Gemini overtakes ChatGPT on App Store, as its Nano Banana AI model drives downloads up 45%

Since the introduction of its innovative Nano Banana image editor in August, Gemini has experienced remarkable growth in mobile downloads. Users have praised the app for its enhanced capabilities, allowing for more sophisticated edits and the creation of lifelike images. Recent data from Appfigures reveals that Gemini's downloads skyrocketed by 45% in September alone, reaching an impressive 12.6 million downloads this month, a significant increase from 8.7 million in August. Prior to this surge, the app had previously peaked at third place on the U.S. App Store back on January 28, 2025. Following the launch of Nano Banana, Gemini climbed to the second position on September 8 and ultimately took the top spot on September 12, displacing OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Currently, Gemini is the only dedicated AI app within the top 10 on the App Store and has become one of the top five iPhone apps in 108 countries worldwide. Meanwhile, on Google Play, the app made an impressive leap from 26th to the second position as of Monday, although ChatGPT continues to hold the number one spot in the Android ecosystem. Google has highlighted Gemini's rapid user growth, with Josh Woodward, VP of Google Gemini and Google Labs, announcing on X that the app gained 23 million first-time users since the Nano Banana model's release, collectively sharing over 500 million images. The app's expansion is also reflected in its financial performance. This year, Gemini has generated $6.3 million on iOS devices, with $1.6 million earned in August alone, following the launch of the new model. This figure represents a staggering 1,291% increase from January's earnings of $115,000, according to Appfigures. With $792,000 already generated this month, Gemini is on track to match or exceed August's revenue. In total, the app has been downloaded 103.7 million times this year, contributing to a cumulative total of 185.4 million downloads since its Android launch in February 2024 and its iOS expansion later that year.