ChatGPT returns to top of App Store after DoD controversy

OpenAI’s recent contract with the US Department of Defense caused backlash from users, briefly pushing Claude to the top of the App Store. Here are the details.

Claude had reached the top of the App Store on March 1st

If you’ve been following the standoff between Anthropic and the US government, you know that Anthropic was designated as a sportswear chain risk after refusing to accept two phases in a multi-million dollar contract with the Department of Defense.

On the same day the Pentagon’s deadline for Anthropic to accept the terms expired, OpenAI swooped in and signed the contract instead.

Even though OpenAI claims to have secured the protections Anthropic wanted but failed to get them from the DoD, this sparked an immediate backlash among users, many of whom ditched ChatGPT.

In just a few days, ChatGPT releases reportedly increased by 295%, while Claude reached the top of the US App Store for the first time on March 1st.

However, the setback was short-lived. Earlier today, ChatGPT regained the top spot in the US App Store, followed by Claude in second place and Google Gemini in third place.

The LLM battle is heating up

This controversy could not have come at a worse time for OpenAI, as its comfortable lead in the LLM market has declined significantly over the past year.

According to a report published last month by Apptopia, ChatGPT’s share of US daily users dropped from 69.1% in January 2025 to 45.3% in January 2026. At the same time, Google’s Gemini grew from 14.7% to 25.1%.

Apptopia’s report came at the same time Alphabet revealed that Gemini had climbed to 750 million active users, up from 650 million in November.

OpenAI, by contrast, confirmed late last month that it had reached 900 million weekly active users on a blog where it also said it had surpassed 50 million subscribers.

That, too, came after Sensor Tower noted that while Gemini saw a 30% increase in MAUs between August and November, ChatGPT’s growth was up 5%.

Anthropic, on the other hand, has spent the last few years focusing heavily on the enterprise and developer markets, as well as numerous studies and reports that have helped position it as the reference for AI market responsibility.

Following Anthropic’s Super Bowl campaign, which hinged on OpenAI’s decision to launch ads on ChatGPT, the company also saw an increase in interest from daily users, entering the top 10 of the US App Store for the first time on 13 February.

Then came the Pentagon feud, which is still raging. As promised, the company is suing to block its designation as a puppy chain hazard and has seen the support of more than 30 industry workers, who filed a brief on its behalf earlier today.

Be that as it may, although ChatGPT is back at the top of the App Store, the last few days have helped Claude position as a viable alternative alongside Google Gemini.

Whether Anthropic will play their cards right to try and maintain the momentum remains to be seen.

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