AI Breakout: October 2025
The top five AI apps hold their places in October, while LM Studio enters the ranking at #9.
Updated October 7, 2026 · Changelog
#1ChatGPT holds the top spot
+2ClickUp, the biggest climberSource: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published October 1, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 20 apps in this report.
What kinds of apps
Every edition, by theme →Share of the 20 apps in this edition, by theme. Each app has one theme, assigned by Torii Research from what the product does; AI marks the AI themes. Select a theme to filter the list below. How themes work.
Top of the index
Ranked by usage among AI apps. Rank change compares with the previous published edition.
All 20 apps
These are the top AI apps from the period of September 1 to 30, 2025.
Productivity
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. It uses natural language processing to understand…
About ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. It uses natural language processing to understand and generate human-like text, enabling it to answer questions, write various creative content, and engage in conversations. It's widely used for information retrieval, content creation, and interactive communication.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Productivity
Claude AI
Claude AI is a large language model developed by Anthropic, designed to be helpful, harmless,…
About Claude AI
Claude AI is a large language model developed by Anthropic, designed to be helpful, harmless, and honest. It's known for its strong conversational abilities, advanced reasoning skills, and adherence to ethical guidelines, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks from content generation to complex problem-solving.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Productivity
Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps users improve their writing. It checks…
About Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps users improve their writing. It checks for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery errors, offering real-time suggestions to enhance text quality across various platforms and applications.
Theme: AI content and media · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Developer Tools
Cursor AI
Cursor AI is an AI-powered code editor designed to help developers write, edit, and debug code…
About Cursor AI
Cursor AI is an AI-powered code editor designed to help developers write, edit, and debug code more efficiently. It integrates AI directly into the coding workflow, offering features like code generation, error fixing, and intelligent suggestions to accelerate development and improve code quality.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Productivity
OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that aims to ensure artificial general…
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that aims to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. They develop powerful AI models like GPT-4 for natural language processing and DALL-E for image generation, pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
IT & Security
Zapier
Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your favorite apps, like Gmail, Slack, and…
About Zapier
Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your favorite apps, like Gmail, Slack, and Mailchimp. It allows you to automate repetitive tasks and workflows without writing any code. You can create Zaps, which are automated workflows that link two or more apps.
Theme: Ops, HR, and finance
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Analytics & BI
Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that provides direct answers to user queries by…
About Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that provides direct answers to user queries by synthesizing information from various sources on the web, rather than just listing links. It aims to offer comprehensive, cited responses, acting as a conversational answer engine.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Developer Tools
Google AI Studio
Google AI Studio is a free, web-based development environment that helps developers quickly…
About Google AI Studio
Google AI Studio is a free, web-based development environment that helps developers quickly prototype and build AI applications using Google's generative AI models. It offers a user-friendly interface for prompt engineering, model tuning, and data management, streamlining the development process.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Developer Tools
LM Studio
LM Studio is a desktop application that simplifies the process of running large language models…
About LM Studio
LM Studio is a desktop application that simplifies the process of running large language models (LLMs) locally on your computer. It provides a user-friendly interface to download, manage, and interact with various open-source LLMs, allowing for offline experimentation and development without relying on cloud services.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
NotebookLM
NotebookLM is an AI-powered research assistant that helps you organize, summarize, and…
About NotebookLM
NotebookLM is an AI-powered research assistant that helps you organize, summarize, and understand your notes and documents. It can generate summaries, outlines, and questions based on your uploaded content, making it easier to synthesize information and develop new ideas.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Developer Tools
Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps developers write, debug, and…
About Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps developers write, debug, and understand code more efficiently. It offers features like intelligent code completion, error detection, and suggestions, streamlining the development process for enhanced productivity and improved code quality across various programming languages.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: ISO 27001
Project Management
ClickUp
ClickUp is a versatile project management tool designed to streamline workflows, enhance team…
About ClickUp
ClickUp is a versatile project management tool designed to streamline workflows, enhance team collaboration, and boost productivity. It offers customizable features like task management, goal tracking, and real-time reporting, making it suitable for various teams and industries seeking an all-in-one workspace solution.
Theme: Work suites and collaboration
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Productivity
Granola
Granola is an AI-powered meeting notepad that transcribes meetings and audio, automatically…
About Granola
Granola is an AI-powered meeting notepad that transcribes meetings and audio, automatically summarizes discussions, and enhances manual notes, helping professionals capture, organize, and share actionable insights without intrusive meeting bots.
Theme: AI notes and voice · AI-native
Vendor claims: GDPR
Operations
n8n
n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that helps you connect various apps and services to…
About n8n
n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that helps you connect various apps and services to automate tasks without coding. It's a free and open-source solution that allows you to build complex workflows, integrate APIs, and automate data transfers across different platforms, streamlining your operations efficiently.
Theme: AI agents · AI-native
Vendor claims: GDPR
Sales & Marketing
Fireflies.ai
Fireflies.ai is an AI notetaker that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes voice conversations.…
About Fireflies.ai
Fireflies.ai is an AI notetaker that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes voice conversations. It integrates with popular conferencing platforms and CRMs to automate meeting notes, identify key themes, and help teams improve productivity by easily sharing and accessing conversation insights.
Theme: AI notes and voice · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Productivity
Grok
Grok is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk. Designed to be humorous…
About Grok
Grok is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk. Designed to be humorous and rebellious, Grok can access real-time information through its integration with X (formerly Twitter). It aims to answer almost any question and even suggest questions for users to ask.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: GDPR
Productivity
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance productivity across various…
About Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance productivity across various Microsoft 365 applications. It helps users draft documents, summarize emails, generate presentations, and analyze data, streamlining workflows and freeing up time for more strategic tasks by leveraging natural language understanding.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Operations
ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs is a leading AI voice technology company offering realistic text-to-speech and voice…
About ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs is a leading AI voice technology company offering realistic text-to-speech and voice cloning. It enables creators, developers, and businesses to generate natural-sounding audio in various voices and languages, enhancing content accessibility and engagement across multiple platforms.
Theme: AI content and media · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
IT & Security
Anthropic
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that develops large language models like Claude.…
About Anthropic
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that develops large language models like Claude. It focuses on building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems to ensure beneficial and safe applications of artificial intelligence.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Productivity
Notion Mail
Notion Mail is an email client designed to integrate seamlessly with Notion workspaces. It…
About Notion Mail
Notion Mail is an email client designed to integrate seamlessly with Notion workspaces. It allows users to manage their emails, turn emails into Notion pages, and link conversations directly to projects and tasks within Notion, streamlining workflows and reducing context switching.
Theme: Personal productivity · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Source: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published October 1, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 20 apps in this report.
What the data says
ChatGPT, Claude AI, Grammarly, Cursor AI, and OpenAI keep the same order as in September.
Three apps join the ranking: LM Studio at #9, Microsoft Copilot at #17, and Anthropic at #19.
Fireflies.ai, Grok, and Notion Mail each fall 3 places. The median Shadow IT index is 54.
Based on anonymized, aggregated usage data from September 1 to 30, 2025.
Bottom line
October's ranking is stable at the top, with the first five apps unchanged. The movement is further down, where LM Studio, Microsoft Copilot, and Anthropic join the list.
The data
Show the full data table (20 rows)
| Rank | App | Category | Theme | AI-native | Rank change | Shadow IT index | SOC 2 claimed | ISO 27001 claimed | GDPR claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChatGPT | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | Same | 31 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Claude AI | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | Same | 54 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3 | Grammarly | Productivity | AI content and media | Yes | Same | 37 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Cursor AI | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | Same | 35 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 5 | OpenAI | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | Same | 37 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Zapier | IT & Security | Ops, HR, and finance | No | Same | 37 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 7 | Perplexity AI | Analytics & BI | AI assistants | Yes | Same | 62 | No | No | No |
| 8 | Google AI Studio | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | +1 | 62 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | LM Studio | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | New | 75 | No | No | No |
| 10 | NotebookLM | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | -2 | 41 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Gemini Code Assist | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | -1 | 62 | No | Yes | No |
| 12 | ClickUp | Project Management | Work suites and collaboration | No | +2 | 48 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Granola | Productivity | AI notes and voice | Yes | -2 | 60 | No | No | Yes |
| 14 | n8n | Operations | AI agents | Yes | +1 | 47 | No | No | Yes |
| 15 | Fireflies.ai | Sales & Marketing | AI notes and voice | Yes | -3 | 60 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 16 | Grok | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | -3 | 66 | No | No | Yes |
| 17 | Microsoft Copilot | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | New | 54 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | ElevenLabs | Operations | AI content and media | Yes | +2 | 55 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 19 | Anthropic | IT & Security | AI assistants | Yes | New | 48 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Notion Mail | Productivity | Personal productivity | Yes | -3 | 60 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free to quote with attribution to Torii Research and a link to this page. A plain-text version is at ai-breakout-october-2025.md.
How to read this index
- Rank
- Position by real usage among AI-driven apps in this edition.
- Rank change
- Places gained or lost versus the previous published edition. New marks an app that was not in that edition.
- Shadow IT index
- How often the app is left unsanctioned, 0 to 100.
Definitions in the glossary; formulas and limitations on the Methodology page.
Changelog
- CorrectionReplaced a conclusion copied from the September edition.
- ClarificationStandardized the data source description.
- UpdateAdded takeaways from this edition's data.
- UpdateMoved from toriiresearch.com; title standardized.
