Meta’s Muse reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. App Store ten days after its Sept. 8 launch, recording over 730,000 U.S. downloads. While Muse now ranks ahead of rivals like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini on the free iPhone chart, its daily download pace lags ChatGPT’s earlier debut. Wall Street reacted with a JPMorgan upgrade and Meta announced a Mac version, but consumer trust and weak Android traction remain notable challenges.
Meta’s Muse Tops U.S. App Store in 10 Days — Beats ChatGPT on Chart Despite Slower Daily Downloads
A close-up of a human finger pressing the Muse app icon inside a folder containing Meta apps on a smartphone screen in Creteil, France, on September 9, 2026, after Meta launched Muse, an autonomous personal artificial intelligence agent. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Meta’s new AI agent, Muse, climbed to No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. App Store on Sept. 18, ten days after its Sept. 8 debut, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Muse recorded more than 730,000 U.S. downloads during that period and now sits ahead of ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and Meta-owned Instagram on Apple’s free iPhone chart.
Launch and Capabilities
Unlike traditional chatbots that mainly answer questions, Muse is designed as an autonomous personal agent that can perform tasks on a user’s behalf after being connected to their apps and accounts. Meta says Muse can send emails, book travel, make purchases and handle other multi-step tasks. The service launched in the U.S. on iOS, Android, Meta’s WhatsApp and the web, and is free to start with paid tiers at $20 and $100 per month. Meta also announced a Mac version of Muse on Sept. 17.
Download Performance and Comparison to ChatGPT
Muse’s early trajectory echoes ChatGPT’s App Store arrival in 2023. Data.ai reported that the OpenAI app logged about 697,000 U.S. downloads in its first eight days. By contrast, Muse accumulated more than 730,000 U.S. downloads in its first ten days. However, on a per-day basis Muse trailed ChatGPT: Muse averaged roughly 73,000 U.S. downloads per day over its first ten days, while ChatGPT averaged about 87,000 per day over its first eight, based on the figures from Sensor Tower and data.ai.
A folder containing Meta apps (Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Messenger, Muse, WhatsApp and Meta AI) is displayed on a smartphone screen in Creteil, France, on September 9, 2026, after Meta launched Muse, an autonomous personal artificial intelligence agent. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Market Reaction and Trust Issues
Wall Street responded to Muse’s early climb. JPMorgan upgraded Meta from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $640 to $820, according to CNBC. The launch also comes amid broader scrutiny of Meta: the company agreed in August to a multistate settlement related to reported social media harms, with potential liabilities reported at up to $18 billion.
Trust remains a challenge for Meta’s AI ambitions. An Oppenheimer & Co. survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers conducted around Muse’s debut found only 8% would trust Meta with their passwords, compared with 30% for Google, 23% for Apple and 16% for ChatGPT. Another 58% said they would not share passwords with any AI agent.
Platform Availability and Android Performance
Muse is currently available only in the United States via Meta’s iOS and Android apps, WhatsApp and the web. Its Android traction has lagged: on Google Play the app ranked No. 338 in the Productivity category as of last week, TechCrunch reported, citing Sensor Tower.
Bottom line: Muse’s rapid rise to the top of Apple’s free chart underscores strong early interest, but daily adoption rates and platform-specific performance suggest the agent still faces headwinds — especially around consumer trust and Android engagement.
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