Brandwave

New Balance vs Nike:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Nike had more branded searches than New Balance among kids shoe brands worldwide. Nike had about 24.3 million branded searches, while New Balance had 11.1 million. Nike made up 33.5% 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 Nike in two. New Balance was mentioned before Nike in three out of five answers.

Among kids shoe brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Nike, about 2 searches for every 1 for New Balance

Nike 24.3M searchesNew Balance 11.1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

New Balance, mentioned in every answer we collected

New Balance in 5 of 5Nike in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

New Balance, named ahead of Nike in 3 of 5 answers

New Balance first in 3Nike first in 2

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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. Nike 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 Nike in three 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 New Balance or Nike more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for New Balance and Nike 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.

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

Share of searches by month for Nike, 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 New Balance and Nike comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Nike was ahead of New Balance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nike’s share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide moved from 32.3% to 33.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 24.9M to 24.3M.

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

2 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, 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 New Balance’s and Nike’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.

New Balance

1 branded search term

  • new balance

Nike

4 branded search terms

  • nike
  • nike air max
  • nike shoes
  • nike shox

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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