Gemini Surpasses ChatGPT on App Store as Nano Banana AI Model Boosts Downloads
Gemini Rises to No.1 on App Store with Nano Banana AI Model Surge
Google's Gemini app has achieved a major milestone, overtaking OpenAI's ChatGPT to become the top-ranked app on the U.S. App Store. This surge in popularity follows the August release of Gemini’s innovative Nano Banana image editor model, which has driven a 45% increase in downloads during September alone.
What Makes Nano Banana Stand Out?
Users have praised Nano Banana for its ability to simplify complex image edits and generate highly realistic visuals, making advanced AI-powered editing accessible to a wider audience. These new features have sparked a wave of positive reviews and contributed to Gemini's rapid ascent in app store rankings.
Impressive Stats: Downloads and Revenue
- 12.6 million downloads in September (up from 8.7 million in August).
- 45% month-over-month download growth since Nano Banana's launch.
- Gemini reached the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store on September 12, after previously peaking at No. 3 earlier in the year.
- Now among the top five iPhone apps in 108 countries worldwide.
Revenue has seen a similar boost. Of the $6.3 million Gemini has earned on iOS in 2025, $1.6 million was generated in August alone—most of it after the Nano Banana update. September revenues are on pace to match or surpass August's total, with $792,000 earned in the first half of the month.
Continued Growth Across Platforms
Gemini's rapid growth isn't limited to iOS. On Google Play, Gemini jumped from the 26th to the 2nd most downloaded app in the U.S. in just a few days after Nano Banana’s release, although ChatGPT still holds the top Android spot for now.
Since its launch on Android in February 2024 and subsequent iOS rollout, Gemini has accumulated 185.4 million total downloads, with 103.7 million occurring in 2025.
User Engagement and Global Reach
Google reports that 23 million new users have joined since Nano Banana's debut, sharing over 500 million images through the app. This demonstrates not only strong adoption but also high engagement among users exploring AI-powered creative tools.
What This Means for AI Apps
Gemini’s ascent illustrates the growing demand for AI-driven creativity tools on mobile. With continued feature innovation and positive user feedback, Gemini sets a new standard for AI app adoption and engagement in the global market.
