Brandwave

How popular isChick-fil-A?

In September 2026, people searched for Chick-fil-A by name about 24.9 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 10.3% of all global fast food chain searches, placing Chick-fil-A third out of 12 chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fast food chains, Chick-fil-A appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Chick-fil-A is the third most searched of 12 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. McDonald'sShare of searches 41.7%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Burger KingShare of searches 12.6%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. Chick-fil-AShare of searches 10.3%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. KFCShare of searches 10.3%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. SubwayShare of searches 8.4%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

+7 more

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Top fast food chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Chick-fil-A appeared in all four answers. Chick-fil-A is the most recommended of the 12.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Chick-fil-A1st
  2. McDonald's2nd
  3. Taco Bell3rd
  4. Wendy's4th
  5. Popeyes5th
  6. Subway6th
  7. Raising Cane’s7th
  8. Shake Shack8th
  9. Burger King–
  10. KFC–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • McDonald's4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Chick-fil-A4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Taco Bell4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Wendy's3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Popeyes2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Raising Cane’s2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Shake Shack2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Subway1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Burger King0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • KFC0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about fast food chains

4 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 fast food chains compete with Chick-fil-A?

Chick-fil-A against fast food chains worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Popeyes. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMcDonald'sBurger KingChick-fil-AKFCSubwayTaco BellWendy'sPopeyesCarl's Jr.Raising Cane’sShake ShackNando's
Oct 202541%12.4%10.1%10.1%8.3%6.7%5.5%3%0.91%0.74%1.1%0.02%
Nov 202543.8%10.8%8.8%10.8%7.2%7.2%4.8%3.2%1.2%0.97%1.2%0.02%
Dec 202546.1%11.3%9.2%11.3%6.2%6.2%4.1%2.8%1%0.83%1%0.02%
Jan 202642%12.7%10.4%10.4%6.9%6.9%4.6%3.1%0.93%0.93%1.1%0.02%
Feb 202640.3%12.1%9.9%12.1%8.1%6.6%4.4%3%1.1%1.1%1.3%0.02%
Mar 202641.4%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.5%3.1%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Apr 202641.5%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.6%3.1%0.92%0.75%1.1%0.02%
May 202641.6%12.5%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.8%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Jun 202641.8%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.93%0.76%0.93%0.02%
Jul 202646.4%11.4%9.3%9.3%7.6%6.2%5.1%2.3%0.84%0.68%0.84%0.02%
Aug 202645.3%11.1%9.1%11.1%7.5%6.1%5%2.2%0.82%0.82%1%0.02%
Sep 202641.7%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%0.92%0.02%

  1. 1.McDonald's

    41.7%

    Held 1st. 101M estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -3.6 points.

  2. 2.Burger King

    12.6%

    Held 2nd. 30.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.

  3. 3.Chick-fil-A

    10.3%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 24.9M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  4. 4.KFC

    10.3%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 24.9M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  5. 5.Subway

    8.4%

    Held 5th. 20.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  6. 6.Taco Bell

    6.9%

    Held 6th. 16.6M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  7. 7.Wendy's

    4.6%

    Held 7th. 11.1M estimated branded searches, -18.4% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  8. 8.Popeyes

    2.5%

    Held 8th. 6.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  9. 9.Carl's Jr.

    0.92%

    Moved from 10th to 9th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  10. 10.Raising Cane’s

    0.92%

    Moved from 11th to 10th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  11. 11.Shake Shack

    0.92%

    Moved from 9th to 11th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  12. 12.Nando's

    0.02%

    Held 12th. 44.4K estimated branded searches, -9.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Chick-fil-A and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Chick-fil-A

18 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Chick-fil-A changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Chick-fil-A worldwide held steady at 24.9M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chick-fil-A’s share of searches among fast food chains worldwide peaked at 10.4% in January 2026 and was lowest at 8.8% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for fast food chains worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Chick-fil-A overtook KFC to rank 3rd among fast food chains worldwide, with 10.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Burger King gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 11.1% to 12.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Subway gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 7.5% to 8.4%.

  4. In September 2026, Taco Bell gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 6.1% to 6.9%.

  5. In September 2026, McDonald's lost share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 45.3% to 41.7%.

  6. In September 2026, KFC lost share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 11.1% to 10.3%.

How are Chick-fil-A’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Chick-fil-A’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • chick fil a
  • chick fil a milkshake
  • chickfila

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Chick-fil-A compete?

Chick-fil-A is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Fast food chains3rd of 1210.3%Shown above
Fried chicken chains1st of 542.8%Show ranking
Milkshake brands2nd of 97.4%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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