Carefree vs Cottons:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Carefree had more branded searches than Cottons among period care brands in Australia. Carefree had about 880 branded searches, while Cottons had 480. Carefree made up 1.5% of all period care brand searches we track, and Cottons accounted for 0.79%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about period care brands, Carefree and Cottons each appeared in one of the five answers. Carefree and Cottons were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Carefree, about 83% more searches than Cottons
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top period care brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Carefree was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Cottons was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Carefree and Cottons were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Modibodi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
TOM Organic3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Libra2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
U by Kotex2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Bonds2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Carefree1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Always1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Cottons1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Tsuno1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Stayfree0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about period care brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best pads and tampons in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which period underwear brand is best in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best organic tampon brands?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“period underwear”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“tampons”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is Carefree or Cottons more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Carefree and Cottons by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 period care brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Carefree, Cottons. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Modibodi | Libra | U by Kotex | Bonds | Stayfree | TOM Organic | Moxie | Carefree | Always | Cottons | Tsuno | Thinx |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.4% | 24.2% | 8% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 0.79% | 1.2% | 5.9% | 0.52% | 0.34% | 0.43% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.8% | 17.6% | 7.1% | 6.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.7% | 0.86% | 2.3% | 0.46% | 0.25% | 0.38% |
| Dec 2025 | 50.9% | 22.7% | 8.6% | 6.8% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 0.21% | 0.49% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.8% | 19.7% | 8% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 0.96% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.63% | 0.28% | 0.52% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.7% | 24.9% | 9.5% | 7.4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 0.99% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.8% | 0.35% | 0.43% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.1% | 30.3% | 10% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.8% | 0.35% | 0.43% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.4% | 25.6% | 12.7% | 7.6% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 0.83% | 0.36% | 0.45% |
| May 2026 | 34.2% | 28% | 13.8% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 3.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 0.74% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 38.3% | 25.5% | 12.6% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.83% | 0.29% | 0.36% |
| Jul 2026 | 29.3% | 35.9% | 12.6% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.78% | 0.27% | 0.27% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.3% | 29.6% | 11.1% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.96% | 0.23% | 0.34% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.7% | 29.9% | 11.2% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.79% | 0.35% | 0.28% |
How has the Carefree and Cottons comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Carefree was ahead of Cottons in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Carefree’s share of searches among period care brands in Australia moved from 1.2% to 1.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 720 to 880.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cottons’ share of searches among period care brands in Australia moved from 0.52% to 0.79%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 480.
How did search popularity change for Australia period care brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Carefree rose from 9th to 8th among period care brands in Australia.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Cottons in Australia rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 480 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Carefree’s and Cottons’ 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.
Other head-to-heads among period care brands
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