Brandwave

AnswerThePublic vs Google Keyword Planner:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Keyword Planner had more branded searches than AnswerThePublic among SEO tools worldwide. Google Keyword Planner had about 356,000 branded searches, while AnswerThePublic had 110,000. Google Keyword Planner made up 19.3% of all SEO tool searches we track, and AnswerThePublic accounted for 6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO tools, AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner each appeared in two of the five answers. AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among SEO tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Keyword Planner, about 3 searches for every 1 for AnswerThePublic

Google Keyword Planner 356K searchesAnswerThePublic 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

AnswerThePublic in 2 of 5Google Keyword Planner in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

AnswerThePublic first in 1Google Keyword Planner first in 1

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Top SEO tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner were each mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Semrush1st
  2. Ahrefs2nd
  3. Screaming Frog3rd
  4. SE Ranking4th
  5. Google Keyword Planner5th
  6. AnswerThePublic6th
  7. Moz Pro7th
  8. Mangools8th
  9. Ubersuggest9th
  10. Serpstat–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Semrush5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ahrefs5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Screaming Frog4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SE Ranking3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Keyword Planner2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AnswerThePublic2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Moz Pro2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ubersuggest1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mangools1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Serpstat0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about SEO tools

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 21, 2026.

Is AnswerThePublic or Google Keyword Planner more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten SEO tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner among SEO tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSemrushGoogle Keyword PlannerAhrefsUbersuggestAnswerThePublicSE RankingMangoolsSerpstatMoz ProScreaming Frog
Oct 202537.4%19.4%20.3%11%7.4%3.3%0.67%0.44%0.13%<0.01%
Nov 202539.6%17.8%17.5%11.5%9.4%2.8%0.7%0.46%0.11%<0.01%
Dec 202540.8%18.4%14.8%11.9%9.7%2.9%0.89%0.39%0.14%<0.01%
Jan 202635.2%18.2%19.1%12.6%10.3%3.1%0.94%0.42%0.15%<0.01%
Feb 202636.2%18.7%19.5%10.6%10.5%3.2%0.79%0.42%0.17%<0.01%
Mar 202654.6%13%14.1%9%6%2.2%0.55%0.36%0.13%<0.01%
Apr 202641.5%16.5%17.3%11.4%9.3%2.8%0.7%0.38%0.14%<0.01%
May 202637%18.2%19.1%10.3%8.4%5.6%0.77%0.42%0.15%<0.01%
Jun 202640.9%18.4%16.7%11%9%2.7%0.67%0.36%0.13%<0.01%
Jul 202639.9%22.7%17%9.1%7.5%2.7%0.67%0.3%0.13%<0.01%
Aug 202642.3%19.4%17.5%9.5%7.8%2.3%0.7%0.31%0.11%<0.01%
Sep 202645.5%19.3%16.4%9%6%2.7%0.66%0.29%0.09%<0.01%

How has the AnswerThePublic and Google Keyword Planner comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for SEO tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, AnswerThePublic lost share of searches among SEO tools worldwide, from 7.8% to 6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Google Keyword Planner worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 436K to 356K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AnswerThePublic’s and Google Keyword Planner’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.

AnswerThePublic

1 branded search term

  • answerthepublic

Google Keyword Planner

2 branded search terms

  • google keyword planner
  • keyword planner

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among SEO tools

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