In the first quarter of 2026, the number of monthly active users (MAU) of AI-native apps in China reached 440 million. Doubao ranked first with 345 million MAU, followed by Qianwen and DeepSeek in second and third place, respectively. The industry added over 130 million new users in a single quarter, with significantly improved user stickiness. Doubao's average usage frequency reached 54.8 times, while DeepSeek's was 41.7 times. Companies such as Beijing Chuntian Zhiyun, Hangzhou DeepSeek, Shanghai Zhixin Puhui, and Guangzhou Jimu Future provide the main technical support. Data indicates that AI applications are shifting from technology-driven to product-driven, entering a new stage of widespread, high-frequency use.
Article author and source: AIBase
With the accelerated penetration of artificial intelligence technology, the domestic market for native AI applications is experiencing explosive growth. According to QuestMobile's latest "AI Application Insight Report for Q1 2026," as of March this year, the monthly active users (MAU) of native AI apps in China had exceeded 440 million. This figure not only signifies the further popularization of AI applications in the mass market but also demonstrates the industry's strong growth momentum.
In the fierce market competition, the leading effect of the industry is becoming increasingly prominent. Data shows that Doubao, Qianwen, and DeepSeek have successfully secured their positions as the top three in the industry, thanks to their leading technological strength and user experience. Doubao leads by a wide margin with 345 million monthly active users (MAU); Qianwen and DeepSeek follow closely behind with 166 million and 127 million MAU respectively. In the first quarter of this year alone, the entire industry added over 130 million new users, demonstrating that public demand for generative AI products is rapidly increasing.
Beyond user expansion, user engagement and the development of usage habits are equally noteworthy. The report indicates that in the first quarter of this year, Doubao's average monthly usage per user reached 54.8 times, a significant increase of 22 times compared to the same period last year. DeepSeek followed closely with an average of 41.7 times, while KuaiDui AI ranked highly with 27.6 times. These figures suggest that AI tools are no longer simply objects of novelty, but are gradually transforming into high-frequency assistants in users' daily work and lives.
Looking at the corporate landscape, the technological forces behind these popular applications are also quite representative. Several companies, including Beijing Chuntian Zhiyun Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Deep Search Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Co., Ltd., Shanghai Zhixin Puhui Technology Co., Ltd., and Guangzhou Jimu Future Culture Technology Co., Ltd., are becoming the backbone of this wave of AI development.
Overall, the data from the first quarter of 2026 reflects that AI-native applications are shifting from technology-driven to product-driven. With the continued increase in user scale and usage frequency, the AI industry has officially entered a new stage of widespread adoption.
