Ipsos vs NielsenIQ:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Ipsos had more branded searches than NielsenIQ among market research companies worldwide. Ipsos had about 246,000 branded searches, while NielsenIQ had 228,000. Ipsos made up 24.1% of all market research company searches we track, and NielsenIQ accounted for 22.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about market research companies, Ipsos appeared in all five answers and NielsenIQ in three. Ipsos was mentioned before NielsenIQ in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Ipsos, about 8% more searches than NielsenIQ
Who does AI mention more?
Ipsos, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Ipsos, named ahead of NielsenIQ in every answer
Follow Ipsos vs NielsenIQ 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
Top market research companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ipsos appeared in all five answers. NielsenIQ was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Ipsos was listed before NielsenIQ in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Ipsos1st
Kantar2nd
Nielsen3rd
NielsenIQ4th
Forrester Research5th
Circana6th
YouGov7th
Touchstone Research8th
Mintel9th
B2B International10th- +3 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Ipsos5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- NielsenIQ3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Kantar3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Forrester Research3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- YouGov2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Circana2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Nielsen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- B2B International2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Touchstone Research2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Euromonitor1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about market research companies
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which market research company should I hire?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best market research companies?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best market research company for consumer insights?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“market research companies”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“market research firm”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Ipsos or NielsenIQ more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Ipsos and NielsenIQ by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 market research companies we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Ipsos, NielsenIQ. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Ipsos | YouGov | NielsenIQ | GfK | Kantar | Circana | Euromonitor | Mintel | Verian | Nielsen | Forrester Research | B2B International | Touchstone Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 25.8% | 21.1% | 19.1% | 9.4% | 11.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 4.2% | 1.3% | 1% | 0.57% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.7% | 24.1% | 22.3% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.43% | 0.09% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 22.1% | 22.1% | 24.6% | 10% | 10% | 3% | 2.4% | 3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.48% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Jan 2026 | 19.8% | 24.2% | 26.4% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.43% | 0.09% | 0.03% |
| Feb 2026 | 21.5% | 21.5% | 24.4% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.58% | 0.09% | 0.04% |
| Mar 2026 | 22.8% | 22.8% | 21.2% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Apr 2026 | 27.4% | 22.4% | 20.8% | 8.2% | 10% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.07% | 0.04% |
| May 2026 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 22.5% | 7.3% | 10.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.35% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.4% | 20.3% | 23.1% | 6.1% | 9.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.36% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 21.8% | 26.7% | 24.7% | 6.6% | 9.8% | 2.9% | 2% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 0.39% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 26% | 21.3% | 24.1% | 7.8% | 9.6% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.1% | 24.1% | 22.4% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.35% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
How has the Ipsos and NielsenIQ comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: NielsenIQ took it in November 2025, Ipsos took it in March 2026, NielsenIQ took it in July 2026, Ipsos took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ipsos’ share of searches among market research companies worldwide moved from 25.8% to 24.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 301K to 246K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NielsenIQ’s share of searches among market research companies worldwide moved from 19.1% to 22.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 223K to 228K.
How did search popularity change for market research companies worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, YouGov overtook NielsenIQ to rank 2nd among market research companies worldwide, with 24.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Ipsos lost share of searches among market research companies worldwide, from 26% to 24.1%.
In September 2026, NielsenIQ lost share of searches among market research companies worldwide, from 24.1% to 22.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ipsos’ and NielsenIQ’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 market research companies
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.