ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal
Source: TechCrunch
Uninstall Surge
U.S. app uninstalls of ChatGPT’s mobile app jumped 295% day‑over‑day on Saturday, February 28, as consumers responded to the news of OpenAI’s deal with the Department of Defense (DoD), which has been rebranded under the Trump administration as the Department of War.
The data, from market‑intelligence provider Sensor Tower, contrasts with ChatGPT’s typical day‑over‑day uninstall rate of 9% over the past 30 days.
Download Trends
- ChatGPT: U.S. downloads dropped 13% day‑over‑day on Saturday, shortly after the partnership news went public, and fell another 5% on Sunday. Prior to the announcement, downloads had grown 14% day‑over‑day on Friday.
- Anthropic’s Claude: Downloads jumped 37% day‑over‑day on Friday, February 27, and 51% on Saturday, February 28, after Anthropic announced it would not partner with the U.S. defense department. The company cited concerns about AI surveillance of Americans and the use of fully autonomous weaponry.
App Store Rankings
Claude’s App Store ranking surged, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. App Store on Saturday (source). It remained at the top as of Monday, March 2, a jump of over 20 ranks compared with the week of February 22, 2026.
User Ratings
- 1‑star reviews for ChatGPT increased 775% on Saturday and grew another 100% day‑over‑day on Sunday, according to Sensor Tower.
- 5‑star reviews declined by 50% over the same period.
Third‑Party Data Providers
- Appfigures: Reported that Claude’s total daily U.S. downloads on Saturday surpassed those of ChatGPT for the first time, estimating an 88% day‑over‑day increase for Claude.
- Similarweb: Noted that Claude’s U.S. downloads over the past week were roughly 20 × higher than in January, while cautioning that other factors beyond the political issue could be influencing the surge.
Image Credits: Appfigures
Claude is now the No. 1 free iPhone app in several countries, including Belgium, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.