Sora’s first week on iOS in the US was nearly as big as ChatGPT’s

The recently launched video-generating app Sora has quickly captured attention on the U.S. App Store, achieving a remarkable milestone that surpasses the initial performance of ChatGPT. According to insights from Appfigures, Sora notched up 627,000 downloads within its first week, eclipsing ChatGPT's 606,000 downloads during its launch week. However, it’s important to note that this comparison isn’t entirely straightforward. ChatGPT was initially available only in the U.S., while Sora launched in both the U.S. and Canada. Out of the total downloads, approximately 45,000 came from Canada, indicating that Sora's U.S.-only downloads would be about 96% of ChatGPT’s figures. This level of user engagement is particularly noteworthy given that Sora is currently an invite-only application, unlike the more accessible ChatGPT at its launch. On its very first day, Sora achieved 56,000 downloads, quickly climbing to the No. 3 position among all apps on the U.S. App Store. By October 3, it ascended to the top spot. Sora's launch has outperformed several other notable AI applications, including Anthropic's Claude and Microsoft's Copilot, and is comparable to the debut of xAI's Grok. Social media is abuzz with Sora-generated videos, particularly those utilizing its advanced Sora 2 video model, which allows users to create realistic deepfakes. This feature has sparked discussions, including concerns from Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, who urged people to refrain from sending AI-generated images of her father. Since its launch on September 30, 2025, Sora has maintained a consistent download rate. Daily downloads peaked at 107,800 on October 1, 2025, and have fluctuated between 84,400 and 98,500 daily installs in the days following. While these numbers have dipped from the initial surge, they remain impressive for an app that is not yet fully accessible to all users.