Brandwave

The Guardian vs The Washington Post:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, The Guardian had more branded searches than The Washington Post among newspapers worldwide. The Guardian had about 4.1 million branded searches, while The Washington Post had 1.4 million. The Guardian made up 32.1% of all newspaper searches we track, and The Washington Post accounted for 10.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about newspapers, The Washington Post appeared in three of the five answers and The Guardian in one. The Washington Post was mentioned before The Guardian in every answer that named either.

Among newspapers worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

The Guardian, about 3 searches for every 1 for The Washington Post

The Guardian 4.1M searchesThe Washington Post 1.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

The Washington Post, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, The Guardian in 1

The Washington Post in 3 of 5The Guardian in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

The Washington Post, named ahead of The Guardian in 3 of 3 answers

The Washington Post first in 3The Guardian never first

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Top newspapers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Washington Post was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. The Guardian was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. The Washington Post was listed before The Guardian in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. The New York Times1st
  2. The Wall Street Journal2nd
  3. The Washington Post3rd
  4. The Guardian4th
  5. Financial Times5th
  6. The Times–
  7. The Telegraph–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • The New York Times4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The Wall Street Journal4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The Washington Post3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The Guardian1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Financial Times1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • The Times0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • The Telegraph0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about newspapers

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 The Guardian or The Washington Post more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for The Guardian and The Washington Post by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven newspapers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

The Guardian and The Washington Post among newspapers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for The Guardian, The Washington Post. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthThe GuardianThe New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostFinancial TimesThe TimesThe Telegraph
Oct 202528.8%28.4%15.7%15%4.8%4.7%2.6%
Nov 202529.8%30.4%14.6%13.1%4%4.9%3.3%
Dec 202531.6%30.2%14.1%13.5%3.5%4.3%2.8%
Jan 202628%33.6%13.7%15.1%3.8%3.8%2.1%
Feb 202630.7%31.3%13.6%14.6%3.4%4.1%2.3%
Mar 202629.8%30.3%16.2%13.6%4%4%2.2%
Apr 202630.4%29.9%16.6%12.6%4.1%4.1%2.2%
May 202631.2%30.7%15.3%10.6%4.2%5.1%2.8%
Jun 202633.7%28.1%15%11.2%4.5%4.5%3%
Jul 202633.4%27.8%14.9%11.1%3.7%5.5%3.7%
Aug 202633.5%29.2%14.9%11.1%3.7%4.5%3%
Sep 202632.1%31.5%14.3%10.6%4.3%4.3%2.9%

How has the The Guardian and The Washington Post comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The Guardian was ahead of The Washington Post in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Guardian’s share of searches among newspapers worldwide moved from 28.8% to 32.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Washington Post’s share of searches among newspapers worldwide moved from 15% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.1M to 1.4M.

How did search popularity change for newspapers worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Guardian lost share of searches among newspapers worldwide, from 33.5% to 32.1%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for The Washington Post worldwide fell 36.4% over 12 measured months, from 2.1M to 1.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using The Guardian’s and The Washington Post’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.

The Guardian

1 branded search term

  • the guardian

The Washington Post

2 branded search terms

  • the washington post
  • washington post

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among newspapers

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