Demand for AI companion apps from lesser-known developers is increasing, beyond just popular names like ChatGPT and Grok. According to data from app intelligence firm Appfigures, there are currently 337 active and revenue-generating AI companion apps worldwide, with 128 new releases in 2025 so far. These apps have collectively generated $82 million in revenue during the first half of the year, and are projected to surpass $120 million by the end of the year.
Unlike traditional chatbots, AI companion apps offer users the ability to interact with customized characters, such as friends, romantic partners, fantasy personas, and more. These apps, as defined by Appfigures, allow users to engage with either pre-made or user-generated synthetic characters that embody distinct personalities.
Leading apps in this category include Replika, Character.AI, PolyBuzz, Chai, and others that offer unique AI companions for users to engage with.
As of July 2025, AI companion apps have collectively been downloaded 220 million times globally across the Apple App Store and Google Play. The number of downloads has seen an 88% year-over-year increase, reaching 60 million in the first half of 2025.
Appfigures’ analysis reveals that AI companion apps have driven $221 million in consumer spending globally as of July 2025. This marks a 64% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2024.
The top 10% of AI companion apps account for 89% of the revenue in the category, with approximately 33 apps surpassing $1 million in lifetime consumer spending.
Furthermore, the revenue per download has increased from $0.52 in 2024 to $1.18 in 2025, showcasing the growing profitability of AI companion apps.
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While smaller developers dominate the AI companion app market, larger companies like xAI are also entering the space. Grok, a product of xAI, introduced AI companions featuring anime characters, a 3D fox, and other unique personalities in July.
On the other hand, ChatGPT’s transition to GPT-5 led to user backlash as many mourned the loss of their previous AI companions. To address this, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman temporarily reintroduced the earlier 4o model to alleviate user concerns.
Google also made a move into the AI companion app market by acquiring Character.ai’s founder, Noam Shazeer, in the previous year. The Character.ai app continues to thrive with millions of active users each month.
Appfigures’ data highlights that AI companion apps with a focus on AI girlfriends are the most popular among users. Approximately 17% of active apps include “girlfriend” in their names, while only 4% mention “boyfriend” or “fantasy.” Terms like anime, soulmate, and lover are less commonly used in app names.
