The mobile app developed by Chinese AI research lab DeepSeek has surged to dominate global app stores, claiming the No. 1 position over the weekend. It now outpaces ChatGPT, the widely popular AI chatbot from the United States. According to app analytics provider Appfigures, DeepSeek currently holds the top spot as the No. 1 free app in the U.S. App Store and 51 other countries on iOS.
This rapid ascent follows the launch of DeepSeek’s cutting-edge open AI models, designed to rival industry leaders like OpenAI and Google. What sets DeepSeek apart is its claim of training these models at a fraction of the cost using significantly less advanced AI chips. These cost-efficient methods have disrupted the tech ecosystem, even causing Nvidia’s stock to plummet by up to 17% on Monday. The development has left the tech sector on high alert, with many scrambling to evaluate the implications for AI innovation and cost efficiency.
On Friday, DeepSeek’s app had recorded 1 million downloads on the App Store and Google Play combined. By Monday, that figure had more than doubled to 2.6 million, reflecting the app’s viral growth. It is now ranked in the Top 10 free apps across 111 countries in the App Store and in 18 countries on Google Play, according to Appfigures.
Data from Sensor Tower reveals that over 80% of these downloads occurred in the past seven days, marking a 300% increase in installs compared to Perplexity, another leading AI app. DeepSeek’s app climbed to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store on January 26, a dramatic rise from No. 31 just days earlier. On Google Play, it now ranks as the 14th overall free app, up from No. 133 on January 24. Globally, daily active users surged by over 110% between January 24 and 25, compared to the same period the prior week.
Despite its Chinese origins, DeepSeek’s downloads are not confined to its home market. China accounts for just 23% of total installs, while the United States and Egypt follow as its second and third largest markets, representing 15% and 6% of downloads, respectively.
The app’s sudden rise highlights the competitive and unpredictable nature of the consumer AI space. Popular apps like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity may dominate monthly user statistics, but DeepSeek’s success underscores that new entrants can still disrupt the market. However, reaching the No. 1 spot on the App Store involves more than just high download numbers. Apple’s secretive algorithm also accounts for factors such as the velocity of installs, enabling new apps with rapid adoption to outrank older, more established ones.
The longevity of DeepSeek’s reign at the top remains uncertain, but its impact on the tech industry is already significant. Its R1 model has sparked widespread scrutiny of its training methods, which may force competitors to innovate or justify their reliance on expensive computing resources. Reports suggest Meta has established dedicated “war rooms” to analyze DeepSeek’s methods in detail.
Notably, DeepSeek has faced challenges in sustaining its growth. The company revealed on Monday that “large-scale malicious” attacks had forced it to restrict app registrations outside of China. Despite this, the app’s meteoric rise has left an indelible mark on the global AI landscape.
