Demand for AI companion applications is growing rapidly, extending beyond well-known platforms like ChatGPT and Grok. According to new data from app intelligence firm Appfigures, 128 out of the 337 active and revenue-generating AI companion apps available worldwide were released in 2025 alone. This niche segment of the AI market has already generated $82 million in the first half of the year and is projected to surpass $120 million by year-end.
Unlike general-purpose chatbots, AI companion apps personalize interactions by allowing users to engage with custom characters, such as friends, romantic partners, or fantasy figures. Appfigures defines this category as apps where users interact with premade or user-generated synthetic characters designed to embody distinct personalities. Leading apps in this space include Replika, Character.AI, PolyBuzz, and Chai.
As of July 2025, AI companion apps have been downloaded 220 million times globally across the Apple App Store and Google Play. Downloads surged by 88% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, reaching 60 million. Appfigures also found that these apps have driven $221 million in consumer spending worldwide, with revenue up 64% compared to the same period in 2024.
The top 10% of AI companion apps account for 89% of the category’s revenue, and 33 apps have exceeded $1 million in lifetime consumer spending. Revenue per download has also increased, rising from $0.52 in 2024 to $1.18 in 2025.
While dedicated AI companion apps thrive, major players like xAI are entering the market. In July, Grok introduced AI companions, including an anime girl, an anime guy, and a snarky 3D fox. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s transition to GPT-5 sparked backlash from users who felt attached to the previous model, GPT-4o, leading CEO Sam Altman to temporarily reintroduce the older version.
Google also tapped into the market by hiring Character.AI’s founder, Noam Shazeer, in 2024. Despite this, Character.AI remains popular, boasting tens of millions of monthly active users.
Appfigures’ data reveals that the most sought-after AI companion apps are those catering to users seeking virtual girlfriends. About 17% of active apps include the word “girlfriend” in their names, compared to 4% featuring “boyfriend” or “fantasy.” Terms like anime, soulmate, and lover appear less frequently.
The analysis excludes apps that launched but failed to gain traction, as they were removed from app stores before generating significant revenue or downloads.