Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has moved up to third place among the world’s most-visited generative AI platforms, overtaking rival DeepSeek on web traffic measures, according to new data from digital analytics firm Similarweb.
As first reported by Forbes, Similarweb estimates Grok recorded roughly 314 million web visits in January 2026, compared with about 298 million for DeepSeek. That shift pushes Grok into the No. 3 spot globally, behind OpenAI (Unlisted:OPAI)’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
The figures reflect traffic to chatbot websites rather than usage through mobile apps, APIs or third-party integrations. Even so, they offer a useful snapshot of where users are deliberately going to access AI tools — and how competitive the field has become.
A reshuffle below the leaders
ChatGPT continues to dominate the category by a wide margin, accounting for the majority of tracked global visits. Gemini holds second place, with a substantially smaller but still significant share.
Grok’s climb appears to be driven as much by softness at DeepSeek as by its own growth. Similarweb’s data suggests DeepSeek’s web visits declined month-on-month, opening the door for Grok to move ahead. In percentage terms, however, Grok still represents only a small slice of overall global chatbot traffic compared with the top two platforms.
That context matters. While the third-place ranking is symbolically significant, the generative AI market remains heavily concentrated among a handful of players with deep distribution advantages and entrenched user bases.
From niche experiment to mainstream contender
Launched by Musk’s xAI and initially available through the X social platform, Grok was positioned early on as a more irreverent alternative to mainstream assistants. Over time it has expanded access through standalone apps and web interfaces, increasing its visibility beyond X subscribers.
Its rise in traffic rankings does not necessarily reflect universal approval. Grok has faced repeated criticism over content moderation and safety standards. One of the most prominent controversies involved the generation of non-consensual nude images using AI tools — part of a broader debate about guardrails and responsible deployment across the industry. Critics have also raised concerns about political bias and the bot’s tendency towards provocative or unfiltered responses.
Those issues underscore a broader tension in the chatbot market: balancing differentiation and personality with reliability and safety.
What the traffic data does — and doesn’t — show
It is important to note that Similarweb’s rankings track direct visits to chatbot domains. They do not fully capture usage through embedded integrations, enterprise deployments or app-based access — areas where companies such as OpenAI and Google have significant reach.
Even so, web traffic remains a meaningful proxy for consumer awareness and intentional usage. In that sense, Grok’s move into third place signals that it has achieved sustained engagement at scale, rather than relying solely on novelty.
At the same time, the distance between first and third remains vast. ChatGPT continues to command a dominant share of global chatbot visits, and Gemini has leveraged Google’s distribution ecosystem to cement second place.
A crowded and shifting field
The broader generative AI market is evolving quickly. New entrants continue to emerge, and incumbents are rolling out upgraded models, enterprise tools and multimodal features in rapid succession. Traffic rankings can change month to month as users experiment, migrate or respond to new product launches.
Grok’s rise into the top three reflects that dynamism — but it does not signal a fundamental shift in market leadership. Instead, it highlights the fluid competition beneath the dominant platforms and the ongoing contest for user attention.
As AI chatbots become more deeply embedded in search, productivity software and social media platforms, web traffic will represent just one piece of the puzzle. For now, though, Similarweb’s latest data shows that the battle at the top has a new occupant — and that the generative AI hierarchy remains very much in motion.