OpenAI’s Sora video app is off to a blazing start. Despite being invite-only and limited to users in the U.S. and Canada at launch, Sora quickly surged up the charts and into viral territory. Appfigures estimates the iOS app recorded 56,000 downloads on day one and 164,000 installs across its first two days, September 30 and October 1. By day two, Sora climbed to No. 3 among Top Overall apps on the U.S. App Store.
Those numbers put Sora’s debut ahead of several big-name AI app launches and on par with the early momentum seen by Grok. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini posted stronger day-one figures—81,000 and 80,000 downloads respectively—Sora still outperformed launches from Anthropic’s Claude and Microsoft’s Copilot by a wide margin.
Key launch stats, per Appfigures:
– Sora day-one iOS downloads: 56,000; first two days total: 164,000
– U.S. App Store rank by day two: No. 3 Top Overall
– Day-one comparisons (U.S./Canada where applicable): ChatGPT at 81,000; Gemini at 80,000; Sora tied with Grok at 56,000; Claude at 21,000; Copilot at 7,000
– Day-two Top Overall ranks: ChatGPT reached No. 1; Grok No. 4; Gemini No. 6; Copilot No. 19; Claude No. 78
Because AI apps have launched with different regional strategies, Appfigures normalized its analysis to U.S. (and Canadian, when available) downloads for an apples-to-apples comparison. Even within those constraints—and despite Sora’s invite-only access—the app’s performance signals strong consumer interest in AI video creation, especially in a more social, shareable format.
The limited rollout also suggests there’s room for even bigger numbers if Sora opens to more users and markets. For now, the early data underscores a clear trend: AI video tools are moving from experimental demos to mainstream mobile experiences, and users are eager to try them.
