Fresh data from the analytics firm Appfigures suggests that OpenAI"s Sora app is losing traction and popularity just months after its successful launch. The AI video generation app initially launched for iOS devices in late September and reached 100,000 downloads on the first day, despite being invite-only.
The Sora app is like an AI version of TikTok or Reels, where you can create AI videos using text prompts and post them on a social feed. The app, powered by OpenAI"s Sora 2 video generation model, quickly claimed the top spot on the US App Store and reached one million downloads faster than ChatGPT. All of this occurred when Sora was available only on iOS, and an Android version was due for launch.
However, the success appears short-lived, as numbers indicate a decline in both app downloads and consumer spending. In December, Sora"s downloads across the App Store and Google Play decreased 32% month over month, according to Appfigures. Its downloads fell 45% month over month in January to 1.2 million.
For an overall picture, here are the global monthly downloads for OpenAI"s Sora app across Android and iOS:
- September 2025: 0.5 Million
- October 2025: 2.5 Million
- November 2025: 3.2 Million
- December 2025: 2.2 Million
- January 2026: 1.2 Million
The Sora app has dropped out of the top 100 iOS App Store apps in the US, according to the latest Appfigures data. These numbers were echoed by TechCrunch, which notes that consumer spending on the app has dropped by 32% month over month as of January.
The overall decline in downloads persisted through December, when most people are enjoying the holiday season. However, December was the highest month for consumer spending, with a figure of $540,000.
The Sora app has reached close to 10 million downloads across Android and iOS. People from the US account for the largest share ($1.1 million) of its $1.4 million in consumer spending, followed by Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Thailand.
There may be several reasons the Sora app is experiencing a decline. Meta launched an AI-powered video app, Vibes, for Android and iOS just days before the Sora app"s launch.
OpenAI found itself in hot water after users began using Sora 2 to generate videos featuring characters from prominent franchises such as Pokémon (including Pikachu), Mario, One Piece, and Demon Slayer.
The company also faced backlash from Hollywood studios over the use of their IP and copyright infringement after people created AI videos featuring popular characters like SpongeBob. Sora"s downloads have declined even after OpenAI partnered with Disney to create Marvel and Star Wars clips.
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