Grok’s AI Companions Boost Downloads, But New Model Drives Revenue
▼ Summary
– Grok 4, xAI’s latest AI model, drove a 325% revenue jump to $419,000 on iOS within days of its July 9 launch, up from $99,000 before release.
– Daily downloads of the Grok iOS app surged 279% to 197,000 by July 11, compared to 52,000 before Grok 4’s launch.
– The introduction of Grok’s AI companions on July 14 led to a smaller 40% increase in downloads and only a 9% revenue boost, indicating less impact than the model launch.
– Grok’s ranking on the U.S. App Store peaked at No. 3 overall and No. 2 in Productivity by July 12 but later dropped to No. 17 overall while maintaining its productivity ranking.
– xAI introduced a $300/month SuperGrok Heavy subscription, its most expensive plan, offering early access to Grok 4 Heavy, despite being pricier than competitors’ offerings.
Grok’s latest AI model is proving to be a major revenue driver, overshadowing the initial buzz around its controversial AI companions. While the unfiltered chatbot personalities grabbed attention for their bold and sometimes NSFW responses, it’s Grok 4, the newest iteration from Elon Musk’s xAI, that’s fueling significant financial growth.
Shortly after its July 9 launch, Grok’s iOS revenue skyrocketed by 325%, reaching $419,000 by July 11, up from just $99,000 before the update. Even in the following days, earnings remained strong, hovering above $367,000 before settling at $310,000 by July 14. Downloads also surged, jumping 279% to 197,000 daily installs on iOS.
The introduction of AI companions a week later, on July 14, generated curiosity but had a milder financial impact. Downloads climbed 40% to 171,000, while revenue saw only a 9% increase to $337,000. This suggests that while the companions attracted users, they didn’t match the revenue boost delivered by Grok 4.
The premium pricing strategy appears to be working. Alongside the new model, xAI rolled out SuperGrok Heavy, a $300-per-month subscription offering early access to advanced features like Grok 4 Heavy. Despite being pricier than competitors like OpenAI and Google, the demand highlights strong user interest in Grok’s evolving capabilities.
The app’s ranking also reflected this momentum, briefly hitting No. 3 overall and No. 2 in Productivity on the U.S. App Store. Though its position has since dipped to No. 17 overall, it remains a top contender in its category.
For this analysis, Appfigures relied on iOS data due to its completeness, with Android figures still being processed. The numbers underscore how cutting-edge AI models, rather than gimmicky features, are driving real revenue growth for Grok.
(Source: TechCrunch)
