Brandwave

LexisNexis vs Westlaw:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, LexisNexis had more branded searches than Westlaw among legal research platforms worldwide. LexisNexis had about 301,000 branded searches, while Westlaw had 246,000. LexisNexis made up 42% of all legal research platform searches we track, and Westlaw accounted for 34.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about legal research platforms, both LexisNexis and Westlaw appeared in all five answers. Westlaw was mentioned before LexisNexis in every answer.

Among legal research platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

LexisNexis, about 22% more searches than Westlaw

LexisNexis 301K searchesWestlaw 246K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

LexisNexis in 5 of 5Westlaw in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Westlaw, named ahead of LexisNexis in every answer

Westlaw first in 5LexisNexis never first

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Top legal research platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both LexisNexis and Westlaw showed up in all five answers. Westlaw was listed before LexisNexis in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Westlaw1st
  2. Bloomberg Law2nd
  3. Lexis+ AI3rd
  4. LexisNexis4th
  5. Fastcase5th
  6. CourtListener6th
  7. vLex7th
  8. Justia8th
  9. Casetext9th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • LexisNexis5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Westlaw5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bloomberg Law5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lexis+ AI4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fastcase4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CourtListener3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • vLex2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Justia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Casetext2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about legal research platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is LexisNexis or Westlaw more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for LexisNexis and Westlaw by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine legal research platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

LexisNexis and Westlaw among legal research platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for LexisNexis, Westlaw. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLexisNexisWestlawvLexCourtListenerJustiaLexis+ AIBloomberg LawCasetextFastcase
Oct 202541.8%41.8%6.9%1.7%2.5%2.4%1.7%0.75%0.5%
Nov 202544.3%36.2%8.9%2.2%2.7%2.5%1.8%0.97%0.43%
Dec 202544.7%36.5%7.4%2.7%3.3%2.1%1.8%0.98%0.53%
Jan 202644.7%36.6%7.4%3.3%2.7%2.1%2.2%0.65%0.43%
Feb 202647.1%31.5%6.3%5.2%4.2%2.2%2.3%0.84%0.37%
Mar 202648.5%32.4%8%2.9%2%2.9%2.4%0.47%0.47%
Apr 202647.4%31.6%9.5%3.5%2.3%3%1.6%0.57%0.46%
May 202647.6%31.8%9.6%3.5%2.3%2.6%1.6%0.46%0.46%
Jun 202646.8%31.3%11.5%3.5%1.9%2.7%1.5%0.45%0.37%
Jul 202649.8%27.3%12.2%3.7%2%2.5%1.6%0.31%0.48%
Aug 202649.4%33%6.6%3.6%2%2.5%2%0.26%0.59%
Sep 202642%34.3%12.6%3.1%2.5%2.3%1.7%0.92%0.5%

How has the LexisNexis and Westlaw comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • LexisNexis was ahead of Westlaw in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LexisNexis’ share of searches among legal research platforms worldwide moved from 41.8% to 42%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 301K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Westlaw’s share of searches among legal research platforms worldwide moved from 41.8% to 34.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 246K.

How did search popularity change for legal research platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Westlaw gained share of searches among legal research platforms worldwide, from 33% to 34.3%.

  2. In September 2026, LexisNexis lost share of searches among legal research platforms worldwide, from 49.4% to 42%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using LexisNexis’ and Westlaw’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.

LexisNexis

1 branded search term

  • lexisnexis

Westlaw

1 branded search term

  • westlaw

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among legal research platforms

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