 in Top Grossing, and TikTok was #5 in Top Free and #2 in Top Grossing. In Japan, ChatGPT was #4 in Top Free and #2 in Top Grossing. An app that shows up in both lists is being installed and also earning, while an app in only one of them is doing one of those things much better than the other.
Why is the Top Paid chart nearly empty?
Paid apps are rare on Google Play. On October 19, 2026, the Top Paid apps chart had only 7 apps in Japan and 91 in the United States, well short of 200. Paid games fill more of their chart: 92 in Japan and the full 200 in the US.
So read a Top Paid position with the length of the list in mind. A top 5 spot on a 7-app chart says much less than a top 5 spot on a full one.
Why is Top Grossing empty in some countries?
Grossing reflects revenue, and where Google Play billing is restricted the chart can come up empty. On October 19, 2026, Google Play Top Grossing had no apps at all for Russia.
How is Google Play different from the App Store?
- Google Play has a public Top Grossing chart. The App Store app shows only Top Free and Top Paid.
- Both stores keep a separate chart per country (175 storefronts each), per category and per chart type, each up to #200.
- The App Store also splits charts by device: iPhone, iPad and Mac each have their own. See how App Store top charts work.
- On both, the store app on your phone shows only the charts for your account's country.
What does a Google Play rank tell you?
A rank is your position against other apps in that country's chart at that moment. It is not a download count, and Google gives no conversion from one to the other. Positions can move a long way in a day (why ranks change).
To see where one app sits across countries, the chart pages show the lists for 30 countries. Rankr (iOS and Android) follows your own apps across the App Store and Google Play top charts in 175 countries and alerts you when one reaches a new best rank or enters a new country.
Questions
Does Google Play have a Top Grossing chart?
Yes. Google Play has Top Free, Top Paid and Top Grossing, each for apps and games separately, in every country.
Why does Google Play's Top Paid chart have so few apps?
Paid apps are rare on Google Play. On October 19, 2026, the Top Paid apps chart listed only 7 apps in Japan and 91 in the US.
Can a free app be in Google Play Top Grossing?
Yes. Grossing follows revenue, so free apps that earn through subscriptions or in-app purchases appear there. On October 19, 2026, ChatGPT was in the top 5 of both Top Free and Top Grossing in Japan and the US.
Are Google Play charts the same in every country?
No. Each of the 175 storefronts has its own charts. On October 19, 2026, the #1 free app was TikTok Lite in Japan and Muse from Meta in the US.