Sora's iOS Debut Nearly Matches ChatGPT's Blockbuster Launch
Sora’s iOS Launch Surges, Approaching ChatGPT’s Record Growth
OpenAI’s new video-generating app, Sora, has made a remarkable entrance on the iOS App Store, quickly rising to the No. 1 spot in the U.S. and making headlines for its impressive adoption rates. According to recent data from Appfigures, Sora achieved an estimated 627,000 iOS downloads in its first week of availability, surpassing the 606,000 downloads that ChatGPT saw during its own iOS debut.
How Sora’s Launch Compares to ChatGPT
While Sora’s numbers are slightly boosted by its simultaneous release in both the U.S. and Canada (with Canada contributing about 45,000 installs), the U.S.-only figures show Sora still reached about 96% of ChatGPT’s first-week performance. What sets Sora’s launch apart is that it remains an invite-only app, whereas ChatGPT was freely available to the public at launch. This exclusivity makes Sora’s rapid adoption even more notable.
Key Growth Highlights
- First day: 56,000 installs, quickly pushing Sora to No. 3 in the U.S. App Store.
- By October 3rd: Sora claimed the No. 1 Overall spot in the U.S. App Store.
- Surpassed launches by other major AI apps, including Anthropic’s Claude and Microsoft’s Copilot, and matched the momentum of xAI’s Grok.
Steady Daily Growth
Appfigures’ data shows Sora maintained strong momentum after launch:
- Peak daily installs: 107,800 on October 1, 2025.
- Daily range: Between 84,400 and 98,500 installs per day through October 6, 2025.
These figures are impressive, especially given that Sora is still in an invite-only phase, suggesting pent-up demand for AI-powered video tools.
Viral Impact and Ethical Considerations
Sora’s popularity is further evidenced by the wave of user-generated content on social media. The app, powered by the new Sora 2 video model, enables users to create highly realistic deepfakes—including virtual recreations of deceased individuals. This capability has already sparked public debate, with figures like Zelda Williams (daughter of Robin Williams) openly requesting users to refrain from sending her AI-generated images of her late father.
What Sora's Success Means for the AI Ecosystem
Sora’s explosive launch demonstrates the growing appetite for generative AI applications that go beyond text and images, moving into video creation. As AI tools become more accessible and powerful, businesses and creators are rapidly adopting them to enhance content, marketing, and engagement strategies.
