Brandwave

Budget Direct vs Youi:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Budget Direct had more branded searches than Youi among car insurance brands in Australia. Budget Direct had about 368,000 branded searches, while Youi had 90,500. Budget Direct made up 40.1% of all car insurance brand searches we track, and Youi accounted for 9.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car insurance brands, Budget Direct and Youi each appeared in four of the five answers. Budget Direct was mentioned before Youi in three out of four answers.

Among car insurance brands in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Budget Direct, about 4 searches for every 1 for Youi

Budget Direct 368K searchesYoui 90.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Budget Direct in 4 of 5Youi in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Budget Direct, named ahead of Youi in 3 of 4 answers

Budget Direct first in 3Youi first in 1

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Top car insurance brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Budget Direct and Youi were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Budget Direct was listed before Youi in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Budget Direct1st
  2. AAMI2nd
  3. Youi3rd
  4. NRMA Insurance4th
  5. ROLLiN'5th
  6. Bingle6th
  7. RACV7th
  8. Allianz8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Budget Direct4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Youi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • AAMI3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • NRMA Insurance3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bingle3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • ROLLiN'2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Allianz1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • RACV1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about car insurance brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.

Is Budget Direct or Youi more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Budget Direct and Youi by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight car insurance brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Budget Direct and Youi among car insurance brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Budget Direct, Youi. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBudget DirectAAMINRMA InsuranceYouiAllianzBingleRACVROLLiN'
Oct 202538.4%25.7%14.1%11.5%4.2%3.5%1.5%1.1%
Nov 202537.2%24.9%16.7%11.1%4.1%3.3%1.5%1.1%
Dec 202536.4%24.3%16.3%10.9%4.9%4%1.8%1.3%
Jan 202638.9%26%11.6%11.6%5.2%3.5%1.9%1.2%
Feb 202640.7%27.2%10%10%5.5%3.7%1.6%1.3%
Mar 202638.7%25.9%11.6%11.6%5.2%4.3%1.6%1.2%
Apr 202643.3%23.6%10.6%10.6%4.8%3.9%1.7%1.4%
May 202641%27.4%10.1%10.1%4.5%3.7%1.6%1.6%
Jun 202640.7%27.2%10%10%4.5%4.5%1.6%1.6%
Jul 202641.8%27.9%10.3%8.4%4.6%3.8%1.7%1.6%
Aug 202641.8%27.9%10.3%8.4%4.6%3.8%1.7%1.6%
Sep 202640.1%26.8%9.9%9.9%6.6%3.6%1.6%1.6%

How has the Budget Direct and Youi comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Budget Direct was ahead of Youi in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget Direct’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia moved from 38.4% to 40.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 368K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Youi’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia moved from 11.5% to 9.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.

How did search popularity change for Australia car insurance brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Youi gained share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 8.4% to 9.9%.

  2. In September 2026, Budget Direct lost share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 41.8% to 40.1%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Budget Direct’s and Youi’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Budget Direct

1 branded search term

  • budget direct

Youi

1 branded search term

  • youi

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among car insurance brands

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