Airheads vs Skittles:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Skittles had more branded searches than Airheads among candy brands worldwide. Skittles had about 550,000 branded searches, while Airheads had 33,100. Skittles made up 20% of all candy brand searches we track, and Airheads accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about candy brands, Skittles appeared in three of the five answers and Airheads in two. Skittles was mentioned before Airheads in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Skittles, about 17 searches for every 1 for Airheads
Who does AI mention more?
Skittles, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Airheads in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Skittles, named ahead of Airheads in 3 of 3 answers
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Top candy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Skittles was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Airheads was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Skittles was listed before Airheads in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Sour Patch Kids1st
Haribo2nd- Skittles3rd
Nerds4th
Jolly Rancher5th
Warheads6th
Starburst7th
Trolli8th
Mike and Ike9th
Airheads10th- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Sour Patch Kids5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Haribo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Skittles3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Nerds2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Jolly Rancher2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Mike and Ike2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Warheads2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Starburst2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Airheads2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hi-Chew1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about candy brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best candy brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which sour candy should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the most popular candy right now?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“candy brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best candy”
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 26, 2026.
Is Airheads or Skittles more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Airheads and Skittles by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 candy brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Skittles, Airheads. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Haribo | Skittles | Sour Patch Kids | Nerds | Jolly Rancher | Twizzlers | Hi-Chew | Swedish Fish | Jelly Belly | Mike and Ike | Trolli | Warheads | Starburst | Airheads | Maynards Bassetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 23.2% | 18.9% | 10.4% | 11.6% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 23.8% | 19.4% | 10.6% | 9.7% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 24.7% | 20.2% | 11% | 8.8% | 9% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.06% |
| Feb 2026 | 24.4% | 20% | 10.9% | 10% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.99% | 0.04% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.8% | 19.5% | 10.7% | 9.8% | 8.7% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.06% |
| Apr 2026 | 24.2% | 19.8% | 10.8% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 4% | 4% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.98% | 0.06% |
| May 2026 | 23.6% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 9.7% | 8.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.95% | 0.04% |
| Jun 2026 | 23.4% | 19.2% | 10.5% | 9.6% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.07% |
| Jul 2026 | 23% | 18.8% | 10.3% | 10% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.05% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.7% | 21.7% | 9.7% | 8.9% | 9.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.06% |
| Sep 2026 | 20.8% | 20.8% | 11.4% | 8.5% | 9.3% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1% | 0.05% |
| Oct 2026 | 20% | 20% | 13.4% | 9.5% | 9% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.05% |
How has branded search for Airheads and Skittles changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Skittles was ahead of Airheads in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Airheads’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide moved from 1.1% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Skittles’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide moved from 18.9% to 20%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 550K.
How did search popularity change for candy brands worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, Skittles lost share of searches among candy brands worldwide, from 20.8% to 20%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Airheads worldwide rose 22.1% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 33.1K in October 2026.
How are Airheads’ and Skittles’ branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airheads’ and Skittles’ 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.
Other head-to-heads among candy brands
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