How popular isiCloud?
In September 2026, people searched for iCloud by name about 17.8 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 0.19% of all global email provider searches, placing iCloud fifth out of seven providers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email providers, iCloud appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the seven.
iCloud is the fifth most searched of 7 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.
GmailShare of searches 63.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
OutlookShare of searches 23.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Yahoo MailShare of searches 12.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Zoho MailShare of searches 0.42%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
iCloudShare of searches 0.19%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top email providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, iCloud was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. iCloud is the fifth most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Gmail1st
Proton Mail2nd- Outlook3rd
Fastmail4th- iCloud5th
- Zoho Mail6th
- Yahoo Mail–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Gmail4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Proton Mail4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Outlook3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- iCloud3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Fastmail3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Zoho Mail1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Yahoo Mail0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about email providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which email provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best email providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best email provider for personal email?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“secure email service”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“email service”
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 email providers compete with iCloud?
Share of searches by month for Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, iCloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Gmail | Outlook | Yahoo Mail | Zoho Mail | iCloud | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 61.4% | 22.9% | 15% | 0.5% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 56.6% | 25.9% | 16.9% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.6% | 25.9% | 16.9% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.5% | 26% | 16.9% | 0.37% | 0.22% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.9% | 24.7% | 14.7% | 0.4% | 0.19% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.4% | 23% | 15% | 0.33% | 0.19% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 61.4% | 23% | 15% | 0.41% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 56.5% | 26% | 16.9% | 0.37% | 0.21% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 58% | 24% | 17.3% | 0.47% | 0.21% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.1% | 23.1% | 15% | 0.5% | 0.19% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.8% | 24.8% | 14.7% | 0.48% | 0.19% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 63.1% | 23.6% | 12.7% | 0.42% | 0.19% | 0.05% | <0.01% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 63.1% | 414M | +22.5% | +3.2 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 23.6% | 155M | +10.8% | -1.2 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 12.7% | 83.1M | 0% | -2 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 0.42% | 2.7M | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.19% | 1.2M | +16.6% | 0 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 0.05% | 301K | +82.4% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | <0.01% | 320 | +23.1% | 0 points |
1.
Gmail63.1%
Held 1st. 414M estimated branded searches, +22.5% vs prior month. Share +3.2 points.
2.
Outlook23.6%
Held 2nd. 155M estimated branded searches, +10.8% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
12.7%
Held 3rd. 83.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2 points.
0.42%
Held 4th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
5.
iCloud0.19%
Held 5th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, +16.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
6.
Fastmail0.05%
Held 6th. 301K estimated branded searches, +82.4% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
<0.01%
Held 7th. 320 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between iCloud and its closest rivals
Every comparison with iCloud
13 comparisons
How has branded search demand for iCloud changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for iCloud worldwide held steady at 17.8M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iCloud’s share of searches among email providers worldwide held steady, from 0.18% to 0.19%.
How did search popularity change for email providers worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Gmail gained share of searches among email providers worldwide, from 59.8% to 63.1%.
In September 2026, Yahoo Mail lost share of searches among email providers worldwide, from 14.7% to 12.7%.
In September 2026, Outlook lost share of searches among email providers worldwide, from 24.8% to 23.6%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Proton Mail worldwide rose 128.6% over 12 measured months, from 140 to 320 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Fastmail worldwide rose 82.4% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 301K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Zoho Mail worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 3.4M to 2.7M in September 2026.
How are iCloud’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iCloud’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.
- icloud
- icloud email
- icloud mail
Who owns iCloud?
iCloud is owned by 
Apple. Brandwave also tracks Pixelmator, Apple AirPods, Apple AirPods Max, Apple AirTag, Apple Books, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Apple MacBook, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Passwords, Apple Podcasts, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Apple Reminders, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, FaceTime, Final Cut Pro, Find My, GarageBand, iMovie, iWork, Keynote, Logic Pro, Safari and 
Xcode Cloud, owned by the same company, worldwide.
Do you work for iCloud? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Where does iCloud compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email providers | 5th of 7 | 0.19% | Shown above |
| Cloud storage services | 2nd of 8 | 20.1% | Show ranking |
Is iCloud 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.