ChatGPT has hit a brand new milestone of $3 billion in worldwide client spending on cell as of this week, in response to estimates from app intelligence supplier Appfigures. This determine represents the entire spending on iOS and Android units because the appβs launch in Could 2023, when it first arrived, then solely on iOS.
Whatβs notable is that the majority of that spending passed off this yr. Worldwide, shoppers spent an estimated $2.48 billion within the ChatGPT cell app in 2025, representing a 408% year-over-year enhance from the $487 million spent in 2024. In 2023, the appβs first yr of availability, it earned $42.9 million, earlier than rising 1,036% to achieve the 2024 determine.
These numbers symbolize a pointy rise in client adoption, in contrast with different fashionable apps. For example, it took ChatGPT 31 months to achieve $3 billion in client spending, however the high earner, TikTok, took 58 months to take action, Appfigures instructed Trendster.
ChatGPT additionally reached the milestone quicker than high streaming apps like Disney+ and HBO Max, which hit the $3 billion determine in 42 months and 46 months, respectively.
xAIβs Grok, nevertheless, is seeing the same income trajectory to ChatGPT, in contrast with different AI rivals.
Grok was launched in late 2023 to X Premium Plus subscribers earlier than changing into extra broadly out there final yr. However when you evaluate the tempo of client spending throughout AI apps, Grok got here the closest to matching ChatGPTβs cumulative income on the similar level, as soon as it started monetizing. (You possibly can see this on the chart beneath, which plots the AI appsβ spending aligned to when every app started monetizing.)
Whereas the $3 billion in spending represents a big uptake by shoppers, itβs not the one approach to measure AI app adoption or potential long-term income.
ChatGPTβs cell prospects are shopping for paid subscriptions, just like the $20 monthly ChatGPT Plus or the $200 monthly ChatGPT Professional for superior customers. However AI apps can generate income in different methods, together with by means of developer choices and, maybe quickly for ChatGPT, adverts. As well as, ChatGPT on Wednesday launched its personal app retailer of types, which the corporate suggests shall be monetized ultimately sooner or later, its weblog put up famous.
Google, in the meantime, is exploring the potential to transition its wholesome search adverts enterprise to AI-powered search, putting adverts in AI Mode, AI Overviews, AI buying, and an more and more AI-powered Uncover web page, amongst different issues.
Anthropic is aiming on the enterprise market and is reportedly on monitor for $70 billion in income by 2028.
