Brandwave

How popular isFriendbuy?

In September 2026, people searched for Friendbuy by name about 1,310 times worldwide, a 29.7% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 3.4% of all global referral marketing platform searches, placing Friendbuy eighth out of 12 platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about referral marketing platforms, Friendbuy appeared in two of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Friendbuy is the eighth most searched of 12 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. YotpoShare of searches 47.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  2. Mention MeShare of searches 11.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. AmbassadorShare of searches 9.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. TalkableShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  5. FriendbuyShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+7 more

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Top referral marketing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Friendbuy was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Friendbuy is the fifth most recommended of the 12.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. ReferralCandy1st
  2. Referral Factory2nd
  3. Referral Rock3rd
  4. GrowSurf4th
  5. Friendbuy5th
  6. Viral Loops6th
  7. Talkable7th
  8. Yotpo–
  9. Mention Me–
  10. Ambassador–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • ReferralCandy5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GrowSurf4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Referral Rock3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Referral Factory3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Viral Loops2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Friendbuy2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Talkable1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Yotpo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mention Me0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ambassador0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about referral marketing platforms

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 referral marketing platforms compete with Friendbuy?

Friendbuy against referral marketing platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Yotpo, Mention Me, Ambassador, Talkable, Viral Loops, Extole, ReferralCandy, Friendbuy, GrowSurf, Referral Rock, Smile.io, Referral Factory. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthYotpoMention MeAmbassadorTalkableViral LoopsExtoleReferralCandyFriendbuyGrowSurfReferral RockSmile.ioReferral Factory
Oct 202552.3%6.9%6.9%4.6%6.9%3.7%5.7%1.9%1.9%3.7%2.1%3.1%
Nov 202548.9%7.9%6.4%4.2%9.7%3.6%5.4%2.2%2.2%3.5%2.5%3.5%
Dec 202552.8%6.9%6.9%4.5%6.9%3.2%5.8%2.4%2.1%3.1%2.3%3.1%
Jan 202647.8%11.6%7.8%4.1%6.2%3.5%5.3%2.2%2.2%3.4%2.4%3.4%
Feb 202635.9%35.9%4.7%3.1%4.7%2.6%4%1.6%1.6%2.1%1.8%2.1%
Mar 202644%19.6%7.1%3.8%5.7%3.2%4.9%2%1.7%2.6%2.8%2.6%
Apr 202648.7%14.5%7.9%4.2%5.3%3.6%4.3%2.2%1.9%2.2%2.4%2.9%
May 202649.7%14.8%6.5%4.3%5.4%3%4.4%2.3%2.2%2.2%2.5%2.9%
Jun 202650.9%12.4%8.3%4.4%4.4%3%3.8%3%3%2.3%2.3%2.3%
Jul 202651.3%12.5%8.3%3.7%4.4%3.7%3.8%3%2.3%2.3%2.3%2.3%
Aug 202647.1%14.1%9.4%4.2%4.2%3.5%3.5%3.4%2.6%2.6%2.9%2.6%
Sep 202647.6%11.6%9.5%5%5%4.3%3.5%3.4%2.6%2.6%2.6%2.3%

  1. 1.Yotpo

    47.6%

    Held 1st. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  2. 2.Mention Me

    11.6%

    Held 2nd. 4.4K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.

  3. 3.Ambassador

    9.5%

    Held 3rd. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  4. 4.Talkable

    5%

    Held 4th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, +18.8% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  5. 5.Viral Loops

    5%

    Held 5th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, +18.8% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  6. 6.Extole

    4.3%

    Moved from 7th to 6th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +22.6% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  7. 7.ReferralCandy

    3.5%

    Moved from 6th to 7th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -0.75% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Friendbuy

    3.4%

    Held 8th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.GrowSurf

    2.6%

    Moved from 10th to 9th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Referral Rock

    2.6%

    Moved from 12th to 10th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.Smile.io

    2.6%

    Moved from 9th to 11th. 970 estimated branded searches, -12.6% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  12. 12.Referral Factory

    2.3%

    Moved from 11th to 12th. 880 estimated branded searches, -12% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

Compare popularity between Friendbuy and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Friendbuy

11 comparisons

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

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Friendbuy worldwide rose from 1K to 1.3K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Friendbuy’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide increased from 1.9% to 3.4%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Friendbuy’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide peaked at 3.4% in September 2026 and was lowest at 1.6% in February 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Friendbuy rose from 11th to 8th among referral marketing platforms worldwide.

How did search popularity change for referral marketing platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Extole overtook ReferralCandy to rank 6th among referral marketing platforms worldwide, with 4.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Talkable gained share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide, from 4.2% to 5%.

  3. In September 2026, Viral Loops gained share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide, from 4.2% to 5%.

  4. In September 2026, Mention Me lost share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide, from 14.1% to 11.6%.

  5. Ambassador’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 8.3% to 9.5% in September 2026.

  6. In September 2026, Referral Rock rose from 12th to 10th among referral marketing platforms worldwide.

How are Friendbuy’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

  • friendbuy
  • friendbuy referral

Do you work for Friendbuy? 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

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