Brandwave

How popular isShake Shack?

In September 2026, people searched for Shake Shack by name about 2.2 million times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.92% of all global fast food chain searches, placing Shake Shack 11th out of 12 chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fast food chains, Shake Shack appeared in two of the four answers and was the eighth most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Shake Shack is the 11th most searched of 12 competitors and the eighth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. McDonald'sShare of searches 41.7%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Burger KingShare of searches 12.6%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. Chick-fil-AShare of searches 10.3%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. KFCShare of searches 10.3%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. Shake ShackShare of searches 0.92%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th

+7 more

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Top fast food chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Shake Shack was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Shake Shack is the eighth most recommended of the 12.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Chick-fil-A1st
  2. McDonald's2nd
  3. Taco Bell3rd
  4. Wendy's4th
  5. Popeyes5th
  6. Subway6th
  7. Raising Cane’s7th
  8. Shake Shack8th
  9. Burger King–
  10. KFC–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • McDonald's4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Chick-fil-A4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Taco Bell4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Wendy's3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Popeyes2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Raising Cane’s2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Shake Shack2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Subway1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Burger King0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • KFC0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about fast food chains

4 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 fast food chains compete with Shake Shack?

Shake Shack against fast food chains worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Popeyes, Shake Shack. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMcDonald'sBurger KingChick-fil-AKFCSubwayTaco BellWendy'sPopeyesCarl's Jr.Raising Cane’sShake ShackNando's
Oct 202541%12.4%10.1%10.1%8.3%6.7%5.5%3%0.91%0.74%1.1%0.02%
Nov 202543.8%10.8%8.8%10.8%7.2%7.2%4.8%3.2%1.2%0.97%1.2%0.02%
Dec 202546.1%11.3%9.2%11.3%6.2%6.2%4.1%2.8%1%0.83%1%0.02%
Jan 202642%12.7%10.4%10.4%6.9%6.9%4.6%3.1%0.93%0.93%1.1%0.02%
Feb 202640.3%12.1%9.9%12.1%8.1%6.6%4.4%3%1.1%1.1%1.3%0.02%
Mar 202641.4%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.5%3.1%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Apr 202641.5%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.6%3.1%0.92%0.75%1.1%0.02%
May 202641.6%12.5%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.8%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Jun 202641.8%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.93%0.76%0.93%0.02%
Jul 202646.4%11.4%9.3%9.3%7.6%6.2%5.1%2.3%0.84%0.68%0.84%0.02%
Aug 202645.3%11.1%9.1%11.1%7.5%6.1%5%2.2%0.82%0.82%1%0.02%
Sep 202641.7%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%0.92%0.02%

  1. 1.McDonald's

    41.7%

    Held 1st. 101M estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -3.6 points.

  2. 2.Burger King

    12.6%

    Held 2nd. 30.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.

  3. 3.Chick-fil-A

    10.3%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 24.9M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  4. 4.KFC

    10.3%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 24.9M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  5. 5.Subway

    8.4%

    Held 5th. 20.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  6. 6.Taco Bell

    6.9%

    Held 6th. 16.6M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  7. 7.Wendy's

    4.6%

    Held 7th. 11.1M estimated branded searches, -18.4% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  8. 8.Popeyes

    2.5%

    Held 8th. 6.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  9. 9.Carl's Jr.

    0.92%

    Moved from 10th to 9th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  10. 10.Raising Cane’s

    0.92%

    Moved from 11th to 10th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  11. 11.Shake Shack

    0.92%

    Moved from 9th to 11th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  12. 12.Nando's

    0.02%

    Held 12th. 44.4K estimated branded searches, -9.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Shake Shack and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Shake Shack

18 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Shake Shack worldwide fell from 2.7M to 2.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shake Shack fell from 9th to 11th among fast food chains worldwide.

How did search popularity change for fast food chains worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Chick-fil-A overtook KFC to rank 3rd among fast food chains worldwide, with 10.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Burger King gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 11.1% to 12.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Subway gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 7.5% to 8.4%.

  4. In September 2026, Taco Bell gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 6.1% to 6.9%.

  5. In September 2026, McDonald's lost share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 45.3% to 41.7%.

  6. In September 2026, KFC lost share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 11.1% to 10.3%.

How are Shake Shack’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

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

  • shake shack
  • shake shack milkshake
  • shake shack shake

Do you work for Shake Shack? 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 Shake Shack compete?

Shake Shack is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Fast food chains11th of 120.92%Shown above
Milkshake brands4th of 91.7%Show ranking
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