How popular isAP News?
In September 2026, people searched for AP News by name about 1.2 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 12.8% of all global news app searches, placing AP News second out of eight apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about news apps, AP News appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.
AP News is the second most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.
Google NewsShare of searches 78.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
AP NewsShare of searches 12.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
NewsBreakShare of searches 3.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
Apple NewsShare of searches 2.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Ground NewsShare of searches 2.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top news apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AP News appeared in all five answers. AP News is the second most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Google News1st
- AP News2nd
- Ground News3rd
- Apple News4th
- NewsBreak5th
Flipboard6th
Feedly7th
SmartNews–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google News5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- AP News5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ground News5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple News4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- NewsBreak2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Feedly1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Flipboard1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- SmartNews0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about news apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which news app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best news apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best news app for daily headlines?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“news apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“breaking news app”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Which news apps compete with AP News?
Share of searches by month for Google News, AP News, NewsBreak, Apple News, Ground News. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google News | AP News | NewsBreak | Apple News | Ground News | SmartNews | Feedly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 80.6% | 10.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 3.2% | 0.36% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 81.3% | 10.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.36% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 83.6% | 9.1% | 3.4% | 1.2% | 2.3% | 0.37% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 78.7% | 12.9% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 0.35% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 81.8% | 10.9% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.36% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 78.8% | 13% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 0.29% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 77.6% | 15.5% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 0.34% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 79.4% | 13% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 0.35% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 82.3% | 11% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.3% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 79.4% | 13% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 0.35% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 79.2% | 12.9% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 0.35% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 78.5% | 12.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.35% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 78.5% | 7.5M | 0% | -0.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 12.8% | 1.2M | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 3.2% | 301K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 2.6% | 246K | +49.1% | +0.8 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 2.6% | 246K | 0% | 0 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 0.35% | 33.1K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.02% | 1.9K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.01% | 1.3K | +80.6% | 0 points |
78.5%
Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.
2.
AP News12.8%
Held 2nd. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
3.2%
Held 3rd. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
2.6%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 246K estimated branded searches, +49.1% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
2.6%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.35%
Held 6th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
7.
Feedly0.02%
Held 7th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.01%
Held 8th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, +80.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between AP News and its closest rivals
Every comparison with AP News
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for AP News changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for AP News worldwide held steady at 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AP News’ share of searches among news apps worldwide increased from 10.8% to 12.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AP News’ share of searches among news apps worldwide peaked at 15.5% in April 2026 and was lowest at 9.1% in December 2025.
How did search popularity change for news apps worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Apple News overtook Ground News to rank 4th among news apps worldwide, with 2.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Google News lost share of searches among news apps worldwide, from 79.2% to 78.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Feedly worldwide rose 46.2% over 12 measured months, from 1.3K to 1.9K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Flipboard worldwide rose 30% over 12 measured months, from 1K to 1.3K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Ground News worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 246K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SmartNews worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 33.1K in September 2026.
How are AP News’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AP News’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- ap news
Who owns AP News?
AP News is owned by Associated Press. Brandwave does not track any other brands owned by Associated Press.
Do you work for AP News? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Is AP News your brand?
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