LLM Statistics 2026: Where 800 Million Users Are Searching Instead of Google
For two decades, "getting found online" meant one thing: ranking on Google. That's changing fast.
The State of LLM Usage in 2026
ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly active users. Perplexity processes 780 million queries a month. Google's own AI Overviews appear on more than a quarter of all searches. Meanwhile, 69% of Google searches end without a single click to any website.
The shift isn't coming — it's here. And the brands paying attention are already adapting.
This article breaks down the latest LLM usage statistics, how search behaviour is evolving, and what it means for businesses that want to stay visible in 2026.
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude: Who's Winning
ChatGPT remains the dominant player by a wide margin. According to DemandSage, the platform reached 800 million weekly active users by late 2025 — double the 400 million it had in February of that year. Daily, it processes over 2 billion queries and has crossed $10 billion in annual recurring revenue.
The scale is staggering: 92% of Fortune 100 companies now use ChatGPT in some capacity.
Google Gemini has emerged as the clear second-place contender. SQ Magazine reports that Gemini hit 400 million monthly active users by May 2025 — a fourfold increase from October 2024. Its tight integration with Google Search, YouTube, and Workspace has driven rapid adoption, with Gemini now powering 27% of assisted-query interactions within Google Search itself.
Claude (Anthropic) has carved out a strong position in enterprise and professional use. According to SQ Magazine's Claude analysis, Claude holds 21% of global LLM usage and has grown its enterprise AI assistant market share from 18% in 2024 to 29% in 2025. It's particularly strong in regulated industries — healthcare adoption jumped 61%, and 41% of university-affiliated AI applications run on Claude.
Perplexity is the fastest-growing AI search platform. Index.dev reports it processed 780 million queries in May 2025, up from 230 million in mid-2024 — more than tripling in under a year. With an 85% user return rate and average sessions lasting 23 minutes, engagement runs deep.
DeepSeek, the Chinese-made model, made waves in early 2025. AllOutSEO data shows it hit 33.7 million monthly active users and saw a 2,800% spike in unique visitors during a single week in January 2025. While its momentum has since cooled, it demonstrated that competition can emerge from anywhere.