ChatGPT has become the second most downloaded app globally in 2025, trailing only TikTok, according to Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026 report. The app has also emerged as the most downloaded AI application of the year.
The report has shown that AI Assistants have been among the fastest-growing app categories across downloads, in-app purchases and total time spent. Time spent on AI Assistant apps has surged 426% year-on-year in 2025, placing the category among the top three fastest-growing segments by both downloads and in-app purchase revenue.
Leading this growth, ChatGPT has recorded 148% growth in downloads, 254% growth in in-app purchase revenue, and 426% growth in total time spent. These gains have propelled the app to second place in Sensor Tower’s global top 20 apps by downloads.
Sensor Tower’s data has indicated a broader shift in the mobile ecosystem. While overall app downloads have remained broadly flat compared with 2024, user spending patterns have changed. For the first time, consumers have spent more in non-gaming apps than in games.
Mobile game revenue has risen 1% year-on-year despite a 7% decline in downloads, signalling a maturing yet monetisable audience. However, the report has identified AI-powered tools as the primary drivers of momentum in the non-gaming segment.
Other AI apps that have seen growth include Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Doubao, Perplexity, Grok, Meta AI and Microsoft Copilot. Even apps not traditionally positioned as AI-first, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, have appeared in AI download rankings, reflecting the integration of generative features into mainstream tools.
In the US, ChatGPT’s adoption has accelerated significantly. In Q4 2025, it has become the ninth most-used app among men, indicating that generative AI has been transitioning from experimental usage to routine engagement.
Despite the rapid rise of AI Assistants, social media platforms have continued to command scale. Consumers have spent nearly 2.5 trillion hours on social media apps in 2025, averaging more than 90 minutes per day per user, up 5% year-on-year. TikTok has topped global rankings for downloads, in-app purchase revenue and total time spent.
Sensor Tower’s longitudinal data, tracking trends since 2014, has suggested that 2025 may represent an inflection point for the mobile economy. Flat download numbers alongside rising revenue have indicated deeper engagement and stronger monetisation. The 254% increase in ChatGPT’s in-app purchase revenue has reflected growing user willingness to pay for AI-driven capabilities, including subscriptions and premium features.
