Claude hits #1 on the App Store as users rally behind Anthropic
9to5mac.com
March 2, 2026
2 min read
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Summary
Claude has reached the number one position on the US App Store, a significant rise from 42nd place in just two months. OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini occupy the second and third spots, respectively, as AI chatbots dominate the top three positions in downloads.
Key Takeaways
- Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude reached the #1 position on the US App Store, rising from 42nd place in just two months.
- OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are currently the second and third top downloaded apps on the App Store, respectively.
- The surge in Claude's downloads is attributed to a government standoff involving Anthropic, rather than new features or capabilities.
- Anthropic opposes the US military's intended use of its technology, citing concerns over reliability and violations of fundamental rights.
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