Brandwatch vs Sprout Social:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Sprout Social had more branded searches than Brandwatch among media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide. Sprout Social had about 91,300 branded searches, while Brandwatch had 49,800. Sprout Social made up 36.4% of all media monitoring and social listening tool searches we track, and Brandwatch accounted for 19.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about media monitoring and social listening tools, Brandwatch appeared in four of the five answers and Sprout Social in three. Brandwatch was mentioned before Sprout Social in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Sprout Social, about 83% more searches than Brandwatch
Who does AI mention more?
Brandwatch, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Sprout Social in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Brandwatch, named ahead of Sprout Social in 3 of 5 answers
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Top media monitoring and social listening tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Brandwatch was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Brandwatch was listed before Sprout Social in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Brand245 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Brandwatch4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Meltwater4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Sprout Social3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Talkwalker2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Cision2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Muck Rack1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- CisionOne1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Onclusive0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Agility PR Solutions0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about media monitoring and social listening tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which media monitoring tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best media monitoring tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best media monitoring tool for social listening?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“social listening tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online reputation monitoring”
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 21, 2026.
Is Brandwatch or Sprout Social more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Brandwatch and Sprout Social by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 media monitoring and social listening tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Sprout Social, Brandwatch. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Sprout Social | Brandwatch | Muck Rack | Brand24 | Talkwalker | Onclusive | Agility PR Solutions | Prezly | Prowly | Cision | CisionOne | Meltwater | Mention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.4% | 17.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 2.9% | 0.98% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 0.79% | 0.38% | 0.23% | 0.11% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.7% | 20.2% | 11% | 13.4% | 11% | 2.7% | 0.92% | 0.8% | 1.8% | 0.74% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.13% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.8% | 19.6% | 13% | 13% | 10.6% | 3.2% | 0.91% | 0.75% | 1.4% | 0.87% | 0.39% | 0.24% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.2% | 17.3% | 14% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 2.8% | 1% | 0.66% | 1.5% | 0.76% | 0.45% | 0.3% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.6% | 19.1% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.72% | 1.4% | 0.87% | 0.49% | 0.37% | 0.15% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.6% | 19.7% | 13% | 13% | 10.6% | 3.3% | 0.93% | 0.77% | 1.4% | 0.71% | 0.42% | 0.33% | 0.15% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.6% | 19% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 0.72% | 1.4% | 0.84% | 0.49% | 0.36% | 0.18% |
| May 2026 | 36% | 19.9% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 2.7% | 0.98% | 0.75% | 1.1% | 0.73% | 0.35% | 0.47% | 0.15% |
| Jun 2026 | 34.8% | 19% | 15.4% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.73% | 1.1% | 0.82% | 0.38% | 0.45% | 0.12% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.7% | 16.9% | 16.7% | 11.2% | 9.2% | 3.4% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 1.2% | 0.87% | 0.41% | 0.36% | 0.16% |
| Aug 2026 | 38.3% | 17.2% | 17% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.8% | 1% | 0.74% | 0.42% | 0.37% | 0.09% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.4% | 19.8% | 16.1% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 3.3% | 1.1% | 0.96% | 0.96% | 0.84% | 0.52% | 0.29% | 0.1% |
How has the Brandwatch and Sprout Social comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Sprout Social was ahead of Brandwatch in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brandwatch’s share of searches among media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide moved from 17.7% to 19.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 61.2K to 49.8K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide moved from 39.4% to 36.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 136K to 91.3K.
How did search popularity change for media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Brandwatch gained share of searches among media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide, from 17.2% to 19.8%.
In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among media monitoring and social listening tools worldwide, from 38.3% to 36.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
12 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Brandwatch’s and Sprout Social’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.
Brandwatch
2 branded search terms
- brandwatch
- brandwatch social listening
Sprout Social
10 branded search terms
- social listening sprout social
- social media sprout social
- sprout social
- sprout social app
- sprout social influencers
- sprout social listening
- sprout social platform
- sprout social reporting
- sprout social social media
- sprout social tiktok
Other head-to-heads among media monitoring and social listening tools
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