According to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures, ChatGPT has hit a new milestone with an estimated $3 billion in consumer spending across global mobile platforms as of this week. This figure represents total spending on the app since its initial launch in May 2023, when it was first released exclusively on iOS before expanding to Android devices.
A significant portion of this spending occurred in 2025 alone. Consumers are projected to have spent $2.48 billion on the ChatGPT mobile app this year, marking a 408% increase compared to $487 million in 2024. In its debut year of 2023, the app generated $42.9 million in revenue, which surged by 1,036% to reach 2024’s figures.
These numbers highlight a sharp acceleration in user adoption when compared to other popular apps. ChatGPT reached the $3 billion consumer spending mark in just 31 months post-launch—significantly faster than TikTok, the highest-earning app, which took 58 months to achieve the same, according to Appfigures' analysis shared with TechCrunch.
It also outpaced leading streaming services such as Disney+ and HBO Max, which required 42 and 46 months respectively to reach $3 billion in consumer expenditure.
In comparison with other AI-powered applications, xAI's Grok shows a similar revenue growth trajectory to ChatGPT. Initially launched to X Premium Plus subscribers at the end of 2023 and later made more widely available last year, Grok has demonstrated the closest alignment with ChatGPT’s cumulative earnings at equivalent points after monetization began. (This can be seen in the chart below, which aligns spending data based on each AI app’s time since monetization started.)
While $3 billion in consumer spending signals strong market traction, it is not the sole indicator of AI application adoption or long-term revenue potential. Mobile users are primarily paying for premium subscriptions like ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month or ChatGPT Pro at $200 monthly for advanced features. However, AI platforms can diversify income through developer APIs, enterprise solutions, and potentially advertising—areas where future monetization strategies may expand.
Notably, ChatGPT launched its own app store this Wednesday, hinting at upcoming commercial opportunities, as mentioned in a recent blog post suggesting new pathways for profitability.
Meanwhile, Google is actively exploring ways to integrate its robust search ad ecosystem into AI-driven experiences, including ads within AI-generated overviews, AI-powered shopping results, AI-enhanced discovery feeds, and other generative AI interfaces.
On another front, Anthropic is focusing on enterprise clients and is reportedly projecting $70 billion in revenue by 2028, underscoring the growing commercial ambition within the AI sector.
