AI companion statistics (2026)
The key numbers on AI companion apps — how much time people spend with them, what they earn, and who uses them — collected from primary research and cited to the source.
Time spent: AI companions vs dating apps
AI companion apps now hold more than twice the attention of dating apps in the US. Sensor Tower's quarterly data shows the gap widening through 2025 and into 2026 as companion usage grew and dating-app usage declined.
| Quarter (US) | AI companion apps | Dating & social discovery apps |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | ~580 million hours | ~330 million hours |
| Q3 2025 | Past 715 million hours | Under 300 million hours |
| Q1 2026 | ~705 million hours | ~280 million hours |
Source: Sensor Tower data. Figures reproduced as reported (rounded by the source).
Revenue and downloads
Consumer spending on AI companion apps is growing faster than downloads — a sign that monetization, not just curiosity, is driving the category.
| Metric (worldwide) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Lifetime consumer spending (to July 2025) | $221 million |
| Revenue, first half of 2025 | $82 million (+64% year over year) |
| Projected full-year 2025 revenue | Over $120 million |
| Lifetime downloads (to July 2025) | 220 million |
| Downloads, first half of 2025 | 60 million (+88% year over year) |
| Revenue per download | $0.52 (2024) → $1.18 (2025) |
Source: Appfigures data.
Market concentration
The category is crowded but top-heavy. Of 337 revenue-generating AI companion apps worldwide, 128 launched in 2025 alone — yet the top 10% of apps capture 89% of category revenue, and only about 33 apps (roughly 10%) had passed $1 million in lifetime consumer spending by July 2025.
Source: Appfigures data.
Who uses AI companions
Use of AI for companionship has moved from niche to mainstream among younger adults. Match's 2025 Singles in America study — a representative survey of 5,001 US singles conducted by Dynata with the Kinsey Institute — found:
- 16% of US singles have engaged with AI as a romantic companion.
- 33% of Gen Z singles and 23% of millennial singles have done so.
- Singles' use of AI grew 333% over the previous year.
Source: Match Singles in America 2025.
What it means for creator-founders
Three conclusions follow from the data. First, demand is real and growing: attention on AI companions now exceeds dating apps by more than two to one. Second, monetization is improving faster than usage — revenue per download more than doubled in a year. Third, the market rewards the few apps with a distinct identity: 89% of revenue flows to the top 10% of apps.
That last point is the one creators and operators should act on. Generic companions compete on price in a crowded field; branded companions with a defined niche, persona, and owned subscriber relationship are where the revenue concentrates. That is the model Highlife builds on.
Sources and methodology
Every figure on this page comes from a named third-party source, linked below. We do not estimate or model any number shown here. Where a source reports a rounded or bounded figure, we reproduce it as reported.
- Sensor Tower data, reported by OfficeChai (June 2026) — US time spent on AI companion vs dating apps, quarterly.
- Appfigures data, reported by TechCrunch (August 2025) — worldwide consumer spending, downloads, and app counts, data through July 2025.
- Match Singles in America 2025 (Dynata with the Kinsey Institute, n=5,001), reported by Psychology Today — US singles' use of AI as a romantic companion.
Citing this page: please link to highlife.media/ai-companion-statistics and the original source.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do Americans spend on AI companion apps?
Americans spent roughly 705 million hours on AI companion apps in Q1 2026, according to Sensor Tower data — more than double the roughly 280 million hours spent on dating and social discovery apps in the same quarter.
How much money do AI companion apps make?
AI companion apps had generated $221 million in lifetime consumer spending worldwide as of July 2025, per Appfigures. They earned $82 million in the first half of 2025, up 64% year over year, and were on track to pass $120 million for the full year.
How many people use AI companions?
AI companion apps had been downloaded 220 million times worldwide as of July 2025 (Appfigures). In the US, Match's 2025 Singles in America study found 16% of single adults had engaged with AI as a romantic companion, rising to 33% of Gen Z singles.
Is the AI companion market concentrated?
Yes. Appfigures found the top 10% of AI companion apps generate 89% of category revenue, and only about 33 of 337 revenue-generating apps had passed $1 million in lifetime consumer spending as of July 2025.