For the first time, Anthropic has more verified business customers than OpenAI, according to the latest AI Index from fintech firm Ramp. The survey, drawn from expense data across Ramp’s client base, shows that 34.4% of participating businesses are now paying for Anthropic services, edging past OpenAI at 32.3%.
How the data was gathered
The Ramp AI Index is compiled from spending patterns of more than 50,000 companies that use Ramp’s financial management platform. While the sample is not a perfect proxy for the entire enterprise AI market, its size and diversity give the findings meaningful weight. Ramp economist Ara Kharazian told TechCrunch that Anthropic had already established a lead among high-adoption sectors such as finance, technology, and professional services. The shift occurred as OpenAI’s advantage in other industries has steadily narrowed over recent months.
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A year of transformation for Anthropic
Ramp’s figures highlight a dramatic turnaround for Anthropic over the past 12 months. In May 2025, only 9% of businesses in the survey were paying for Anthropic products. That figure climbed 26 percentage points by May 2026. 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%.
Strategy behind the growth
Kharazian attributes Anthropic’s rise to a deliberate, phased strategy. The company initially focused on a highly technical customer base, refined its product to meet their specific needs, and then expanded its reach with tools like Cowork, a collaborative AI assistant. “What Anthropic did worked really well,” Kharazian said. “Start with a very technical customer base, focus on their needs, really succeed in execution and then start broadening out.”
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Broader market signals
The trend is not isolated to Ramp’s data. On OpenRouter’s leaderboard, which samples a different user population, OpenAI last ranked above Anthropic in December 2025. These independent signals reinforce the narrative that Anthropic is gaining ground in the enterprise segment, even as OpenAI continues to dominate consumer awareness and general-purpose usage.
What this means for the AI sector
Anthropic’s milestone reflects a broader maturation of the enterprise AI market. Businesses are increasingly evaluating AI vendors not just on brand recognition or hype, but on reliability, safety, and integration with existing workflows. Anthropic’s emphasis on model safety and developer-friendly tools appears to resonate with corporate buyers who prioritize control and predictability.
Kharazian expressed caution about whether Anthropic can sustain its lead, noting in a blog post that the competitive dynamics could shift quickly. However, he acknowledged that the company’s execution over the past year has proven its strategy is viable. For OpenAI, the data serves as a reminder that early mover advantage in enterprise AI is not permanent, especially as competitors refine their offerings for specific market segments.
Conclusion
Anthropic’s overtaking of OpenAI in business customer count, as measured by Ramp’s AI Index, marks a notable shift in the enterprise AI market. The data, while not comprehensive, is supported by other independent indicators and reflects a deliberate strategy of technical focus followed by broader market expansion. Whether Anthropic can hold its position remains to be seen, but the trend underscores the increasingly competitive nature of the AI industry.
FAQs
Q1: Is the Ramp AI Index representative of the entire AI market?
The index is based on expense data from more than 50,000 companies that use Ramp’s platform. While not a perfect proxy for the entire market, the sample size and diversity make it a meaningful indicator of trends among businesses actively using AI tools.
Q2: Why did Anthropic’s business customer share grow so quickly?
Anthropic focused initially on technical users in sectors like finance and tech, refined its product for their needs, and then expanded with broader tools such as Cowork. This phased approach allowed the company to build a strong foundation before scaling.
Q3: Could OpenAI regain the lead in business customers?
Yes. Kharazian noted that the competitive sector could shift quickly. OpenAI still has strong brand recognition and a broad product suite. Anthropic’s current lead may be temporary, depending on future product developments and market dynamics.
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