OpenAI's ChatGPT has been making waves in the AI chatbot market, especially on mobile platforms. Its impressive download numbers and consistent revenue growth have solidified its position as a market leader. However, while it's a household name in AI chat experiences, it's not the highest-grossing AI app.
ChatGPT's Mobile Journey
Since its debut on mobile in May, ChatGPT has seen a steady rise in both downloads and revenue. Initially launched on iOS, it garnered 3.9 million downloads in its first month, which surged to 15.1 million by June. Despite a minor dip in July, by September 2023, it boasted over 23 million downloads.
The app's active user base has also expanded, starting with 1.34 million monthly active users in May and reaching a staggering 38.88 million by September. From a revenue perspective, consumer spending on the ChatGPT mobile app has grown from $352,929 in its launch month to nearly $2.39 million by October 24.
The Competitive Landscape
While ChatGPT is a force to be reckoned with, it's not the top revenue earner in the AI chatbot domain. Apps like "Chat & Ask AI" and "ChatOn — AI Chat Bot Assistant" reported higher revenues in September, with earnings of nearly $3.38 million and $2.11 million, respectively. Other competitors, such as "AI Chatbot — Nova" and "AI Chatbot: AI Chat Smith," also posted impressive figures, with revenues close to $1.44 million and $1.72 million, respectively.
Several AI chatbot apps have crossed the 2 million download mark in September. Notably, apps like "Chat & Ask AI," "ChatOn — AI Chat Bot Assistant," "AI Chatbot — Nova," and "AI Chatbot: AI Chat Smith" have achieved 2.44 million, 2.02 million, 3.1 million, and 2.9 million downloads, respectively. These apps seem to be leveraging App Store SEO effectively, indicating a broader market interest beyond just ChatGPT.
Another notable contender is Character.ai, a chatbot startup backed by a16z, which allows users to craft and interact with their AI personas. It reported 2.39 million downloads in September.
AI Photo Apps: A Different Ballgame
While ChatGPT is a dominant player in the chatbot space, AI photo apps are also making their mark. Apps like Remini and Picsart AI Photo Editor have achieved download numbers close to ChatGPT's, with 16.17 million and 16.05 million installs in September, respectively.
In terms of monthly active users, "Remini" had 6.2 million, and FaceApp, known for its AI filters, reported over 6.4 million. Other apps like "PicsArt," "Wonder — AI Art Generator," and Facetune AI Photo/Video Editor also had high user engagement.
Interestingly, several AI photo apps have surpassed ChatGPT in terms of in-app purchase revenue. For instance, in September 2023, while ChatGPT earned $1.98 million, apps like "Remini," "PicsArt," "Wonder," "BeautyPlus — AI Photo/Video Edit," "FaceApp," and "Facetune: AI Photo/Video Editor" earned around $6.22 million, $4.27 million, $2.08 million, $4.78 million, $6.42 million, and $5.22 million, respectively.
However, the popularity of some AI photo apps may be fleeting. For example, Lensa, which went viral the previous year, saw its monthly installs drop to 413,814 by September 2023, down from 23.44 million in December 2002.
