AWS Certification vs Microsoft Learn:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Learn had more branded searches than AWS Certification among IT certification providers worldwide. Microsoft Learn had about 351,000 branded searches, while AWS Certification had 135,000. Microsoft Learn made up 22.9% of all IT certification provider searches we track, and AWS Certification accounted for 8.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, Microsoft Learn appeared in three of the five answers and AWS Certification in one. Microsoft Learn was mentioned before AWS Certification in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Learn, about 3 searches for every 1 for AWS Certification
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Learn, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, AWS Certification in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Learn, named ahead of AWS Certification in 3 of 3 answers
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Top IT certification providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Learn was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. AWS Certification was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Learn was listed before AWS Certification in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
CompTIA1st
Cisco2nd
Microsoft Learn3rd
ISC24th
AWS Certification5th
PRINCE2–
PMI–
GIAC–
EXIN–
Axelos–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Cisco5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
CompTIA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Microsoft Learn3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
ISC22 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
AWS Certification1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
PRINCE20 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
PMI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
GIAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
EXIN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Axelos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about IT certification providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which IT certification provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best IT certification providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best IT certification provider for a career certificate?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best it certifications”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“it certification courses”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is AWS Certification or Microsoft Learn more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AWS Certification and Microsoft Learn by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten IT certification providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Learn, AWS Certification. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Cisco | Microsoft Learn | CompTIA | AWS Certification | PRINCE2 | PMI | GIAC | ISC2 | EXIN | Axelos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.6% | 23.2% | 24.5% | 12.5% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.4% | 24.4% | 21% | 13.1% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.43% | 0.23% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.3% | 27.4% | 19.6% | 14.7% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.48% | 0.26% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 36% | 28% | 20% | 12.3% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.9% | 22.5% | 19.4% | 12.1% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.49% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.3% | 25.6% | 18.7% | 11.7% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 0.38% | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.7% | 22.7% | 19.5% | 12.2% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 41.1% | 25.8% | 18.8% | 11.8% | 1.1% | 0.86% | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 42.2% | 27.4% | 15.8% | 12.1% | 1.1% | 0.89% | 0.32% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 44.9% | 28.1% | 14% | 10.5% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.34% | 0.19% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 47% | 24.3% | 17.5% | 9.1% | 0.99% | 0.66% | 0.3% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.7% | 22.9% | 20.6% | 8.8% | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.29% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the AWS Certification and Microsoft Learn comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Learn was ahead of AWS Certification in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AWS Certification’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 12.5% to 8.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Learn’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 23.2% to 22.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 307K to 351K.
How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Microsoft Learn lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 24.3% to 22.9%.

AWS Certification’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 12.1% to 8.8% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AWS Certification’s and Microsoft Learn’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.
AWS Certification
1 branded search term
- aws certification
Microsoft Learn
2 branded search terms
- microsoft certification
- microsoft learn
Other head-to-heads among IT certification providers

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