OpenAI’s ChatGPT has taken the mobile app world by storm, with its iPhone downloads nearly rivaling the combined totals of leading English-language social media platforms, according to recent data from digital analytics firm Similarweb.
In a striking display of AI’s growing mainstream appeal, the ChatGPT iOS app racked up 29.5 million downloads globally in the 28 days leading up to June 2025, just shy of the 32.5 million downloads amassed by TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X together in the same period. Over the past year, this trend holds, showcasing ChatGPT’s meteoric rise in the App Store. While direct comparisons to social media giants have nuances, the numbers highlight AI’s transformative impact on user behavior and app adoption.
A Close Race with Social Media Giants
According to Similarweb’s June 2025 report, ChatGPT’s iOS app recorded 29,551,174 downloads worldwide in the past 28 days, compared to a combined 32,859,208 downloads for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
This narrow gap is remarkable, considering social media apps have long dominated the App Store, with established user bases and years of market presence.
In March 2025 alone, ChatGPT claimed the title of the world’s most downloaded app with 46 million downloads (13 million on iOS, 33 million on Android), surpassing Instagram (46 million) and TikTok (45 million), per Appfigures.
The year-over-year growth is equally impressive, with ChatGPT’s downloads soaring 148% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, driven by viral features like its Studio Ghibli-style image generator.
The annual trend mirrors this monthly snapshot. In 2024, ChatGPT consistently ranked among the top apps globally, with peaks like 52 million downloads in April 2025, outpacing TikTok and Instagram’s 39 million each. While social media apps benefit from widespread adoption—often approaching download saturation in many regions — ChatGPT’s rapid climb as a productivity app signals a shift in user priorities toward AI-driven tools. As OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman noted, the app’s growth reflects its evolution into a “go-to, general-purpose AI assistant,” integrating features like image generation and Advanced Voice Mode.
Why the Comparison Isn’t Apples-to-Apples
Directly comparing ChatGPT to social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X has limitations. These platforms operate in different categories—productivity versus social networking—and serve distinct user needs. Social media apps, with their global ubiquity, are often pre-installed or already downloaded by billions, meaning their download growth naturally slows as they reach saturation. For instance, Instagram and TikTok have been available for over a decade, while ChatGPT’s iOS app launched in May 2023, giving it a shorter runway to capture new users.
Additionally, social media apps thrive on network effects, requiring widespread adoption to maintain relevance, whereas ChatGPT’s utility as a standalone AI tool drives its appeal independently. The US, which accounts for 18% of ChatGPT’s downloads, and India, with 17.5%, lead the app’s growth, reflecting its global reach. Despite these differences, ChatGPT’s ability to nearly match the combined downloads of four social media juggernauts underscores its cultural and technological significance. As one industry observer noted, “This isn’t just an app—it’s a new interface for human thought.”
What’s Driving ChatGPT’s Download Boom?
ChatGPT’s explosive growth stems from a combination of innovative features and increasing AI curiosity. The March 2025 introduction of enhanced image-generation capabilities, particularly the viral Ghibli-style art feature, sparked a 28% month-over-month download surge, with over 130 million users generating 700 million images, per OpenAI’s COO Brad Lightcap.
Other updates, like Advanced Voice Mode and photo upload features, have made the app a versatile tool for tasks ranging from creative inspiration to professional productivity. Its free availability on the App Store, syncing user history across devices, further lowers barriers to adoption.
The broader AI hype also plays a role. As competing AI models like xAI’s Grok and Anthropic’s Claude gain attention, ChatGPT benefits from its brand recognition, often becoming the default choice for users exploring AI. Similarweb data shows ChatGPT ranking as the top free productivity app on iOS, with strong performance in markets like the US, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Japan. With 800 million weekly active users and 4.5 billion website visits in March 2025, ChatGPT’s influence extends far beyond mobile downloads.
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The Bigger Picture
While social media platforms remain dominant in user engagement, ChatGPT’s download numbers signal a cultural shift. AI tools are no longer niche—they’re becoming integral to daily life, from education to content creation. However, challenges loom: 66% of US adults haven’t tried ChatGPT, and 20% are unaware of it, per a Pew Research Center study, indicating room for growth. OpenAI’s ambitious goal of reaching 1 billion users by the end of 2025 seems achievable, especially as it invests in data centers to support demand.
For now, ChatGPT’s near-parity with social media giants in iOS downloads highlights its disruptive potential. While TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X continue to shape online culture, ChatGPT is carving out a new space — one where AI empowers users to create, learn, and interact in unprecedented ways. As the app continues to evolve, its trajectory suggests it could redefine how we engage with technology, one download at a time.
