Muse's Strong Start

Meta's new AI agent Muse has quickly gained traction on mobile, outpacing ChatGPT's early performance in the U.S. and Canada. During the first 12 days on the market, Muse was downloaded more times than ChatGPT was in the 12 days following its own mobile debut, according to estimates from Apptopia. The data also indicates that Muse has more daily active users than ChatGPT had at a comparable stage. The findings suggest that Meta's push into consumer-facing AI could yield one of its most successful app launches since the debut of Instagram's Threads.

Download Numbers Compared

When comparing iOS data for the U.S. and Canada specifically, Muse recorded 1.8 million downloads versus ChatGPT's 1.3 million during the same 12-day window. On a global basis, Muse accumulated 2.8 million total installs in its first 12 days, though those figures include both iOS and Android platforms. Separate estimates from Appfigures previously noted that Muse had crossed 1 million downloads at an earlier point in its launch. While Apptopia can only provide third-party estimates and does not have direct access to Meta's internal figures, the numbers point to strong initial demand for the app and a potentially significant milestone for Meta's AI efforts.

Daily Active Users Surpass ChatGPT

Muse also leads ChatGPT in daily engagement. Apptopia's data indicates that Muse's U.S. daily active users reached 642,000, compared with 231,000 for ChatGPT at a similar point after its launch. Even when narrowing the comparison to iOS alone — a fairer basis given that ChatGPT initially launched on iOS only — Muse still outperformed, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS versus ChatGPT's 231,000. Muse's rise from No. 2 to No. 1 on the U.S. App Store was first reported by Business Insider, which noted the app had surpassed ChatGPT's peak chart position. The sustained growth also indicates that user interest has not yet plateaued.

Different Launch Strategies Complicate Direct Comparison

The two apps pursued notably different launch strategies, making direct comparisons difficult. ChatGPT debuted on mobile globally but only on iOS, while Muse launched in the U.S. and Canada across both Apple's App Store and Google Play. To create an apples-to-apples comparison, Apptopia focused on iOS data for the U.S. and Canada for both apps during the first 12 days. That adjusted comparison still showed Muse ahead in both downloads and daily active users. The results suggest that Muse's early momentum is not simply a result of broader platform availability but reflects genuinely strong consumer interest.

Cross-Promotion and User Overlap

Muse is well positioned to benefit from Meta's established cross-promotion strategy. The app integrates with Instagram and Facebook, and also works inside WhatsApp — three of Meta's largest platforms. Meta previously used this approach effectively when launching Instagram's Threads, which has since grown to over 500 million monthly users. Apptopia noted that over 95% of Muse's users are also Facebook users, and 63% are Instagram users, indicating significant overlap with Meta's existing user base. While Apptopia does not have visibility into Meta's specific cross-promotion efforts or advertising spend, the data suggests Muse is likely to receive a similar push, potentially accelerating its growth further in the coming weeks.

What This Means for Meta's AI Ambitions

The strong early performance of Muse represents a notable milestone for Meta's broader AI strategy. The company has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence across its product ecosystem, and a successful consumer-facing AI app would mark a significant step forward. With integrations across Meta's major platforms, Muse has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of users through cross-promotion alone. If the app can maintain its current trajectory, it could become one of the most widely adopted AI tools available on mobile devices and a key pillar in Meta's long-term AI plans.

Meta Has Not Confirmed the Numbers

Meta has been asked for comment but has not yet released public figures related to Muse's early adoption. The company has not publicly confirmed or disputed the third-party estimates from Apptopia or Appfigures. Until Meta provides its own data, these third-party numbers will serve as the primary benchmark for evaluating Muse's early success. The early data, while approximate, signals that consumer interest in Meta's AI offerings remains strong.

Sources

• TechCrunchMeta’s Muse is outpacing ChatGPT’s early mobile launch