Brandwave

Airbnb vs Google Flights:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Flights had more branded searches than Airbnb among online travel agencies worldwide. Google Flights had about 45.5 million branded searches, while Airbnb had 37.2 million. Google Flights made up 28.7% of all online travel agency searches we track, and Airbnb accounted for 23.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online travel agencies, Google Flights appeared in three of the five answers and Airbnb in none.

Among online travel agencies worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Flights, about 22% more searches than Airbnb

Google Flights 45.5M searchesAirbnb 37.2M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Google Flights, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Airbnb in 0

Google Flights in 3 of 5Airbnb in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Google Flights, the only one of the two named

Google Flights first in 3Airbnb never named

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Top online travel agencies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Flights was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Airbnb did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Expedia1st
  2. Booking.com2nd
  3. Priceline3rd
  4. Hotels.com4th
  5. Google Flights5th
  6. Kayak6th
  7. Agoda7th
  8. Vrbo8th
  9. Trip.com9th
  10. +1 more
  11. Airbnb–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Expedia5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Booking.com5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Flights3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Priceline3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Agoda2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hotels.com2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kayak2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Skyscanner1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vrbo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Airbnb0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about online travel agencies

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 Airbnb or Google Flights more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Airbnb and Google Flights by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 online travel agencies we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Airbnb and Google Flights among online travel agencies worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Flights, Airbnb. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle FlightsSkyscannerAirbnbExpediaBooking.comAgodaPricelineVrboTrip.comHotels.comKayak
Oct 202530%30%24.5%4.9%2.7%3.3%1.8%1.8%0.54%0.3%<0.01%
Nov 202530.1%30.1%24.6%4.9%2.8%3.3%1.8%1.8%0.44%0.24%<0.01%
Dec 202531.8%26%26%5.2%2.9%3.5%1.9%1.9%0.47%0.26%<0.01%
Jan 202630%30%24.6%4.9%2.7%3.3%1.5%2.2%0.44%0.24%<0.01%
Feb 202629.3%29.3%23.9%5.9%3.3%3.2%1.8%2.6%0.43%0.29%<0.01%
Mar 202631.7%26%26%5.2%3.5%2.9%1.6%2.3%0.57%0.26%<0.01%
Apr 202627.7%27.7%27.7%5.6%3.8%3%1.7%2%0.5%0.27%<0.01%
May 202627.5%27.5%27.5%5.5%3.7%3.7%1.7%2%0.5%0.33%<0.01%
Jun 202627.6%27.6%27.6%5.5%3.8%3%1.7%2.5%0.5%0.33%<0.01%
Jul 202625.7%25.7%31.4%5.2%4.3%2.8%1.5%2.3%0.57%0.38%<0.01%
Aug 202626.9%26.9%26.9%5.4%5.5%3.6%1.6%2%0.72%0.4%<0.01%
Sep 202628.7%28.7%23.5%5.8%4.7%3.9%1.7%1.7%0.95%0.35%<0.01%

How has the Airbnb and Google Flights comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Airbnb took it in July 2026, Google Flights took it in August 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Airbnb’s share of searches among online travel agencies worldwide moved from 24.5% to 23.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 37.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Flights’ share of searches among online travel agencies worldwide moved from 30% to 28.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 45.5M.

How did search popularity change for online travel agencies worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Skyscanner overtook Airbnb to rank 2nd among online travel agencies worldwide, with 28.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Google Flights gained share of searches among online travel agencies worldwide, from 26.9% to 28.7%.

  3. In September 2026, Airbnb lost share of searches among online travel agencies worldwide, from 26.9% to 23.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airbnb’s and Google Flights’ 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.

Airbnb

1 branded search term

  • airbnb

Google Flights

2 branded search terms

  • google flights
  • googleflights

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among online travel agencies

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