Romantic and NSFW AI companion apps have generated 165.3 million downloads and $427.3 million in consumer spending worldwide across Apple’s App Store and Google Play since ChatGPT launched in late 2022, according to data Appfigures Intelligence provided to Decrypt.
Randy Nelson, head of insights and media relations at Appfigures, told Decrypt the rankings were grouped by app type and measured either downloads or gross consumer spending before Apple and Google took their platform fees, which are typically 30%.
$162.8 million in the first half of 2026
Appfigures said it identified 214 NSFW and romantic AI companion apps. Those apps produced $162.8 million in consumer spending in the first half of 2026.
Zeta ranked first by gross revenue during that period with $33 million. Tipsy Chat: Live Your Story followed at $15.2 million, then ChatBox: AI Chat Bot Assistant at $13 million, Crushie AI: Chat & Companion at $8.8 million, and Emochi: Chat With Character at $7.5 million.
Emochi led by installs
On downloads, Emochi was the top romantic AI companion app in the same period with 7.9 million installs. Amora: A Hint of Your Soulmate came next at 3.6 million, followed by Zeta at 3 million, BIMOBIMO at 2.8 million, and MiraiMind at 2.6 million.
General AI companions drew more downloads
Appfigures said general, or “PG,” AI companion apps posted nearly twice as many downloads as romantic apps, but revenue was almost the same. In the first half of 2026, PG/general apps generated $164.8 million.
Use cases are expanding beyond chat
The figures arrive as more people turn to AI chatbots for companionship, romance, and relationships, including a growing “digisexual” subculture centered on emotional connections with AI companions.
In May 2026, researchers at Brigham Young University, the Institute for Family Studies, and the Wheatley Institute found that 15% of partnered U.S. adults ages 18 to 30 regularly used AI romantic companions. Among regular users, 69% said they hid the full extent of that use from their partner.
Joi AI campaign drew over 150,000 applicants
Also in May 2026, AI companion platform Joi AI said it would pay 10 people $2,000 a month to test an AI-guided masturbation feature and document its effects on stress, sleep, mood, and confidence. The company said the campaign was meant to gather product feedback while exploring AI’s role in digital intimacy.
By July 2026, Joi AI said the campaign had drawn more than 150,000 applicants worldwide, prompting the company to create a formal selection process.
Web-only platforms were not included
Appfigures said it categorized the apps using store metadata, descriptions, age ratings, and terms linked to romance and adult content. It also said the figures cover only the visible mobile market and exclude web-only platforms such as Joi AI, Candy AI, and SpicyChat AI.