ChatGPT crushes AI rivals with 40.5M downloads, outpacing DeepSeek and Gemini
ChatGPT continues to hold the top position in the generative AI market, with 40.5 million downloads in January, surpassing DeepSeek and Google Gemini combined, according to data from Altindex.
The numbers reflect a 50% lead over its two biggest competitors and a 121% year-over-year increase in downloads.
ChatGPT outpaces DeepSeek and Gemini
DeepSeek entered the generative AI space in mid-January, quickly gaining traction and intensifying competition among AI platforms. Google also ramped up enhancements for Gemini, aiming to capture more market share. However, ChatGPT remained the most downloaded generative AI app, outpacing both competitors.
Data from AppMagic shows that DeepSeek was downloaded 17.6 million times in January, which is 56% less than ChatGPT, while Google Gemini recorded 9.6 million downloads. ByteDance’s Duobao followed with 8.9 million downloads, while other AI apps saw significantly lower figures.
Broader AI app market trends
In January, the AI app market saw several notable download figures:
PixVerse recorded 6.2 million downloads.
Talkie and AI Chatbot Nova each had around four million downloads.
Microsoft Copilot and Character AI trailed with 2.8 million downloads each.
Despite increasing competition, ChatGPT’s growth trajectory has remained strong, with significant gains in the second half of 2024.
ChatGPT’s full-year performance in 2024
ChatGPT averaged 18 million monthly downloads in early 2024, but figures surged in the latter half of the year. Downloads climbed to 32 million in September and exceeded 40 million at the start of 2025, bringing the app’s total downloads for 2024 to 282 million.
The data positions ChatGPT ahead of major consumer apps, with 40 million more downloads than Spotify and 60 million more than Shein, making it the 13th most downloaded app of the year.
