Brandwave

How popular isMegabus?

In September 2026, people searched for Megabus by name about 301,000 times worldwide, a 33.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 1.4% of all global bus booking platform searches, placing Megabus sixth out of seven platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bus booking platforms, Megabus appeared in one of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Megabus is the sixth most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. FlixBusShare of searches 35.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. redBusShare of searches 35.7%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. BlaBlaCarShare of searches 23.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. BusbudShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. MegabusShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

+2 more

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Top bus booking platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Megabus was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Megabus is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Wanderu1st
  2. Busbud2nd
  3. FlixBus3rd
  4. Greyhound4th
  5. redBus5th
  6. Megabus6th
  7. BlaBlaCar–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • FlixBus5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Greyhound5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Wanderu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Busbud4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • redBus2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Megabus1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BlaBlaCar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about bus booking 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 19, 2026.

Which bus booking platforms compete with Megabus?

Megabus against bus booking platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for FlixBus, redBus, BlaBlaCar, Megabus. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFlixBusredBusBlaBlaCarBusbudGreyhoundMegabusWanderu
Oct 202531.3%38.3%25.6%1.3%1.3%1.9%0.31%
Nov 202535.5%35.5%23.7%1.7%1.4%1.7%0.35%
Dec 202533.8%33.8%27.6%1.7%1.1%1.7%0.33%
Jan 202635.7%35.7%23.9%1.8%1.2%1.4%0.24%
Feb 202635.6%35.6%23.8%1.4%1.4%1.8%0.29%
Mar 202635.6%35.6%23.8%1.8%1.4%1.4%0.29%
Apr 202631.6%38.6%25.9%1.3%1%1.3%0.26%
May 202631.6%38.6%25.8%1.3%1.3%1.3%0.26%
Jun 202633.8%33.8%27.7%1.7%1.4%1.4%0.27%
Jul 202638.5%31.5%25.8%1.6%1.3%1%0.26%
Aug 202631.6%38.6%25.8%1.3%1.3%1.3%0.26%
Sep 202635.7%35.7%23.9%1.4%1.4%1.4%0.29%

  1. 1.FlixBus

    35.7%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +4.2 points.

  2. 2.redBus

    35.7%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.8 points.

  3. 3.BlaBlaCar

    23.9%

    Held 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.

  4. 4.Busbud

    1.4%

    Held 4th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  5. 5.Greyhound

    1.4%

    Held 5th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  6. 6.Megabus

    1.4%

    Held 6th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  7. 7.Wanderu

    0.29%

    Held 7th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Megabus and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Megabus

6 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Megabus worldwide fell from 450K to 301K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Megabus fell from 4th to 6th among bus booking platforms worldwide.

How did search popularity change for bus booking platforms worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, FlixBus overtook redBus to become the leader among bus booking platforms worldwide, with 35.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, redBus lost share of searches among bus booking platforms worldwide, from 38.6% to 35.7%.

  3. In September 2026, BlaBlaCar lost share of searches among bus booking platforms worldwide, from 25.8% to 23.9%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Megabus worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 450K to 301K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Wanderu worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 60.5K in September 2026.

How are Megabus’ branded searches counted?

1 search term

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

  • megabus

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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