Cisco vs CompTIA:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Cisco had more branded searches than CompTIA among IT certification providers worldwide. Cisco had about 700,000 branded searches, while CompTIA had 316,000. Cisco made up 45.7% of all IT certification provider searches we track, and CompTIA accounted for 20.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, both Cisco and CompTIA appeared in all five answers. CompTIA was mentioned before Cisco in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Cisco, about 2 searches for every 1 for CompTIA
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
CompTIA, named ahead of Cisco in every answer
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Top IT certification providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Cisco and CompTIA showed up in all five answers. CompTIA was listed before Cisco in every answer.
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 Cisco or CompTIA more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Cisco and CompTIA 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 Cisco, CompTIA. 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 Cisco and CompTIA comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Cisco was ahead of CompTIA in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cisco’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 36.6% to 45.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 483K to 700K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CompTIA’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 24.5% to 20.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 323K to 316K.
How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, CompTIA gained share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 17.5% to 20.6%.
In September 2026, Cisco lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 47% to 45.7%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cisco’s and CompTIA’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 IT certification providers
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