Brandwave

How popular isBrave Search?

In September 2026, people searched for Brave Search by name about 4.1 million times worldwide, a 49.3% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 22.5% of all global AI search engine searches, placing Brave Search second out of six engines. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI search engines, Brave Search appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Brave Search is the second most searched of 6 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PerplexityShare of searches 74%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Brave SearchShare of searches 22.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. You.comShare of searches 1.7%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. KomoShare of searches 0.92%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. AndiShare of searches 0.81%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top AI search engines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Brave Search appeared in all five answers. Brave Search is the second most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Perplexity1st
  2. Brave Search2nd
  3. You.com3rd
  4. Komo–
  5. Andi–
  6. Phind–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Perplexity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Brave Search5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • You.com1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Komo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Andi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Phind0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI search engines

5 answers

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 AI search engines compete with Brave Search?

Brave Search against AI search engines worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Perplexity, Brave Search. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPerplexityBrave SearchYou.comKomoAndiPhind
Oct 202591.4%6.6%0.89%0.51%0.47%0.12%
Nov 202589.1%8.3%1.4%0.63%0.49%0.15%
Dec 202585.3%11.2%1.8%0.84%0.64%0.14%
Jan 202684.3%12.6%1.4%0.95%0.74%0.1%
Feb 202684.7%12.7%1.1%0.79%0.59%0.08%
Mar 202682.6%14.4%1.3%0.88%0.65%0.1%
Apr 202682.7%14.5%1.3%0.73%0.65%0.08%
May 202679.5%17.1%1.5%1%0.76%0.08%
Jun 202676.3%20%1.8%1%0.89%0.07%
Jul 202676.9%19%2.1%1.2%0.85%0.07%
Aug 202673.4%22.2%2%1.3%0.98%0.07%
Sep 202674%22.5%1.7%0.92%0.81%0.05%

  1. 1.Perplexity

    74%

    Held 1st. 13.4M estimated branded searches, +21.3% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.Brave Search

    22.5%

    Held 2nd. 4.1M estimated branded searches, +22.1% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  3. 3.You.com

    1.7%

    Held 3rd. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  4. 4.Komo

    0.92%

    Held 4th. 167K estimated branded searches, -17.6% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  5. 5.Andi

    0.81%

    Held 5th. 147K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Phind

    0.05%

    Held 6th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Brave Search and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Brave Search

16 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Brave Search changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Brave Search worldwide rose from 2.7M to 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brave Search’s share of searches among AI search engines worldwide increased from 6.6% to 22.5%.

How did search popularity change for AI search engines worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Perplexity gained share of searches among AI search engines worldwide, from 73.4% to 74%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Brave Search worldwide rose 49.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 4.1M in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Phind worldwide fell 80% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 9.9K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Andi worldwide fell 23.4% over 12 measured months, from 192K to 147K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Komo worldwide fell 20.2% over 12 measured months, from 209K to 167K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for You.com worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026.

How are Brave Search’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Brave Search’s 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.

  • brave search

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Brave Search?

Brave Search is owned by Brave. Brandwave also tracks Brave and Brave Search API, owned by the same company, worldwide.

Do you work for Brave Search? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Where does Brave Search compete?

Brave Search is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Search engines5th of 130.73%Show ranking
AI search engines2nd of 622.5%Shown above
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Is Brave Search your brand?

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