In March, the ChatGPT app became the most downloaded app globally, surpassing Instagram and TikTok. It recorded 46 million downloads, marking a 28% increase compared to February.
This significant surge was driven by the addition of new image creation features, along with the widespread popularity of images inspired by Studio Ghibli’s style. These factors helped boost the app's popularity and increase user awareness of its brand.
In fact, ChatGPT’s performance was not surprising, as it outperformed other AI apps like Claude from Anthropic, which couldn’t match this rapid growth.
The total number of downloads for the top ten apps combined reached around 339 million during the same month.
The app also received significant updates, including improvements to its voice feature and the removal of some restrictions on image creation policies, offering users greater flexibility.
According to data from Appfigures, the app’s downloads increased by 148% year-over-year, reflecting its growth as a strong brand, much like Google did in the early 2000s.
However, the app continues to face ongoing competition, especially from other apps like Grok, backed by Elon Musk, which has a wide user base and a powerful promotion platform.
Meanwhile, social apps like Instagram and TikTok maintain strong popularity, securing the next spots in the list of most downloaded apps.
