ChatGPT Reaches $3B in Mobile Consumer Spend
ChatGPT has achieved a major commercial milestone, surpassing $3 billion in worldwide consumer spending on mobile devices, according to estimates from app intelligence firm Appfigures. The figure reflects total spending across iOS and Android since the app’s debut in May 2023, when it initially launched exclusively on Apple’s platform.
The rapid rise highlights how quickly generative AI tools are being adopted by everyday consumers, particularly on smartphones.
Explosive Growth Concentrated in 2025
A striking aspect of ChatGPT’s revenue journey is how heavily weighted it is toward the current year. Appfigures estimates that $2.48 billion of the total $3 billion was generated in 2025 alone, marking a 408% year-over-year increase compared with the $487 million spent by users in 2024.
The growth trajectory has been steep from the start. In 2023, ChatGPT’s first year on mobile, consumer spending reached $42.9 million. That figure then surged by 1,036% to hit the 2024 total, setting the stage for this year’s breakout performance.
Faster Than TikTok and Major Streaming Apps
When compared with other top-grossing mobile apps, ChatGPT’s pace stands out. According to Appfigures, the AI chatbot reached $3 billion in consumer spending in just 31 months. By contrast, TikTok, currently the highest-earning app globally, took 58 months to reach the same threshold, Appfigures told TechCrunch.
The timeline is also significantly shorter than that of major streaming services. Disney+ hit $3 billion in 42 months, while HBO Max took 46 months, underscoring how quickly AI-based services are monetizing user demand.
Grok Emerges as the Closest AI Rival
Among competing AI applications, xAI’s Grok is showing the most comparable revenue momentum. Grok was initially launched in late 2023 for X Premium Plus subscribers, before becoming more widely available in 2024.
When consumer spending is aligned to the point at which each AI app began monetizing, Grok comes closest to matching ChatGPT’s cumulative revenue at the same stage. This comparison places Grok ahead of other AI rivals in terms of early monetization performance.
Subscriptions, Ads, and New Monetization Paths
While the $3 billion milestone signals strong consumer uptake, mobile spending represents only one part of the broader monetization picture. Most of ChatGPT’s mobile revenue currently comes from paid subscriptions, including the $20-per-month ChatGPT Plus plan and the $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro tier aimed at advanced users.
However, AI platforms have multiple potential revenue streams. These include developer tools, enterprise offerings, and advertising. In this context, ChatGPT recently launched its own in-app marketplace, described as an app store–style feature, which the company indicated could be monetized in the future, according to its blog post.
Big Tech Bets on AI-Driven Revenue
Elsewhere in the AI ecosystem, Google is experimenting with ways to integrate advertising into AI-powered experiences. This includes placing ads within AI Mode, AI Overviews, AI shopping, and an increasingly AI-driven Discover feed, as the company explores how its core ads business might evolve.
Meanwhile, Anthropic is focusing heavily on enterprise customers and business use cases. The company is reportedly on track to reach $70 billion in revenue by 2028, highlighting the growing commercial potential of AI beyond consumer subscriptions alone.
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