Top-100 AI Applications and Websites: Andreessen Horowitz Rating

A brief and clear overview of the Top-100 AI-based applications and websites according to Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). What's in the rating, who the leaders are, how web services differ from mobile apps, which categories are growing, and how to choose the best AI applications for your smartphone.

How a Venture Fund Analyzes the AI Application Market

The venture fund Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) regularly tracks which applications with generative AI become the most in-demand among users. To do this, they publish a report called The Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps, which compiles one hundred market leaders based on real web traffic and mobile activity data. This report is updated every six months and is considered one of the most authoritative studies on AI product consumption.

The authors note that the market is gradually entering a more stable phase. If in spring 2025 the list was replenished with 17 new web products, then in the August report there were only 15, including four Google applications that were not previously counted. The number of newcomers in the mobile category has also decreased to just 14. The situation was also affected by stricter app store policies: numerous ChatGPT copies are gradually leaving the rating, making room for original developments.

Another important change: the new rating does not include universal services like Canva or Notion, even if they offer AI features. Now the list only includes products that were originally created around artificial intelligence.

Methodology of the Top-100 AI Applications Rating and Why It Matters

The rating is divided into two parts:

First – the 50 most visited web services (according to Similarweb data).

Second – 50 mobile applications, evaluated by the number of active users per month (Sensor Tower data).

The "web vs mobile" division allows us to understand where complex scenarios occur and where the fast format "opened – did – closed" wins.

The rating shows not "the smartest model," but usage, popularity, and user habits. For business, this is a reference point; for developers, it's a map of demand and key niches. The results are based on real data, not headlines. And these conclusions help accurately find a place for a product and create a relevant market overview without guesses.

Market Leaders in AI Applications: Who's at the Top

ChatGPT is the absolute leader on the web and in mobile applications. On the web platform, it receives almost 2 billion monthly visits, which is approximately five times more than second place. The gap in mobile applications is smaller – about 2.5 times – but ChatGPT's position remains unshakeable.

Other leaders include:

• Google Gemini (formerly Bard) – a competitor from the search engine with a powerful model and deep integration into the Google ecosystem.
• Character.AI – leader in the AI companion category with extremely high user engagement.
• QuillBot – a writing assistant known for its paraphrasing and text improvement capabilities.

Lists are updated every six months, with several new companies regularly appearing in the web rating. The AI market is becoming broader, and the number of active users is growing. Many popular products were released by the OpenAI ecosystem and partners, but on the horizon are new rounds of competitors, including Chinese DeepSeek, Claude from Anthropic, and other models like IMI. Using applications has become simple: a good assistant works quickly and provides more information in less time. This increases popularity and retains users.

Web vs. Mobile: How People Actually Use AI

Complex Scenarios on Web Platforms

On the web, people more often solve complex tasks: video generation, audio editing, presentation creation, document work, and analysis of large data sets. Therefore, in the top-20 web, tools with broad functionality stand out:

• ElevenLabs – speech synthesis and professional-quality voice content creation with support for more than 70 languages
• Leonardo – AI image and art generator with advanced settings for creativity
• Gamma – AI-based interactive presentation and document builder

Quick Solutions in Mobile Applications

Mobile applications are dominated by apps for quick solutions: assistants, keyboards, photo editors, and avatar and learning platforms.

There are five "crossovers" – applications found successfully on both web platforms and mobile stores:

• ChatGPT
• Character.AI
• Poe (chatbot aggregator from Quora)
• Photoroom (photo editor)
• Pixelcut (image and background editor)

Why Mobile Version is Not Just a "Stripped-Down Website"

The best AI applications on mobile devices leverage the unique capabilities of smartphones: camera, gallery, microphone, and GPS. This allows you to get results quickly in real-time and without copying data between services. This is the main difference from web versions.

New AI Application Categories: Music and Productivity

Music Generation: Suno and a New Era of Creativity

The rating includes a music category for the first time. Suno generates original songs from text descriptions, including audio and lyrics in different genres. The project started in Discord (like Midjourney), and then received a website and integration with Microsoft Copilot – now any user can "write" a track from a simple prompt.

This is an example of how AI applications open new possibilities for other users and companies. The Suno + Copilot music combination shows how neural networks can be embedded in familiar services and make content creation accessible to everyone.

"Productivity" Category: Tools in the Workflow

The "productivity" category is growing due to browser extensions and "tools in the workflow." Here are the key applications in this direction:

• Liner – research AI copilot for analyzing web content and highlighting important information.
• Eightify – automated YouTube video summarization in seconds.
• Phind – AI assistant for programming and finding technical solutions.
• MaxAI – universal assistant via Chrome browser extension.
• Blackbox AI – specialized assistant for code and development.
• Otter.ai – real-time meeting and note transcription with automatic summaries.
• ChatPDF – interaction with PDF documents through a chat interface.

Six of seven of these applications work through a Google Chrome extension or exclusively through an extension. They help analyze articles and videos, reduce time, work with documentation and code. Broad scenarios are convenient for developers, students, and small business owners, as they save hours on routine tasks.

Explosive Growth of AI Companion Category: Social Trend or Scientific Phenomenon?

AI Companions Have Become a Mass Phenomenon

AI companions have evolved from niche to mainstream use, representing a potential shift in society.

Evidence:

• Six months ago, only 2 companion companies made it into the top-50 list.
• In the updated analysis, there are already 8 companies on the web platform and 2 on mobile.
• Character.AI leads in this category, ranking 3rd on web and 16th on mobile devices.

Other popular companions worth noting include Replika – a platform for deep personal conversations – and Poly.AI, specializing in role-playing dialogues with fictional characters.

"Uncensored" Applications and Mobile Web

An interesting trend: 6 of 8 web companions position themselves as "uncensored," allowing users to have conversations that might be restricted on ChatGPT or other major platforms. Among them are JanitorAI, Spicychat, and CrushOn.

• On average, 75% of traffic to uncensored companions comes from mobile devices rather than desktop computers
• Almost none of them offer their own mobile apps, relying on mobile web
• Users should check the privacy policy: how is content stored and what usage rules apply

Extraordinarily High User Engagement Levels

For companions with their own apps, engagement levels are unusually high. According to Sensor Tower data:

• Character.AI: 298 sessions per month per user
• Poly.AI: 74 sessions per month

This indicates that the most successful companions are becoming a central part of users' daily lives, becoming as common as texting a friend.

Expansion Beyond Entertainment: Mental Health and Education

Although companions are often associated with "virtual boyfriends/girlfriends," research revealed early signs of a broader range of companion apps: for friendship, mentoring, entertainment, and potentially healthcare.

Notably, research in Nature found that the chatbot Replika reduced suicidal thoughts in 3% of users, demonstrating real potential in mental health.

Discord as a Launching Platform for AI Innovation

An interesting pattern in market development: several major consumer AI products, such as Suno, started as Discord-only products or still work primarily through Discord.

Discord serves as a testing ground and community without requiring full frontend application development. By the Discord server invitation metric, 9 AI products and communities rank among the top-100 Discord servers by invitation traffic, led by Midjourney.

This shows that Discord is an important tool not only for gamers, but also for early adoption of AI technologies, allowing developers to get feedback before a full product launch.

Geography of AI Application Developers: Beyond Silicon Valley

The rating shows strong contributions from American companies, but many leaders are from Europe and Asia. Studios from Turkey have released hits in several categories:

• Codeway (Istanbul) created Face Dance (photo animator), Chat & Ask AI (chatbot), and Wonder (AI art generator)
• HubX (Turkey) developed Nova (chatbot), DaVinci (art generator), and PhotoApp (photo enhancer)

The list includes teams from London, Paris, Singapore, Milan, and other cities. Bending Spoons from Milan (creators of the Splice video editor and Remini photo editor, ranking 5th in mobile ratings) recently announced raising $155 million in capital financing.

This confirms: the world of AI products is global, and competition is happening everywhere – from major brands to independent developers.

Categories of Mobile AI Applications: Specialized Solutions

Avatar Applications and Editor Tools

On the mobile platform, there are 7 specialized avatar applications, since selfies on smartphones serve as ready-made data for training neural networks.

Three of the top mobile applications – Facemoji (#9), Bobble (#31), and Genie (#37) – are specialized mobile keyboards that allow users to send text messages using AI.

EdTech Applications and Learning

EdTech is a popular category on mobile devices, where users can:

Photomath – scan homework problems and get step-by-step solutions to math problems. Elsa – learn languages through live conversations with AI and improve pronunciation.

Notably, while most top generative AI mobile applications are self-funded (without external financing), four of seven rating EdTech applications have raised more than $30 million, according to PitchBook data.

How to Choose the Best AI Applications for Your Smartphone: Practical Checklist

Below is a convenient and useful checklist. It helps find a quality application and use it every day.

Define Your Task

Do you need an assistant, video/audio editor, photo editor, or "educational" application? Identify the main scenario and key usage criteria. This is the first step to choosing the right tool.

Check Speed and Interface Simplicity

The application interface should be clear. Tips and buttons should be accessible without extra clicks. The best AI applications don't make users struggle through complex navigation.

Find Out Which AI Model Is Used

Look for mentions of reliable providers:

• OpenAI (GPT-4, ChatGPT)
• Google (Gemini, PaLM)
• Anthropic (Claude)
• DeepSeek (alternative model)
• Developer's own powerful model

Use applications with transparent information about the model – this guarantees quality.

Check Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Data policy and content usage should be transparent. Privacy settings should be visible. Don't use applications with vague data processing conditions.

Assess Pricing Honesty

Be cautious of "ChatGPT" copies in the App Store and Google Play. Official products provide access honestly, and subscriptions are clear. Many fake applications charge for access to free models.

Check Integrations with Other Services

Support for Microsoft, Google Drive, "Share" function, browser extensions. The more connections with other tools, the less friction in work and the higher productivity.

Ensure Reliable Support and Updates

Updates should come frequently. It's important for the product to work stably and quickly on different devices. Check ratings and user reviews in the app store.

Table: AI Application Categories, Examples, and Main Tasks

Category	Example Applications	Main Tasks	Platform
Universal Assistants	ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude	Answering questions, writing, analysis	Web + Mobile
Content Creation	Leonardo, Runway	Image generation, video editing	Web
Audio and Music	ElevenLabs, Suno	Speech synthesis, music creation	Web
Photo Editing	Photoroom, Pixelcut	Editing, enhancement, background removal	Mobile
AI Companions	Character.AI, Replika, Poly.AI	Communication, entertainment, support	Web + Mobile
Productivity	Otter.ai, ChatPDF, Liner	Transcription, document analysis	Web
Programming	Phind, Blackbox AI	Code help, debugging	Web
Education	Photomath, Elsa	Problem solving, language learning	Mobile
Content Summarization	Eightify, MaxAI	Video and article summaries	Web
Chatbot Aggregators	Poe	Access to multiple AI models	Web + Mobile

Practical Recommendations for Different Users

For schoolchildren and students

Assistant: ChatGPT or Gemini for help with assignments Mathematics: Photomath for solving problems Languages: Elsa for practicing conversational speech Writing: QuillBot for checking and improving texts

For employees and freelancers

Main assistant: ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude Meetings and notes: Otter.ai for automatic transcription Documents: ChatPDF for analyzing PDF files Extensions: Liner or MaxAI for web content analysis

For creative professionals

Visuals: Leonardo or Midjourney for generating images Video: Runway for advanced editing Music: Suno for creating original tracks Photo: Photoroom or Pixelcut for professional editing Voice: ElevenLabs for high-quality speech synthesis

For developers

Code assistance: Phind or Blackbox AI Documentation: ChatPDF for analyzing technical documents General assistant: Claude for technical tasks

Conclusions: The World of AI Applications Is Developing Rapidly

The world of artificial intelligence applications is developing rapidly. In the past two years, neural networks have stopped being “toys for enthusiasts” and have become part of the daily lives of millions of users around the globe.

The best AI programs are not a single leader, but a list of tools for different purposes:

On the web – complex processes and long work chains with tools like ElevenLabs, Gamma, or Otter.ai.

In mobile applications – quick actions, working with photos and audio, learning, and assistants like Photoroom or Photomath.

Choose an application for your specific scenario, check the model, data policy, integrations, and pricing.

What This Means for the User

The main takeaway is simple: AI tools are becoming as familiar as search engines or office software. To get the most benefit, try different services, compare them in terms of convenience, price, and results, and then integrate them into your own workflows—be it studying, work, or creativity.

AI already helps save time, streamlines complex processes, and opens new possibilities for business and personal projects. Now is the perfect time to choose your top AI applications and start using them every day.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Applications

Which application should a beginner choose?

Start with ChatGPT or Google Gemini—these are universal assistants with intuitive interfaces. Most beginners use them as a foundation.

Are mobile AI applications safe?

Check the developer’s privacy policy. Official apps from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic protect data at a high level. Beware of fakes.

Do I need to pay for AI applications?

Many applications have free versions with limitations. Paid subscriptions provide access to faster responses and additional features. Choose based on your needs.

Which application is best for photography?

For basic editing—Photoroom or Pixelcut. For professional work—Leonardo with advanced settings.

How will the AI application market develop?

The market is becoming more specialized. Instead of universal solutions, tools for specific tasks are emerging: music (Suno), programming (Phind), learning (Photomath). Competition will grow.

Why has the growth of new applications slowed down?

Due to stricter app store policies that remove ChatGPT copies. The market is shifting from quantity to quality. Instead of just more innovations, there are deeper improvements to existing solutions.