Brandwave

Cloudflare vs Varnish:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cloudflare had more branded searches than Varnish among caching platforms worldwide. Cloudflare had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Varnish had 112,000. Cloudflare made up 82.8% of all caching platform searches we track, and Varnish accounted for 2.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about caching platforms, Cloudflare appeared in all four answers and Varnish in one. Cloudflare was mentioned before Varnish in every answer.

Among caching platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cloudflare, about 37 searches for every 1 for Varnish

Cloudflare 4.1M searchesVarnish 112K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Cloudflare, mentioned in every answer we collected

Cloudflare in 4 of 4Varnish in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Cloudflare, named ahead of Varnish in every answer

Cloudflare first in 4Varnish never first

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Top caching platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Cloudflare appeared in all four answers. Varnish was mentioned in one out of four: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in the Google AI Overview. Cloudflare was listed before Varnish in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Redis1st
  2. Cloudflare2nd
  3. Valkey3rd
  4. Memcached4th
  5. Fastly5th
  6. Varnish6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Cloudflare4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Redis3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Memcached3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Valkey2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Varnish1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Fastly1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about caching platforms

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Cloudflare or Varnish more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cloudflare and Varnish by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six caching platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Cloudflare and Varnish among caching platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cloudflare, Varnish. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCloudflareValkeyRedisVarnishFastlyMemcached
Oct 202569.8%14%9.9%3.5%2.2%0.56%
Nov 202590.9%4.5%2.6%1.1%0.7%0.18%
Dec 202582.7%9.1%4.4%2.3%1.2%0.3%
Jan 202675%12.3%7.2%3.1%2%0.4%
Feb 202676.4%10.3%7.4%3.1%2.4%0.41%
Mar 202679.5%8.7%6.4%3.3%1.8%0.35%
Apr 202680.1%8.8%6.3%2.7%1.8%0.29%
May 202680.1%8.8%6.3%2.7%1.8%0.29%
Jun 202681.2%8.9%5.3%2.7%1.6%0.29%
Jul 202682%9%4.6%2.8%1.4%0.24%
Aug 202682.6%9.1%4.5%2.3%1.3%0.2%
Sep 202682.8%9.1%4.4%2.3%1.2%0.2%

How has the Cloudflare and Varnish comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Cloudflare was ahead of Varnish in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cloudflare’s share of searches among caching platforms worldwide moved from 69.8% to 82.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Varnish’s share of searches among caching platforms worldwide moved from 3.5% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 114K to 112K.

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

1 change

  1. Cloudflare’s share of searches among caching platforms worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 81.2% to 82.8% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cloudflare’s and Varnish’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.

Cloudflare

1 branded search term

  • cloudflare

Varnish

2 branded search terms

  • varnish
  • varnish cache

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among caching platforms

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