Brandwave

Airheads vs Warheads:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Warheads had more branded searches than Airheads among candy brands worldwide. Warheads had about 40,500 branded searches, while Airheads had 33,100. Warheads made up 1.5% of all candy brand searches we track, and Airheads accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about candy brands, Airheads and Warheads each appeared in two of the five answers. Warheads was mentioned before Airheads in two out of three answers that named either.

Among candy brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Warheads, about 22% more searches than Airheads

Warheads 40.5K searchesAirheads 33.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Airheads in 2 of 5Warheads in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Warheads, named ahead of Airheads in 2 of 3 answers

Warheads first in 2Airheads first in 1

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Top candy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two 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. Warheads was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Warheads was listed before Airheads in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Sour Patch Kids1st
  2. Haribo2nd
  3. Skittles3rd
  4. Nerds4th
  5. Jolly Rancher5th
  6. Warheads6th
  7. Starburst7th
  8. Trolli8th
  9. Mike and Ike9th
  10. Airheads10th
  11. +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

+5 more

See every answer about candy brands

5 answers

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 Warheads more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Airheads and Warheads 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.

Airheads and Warheads among candy brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Warheads, Airheads. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHariboSkittlesSour Patch KidsNerdsJolly RancherTwizzlersHi-ChewSwedish FishJelly BellyMike and IkeTrolliWarheadsStarburstAirheadsMaynards Bassetts
Nov 202523.2%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 202523.8%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 202624.7%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 202624.4%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 202623.8%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 202624.2%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 202623.6%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 202623.4%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 202623%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 202621.7%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 202620.8%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 202620%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 Warheads changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: Airheads took it in July 2026, Warheads took it in September 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, Warheads’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 40.5K.

How did search popularity change for candy brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes
  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Warheads worldwide rose 22.4% over 12 measured months, from 33.1K to 40.5K in October 2026.

  2. 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 Warheads’ branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airheads’ and Warheads’ 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.

Airheads

1 branded search term

  • airheads candy

Warheads

1 branded search term

  • warheads candy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among candy brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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