Why Thousands Are Canceling ChatGPT and Downloading Claude Right Now

TLDR

• Anthropic’s Claude app hit No. 1 on the U.S. Apple App Store after the Pentagon labeled Anthropic a national security supply-chain risk
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to block U.S. defense contractors from using Anthropic tools
• OpenAI struck a deal with the Pentagon hours after Anthropic was blacklisted, triggering a #CancelChatGPT movement
• Anthropic’s free users grew over 60% since January, with daily sign-ups tripling since November
• Claude topped App Store charts in the U.S., Canada, and Germany, though the trend has not yet appeared on Google Play

Anthropic’s Claude app reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. App Store on Saturday, February 28, 2026. It was the first time Claude had topped the chart, pushing OpenAI’s ChatGPT to No. 2 and Google’s Gemini to No. 4.

The rise came after a public conflict between Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked that Anthropic be labeled a supply-chain risk to national security. That label would block U.S. defense contractors from using any Anthropic technology.

The dispute started after Anthropic refused to allow its AI models to be used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. The company said it would challenge the national security classification in court.

President Trump weighed in on Friday via Truth Social, writing that Anthropic had made a “disastrous mistake” by trying to enforce its terms of service over what he called the Constitution.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei responded by saying the company hoped the Pentagon would reconsider, given the value its technology provides to the armed forces.

Hours after Anthropic was blacklisted, OpenAI announced it had reached a deal with the Department of Defense to deploy its models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the agreement included restrictions on domestic mass surveillance and required human oversight in the use of force.

The timing triggered a backlash against OpenAI. The hashtag #CancelChatGPT spread across social media, and a dedicated website, CancelChatGPT.com, was set up to help users delete their accounts.

Pop star Katy Perry posted a screenshot of Claude’s Pro subscription page on X, placing a red heart over the $20-per-month plan. Other users publicly shared their Anthropic billing confirmations alongside ChatGPT cancellation receipts.

Claude’s Growth Numbers

Anthropic said its free user count grew by over 60% since January. Daily sign-ups have tripled since November, with the company breaking sign-up records every day that week. Paying subscribers more than doubled in 2026.

Before February, Claude ranked No. 131 in the U.S. App Store on January 30. It climbed into the top 20 for most of February before reaching No. 1.

Claude also topped charts in Canada and Germany. In Switzerland it ranked second, and in Austria, ChatGPT still held the top spot. The surge has not appeared on Google Play, where Android users make up a larger share of the market.

Not Everyone Is Switching

Reactions were not uniform. Some Reddit users said the Pentagon news did not change which AI model they preferred. Others pointed out that Anthropic has its own military-adjacent partnerships.

Anthropic partnered with Palantir and Amazon Web Services in November 2024. That deal gives U.S. intelligence agencies and defense departments access to Claude models, raising questions similar to those directed at OpenAI.

OpenAI published its full Pentagon contract terms on Saturday. The agreement prohibits the AI from independently controlling autonomous weapons where human oversight is legally required. It also bans unlimited surveillance of private information belonging to U.S. citizens.

Anthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees. ChatGPT currently has over 900 million weekly users.

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