Apple Maps vs Google Maps:Which is more popular?

Name: Apple Maps vs Google Maps: Which is searched more?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Google Maps had more branded searches than Apple Maps among transit apps worldwide. Google Maps had about 185 million branded searches, while Apple Maps had 823,000. Google Maps made up 99.1% of all transit app searches we track, and Apple Maps accounted for 0.44%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about transit apps, Google Maps appeared in all five answers and Apple Maps in three. Google Maps was mentioned before Apple Maps in every answer.

Among transit apps worldwide in September 2026

Follow Apple Maps vs Google Maps 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

Track your brand against a rival →

Top transit apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Maps appeared in all five answers. Apple Maps was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Maps was listed before Apple Maps in every answer.

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.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Google Maps	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Transit	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Apple Maps	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Citymapper	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Rome2Rio	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5
Moovit	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5

Google Maps5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Transit4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Apple Maps3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Citymapper3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Rome2Rio1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Moovit1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about transit apps

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which transit app should I use?”
1. 1Google Maps
2. 2Transit
3. 3Citymapper
4. 4Apple Maps
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best transit apps?”
1. 1Google Maps
2. 2Transit
3. 3Citymapper
4. 4Moovit
5. 5Apple Maps
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best transit app for public transport trips?”
1. 1Google Maps
2. 2Transit
3. 3Citymapper
4. 4Apple Maps
Searched Google, AI Overview
“public transport app”
1. 1Transit
2. 2Google Maps
Searched Google, AI Overview
“trip planner app”
1. 1Rome2Rio
2. 2Google Maps

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Apple Maps or Google Maps more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Maps and Google Maps by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six transit apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Apple Maps and Google Maps among transit apps worldwide, by month

Month	Google Maps	Apple Maps	Rome2Rio	Moovit	Citymapper	Transit
Oct 2025	99%	0.36%	0.24%	0.24%	0.13%	0.03%
Nov 2025	99.1%	0.36%	0.24%	0.2%	0.11%	0.02%
Dec 2025	99.1%	0.3%	0.24%	0.24%	0.13%	0.03%
Jan 2026	99.1%	0.36%	0.24%	0.2%	0.13%	0.02%
Feb 2026	98.8%	0.54%	0.29%	0.24%	0.13%	0.02%
Mar 2026	98.9%	0.44%	0.29%	0.2%	0.11%	0.02%
Apr 2026	99%	0.36%	0.29%	0.2%	0.13%	0.02%
May 2026	99.1%	0.36%	0.24%	0.2%	0.11%	0.02%
Jun 2026	99.1%	0.36%	0.24%	0.16%	0.13%	0.02%
Jul 2026	99.2%	0.29%	0.24%	0.16%	0.11%	0.02%
Aug 2026	99.1%	0.36%	0.24%	0.16%	0.11%	0.02%
Sep 2026	99.1%	0.44%	0.2%	0.16%	0.11%	0.02%

How has the Apple Maps and Google Maps comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

Google Maps was ahead of Apple Maps in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Maps’ share of searches among transit apps worldwide moved from 0.36% to 0.44%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 673K to 823K.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Maps’ share of searches among transit apps worldwide moved from 99% to 99.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 185M.

How did search popularity change for transit apps worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

Estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Maps worldwide rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 673K to 823K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Maps’ and Google Maps’ 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.

Apple Maps

1 branded search term

apple maps

Google Maps

1 branded search term

google maps

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

See all 6 transit apps ranked

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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.

Start free