Gemini, Google’s AI app, has rocketed to the top of the U.S. App Store charts, overtaking rivals after the launch of its new image editing model dubbed “Nano Banana.” This feature has triggered a surge of downloads, user engagement, and revenue.
In September, Gemini saw a sharp jump: downloads rose from around 8.7 million in August to 12.6 million so far this month. The climb in popularity seemed to accelerate once Nano Banana was released, with the app breaking into the top spots of the App Store — reaching No. 2 early in the month and hitting No. 1 by September 12.
What makes Nano Banana stand out is its ability to handle more complex image edits: users report better control over changes like face consistency, style blending, and more lifelike transformations. These features have helped Gemini draw in new users who want more creative flexibility in image generation.
The financials are also moving quickly. In recent weeks, spending inside the app increased significantly, with August alone bringing in much more revenue than earlier months of the year. While overall yearly revenue is still growing, this spike tied to Nano Banana suggests the model has unlocked a stronger monetization path for Gemini.
Globally, Gemini has also seen large gains. The app is now among the top five iPhone apps in over 100 countries, and its growth on Android has been fast, though it hasn’t quite passed some long-established competitors there yet.
