Sora achieved 627,000 downloads in its first week on the iOS App Store, surpassing ChatGPT’s initial launch performance. Despite being available only through an invite system, the app reached the No.1 “Top Overall App” position on the U.S. App Store. Earlier reports indicated that Sora recorded 56,000 downloads on its first day, making it the third most popular app in the U.S. App Store at the time.
For comparison, ChatGPT’s iOS version reached 500,000 downloads in six days but was available exclusively in the U.S. Sora, however, launched in both the U.S. and Canada. According to Appfigures, about 45,000 of the downloads came from Canada. Even excluding that number, Sora’s U.S. performance alone reached 96% of ChatGPT’s debut level. On average, the app saw 90,000–100,000 daily downloads during its first week, peaking at 107,800 downloads on October 1. The number is expected to rise further once the invite-only restriction is lifted.
Despite its limited release, Sora’s rapid growth reflects the growing public interest in AI-powered video creation tools. The app uses OpenAI’s new Sora 2 video model, allowing users to generate realistic videos and even deepfake-like content. This has sparked widespread discussion on social media and raised ethical debates, as some users reportedly created videos of deceased individuals.
Sora’s swift rise is seen as a sign that OpenAI’s success in consumer-facing products is extending beyond ChatGPT, marking a new milestone for the company.
