Brandwave

New Balance vs Skechers:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, New Balance had more branded searches than Skechers among kids shoe brands worldwide. New Balance had about 11.1 million branded searches, while Skechers had 6.1 million. New Balance made up 15.3% of all kids shoe brand searches we track, and Skechers accounted for 8.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about kids shoe brands, New Balance appeared in all five answers and Skechers in three. New Balance was mentioned before Skechers in every answer.

Among kids shoe brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

New Balance, about 81% more searches than Skechers

New Balance 11.1M searchesSkechers 6.1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

New Balance, mentioned in every answer we collected

New Balance in 5 of 5Skechers in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

New Balance, named ahead of Skechers in every answer

New Balance first in 5Skechers never first

Follow New Balance vs Skechers and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

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. Skechers was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. New Balance was listed before Skechers in every answer.

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 Skechers more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for New Balance and Skechers 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 Skechers among kids shoe brands worldwide, by month

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

3 findings
  • New Balance was ahead of Skechers 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, Skechers’ share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide moved from 7.9% to 8.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.1M.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Skechers gained share of searches among kids shoe brands worldwide, from 7.4% to 8.4%.

  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?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using New Balance’s and Skechers’ 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

Skechers

1 branded search term

  • skechers

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among kids shoe brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free