ChatGPT App Uninstalls Surge After DoD Partnership, Anthropic Claude Downloads Jump
Key Points
- ChatGPT app uninstalls jumped 295% day‑over‑day after OpenAI announced a Department of Defense partnership.
- Typical ChatGPT uninstall rate is around 9% over a 30‑day period.
- ChatGPT downloads fell 13% the day of the announcement and continued to decline the next day.
- One‑star reviews for ChatGPT surged 775% on February 28, while five‑star reviews dropped 50%.
- Anthropic’s Claude app saw downloads rise 37% on February 27 and 51% on February 28 after the company rejected a defense deal.
- Claude overtook ChatGPT in U.S. daily downloads for the first time on February 28.
- Claude reached the No. 1 free iPhone app spot in six countries beyond the United States.
- Similarweb noted Claude’s U.S. downloads were about twenty times higher than in January, though other factors may contribute.
U.S. users removed the ChatGPT mobile app at a dramatically higher rate following OpenAI's announced partnership with the Department of Defense, while Anthropic's Claude saw a sharp increase in downloads after the company publicly declined a similar deal. Market‑intelligence data show a 295% day‑over‑day rise in ChatGPT uninstalls and a 37% to 51% boost in Claude downloads, reflecting strong consumer reactions to the contrasting stances on defense collaboration.
Consumer Backlash Against OpenAI’s Defense Deal
When OpenAI disclosed a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, the reaction among American app users was swift and pronounced. Sensor Tower reported that the ChatGPT mobile app experienced a 295% day‑over‑day increase in uninstalls on February 28, a stark contrast to its typical 9% uninstall rate over the preceding month. The surge coincided with a 13% drop in U.S. downloads of the app on the same day, reversing a 14% growth the day before the announcement. The downward trend continued into the following day, with downloads falling an additional 5%.
Consumer sentiment also shifted in the app’s rating system. One‑star reviews for ChatGPT climbed 775% on February 28 and rose another 100% the next day, while five‑star reviews fell by 50% during the same period. These rating changes suggest that a sizable portion of the user base expressed disapproval of the defense partnership.
Anthropic’s Claude Gains Favor as It Rejects Defense Collaboration
In contrast, Anthropic’s Claude app saw a notable rise in popularity after the company announced it would not enter a deal with the Department of Defense. Sensor Tower recorded a 37% day‑over‑day increase in Claude downloads on February 27, followed by a 51% jump on February 28. Appfigures confirmed that Claude’s total daily U.S. downloads on February 28 surpassed those of ChatGPT for the first time, and it estimated an even larger 88% day‑over‑day increase for Claude on the same day.
Claude’s surge extended beyond the United States. Appfigures noted that the app reached the No. 1 free iPhone position in six additional countries, including Canada, Germany, and Norway. The rapid climb in rankings placed Claude at the top of the U.S. App Store on February 28, a rise of more than 20 positions compared with the previous week.
Third‑Party Validation and Context
Other market‑intelligence providers corroborated the trends. Similarweb reported that Claude’s U.S. downloads over the past week were roughly twenty times higher than they had been in January, though it cautioned that factors beyond the political controversy might also be influencing the growth.
Overall, the data illustrate a clear split in consumer behavior tied to each company’s stance on defense collaboration. OpenAI’s partnership with the Department of Defense triggered a wave of uninstalls and negative reviews for ChatGPT, while Anthropic’s decision to decline a similar arrangement propelled Claude to new download highs and top‑ranking positions both domestically and internationally.