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Anthropic Outspends OpenAI in Three U.S. States as a16z Maps Consumer AI Payments

October 6, 2026 at 14:19 EDT

Foundation Models
Sales & Business

Anthropic users are spending more than OpenAI users in only three U.S. states: California, Montana, and Massachusetts, according to a new consumer AI spending analysis from Andreessen Horowitz. The finding underscores how Claude has built pockets of unusually strong paid adoption even as ChatGPT remains the broader U.S. consumer leader.

Oct. 2026 · Consumer AI spending

Claude wins three states on spend

California, Montana, and Massachusetts are the only U.S. states where Anthropic users outspend OpenAI users, even as ChatGPT keeps the broader subscriber and traffic lead.

states where Anthropic spending leads

more ChatGPT paid subscribers than Claude or Gemini

4.5%

paid for ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude

Subscriber scale still favors ChatGPT

Claude or Gemini

ChatGPT

The state-level spending exceptions sit inside a national market where ChatGPT remains larger by paid subscribers.

Why Claude over-indexes

Developers and prosumers use Claude for coding, technical automation, writing, and other work-heavy tasks.

What limits the read

The spending data is panel-based, U.S.-only, and does not represent total company revenue.

The market is splitting

OpenAI leads in broad reach, while Anthropic is converting a smaller, more intensive user base in specific states and professional workflows.

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