As competition between social media platforms has become hotter than ever, Meta-owned Threads has overtaken Elon Musk’s microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) in daily mobile usage.
The incredible daily growth in Threads users has been highlighted by a report from business intelligence company Similarweb.
Although X is still the leader on the web, the Threads mobile app for iOS and Android has seen a steady increase in daily active users over the past few months.
As of January 7, 2026, the data issued by Similar website showed that Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on mobile, while X had 125 million.
This surprising increase in Threads’ user base is believed to come from long-term trends rather than a direct reaction to recent controversies surrounding X.
X users were recently discovered using the platform’s built-in AI chatbot, Grok, to create non-consensual nude images, including those of minors.
This inappropriate incident led the California Attorney General to open an investigation into Grok, following similar investigations from regions including the UK, EU, India and Brazil.
The unrest at X has also contributed to the rise of social media startup Bluesky, whose app installs recently saw a substantial increase.
On the other hand, Threads’ growth has been attributed to cross-promotions from Meta’s biggest platforms like Facebook and Instagram, a focus on creators, and the rapid introduction of new features.
Over the past year, Threads has added interest-based communities, improved filters, direct messaging, long text, disappearing messages, and is currently testing games.
By August 2025, Meta claimed that Threads had reached over 400 million monthly active users, reporting 150 million daily active users in October.
While X enjoys higher popularity in the US, the difference is narrowing, meaning Threads’ mobile experience is more aligned with user habits.
