Leading Revenue and Downloads: TikTok Thrives Amid US Ban Worries, ChatGPT Rises, DeepSeek Enters Top Ten
TikTok’s Earnings Surge Amid Challenges
TikTok continues to lead as the top-earning mobile app globally, according to analysis from Appfigures. This is remarkable given the ongoing discussions about potential bans or sales of the app in the United States. Despite these challenges, TikTok saw a revenue of $200 million in February 2025. This figure represents a significant decrease of 67% compared to its peak in December 2024. During this period, it is believed that creators on the platform collectively lost around $50 million, a substantial sum for many app developers worldwide.
Comparing Top Earning Apps
Following TikTok, YouTube was the next highest earner, generating $150 million. Disney+ came in third with $123 million, while Tinder and Max rounded out the top five at $103 million and $93 million, respectively. These revenues reflect the amounts companies retain after paying fees to platforms like Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Table of Top Earning Apps (February 2025)
| Rank | App | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TikTok | $200 million |
| 2 | YouTube | $150 million |
| 3 | Disney+ | $123 million |
| 4 | Tinder | $103 million |
| 5 | Max | $93 million |
The rankings in February did not change from those in December, indicating a strong consistency in the performance of these applications.
Downloads of Major Apps
When it comes to downloads, TikTok remained on top with an impressive 42 million downloads in February 2025. Interestingly, discussions around a forced sale in the U.S. did not significantly impact its download numbers.
Other notable apps in terms of downloads included Instagram, also with 42 million downloads, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which gathered 36 million. With its surge in popularity, ChatGPT displaced Facebook and WhatsApp from the top slots for downloads.
Most Downloaded Apps (February 2025)
| Rank | App | Downloads |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TikTok | 42 million |
| 2 | 42 million | |
| 3 | ChatGPT | 36 million |
| 4 | – | |
| 5 | – |
DeepSeek, a newer contender, jumped to the tenth spot with 20 million downloads, reflecting a growing interest, although it is common for apps to struggle to enter the top ten rapidly.
Collective Revenue and Downloads
The top ten highest-earning apps combined brought in $966 million in February 2025. Meanwhile, the most downloaded apps collectively reached an impressive total of 299 million downloads that month. This figure underscores the popularity and market presence of mobile applications.
Summarizing, despite its challenges—including potential bans and a decline in revenue—TikTok remains a dominant force in the mobile app ecosystem. Its lead in both earnings and downloads illustrates its significant global reach and user engagement. The app landscape appears stable at the top, with established players like YouTube and Disney+ maintaining their positions despite emerging competitors.
