How popular isPNY?
In September 2026, people searched for PNY by name about 64,100 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 8.7% of all global flash drive brand searches, placing PNY third out of five brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about flash drive brands, PNY appeared in two of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the five.
PNY is the third most searched of 5 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.
SanDiskShare of searches 75%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
SamsungShare of searches 15%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
PNYShare of searches 8.7%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
KingstonShare of searches 1.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
LexarShare of searches 0.14%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
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Top flash drive brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PNY was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. PNY is the fifth most recommended of the five.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
SanDisk5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Kingston5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Samsung4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
PNY2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Lexar2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about flash drive brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which flash drive brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best flash drive brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best flash drive brand for file storage?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best flash drive”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“usb drive brand”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which flash drive brands compete with PNY?
Share of searches by month for SanDisk, Samsung, PNY. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | SanDisk | Samsung | PNY | Kingston | Lexar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66.5% | 19.9% | 11.7% | 1.8% | 0.13% |
| Nov 2025 | 68% | 20.4% | 9.7% | 1.8% | 0.15% |
| Dec 2025 | 65.1% | 19.5% | 11.3% | 3.9% | 0.16% |
| Jan 2026 | 77.9% | 12.7% | 7.5% | 1.7% | 0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 73.2% | 18% | 7.1% | 1.6% | 0.12% |
| Mar 2026 | 69.4% | 20.8% | 8.2% | 1.5% | 0.11% |
| Apr 2026 | 76.2% | 15.2% | 7.4% | 1.1% | 0.12% |
| May 2026 | 82.7% | 11.1% | 5.3% | 0.81% | 0.09% |
| Jun 2026 | 80.6% | 13.2% | 5.2% | 0.97% | 0.09% |
| Jul 2026 | 78.2% | 15.7% | 5% | 0.94% | 0.08% |
| Aug 2026 | 77.3% | 15.5% | 6.1% | 0.93% | 0.11% |
| Sep 2026 | 75% | 15% | 8.7% | 1.1% | 0.14% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 75% | 550K | -18.3% | -2.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 15% | 110K | -18.5% | -0.5 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 8.7% | 64.1K | +20.7% | +2.6 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 1.1% | 8.1K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.14% | 1K | 0% | 0 points |
1.
SanDisk75%
Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
2.
Samsung15%
Held 2nd. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
3.
PNY8.7%
Held 3rd. 64.1K estimated branded searches, +20.7% vs prior month. Share +2.6 points.
4.
Kingston1.1%
Held 4th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
5.
Lexar0.14%
Held 5th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between PNY and its closest rivals
Every comparison with PNY
4 comparisons
How has branded search demand for PNY changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for PNY worldwide held steady, from 64.9K to 64.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PNY’s share of searches among flash drive brands worldwide decreased from 11.7% to 8.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PNY’s share of searches among flash drive brands worldwide peaked at 11.7% in October 2025 and was lowest at 5% in July 2026.
How did search popularity change for flash drive brands worldwide in September 2026?
5 changes

In September 2026, PNY gained share of searches among flash drive brands worldwide, from 6.1% to 8.7%.

In September 2026, SanDisk lost share of searches among flash drive brands worldwide, from 77.3% to 75%.

In September 2026, Samsung lost share of searches among flash drive brands worldwide, from 15.5% to 15%.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Lexar worldwide rose 38.9% over 12 measured months, from 720 to 1K in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Kingston worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 8.1K in September 2026.
How are PNY’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PNY’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.
- pny
- pny flash drive
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Is PNY 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.