India’s app downloads surge to 25.5 billion in 2025 as Gen-AI boom reshapes mobile market

India recorded 25.5 billion app downloads in 2025, marking a recovery from the dip seen the previous year. The rebound was largely driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI apps and the rise of short-form microdrama platforms, which together reshaped download and engagement trends across the country.

After falling to 24.6 billion downloads in 2024 from 25.9 billion in 2023, India was among the few major markets to post year-on-year growth in 2025. The country continued to lead the world in total app downloads, even as consumer spending remained relatively low compared to other large markets.

Generative AI apps emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories.

Users in the country downloaded generative AI apps 602 million times in 2025, up sharply from 198 million downloads in 2024.

ChatGPT was the most downloaded generative AI app in India, followed by Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok. ChatGPT ranked just behind Instagram in overall app downloads in the country during 2025.

AI assistant apps accounted for 346 million downloads, while short drama apps added more than 350 million downloads domestically.

India also accounted for 16 per cent of total global downloads of 3.8 billion generative AI applications in 2025, representing a sharp increase from 11.31 per cent in 2024.

However, India accounted for less than one per cent of the total in-app purchase revenues generated by AI apps globally, reflecting that most users and app companies have been offering the service free to users.

The data also highlights that India has a digital economy built on scale and engagement, even as spending remains limited.