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ChatGPT's Mobile Growth Slows, Signaling a Shift in User Engagement

ChatGPT Apptopia AI Mobile Apps OpenAI Growth Competition User Engagement
October 17, 2025
Viqus Verdict Logo Viqus Verdict Logo 7
Evolution, Not Revolution
Media Hype 6/10
Real Impact 7/10

Article Summary

ChatGPT’s mobile app growth is showing signs of slowing down, according to a recent Apptopia analysis. While total new installs remain strong, the percentage change in global downloads has dropped by 8.1% month-over-month, indicating a plateau in new user acquisition. Furthermore, daily active user (DAU) growth has ceased, with metrics like average time spent per DAU and average sessions per DAU in the U.S. decreasing significantly, particularly since July. This is compounded by stabilized user churn, suggesting users are no longer abandoning the app as quickly as they were earlier. Several factors could be at play, including increased competition from Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s own changes to its AI model’s characteristics, including a move towards less personable responses following the release of GPT-5. Apptopia notes a potential shift—users are now utilizing ChatGPT more purposefully, as part of their daily routines, rather than for exploratory experimentation. This implies a need for OpenAI to invest in marketing or introduce new features to revitalize engagement. The slowdown indicates a move beyond novelty and highlights the challenges of sustaining growth in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Key Points

  • ChatGPT's download growth is slowing, measured by percentage changes in global downloads, indicating a stalled growth phase.
  • Key engagement metrics within the app (time spent, sessions per DAU) are declining, particularly in the U.S., signaling reduced user activity.
  • Increased competition from Google’s Gemini and changes to ChatGPT’s AI model are likely contributing factors to this slowdown.

Why It Matters

This news is crucial for investors and anyone involved in the AI sector because it reveals a fundamental shift in the dynamics of ChatGPT’s growth. Previously driven by novelty, the app’s success is now dependent on sustained engagement, highlighting the ongoing competition and the challenges of maintaining momentum in a rapidly evolving market. This signals a need for OpenAI to adapt its strategy and potentially invest heavily in marketing or innovative features to re-capture user interest and drive future growth, something that all established mobile apps must consider.

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