Brandwave

Microsoft Copilot vs Perplexity:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Copilot had more branded searches than Perplexity among generative AI platforms worldwide. Microsoft Copilot had about 24.2 million branded searches, while Perplexity had 13.4 million. Microsoft Copilot made up 0.88% of all generative AI platform searches we track, and Perplexity accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about generative AI platforms, Microsoft Copilot appeared in four of the five answers and Perplexity in three. Microsoft Copilot was mentioned before Perplexity in three out of four answers that named either.

Among generative AI platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Copilot, about 80% more searches than Perplexity

Microsoft Copilot 24.2M searchesPerplexity 13.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Copilot, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Perplexity in 3

Microsoft Copilot in 4 of 5Perplexity in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Copilot, named ahead of Perplexity in 3 of 4 answers

Microsoft Copilot first in 3Perplexity first in 1

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Top generative AI platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Perplexity was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Copilot was listed before Perplexity in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. ChatGPT1st
  2. Claude2nd
  3. Gemini3rd
  4. Microsoft Copilot4th
  5. Perplexity5th
  6. Mistral AI–
  7. Cohere–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Gemini5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ChatGPT4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Claude4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Copilot4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Perplexity3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mistral AI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cohere0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about generative AI 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.

Is Microsoft Copilot or Perplexity more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven generative AI platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity among generative AI platforms worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthChatGPTGeminiClaudeMicrosoft CopilotPerplexityMistral AICohere
Oct 202566.7%29.4%0.67%1.5%1.6%0.06%<0.01%
Nov 202570.6%25.5%0.83%1.7%1.4%0.06%<0.01%
Dec 202570%26.8%0.74%1.4%1%0.06%<0.01%
Jan 202669.1%27.7%0.95%1.4%0.86%0.06%<0.01%
Feb 202670.1%26%1.6%1.4%0.87%0.06%<0.01%
Mar 202666%27.8%3.7%1.5%0.82%0.07%<0.01%
Apr 202663%30.3%4.4%1.4%0.78%0.05%<0.01%
May 202665.2%28.7%4.3%1.3%0.56%0.05%<0.01%
Jun 202662.7%30.7%4.8%1.2%0.52%0.06%<0.01%
Jul 202666.4%27.6%4.5%1%0.47%0.04%<0.01%
Aug 202666.5%27.5%4.5%1%0.47%0.04%<0.01%
Sep 202669.3%25%4.2%0.88%0.49%0.05%<0.01%

How has the Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Perplexity worldwide fell 64.4% over 12 measured months, from 37.7M to 13.4M in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Microsoft Copilot worldwide fell 30.9% over 12 measured months, from 35.1M to 24.2M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

40 search terms

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

Microsoft Copilot

24 branded search terms

  • 365 copilot
  • azure copilot
  • bing copilot
  • Copilot
  • copilot 365
  • copilot app
  • copilot bing
  • copilot business
  • copilot excel
  • copilot in excel
  • copilot in word
  • copilot microsoft
  • copilot outlook
  • copilot pro
  • copilot studio
  • copilot teams
  • copilot windows
  • microsoft 365 copilot
  • microsoft copilot app
  • microsoft copilot pro
  • microsoft copilot studio
  • microsoftcopilot
  • ms copilot
  • windows copilot

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

Other head-to-heads among generative AI platforms

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