--- title: "Ahrefs vs Google Keyword Planner: Which is searched more?" description: "Is Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Keyword research tools set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/ahrefs-vs-google-keyword-planner" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Ahrefs vs Google Keyword Planner: Which is searched more? Is Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Keyword research tools set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner - **Competitive set**: Keyword research tools - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **Ahrefs Share of Search**: 18.2% - **Google Keyword Planner Share of Search**: 18.4% ## Is Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner more popular in search? - In September 2026, Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner were level in searches among keyword research tools worldwide, with an estimated 352K versus 356K branded searches, at 18.2% and 18.4% of the total. - The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Google Keyword Planner took it in December 2025, Ahrefs took it in January 2026, Google Keyword Planner took it in September 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ahrefs’ share of searches among keyword research tools worldwide moved from 21.6% to 18.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 505K to 352K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Keyword Planner’s share of searches among keyword research tools worldwide moved from 18.7% to 18.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 436K to 356K. ## Top keyword research tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Keyword Planner appeared in all five answers. Ahrefs was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Ahrefs was listed before Google Keyword Planner in three out of five answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Semrush | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Google Keyword Planner | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Ahrefs | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | KWFinder | 4th | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Ubersuggest | 5th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | AnswerThePublic | 6th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Moz | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about keyword research tools - Asked ChatGPT "Which keyword research tool should I use?": 1. Semrush, 2. Ahrefs, 3. Google Keyword Planner, 4. KWFinder - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best keyword research tools?": 1. Ahrefs, 2. Semrush, 3. Google Keyword Planner, 4. KWFinder, 5. Ubersuggest, 6. AnswerThePublic - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best keyword research tool for search optimisation?": 1. Semrush, 2. Ahrefs, 3. Google Keyword Planner, 4. KWFinder - Searched Google, AI Overview "keyword research tools": 1. Google Keyword Planner, 2. Ahrefs, 3. AnswerThePublic, 4. Semrush, 5. Ubersuggest - Searched Google, AI Overview "seo keyword tool": 1. Semrush, 2. Google Keyword Planner, 3. Ubersuggest Not named in any answer: Moz. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for keyword research tools worldwide in September 2026? - In September 2026, Google Keyword Planner overtook Ahrefs to rank 2nd among keyword research tools worldwide, with 18.4% of the searches. - In September 2026, Ahrefs lost share of searches among keyword research tools worldwide, from 20.7% to 18.2%. ## Month by month | Month | Ahrefs estimated searches | Ahrefs Share of Search | Ahrefs rank | Google Keyword Planner estimated searches | Google Keyword Planner Share of Search | Google Keyword Planner rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 505K | 21.6% | 2 | 436K | 18.7% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | 414K | 18.5% | 2 | 381K | 17.1% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | 284K | 15.8% | 3 | 311K | 17.3% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | 422K | 20.5% | 2 | 356K | 17.3% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | 422K | 21.2% | 2 | 356K | 17.9% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | 447K | 15.8% | 2 | 356K | 12.6% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | 485K | 20.8% | 2 | 356K | 15.3% | 3 | | May 2026 | 482K | 23.3% | 2 | 356K | 17.2% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | 414K | 20.7% | 2 | 337K | 16.8% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | 509K | 24.4% | 2 | 411K | 19.7% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | 393K | 20.7% | 2 | 337K | 17.7% | 3 | | Sep 2026 | 352K | 18.2% | 3 | 356K | 18.4% | 2 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ahrefs’ 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. - **Ahrefs**: Measured on the search terms “ahrefs”, “ahrefs backlink checker” and “ahrefs seo tools”, summed into one figure. - **Google Keyword Planner**: Measured on the search terms “google keyword planner” and “keyword planner”, summed into one figure. - [Ahrefs profile](/demand/global-en/brands/ahrefs) - [Google Keyword Planner profile](/demand/global-en/brands/google-keyword-planner) - [All keyword research tools worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/keyword-research-tools): The set both shares are measured inside, 7 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner more popular in search? In September 2026, Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner were level in searches among keyword research tools worldwide, with an estimated 352K versus 356K branded searches, at 18.2% and 18.4% of the total. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Ahrefs vs Google Keyword Planner: Which is searched more?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/ahrefs-vs-google-keyword-planner This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/ahrefs-vs-google-keyword-planner. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.