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ChatGPT’s growth appears to be slowing, according to recent Sensor Tower data. The OpenAI chatbot still leads globally, accounting for half of mobile downloads. It also maintains 55% of global monthly active users. However, Google Gemini is showing faster growth in downloads, active users, and app usage. This suggests Gemini may soon start closing the gap with ChatGPT.
ChatGPT’s Growth: User Metrics and Market Trends
Sensor Tower’s data shows ChatGPT’s global monthly active users rose 180% year-over-year. Gemini, meanwhile, increased by 170% over the same period. Yet, from August to November, ChatGPT grew by only about 6%, reaching 810 million monthly users. Gemini grew by 30% during that timeframe, aided by its new image-generation model, Nano Banana. The adoption of Gemini on Android also gives Google a potential global advantage, bypassing reliance on standalone apps.
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Daily usage patterns highlight contrasting engagement. Gemini users now spend 11 minutes per day in the app, up from 5 minutes in March. ChatGPT users, in contrast, only increased usage by 6% over the same period; hence, limiting ChatGPT’s growth and increasing adoption. Notably, daily time spent with ChatGPT dropped 10% in November compared with July. This decline, combined with slower download growth, suggests possible market saturation. ChatGPT’s growth is slowing, but it remains the dominant chatbot in terms of overall reach.
Competition and Market Share
The market is seeing increased competition. Perplexity grew 370% year-over-year, while Claude rose 190%. Gemini’s share of global monthly active users increased by three percentage points between May and November 2025. ChatGPT’s share fell by three percentage points over the past 4 months. Despite this, ChatGPT still leads in total downloads and monthly users. However, these figures indicate rivals are gaining momentum. ChatGPT’s growth now faces challenges from multiple new entrants in the AI chatbot space.
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Financial and strategic factors also influence adoption. OpenAI could accelerate growth by introducing impactful new products. Gemini’s success largely stems from the Nano Banana model, which drew users into the platform. In contrast, ChatGPT has not launched a similarly compelling feature recently. Developers and tech enthusiasts closely monitor both platforms, measuring engagement and download patterns. The focus is now on which service can sustain long-term user retention for ChatGPT’s growth and increase time spent.
Future Outlook and Strategies
Looking ahead, OpenAI may adjust its strategies to maintain its leadership. Enhancing personalisation and reliability, and adding new features, could attract users. Gemini’s rise demonstrates the importance of innovation and continuous improvement. Sensor Tower’s data shows that even leading products must adapt to maintain relevance. Market saturation presents a clear warning for OpenAI, but opportunities exist. Strategic updates could reverse the slowing trend. ChatGPT’s growth remains central to understanding global dynamics of AI chatbots. Staying ahead will require balancing user needs, product enhancements, and market timing. Both platforms have strong potential for the coming months.
