Gemini Surpasses ChatGPT on App Store with Nano Banana AI Driving 45% Download Surge
▼ Summary
– Gemini’s mobile app has seen a 45% month-over-month download increase in September, reaching 12.6 million downloads so far.
– The app achieved the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store on September 12, displacing OpenAI’s ChatGPT to No. 2.
– Gemini became one of the top five iPhone apps in 108 countries and reached No. 2 on Google Play in the U.S.
– The growth is attributed to the Nano Banana image editor model, which attracted 23 million first-time users and generated over 500 million shared images.
– Consumer spending surged, with August revenue hitting $1.6 million—a 1,291% increase from January—and September is on track to match or exceed that.
Gemini’s mobile application has achieved a remarkable surge in popularity, largely driven by the recent introduction of its innovative Nano Banana image editor model. This powerful feature allows users to perform sophisticated edits and generate highly realistic images with ease, receiving widespread acclaim since its August debut. According to fresh data from app intelligence firm Appfigures, the app has not only topped global app store charts but also experienced a 45% month-over-month increase in downloads throughout September.
Although the month is only halfway through, Gemini has already recorded an impressive 12.6 million downloads in September, a significant jump from the 8.7 million recorded in August. Prior to this surge, the app’s previous peak was a number three ranking on the U.S. App Store back in January 2025.
The release of Nano Banana quickly propelled Gemini’s standing. By September 8, it had climbed to the number two position on the U.S. App Store, and just four days later, it claimed the top spot, displacing OpenAI’s ChatGPT to second place. Currently, no other dedicated AI applications appear in the App Store’s top ten rankings.
Globally, Gemini has also made a substantial impact. Appfigures reports that the app now ranks among the top five iPhone applications in 108 countries worldwide.
On Google Play, Gemini demonstrated similar momentum in the United States, rising from 26th place on September 8 to secure the number two position by the following Monday. Despite Android being Google’s native platform, ChatGPT continues to hold the leading spot as of this writing.
Google has been actively promoting Gemini’s expanding user base, noting that a growing number of mainstream consumers are experimenting with its advanced image editing capabilities. For example, Josh Woodward, Vice President of Google Gemini and Google Labs, announced on social media platform X that the app attracted 23 million first-time users following the Nano Banana release, with those users sharing more than 500 million images.
This rapid adoption is also fueling a notable rise in consumer spending. Gemini has generated $6.3 million in revenue from iOS devices so far this year, with $1.6 million of that total coming in August, primarily after the new model launched. This represents a staggering 1,291% increase compared to January’s earnings of $115,000.
September is shaping up to be another strong month financially. With $792,000 in revenue already recorded, approximately half of August’s total, the app is on track to meet or exceed last month’s performance.
Cumulatively, Gemini has been downloaded 103.7 million times in 2024. Since its initial Android launch in February 2024 and subsequent expansion to iOS, the app has reached a lifetime total of 185.4 million downloads.
(Source: TechCrunch)
