GPT-4o drives unprecedented revenue surge for ChatGPT mobile app

Mobile app may now be more lucrative that than the website

ChatGPT has seen its biggest revenue spike yet since the launch of GPT-4o

The launch of GPT-4o last week has seen a big jump in revenue according to software company Appfigures which provides universal app analytics.

ChatGPT has seen its biggest revenue spike yet since the launch of GPT-4o, according to software company Appfigures which provides universal app analytics.

OpenAI's GPT-4o, launched on Monday 13 May, is a more powerful version than its predecessor, capable of handling text, speech, and video. It delivers real-time responsiveness and offers a range of emotive voice options.

The company announced that GPT-4o would be available on its free tier, a decision that has significantly impacted the revenue landscape for the ChatGPT mobile app. This is because free-tier users can only access GPT-4o a limited number of times within a three-hour window. Users of the ChatGPT mobile app must upgrade to the £19.99 monthly subscription, ChatGPT Plus, if they wish to fully experiment with GPT-4o.

Contrary to expectations of a revenue growth slowdown, the announcement of GPT-4o has catalysed an extraordinary surge in revenue for the ChatGPT mobile app. The app has achieved its highest spike in revenue since the launch and the most substantial single-day revenue since its launch, marking a significant milestone in its steady growth over the past year.

Previously, the app experienced fluctuating download rates, particularly following OpenAI's adjustment of subscription models last December. However, the release of GPT-4o has reignited user interest, resulting in a historic increase in downloads and revenue.

App Intelligence data reveals that ChatGPT's mobile revenue surged by 22% on the day of the GPT-4o announcement, setting a new record for daily revenue. This upward momentum continued, with revenue nearly doubling the daily average in May by Tuesday 14th May. Specifically, ChatGPT's net revenue rose from a daily average of £386,000 to almost £707,000, reflecting OpenAI's earnings after Apple and Google's shares were deducted.

This surge is not an isolated peak. Estimates indicate that the revenue trend is not only sustaining but also increasing. Between Monday 13th May and Friday 14th May, ChatGPT amassed a total of £3.3 million in net revenue from the App Store and Google Play, predominantly from the App Store.

These developments highlight a significant revenue shift for OpenAI, suggesting that the mobile app may now be a more lucrative platform than the website.