Brandwave

How popular isCisco?

In September 2026, people searched for Cisco by name about 722,000 times worldwide, a 41.6% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 45.7% of all global IT certification provider searches, placing Cisco first out of ten providers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, Cisco appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the ten.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Cisco is the most searched of 10 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. CiscoShare of searches 45.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Microsoft LearnShare of searches 22.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. CompTIAShare of searches 20.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. AWS CertificationShare of searches 8.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. PRINCE2Share of searches 0.97%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top IT certification providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. CompTIA1st
  2. Cisco2nd
  3. Microsoft Learn3rd
  4. ISC24th
  5. AWS Certification5th
  6. PRINCE2–
  7. PMI–
  8. GIAC–
  9. EXIN–
  10. Axelos–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Cisco5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CompTIA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Learn3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ISC22 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AWS Certification1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PRINCE20 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PMI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • GIAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • EXIN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Axelos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about IT certification providers

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 21, 2026.

Which IT certification providers compete with Cisco?

Cisco against IT certification providers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cisco, Microsoft Learn, CompTIA, AWS Certification. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCiscoMicrosoft LearnCompTIAAWS CertificationPRINCE2PMIGIACISC2EXINAxelos
Oct 202536.6%23.2%24.5%12.5%1.4%0.92%0.5%0.27%0.02%<0.01%
Nov 202538.4%24.4%21%13.1%1.4%0.96%0.43%0.23%0.02%<0.01%
Dec 202535.3%27.4%19.6%14.7%1.3%0.88%0.48%0.26%0.02%<0.01%
Jan 202636%28%20%12.3%1.7%1.1%0.6%0.27%0.02%<0.01%
Feb 202642.9%22.5%19.4%12.1%1.3%0.89%0.49%0.26%0.02%0.02%
Mar 202641.3%25.6%18.7%11.7%1.3%0.86%0.38%0.25%0.02%0.02%
Apr 202642.7%22.7%19.5%12.2%1.3%0.9%0.4%0.21%0.02%<0.01%
May 202641.1%25.8%18.8%11.8%1.1%0.86%0.31%0.26%0.02%0.01%
Jun 202642.2%27.4%15.8%12.1%1.1%0.89%0.32%0.18%0.02%<0.01%
Jul 202644.9%28.1%14%10.5%1.2%0.77%0.34%0.19%0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202647%24.3%17.5%9.1%0.99%0.66%0.3%0.16%0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202645.7%22.9%20.6%8.8%0.97%0.65%0.29%0.16%0.01%<0.01%

  1. 1.Cisco

    45.7%

    Held 1st. 700K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  2. 2.Microsoft Learn

    22.9%

    Held 2nd. 351K estimated branded searches, -3% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.

  3. 3.CompTIA

    20.6%

    Held 3rd. 316K estimated branded searches, +21.1% vs prior month. Share +3.1 points.

  4. 4.AWS Certification

    8.8%

    Held 4th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  5. 5.PRINCE2

    0.97%

    Held 5th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.PMI

    0.65%

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

  7. 7.GIAC

    0.29%

    Held 7th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.ISC2

    0.16%

    Held 8th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.EXIN

    0.01%

    Held 9th. 170 estimated branded searches, -19% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Axelos

    <0.01%

    Held 10th. 70 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Cisco and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Cisco

18 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Cisco worldwide rose from 510K to 722K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cisco’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide increased from 36.6% to 45.7%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cisco’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide peaked at 47% in August 2026 and was lowest at 35.3% in December 2025.

How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, CompTIA gained share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 17.5% to 20.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Microsoft Learn lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 24.3% to 22.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Cisco lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 47% to 45.7%.

  4. AWS Certification’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 12.1% to 8.8% in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for EXIN worldwide fell 46.9% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 170 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Axelos worldwide fell 36.4% over 12 measured months, from 110 to 70 in September 2026.

How are Cisco’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cisco’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.

  • ccna
  • cisco certification
  • cisco switch
  • cisco switches

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

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Cisco compete?

Cisco 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
IT certification providers1st of 1045.7%Shown above
Poe switch brands1st of 550.8%Show ranking
Network switch brands8th of 81.9%Show ranking
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