Equifax vs Experian:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Experian had more branded searches than Equifax among credit monitoring brands worldwide. Experian had about 2.7 million branded searches, while Equifax had 1.5 million. Experian made up 29.8% of all credit monitoring brand searches we track, and Equifax accounted for 16.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about credit monitoring brands, both Equifax and Experian appeared in all five answers. Experian was mentioned before Equifax in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Experian, about 83% more searches than Equifax
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Experian, named ahead of Equifax in every answer
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Top credit monitoring brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Equifax and Experian showed up in all five answers. Experian was listed before Equifax in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Experian1st
Credit Karma2nd
TransUnion3rd
Equifax4th
myFICO5th
WalletHub6th
Credit Sesame7th
ClearScore–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Experian5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Equifax5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- TransUnion5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Credit Karma4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- myFICO3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- WalletHub2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Credit Sesame1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- ClearScore0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about credit monitoring brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which credit monitoring brand should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best credit monitoring brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best credit monitoring brand for my credit score?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“credit monitoring service”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“free credit monitoring”
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 Equifax or Experian more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Equifax and Experian by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight credit monitoring brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Experian, Equifax. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Credit Karma | Experian | Equifax | ClearScore | TransUnion | myFICO | Credit Sesame | WalletHub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 0.85% | 1% | 0.46% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.1% | 27.9% | 15.3% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 0.92% | 0.92% | 0.41% |
| Dec 2025 | 30.4% | 30.4% | 16.6% | 9.1% | 11.1% | 1% | 1% | 0.45% |
| Jan 2026 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 0.85% | 1% | 0.38% |
| Feb 2026 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 0.85% | 1% | 0.38% |
| Mar 2026 | 34.8% | 28.5% | 15.6% | 8.5% | 10.4% | 0.94% | 0.94% | 0.42% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 1% | 0.85% | 0.38% |
| May 2026 | 32.1% | 32.1% | 14.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 1.1% | 0.87% | 0.39% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.1% | 32.1% | 14.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 0.87% | 0.87% | 0.39% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.1% | 32.1% | 14.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 1.1% | 0.71% | 0.39% |
| Aug 2026 | 31.5% | 31.5% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 11.5% | 1% | 0.7% | 0.38% |
| Sep 2026 | 29.8% | 29.8% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 0.99% | 0.81% | 0.44% |
How has the Equifax and Experian comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Experian was ahead of Equifax in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Equifax’s share of searches among credit monitoring brands worldwide moved from 14.1% to 16.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Experian’s share of searches among credit monitoring brands worldwide moved from 31.4% to 29.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.4M to 2.7M.
How did search popularity change for credit monitoring brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Equifax gained share of searches among credit monitoring brands worldwide, from 14.1% to 16.3%.
In September 2026, Experian lost share of searches among credit monitoring brands worldwide, from 31.5% to 29.8%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Equifax’s and Experian’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.
Other head-to-heads among credit monitoring brands
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