Brandwave

Brave Search vs Perplexity:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Perplexity had more branded searches than Brave Search among AI search engines worldwide. Perplexity had about 13.4 million branded searches, while Brave Search had 4.1 million. Perplexity made up 74% of all AI search engine searches we track, and Brave Search accounted for 22.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI search engines, both Brave Search and Perplexity appeared in all five answers. Perplexity was mentioned before Brave Search in every answer.

Among AI search engines worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Perplexity, about 3 searches for every 1 for Brave Search

Perplexity 13.4M searchesBrave Search 4.1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Brave Search in 5 of 5Perplexity in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Perplexity, named ahead of Brave Search in every answer

Perplexity first in 5Brave Search never first

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Top AI search engines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Brave Search and Perplexity showed up in all five answers. Perplexity was listed before Brave Search in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Perplexity1st
  2. Brave Search2nd
  3. You.com3rd
  4. Komo–
  5. Andi–
  6. Phind–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Perplexity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Brave Search5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • You.com1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Komo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Andi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Phind0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI search engines

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.

Is Brave Search or Perplexity more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Brave Search and Perplexity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six AI search engines we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Brave Search and Perplexity among AI search engines worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Perplexity, Brave Search. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPerplexityBrave SearchYou.comKomoAndiPhind
Oct 202591.4%6.6%0.89%0.51%0.47%0.12%
Nov 202589.1%8.3%1.4%0.63%0.49%0.15%
Dec 202585.3%11.2%1.8%0.84%0.64%0.14%
Jan 202684.3%12.6%1.4%0.95%0.74%0.1%
Feb 202684.7%12.7%1.1%0.79%0.59%0.08%
Mar 202682.6%14.4%1.3%0.88%0.65%0.1%
Apr 202682.7%14.5%1.3%0.73%0.65%0.08%
May 202679.5%17.1%1.5%1%0.76%0.08%
Jun 202676.3%20%1.8%1%0.89%0.07%
Jul 202676.9%19%2.1%1.2%0.85%0.07%
Aug 202673.4%22.2%2%1.3%0.98%0.07%
Sep 202674%22.5%1.7%0.92%0.81%0.05%

How has the Brave Search and Perplexity comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Perplexity was ahead of Brave Search in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brave Search’s share of searches among AI search engines worldwide moved from 6.6% to 22.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7M to 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Perplexity’s share of searches among AI search engines worldwide moved from 91.4% to 74%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 37.7M to 13.4M.

How did search popularity change for AI search engines worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Perplexity gained share of searches among AI search engines worldwide, from 73.4% to 74%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Brave Search worldwide rose 49.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 4.1M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Brave Search’s and Perplexity’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Brave Search

1 branded search term

  • brave search

Perplexity

16 branded search terms

  • comet browser
  • comet perplexity
  • perplexity
  • perplexity ai
  • perplexity ai app
  • perplexity ai search
  • perplexity app
  • perplexity browser
  • perplexity comet
  • perplexity finance
  • perplexity ia
  • perplexity labs
  • perplexity max
  • perplexity pro
  • perplexity search
  • perplexity.ai

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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