Brandwave

Adidas vs New Balance:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adidas had more branded searches than New Balance among kids shoe brands worldwide. Adidas had about 21.8 million branded searches, while New Balance had 11.1 million. Adidas made up 30.1% of all kids shoe brand searches we track, and New Balance accounted for 15.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about kids shoe brands, New Balance appeared in all five answers and Adidas in two. New Balance was mentioned before Adidas in four out of five answers.

Among kids shoe brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adidas, about 2 searches for every 1 for New Balance

Adidas 21.8M searchesNew Balance 11.1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

New Balance, mentioned in every answer we collected

New Balance in 5 of 5Adidas in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

New Balance, named ahead of Adidas in 4 of 5 answers

New Balance first in 4Adidas first in 1

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Top kids shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, New Balance appeared in all five answers. Adidas was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. New Balance was listed before Adidas in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. New Balance1st
  2. Stride Rite2nd
  3. Nike3rd
  4. Adidas4th
  5. Ten Little5th
  6. Skechers6th
  7. Crocs7th
  8. KEEN8th
  9. Clarks–
  10. Bobux–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • New Balance5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Stride Rite4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Skechers3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ten Little3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nike2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adidas2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Crocs2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • KEEN1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clarks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Bobux0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about kids shoe brands

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 Adidas or New Balance more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adidas and New Balance by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten kids shoe brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Adidas and New Balance among kids shoe brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Adidas, New Balance. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNikeAdidasNew BalanceCrocsSkechersClarksStride RiteBobuxTen LittleKEEN
Oct 202532.3%30.2%17.6%9.7%7.9%1.9%0.14%0.06%0.03%0.02%
Nov 202534.6%31.4%16%8.8%7.2%1.8%0.11%0.05%0.02%0.01%
Dec 202534.7%30.9%15.3%10.3%6.9%1.7%0.08%0.05%0.02%0.02%
Jan 202638.3%28.9%14.6%8%8%2%0.1%0.05%0.02%0.02%
Feb 202634.9%31.3%15.9%8.8%7.2%1.7%0.13%0.06%0.04%0.02%
Mar 202634.1%31.2%15.4%10.4%6.9%1.7%0.12%0.06%0.04%0.02%
Apr 202631.5%29.4%17.4%11.7%7.8%1.9%0.14%0.06%0.03%0.02%
May 202630.5%33%13.8%11.3%9.3%1.9%0.11%0.06%0.03%0.02%
Jun 202630.6%31.7%14%14%7.7%1.9%0.09%0.05%0.03%0.02%
Jul 202631%32.7%14%14%6.3%1.9%0.11%0.05%0.03%0.02%
Aug 202630.3%32.2%16.5%11.1%7.4%2.2%0.11%0.05%0.03%0.02%
Sep 202633.5%30.1%15.3%10.3%8.4%2.1%0.12%0.07%0.04%0.02%

How has the Adidas and New Balance comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Adidas was ahead of New Balance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adidas’ share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide moved from 30.2% to 30.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 23.3M to 21.8M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide moved from 17.6% to 15.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.6M to 11.1M.

How did search popularity change for kids shoe brands worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Nike overtook Adidas to become the leader among kids shoe brands worldwide, with 33.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Adidas lost share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide, from 32.2% to 30.1%.

  3. In September 2026, New Balance lost share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide, from 16.5% to 15.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adidas’ and New Balance’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.

Adidas

4 branded search terms

  • adidas
  • adidas campus
  • adidas samba
  • adidas spezial

New Balance

1 branded search term

  • new balance

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among kids shoe brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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