Sora’s First Week Downloads in US Near ChatGPT’s Launch Volume

OpenAI’s video-generation app Sora has achieved a major milestone by surpassing ChatGPT in first-week iOS downloads, according to data from app intelligence firm Appfigures. Sora recorded approximately 627,000 downloads on Apple’s iOS platform within its first seven days of availability, slightly outpacing ChatGPT’s 606,000 downloads during its initial launch week. While the comparison isn’t perfectly apples-to-apples—ChatGPT launched exclusively in the U.S., whereas Sora was available in both the U.S. and Canada—the latter’s strong performance is even more impressive given its invite-only access model. Appfigures estimates that Canada contributed around 45,000 of Sora’s downloads, meaning its U.S.-only tally would have been about 96% of ChatGPT’s launch, highlighting its remarkable uptake despite limited access. Sora’s rapid ascent began on September 30, 2025, with 56,000 downloads on its first day alone. This surge propelled the app to No. 3 on the U.S. App Store’s Top Overall chart, and by October 3, it had climbed to the No. 1 spot—outpacing other major AI launches like Anthropic’s Claude, Microsoft’s Copilot, and xAI’s Grok. The app’s peak daily download rate reached 107,800 on October 1, followed by consistent adoption between 84,400 and 98,500 daily installs through October 6, demonstrating sustained user interest. The success of Sora is fueled by its advanced capabilities, particularly the Sora 2 video model, which allows users to generate highly realistic videos from text prompts. The app has quickly become a viral sensation on social media, with users creating everything from imaginative short films to controversial deepfakes. Among the most talked-about uses are AI-generated videos of deceased celebrities, including a surge of AI recreations of Robin Williams, which prompted his daughter, Zelda Williams, to publicly urge people to stop sending her such content. The ethical and emotional implications of this technology have sparked widespread debate, underscoring the powerful yet sensitive nature of generative AI. Sora’s performance is especially notable because it remains invite-only, meaning only a select group of users can access it at launch. In contrast, ChatGPT was broadly available from day one. This limited access makes Sora’s download numbers even more impressive, suggesting strong demand and word-of-mouth momentum. The app’s rapid rise reflects a growing public appetite for advanced AI tools capable of producing high-quality, dynamic content. As video generation becomes more accessible and realistic, it raises new questions about authenticity, consent, and intellectual property. While Sora’s success signals a turning point in consumer AI adoption, it also highlights the need for responsible use and clearer guardrails around synthetic media. OpenAI’s latest move strengthens its position in the AI race, following the launch of its multimodal Sora model and building on the foundation of ChatGPT’s earlier success. With Sora’s performance exceeding expectations, especially under restricted access, the app has become a benchmark for future AI product launches. As OpenAI continues to refine and expand Sora’s capabilities, the app is likely to play a central role in shaping how users interact with generative AI in the coming years—both as a creative tool and a cultural phenomenon.