Brandwave

How popular isTikTok?

In September 2026, people searched for TikTok by name about 151.5 million times worldwide, a 21.6% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 1.4% of all global live streaming platform searches, placing TikTok third out of seven platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about live streaming platforms, TikTok appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

TikTok is the third most searched of 7 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. TwitchShare of searches 93.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. RumbleShare of searches 3.8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. TikTokShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. KickShare of searches 0.76%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. YouTubeShare of searches 0.28%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

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Top live streaming platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, TikTok was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. TikTok is the third most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. YouTube1st
  2. Twitch2nd
  3. TikTok3rd
  4. Kick4th
  5. Rumble–
  6. Trovo–
  7. DLive–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • YouTube5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Twitch4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • TikTok4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kick4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rumble0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Trovo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • DLive0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about live streaming 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 live streaming platforms compete with TikTok?

TikTok against live streaming platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Twitch, Rumble, TikTok. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTwitchRumbleTikTokKickYouTubeTrovoDLive
Oct 202593.7%3.8%1.4%0.42%0.28%0.19%0.28%
Nov 202592.5%4.6%1.7%0.5%0.28%0.18%0.28%
Dec 202591.6%5.5%1.7%0.5%0.27%0.18%0.27%
Jan 202692.5%4.6%1.7%0.5%0.28%0.18%0.28%
Feb 202692.9%4.6%1.4%0.5%0.28%0.15%0.23%
Mar 202692.8%4.6%1.4%0.5%0.28%0.15%0.28%
Apr 202692.6%4.6%1.4%0.75%0.28%0.12%0.28%
May 202692.7%4.6%1.4%0.75%0.34%0.12%0.1%
Jun 202693.6%3.8%1.4%0.76%0.34%0.1%0.07%
Jul 202693.4%3.7%1.7%0.62%0.41%0.1%0.06%
Aug 202694.2%3.1%1.4%0.93%0.23%0.08%0.05%
Sep 202693.6%3.8%1.4%0.76%0.28%0.1%0.07%

  1. 1.Twitch

    93.6%

    Held 1st. 30.4M estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  2. 2.Rumble

    3.8%

    Held 2nd. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  3. 3.TikTok

    1.4%

    Held 3rd. 450K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Kick

    0.76%

    Held 4th. 246K estimated branded searches, -33.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  5. 5.YouTube

    0.28%

    Held 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Trovo

    0.1%

    Held 6th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.DLive

    0.07%

    Held 7th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between TikTok and its closest rivals

Every comparison with TikTok

19 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for TikTok worldwide rose from 125M to 151M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, TikTok’s share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide held steady at 1.4%.

How did search popularity change for live streaming platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Rumble gained share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide, from 3.1% to 3.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Twitch lost share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide, from 94.2% to 93.6%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kick worldwide rose 49.1% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 246K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for DLive worldwide fell 79.8% over 12 measured months, from 110K to 22.2K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Trovo worldwide fell 55.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 33.1K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for TikTok worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 550K to 450K in September 2026.

How are TikTok’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

  • tiktok
  • tiktok live

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does TikTok compete?

TikTok is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Social media platforms6th of 104.7%Show ranking
Video monetisation platforms2nd of 719.5%Show ranking
Live streaming platforms3rd of 71.4%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is TikTok your brand?

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