Peter Smith
⬤ New traffic data from Similarweb maps out how major generative AI platforms stack up on user retention. The report covers worldwide web traffic in February 2026 and tracks the split between returning and new visitors across ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude, DeepSeek, and Perplexity. The figures offer a clear window into which platforms have built loyal, habitual audiences and which are still in active growth mode.
⬤ ChatGPT.com posted the strongest retention numbers by a wide margin, with 82.86% of its visitors being returning users and only 17.14% arriving for the first time. Gemini came in second at 68.34% returning visitors, followed closely by Perplexity.ai at 66.31%. These three platforms share a common trait: users have incorporated them into regular routines, whether for research, writing, or daily productivity tasks. ChatGPT holds 61.7% of GenAI traffic as Gemini nears 25% share offers broader context on the traffic distribution across the sector.
⬤ The remaining platforms tell a different story. Grok.com recorded 57.17% returning users, DeepSeek.com reached 59.05%, and Claude.ai had the narrowest gap of all with 53.04% returning versus 46.96% new visitors. This relatively even split suggests Claude is attracting a significant share of first-time experimenters, which may reflect the still-expanding audience for AI tools. User behavior patterns across platforms are explored in depth in ChatGPT holds 68% user exclusivity as Claude and Grok lead cross-browsing in Gen AI.
⬤ The retention gap between ChatGPT and its competitors underscores how uneven platform maturity is across the generative AI space. As new capabilities roll out - from image generation to reasoning models - the competitive dynamics are shifting fast. Developments like Grok Imagine Video hitting #1 on the Arena Image-to-Video leaderboard with 49,000 votes show how quickly individual platforms can capture user attention, making today's retention figures a moving target rather than a settled picture.
Peter Smith
