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Sep 21, 2026, 7:19 PMArtificial Intelligence

Meta Muse Beats ChatGPT’s Early Mobile Launch in Downloads and Daily Users

Meta’s Muse beat ChatGPT’s first 12 mobile days with 1.8 million comparable downloads and 642,000 U.S. daily users, based on new Apptopia estimates.

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Summary

As of September 21, 2026, Apptopia estimates Meta’s Muse recorded 1.8 million iOS downloads in the U.S. and Canada during its first 12 days, versus ChatGPT’s 1.3 million over the same markets and period. Muse launched through Apple’s App Store and Google Play only in the U.S. and Canada, while ChatGPT launched globally on iOS alone. Muse reached 2.8 million total installs globally, rose from No. 2 to No. 1 overall on the U.S. App Store and had crossed 1 million downloads when Appfigures measured it.

Muse reached 642,000 U.S. mobile daily active users, compared with ChatGPT’s 231,000 at the equivalent point. Restricting the comparison to iOS, Muse still led with 359,000 daily users. Meta can promote Muse through integrations with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, repeating the strategy that helped Threads surpass 500 million users; more than 95% of Muse users also use Facebook and 63% use Instagram. Growth has not yet stagnated, but Apptopia’s figures are third-party estimates without access to Meta’s internal data or advertising and cross-promotion activity. Meta has not published adoption figures or provided comment.

Positives

  • Muse recorded 1.8 million comparable iOS downloads in 12 days, beating ChatGPT’s 1.3 million in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Muse reached 642,000 U.S. mobile daily active users, compared with ChatGPT’s 231,000 at the same launch stage.
  • Muse’s 359,000 U.S. iOS daily users kept it ahead even after Android usage was excluded.
  • Muse reached 2.8 million total installs globally and climbed from No. 2 to No. 1 on the U.S. App Store.
  • Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp integrations give Muse access to Meta’s cross-promotion system, which helped Threads exceed 500 million users.

Risks & concerns

  • Apptopia’s download and usage figures are third-party estimates without access to Meta’s internal records.
  • Muse launched on iOS and Android in two countries, while ChatGPT launched globally on iOS, complicating comparisons outside the normalized iOS sample.
  • Apptopia cannot measure Meta’s advertising or cross-promotion directly, leaving the drivers of Muse’s adoption unclear.
  • More than 95% of Muse users also use Facebook and 63% use Instagram, showing substantial overlap with Meta’s existing audience.
  • Meta has not released official Muse adoption figures or provided comment on the estimates.
Primary sourceTechCrunchhttps://techcrunch.com/2026/09/21/metas-muse-is-outpacing-chatgpts-early-mobile-launch/
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