OpenAI's ChatGPT has dethroned social media titans Instagram and TikTok to claim the title of the world's most downloaded app for March, according to a report by App Figures.
The surge in downloads coincides with OpenAI's recent introduction of a new image generation tool, which sparked a viral trend of users creating Ghibli-style studio art. Millions flocked to the app to experiment with this feature, contributing significantly to its record-breaking download numbers. "According to our estimates, ChatGPT saw 46 million downloads – just a shade higher than Instagram before rounding – in March," the App Figures report revealed.
While Instagram and TikTok also registered impressive download figures, ChatGPT edged them out. ChatGPT achieved 46 million downloads in total, with 13 million on iOS and 33 million on Android. Instagram also reached 46 million downloads, though with a different distribution: 5 million on iOS and a larger 41 million on Android. TikTok followed closely with 45 million downloads, comprising 8 million on iOS and 37 million on Android.
The momentum behind ChatGPT's ascent is undeniable. The app witnessed a 28% increase in downloads from February to March, and a staggering 148% surge when comparing the first quarter of 2024 to the same period in 2025.
OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, recently shared some impressive numbers. Lightcap highlighted the first week of image generation capabilities within ChatGPT. Over 130 million users have collectively created more than 700 million images since the feature's launch last Tuesday — a figure that shows how ‘viral’ the feature went.
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