ChatGPT’s mobile app is seeing slowing download growth and daily use, analysis shows

Recent analysis from Apptopia reveals that growth for the ChatGPT mobile application may have reached its zenith. The study indicates a noticeable deceleration in new global downloads, particularly following April, suggesting that the app's expansion rate is tapering off. Furthermore, daily active user (DAU) figures have stabilized, with no significant increases observed in recent weeks. Despite being only halfway through October, Apptopia forecasts an 8.1% decline in month-over-month global downloads. It's crucial to note that this figure pertains specifically to new download growth rather than total downloads. The ChatGPT app continues to attract millions of new installs daily, yet the stagnation in download growth could imply a broader slowdown in user adoption. Analysis of user engagement metrics highlights a concerning trend: the average time spent per DAU in the U.S. has plummeted by 22.5% since July, while the average sessions per DAU have decreased by 20.7%. This suggests that users are not only engaging less frequently with the app but also spending less time during each session. However, user retention appears stable, indicating that core users are less likely to abandon the app after brief experiments. Several factors may be contributing to this slowdown in growth. Increased competition, notably from Google’s Gemini, alongside changes in ChatGPT's AI model, could be impacting user engagement. The April update aimed at modifying the chatbot's tone and the subsequent introduction of GPT-5, which was viewed as less personable, may have also altered user interactions with the app. Apptopia highlights that while Gemini's rapid ascent in the charts, particularly following its own new AI image model launch, may explain some recent declines in ChatGPT's metrics, it does not fully account for the enduring trend. A decline in both average time spent and average sessions per DAU indicates a shift in user behavior; rather than becoming more efficient in their usage, it seems users are now incorporating the app into their routines more selectively. For OpenAI, the implications are clear: to rejuvenate growth and user engagement, the company must consider strategic marketing initiatives or new feature releases. Reliance on the novelty of the app is no longer a viable strategy for sustained growth.