Generative AI drives massive growth in global mobile app revenue

Generative AI has emerged as a primary growth engine for the global mobile internet economy. According to a report by SensorTower, non-gaming mobile in-app purchase revenue reached $84.8 billion in 2025, with generative AI serving as the largest contributor to growth.

Between Q2 2025 and Q1 2026, generative AI application revenue grew by 232%, adding over $4.4 billion. This shift indicates that the industry is moving from a phase of rapid user acquisition to one focused on commercial value and paid conversions. While quarterly downloads grew by only 1%, revenue saw a massive 32-fold increase over three years.

Regional data shows the United States remains the largest market, accounting for approximately 38% of global revenue. Europe follows with 28%, while Japan and South Korea each hold 5%. Notably, the Asia-Pacific region is becoming a fast-growing commercial hub, with Japan seeing a 262% revenue increase in Q1 2026.

In terms of product categories, AI assistants dominate the market. ChatGPT remains the clear leader, generating nearly $1.3 billion in mobile revenue in Q1 2026—more than five times the combined revenue of its top ten competitors. Other major players like Grok, Claude, and Google Gemini are steadily expanding their market shares.