Brandwave

How popular isWestern Union?

In September 2026, people searched for Western Union by name about 9.2 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 3.1% of all global currency exchange service searches, placing Western Union sixth out of eight services. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about currency exchange services, Western Union appeared in three of the four answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Western Union is the sixth most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. XeShare of searches 42.4%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. TravelexShare of searches 23.2%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. WiseShare of searches 12.3%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. OFXShare of searches 8.5%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Western UnionShare of searches 3.1%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

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Top currency exchange services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Western Union was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Western Union is the second most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Wise1st
  2. Western Union2nd
  3. Xe3rd
  4. OFX4th
  5. Travelex–
  6. WorldFirst–
  7. TorFX–
  8. CurrencyFair–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Wise4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Western Union3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Xe2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • OFX2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Travelex0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • WorldFirst0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • TorFX0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • CurrencyFair0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about currency exchange services

4 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which currency exchange service should I use?”

    1. 1Wise

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best currency exchange services?”

    1. 1Wise
    2. 2OFX
    3. 3Xe
    4. 4Western Union

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best currency exchange service for sending money abroad?”

    1. 1Wise
    2. 2Xe
    3. 3Western Union

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “currency exchange services”

    Google showed no AI Overview for this search.

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “international money transfer”

    1. 1Wise
    2. 2Western Union
    3. 3OFX

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 20, 2026.

Which currency exchange services compete with Western Union?

Western Union against currency exchange services worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Xe, Travelex, Wise, OFX, WorldFirst, Western Union. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthXeTravelexWiseOFXWorldFirstWestern UnionTorFXCurrencyFair
Oct 202540.4%27.1%9.6%8.1%8.1%4.4%1.6%0.59%
Nov 202542.3%23.2%9.5%8.5%10.4%3.8%1.7%0.62%
Dec 202540.5%22.2%10.3%8.2%12.2%4.5%1.6%0.48%
Jan 202639.5%26.5%11.5%8%8%4.4%1.6%0.58%
Feb 202643%23.6%10.2%8.6%8.6%3.9%1.4%0.63%
Mar 202641.1%22.6%12.8%8.3%8.3%4.5%1.7%0.74%
Apr 202642.7%23.4%12.5%7%8.6%3.9%1.4%0.5%
May 202642.7%23.4%12.5%7%8.6%3.9%1.4%0.5%
Jun 202644.3%19.8%12.9%8.9%8.9%3.3%1.5%0.52%
Jul 202642.4%23.2%12.3%8.5%8.5%3.1%1.4%0.5%
Aug 202637.5%25.2%15.4%7.6%9.2%3.4%1.2%0.54%
Sep 202642.4%23.2%12.3%8.5%8.5%3.1%1.4%0.5%

  1. 1.Xe

    42.4%

    Held 1st. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +4.9 points.

  2. 2.Travelex

    23.2%

    Held 2nd. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.

  3. 3.Wise

    12.3%

    Held 3rd. 71.7K estimated branded searches, -13.3% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.

  4. 4.OFX

    8.5%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  5. 5.WorldFirst

    8.5%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  6. 6.Western Union

    3.1%

    Held 6th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  7. 7.TorFX

    1.4%

    Held 7th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  8. 8.CurrencyFair

    0.5%

    Held 8th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Western Union and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Western Union

16 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Western Union worldwide held steady at 9.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Union’s share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide decreased from 4.4% to 3.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Union’s share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide peaked at 4.5% in March 2026 and was lowest at 3.1% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for currency exchange services worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, OFX overtook WorldFirst to rank 4th among currency exchange services worldwide, with 8.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Xe gained share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide, from 37.5% to 42.4%.

  3. In September 2026, Wise lost share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide, from 15.4% to 12.3%.

  4. In September 2026, Travelex lost share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide, from 25.2% to 23.2%.

  5. In September 2026, WorldFirst lost share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide, from 9.2% to 8.5%.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Western Union worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in September 2026.

How are Western Union’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

  • western union
  • western union currency exchange

Do you work for Western Union? 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 Western Union compete?

Western Union is ranked in four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Money transfer services2nd of 1220.9%Show ranking
Send money brands1st of 562.6%Show ranking
Remittance services1st of 662.8%Show ranking
Currency exchange services6th of 83.1%Shown above
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Is Western Union your brand?

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