🎅 The Apps That Sleigh the Charts: Unwrapping Christmas 2025’s Festive App Trends
Ho ho ho! The holidays aren’t just busy for Santa. They’re also prime time for the App Store and Google Play, where festive apps, countdowns, and Secret Santa tools light up the charts every December.
In this Christmas special, we used live APPlyzer data to see which apps are sleighing it this season — tracking downloads, keyword surges, and creative trends on both iOS and Android.
We’ll unwrap:
🎁 Which apps saw the biggest download jumps in November–December
🎄 The holiday keywords that exploded in search traffic
📈 Real charts showing download growth and search trends
✨ Tips for ASO managers planning next year’s Christmas strategy
So grab a hot chocolate, pull on your fluffiest socks, and let’s dive in!
🎁 1. Festive Fever Hits the App Store
Christmas on iOS came early this year — and then cooled down just as quickly.
APPlyzer data shows wishlist and Secret Santa apps peaked around Black Friday (Nov 25) before dropping sharply as users wrapped up their gift planning.
📉 The Trend:
All three major apps hit their highest daily installs around Nov 25, not December.
Downloads fell by 45–60% by mid-December as gift lists and office events were finalized.
🎅 Why Secret Santa Apps Decline So Fast:
Event timing: Most exchanges happen before early December.
Single-use behavior: Once the draw is done, users rarely reopen the app.
Shift in focus: By December, shoppers move to wishlist and e-commerce tools.
💡 ASO Tip:
Push Secret Santa visibility early in November and pivot to shopping or reward-related creatives by Dec 1 to maintain store presence.
🧦 2. Android Keeps on Giving
While iOS spiked and cooled, Android apps kept chugging along.
Festive engagement on Google Play builds more slowly, but stays steady right through mid-December.
🎯 3. Holiday Keyword Trends
APPlyzer’s keyword tracking shows massive seasonal spikes in search traffic across both stores — particularly for Santa, wallpapers, and gifting-related terms.
📈 Highlights:
iOS keyword traffic up +156%, Play up +46% on average.
Santa and Christmas wallpaper dominate seasonal discovery.
iOS users search emotionally (“Secret Santa”, “Gift ideas”), while Android users prefer functional terms (“Countdown”, “Wallpaper”).
🖼 4. Creative Trends That Convert
iOS
drawnames: Cool blue tones and subtle snowflakes — cozy and minimal.
GoWish: Beige palette, crisp typography — aspirational and elegant.
Giftful: Vibrant greens and reds — social and playful.
💡 Takeaway: Emotion-led, minimalist holiday visuals perform best on iOS.
Android
Rewarded Play: Gift card imagery, bright pinks and blues — “value now” energy.
DailyGift: Gold coins and dynamic icons — gamified motivation.
Michaels Stores: Craft-focused visuals — practical and creative.
💡 Takeaway: Bold, reward-centric creative wins on Play.
📊 5. Cross-Platform Highlights
🧠 6. ASO Tips for 2026
Start early — iOS interest spikes by Nov 10.
On Play, time updates for mid-November (countdowns & deals).
Pair visual and shopping keywords for balanced coverage.
Use holiday icons, green/red accents, and “reward” messaging in creatives.
Test copy and icons during the Nov 20–Dec 10 high-conversion window.
✨ Wrapping It Up
From Secret Santa planners to wishlist wonders and reward apps, Christmas 2025 is proof that both stores shine — just in different ways.
🎄 iOS users plan early and drop off fast.
🎁 Android users browse late and stay loyal longer.
Whatever your app’s niche — gifting, saving, or playing — get your timing and visuals right, and you’ll sleigh the charts next holiday season. And remember, if you’re curious and want to play around with this data for yourself, you can get a free trial of the global app data platform that powered this blog here!