AI companion apps on track to pull in $120M in 2025

The appetite for AI companion applications, distinct from major players like ChatGPT and Grok, is on the rise. Recent data from app intelligence firm Appfigures reveals that of the 337 operational and revenue-producing AI companion apps globally, 128 have been introduced in 2025 alone. This niche within the mobile AI sector has already accumulated $82 million in revenue during the first half of the year, with projections indicating it could surpass $120 million by year-end. Unlike standard chatbots, AI companion apps provide a more personalized experience, enabling users to engage with custom characters such as friends, romantic partners, or even fantasy figures. Appfigures characterizes these apps as platforms where users can interact with either pre-designed or user-created synthetic characters that showcase distinct personalities. Noteworthy examples in this burgeoning market include Replika, Character.AI, and PolyBuzz. As of July 2025, downloads of AI companion apps on platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play have reached an impressive 220 million globally. In the first half of 2025 alone, downloads surged by 88% compared to the previous year, totaling 60 million. According to the analysis, these applications have generated a staggering $221 million in consumer spending worldwide so far this year, marking a 64% increase in revenue from the same period in 2024. The top 10% of AI companion apps dominate the revenue landscape, accounting for 89% of the total earnings. Additionally, around 10% of these apps, roughly 33, have surpassed $1 million in lifetime consumer spending. The revenue per download has also risen significantly, from $0.52 in 2024 to $1.18 in 2025. While dedicated AI companion apps are gaining traction, larger companies like xAI are also entering the fray. In July, xAI launched its Grok AI companions, which include quirky characters such as an anime duo and a witty 3D fox. Meanwhile, the recent upgrade to ChatGPT’s GPT-5 has sparked nostalgia among users who felt a connection with the previous model, prompting OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman to temporarily reinstate the older version. Google has also made its mark in this space by recruiting Character.ai’s founder, Noam Shazeer, while Character.ai continues to thrive with tens of millions of active users each month. Appfigures highlights that a significant portion of popular AI companion apps is aimed at users searching for an AI girlfriend, with 17% of active apps incorporating the term “girlfriend” in their names, compared to only 4% for “boyfriend.” Despite the influx of AI companion apps since 2022, many have been removed from app stores for not achieving substantial revenue or download numbers, although these were not included in the current analysis.