Anthropic overtakes OpenAI in business customers, Ramp data shows

For the first time, Anthropic has more verified business customers than OpenAI, according to the latest AI Index from fintech firm Ramp. The data, drawn from expense reports across more than 50,000 companies, shows 34.4% of participating businesses are now paying for Anthropic services, while 32.3% pay for OpenAI. This marks a significant shift in the enterprise AI landscape.

Ramp data reveals a changing of the guard

Ramp’s AI Index, compiled from its clients’ spending data, provides a unique window into real-world business adoption of AI tools. The report indicates that Anthropic’s lead is driven by strong performance in high-adoption sectors such as finance, technology, and professional services. “Anthropic has already been in the lead amongst the high adoption groups,” Ramp economist Ara Kharazian told Bitcoin World. “It’s across the other firms where OpenAI still has a lead, but that has been shrinking over the past couple of months.”

While the index is not a perfect proxy for the entire market, the sample size of over 50,000 companies makes it a broadly representative and significant indicator. The trend is also visible on other platforms, such as OpenRouter’s leaderboard, where OpenAI last ranked above Anthropic in December 2025.

A year of transformation for Anthropic

The past 12 months have been particularly transformative for Anthropic. In May 2025, only 9% of businesses in Ramp’s sample were paying for Anthropic products. That figure has since climbed to 34.4%—a 26 percentage point increase. Over the same period, OpenAI’s share declined by 1%, while the overall share of businesses using some form of AI product increased by 9%.

Kharazian attributes Anthropic’s success to a deliberate and well-executed strategy. “What Anthropic did worked really well,” he explained, “which was—start with a very technical customer base, focus on their needs, really succeed in execution and then start broadening out through tools like Cowork.” This approach allowed Anthropic to build a strong foundation with demanding users before expanding into broader enterprise applications.

What this means for the AI market

Anthropic’s rise signals a maturing enterprise AI market where specialized performance and reliability can outweigh brand recognition. OpenAI, long seen as the default choice, now faces real competitive pressure. Kharazian remains cautious about whether Anthropic can sustain its lead, noting in a blog post that the market is still highly dynamic. However, the past year’s data is a clear validation of Anthropic’s product-focused strategy.

For businesses evaluating AI vendors, the shift underscores the importance of choosing tools that align with specific technical and operational needs. The data suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer sufficient, and that the market is rewarding providers who demonstrate clear execution in targeted segments.

Conclusion

Ramp’s latest AI Index provides compelling evidence that Anthropic has overtaken OpenAI in business customer adoption, driven by a focused strategy on technical users and consistent execution. While the broader market remains fluid, the trend reflects a significant realignment in enterprise AI preferences. As the competition intensifies, the winners will likely be those who continue to deliver tangible value to specific user groups.

FAQs

Q1: What is the Ramp AI Index?
The Ramp AI Index is a report based on expense data from Ramp’s business clients, tracking which AI services companies are paying for. It includes data from over 50,000 companies and is updated monthly.

Q2: Does this mean Anthropic is now the overall market leader in AI?
No. The Ramp data only covers business customers using Ramp’s platform. It does not include consumer usage, enterprise deals outside Ramp’s network, or other segments like developers. It is a strong indicator of a trend, not a complete market picture.

Q3: Why is this shift significant?
It is the first time Anthropic has held the top position in business customer adoption in Ramp’s data. It suggests that Anthropic’s strategy of focusing on technical users and reliable execution is paying off, and that the enterprise AI market is becoming more competitive.