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 0.73% of all global search engine searches, placing Brave Search fifth out of 13 engines. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about search engines, Brave Search appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the 13.
Brave Search is the fifth most searched of 13 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.
GoogleShare of searches 81.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
DuckDuckGoShare of searches 12.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
BingShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
PerplexityShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
Brave SearchShare of searches 0.73%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top search engines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Brave Search was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Brave Search is the fifth most recommended of the 13.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Google1st
- DuckDuckGo2nd
- Bing3rd
Algolia4th- Brave Search5th
Elastic6th- Perplexity7th
Meilisearch8th
Typesense9th
Ecosia10th- +3 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bing4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- DuckDuckGo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Perplexity3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Brave Search3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Ecosia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Algolia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Elastic2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Meilisearch1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Solr1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about search engines
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which search engine should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best search engines?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best search engine for site search?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best search engine”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“site search engine”
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 search engines compete with Brave Search?
Share of searches by month for Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, Perplexity, Brave Search. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | DuckDuckGo | Bing | Perplexity | Brave Search | Yahoo | Ecosia | OpenSearch | Algolia | Meilisearch | Solr | Typesense | Elastic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 80.6% | 9.8% | 2.4% | 6.5% | 0.48% | 0.18% | 0.08% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.2% | 8.2% | 2.5% | 5.3% | 0.5% | 0.18% | 0.08% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 84.3% | 8.5% | 2.5% | 3.9% | 0.51% | 0.19% | 0.08% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 84.6% | 8.5% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 0.51% | 0.19% | 0.19% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 82.5% | 9.8% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 0.59% | 0.18% | 0.14% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 83.1% | 10.1% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 0.61% | 0.18% | 0.15% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 84.7% | 8.4% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 0.62% | 0.18% | 0.12% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 83.4% | 10.3% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 0.62% | 0.18% | 0.12% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 83.6% | 10.5% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 0.63% | 0.19% | 0.13% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 83.8% | 10.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.52% | 0.19% | 0.11% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 83.8% | 10.5% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.63% | 0.23% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 81.9% | 12.1% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.73% | 0.27% | 0.18% | 0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 81.9% | 460M | +3.4% | -2 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 12.1% | 68M | +22.3% | +1.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 2.4% | 13.6M | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 2.4% | 13.4M | +21.4% | +0.3 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.73% | 4.1M | +22.1% | +0.1 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 0.27% | 1.5M | +23% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.18% | 1M | +48.6% | +0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.01% | 60.5K | +22.2% | 0 points | |
| 9, held 9th | <0.01% | 42.9K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 10, held 10th | <0.01% | 18.1K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 11, held 11th | <0.01% | 18.1K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 12, held 12th | <0.01% | 9.9K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 13, held 13th | <0.01% | 3.6K | -18.3% | 0 points |
1.
Google81.9%
Held 1st. 460M estimated branded searches, +3.4% vs prior month. Share -2 points.
12.1%
Held 2nd. 68M estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.
3.
Bing2.4%
Held 3rd. 13.6M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
2.4%
Held 4th. 13.4M estimated branded searches, +21.4% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
0.73%
Held 5th. 4.1M estimated branded searches, +22.1% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
6.
Yahoo0.27%
Held 6th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
7.
Ecosia0.18%
Held 7th. 1M estimated branded searches, +48.6% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.01%
Held 8th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
9.
Algolia<0.01%
Held 9th. 42.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
10.
Meilisearch<0.01%
Held 10th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
11.
Solr<0.01%
Held 11th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
12.
Typesense<0.01%
Held 12th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
13.
Elastic<0.01%
Held 13th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Brave Search and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Brave Search
16 comparisons
- Bing vs Brave Search
- Brave Search vs DuckDuckGo
- Brave Search vs Google
- Brave Search vs Perplexity
- Brave Search vs Yahoo
- Brave Search vs Ecosia
- Brave Search vs You.com
- Brave Search vs Komo
- Andi vs Brave Search
- Brave Search vs OpenSearch
- Algolia vs Brave Search
- Brave Search vs Meilisearch
- Brave Search vs Solr
- Brave Search vs Typesense
- Brave Search vs Phind
- Brave Search vs Elastic
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 search engines worldwide held steady, from 0.48% to 0.73%.
How did search popularity change for search engines worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, DuckDuckGo gained share of searches among search engines worldwide, from 10.5% to 12.1%.
In September 2026, Google lost share of searches among search engines worldwide, from 83.8% to 81.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Ecosia worldwide rose 122.2% over 12 measured months, from 450K to 1M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Yahoo worldwide rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 1M to 1.5M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Brave Search worldwide rose 49.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 4.1M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Perplexity worldwide fell 63.6% over 12 measured months, from 36.8M to 13.4M 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
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?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search engines | 5th of 13 | 0.73% | Shown above |
| AI search engines | 2nd of 6 | 22.5% | Show ranking |
Is Brave Search your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.