---
title: "American Express vs Mastercard: Which is more popular by branded search?"
description: "Which is more popular in search, American Express or Mastercard? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Credit cards 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/american-express-vs-mastercard"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# American Express vs Mastercard: Which is more popular by branded search?

Which is more popular in search, American Express or Mastercard? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Credit cards 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**: American Express and Mastercard
- **Competitive set**: Credit cards
- **Market**: Global
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **American Express Share of Search**: 28%
- **Mastercard Share of Search**: 0.12%

## Which is more popular in search, American Express or Mastercard?

- In August 2026, American Express had more branded searches than Mastercard among credit cards worldwide. American Express was estimated to have 5M branded searches compared to Mastercard’s 22.2K, and held a 28% Share of Search versus Mastercard’s 0.12%.
- American Express was ahead of Mastercard in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, American Express’ estimated Share of Search among credit cards worldwide moved from 27.8% to 28%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 5M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Mastercard’s estimated Share of Search among credit cards worldwide moved from 0.15% to 0.12%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 22.2K.

## How did search popularity change for credit cards worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, American Express lost estimated Share of Search among credit cards worldwide, from 31.1% to 28%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Mastercard worldwide fell 18.1% over 11 measured months, from 27.1K to 22.2K in August 2026.

## Month by month

| Month | American Express estimated searches | American Express Share of Search | American Express rank | Mastercard estimated searches | Mastercard Share of Search | Mastercard rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | 5M | 27.8% | 2 | 27.1K | 0.15% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | 5M | 31.4% | 2 | 18.1K | 0.11% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | 5M | 31.4% | 2 | 22.2K | 0.14% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | 6.1M | 32% | 2 | 27.1K | 0.14% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | 5M | 31.4% | 2 | 22.2K | 0.14% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | 5M | 27.7% | 2 | 27.1K | 0.15% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | 5M | 27.7% | 2 | 22.2K | 0.12% | 6 |
| May 2026 | 5M | 30.9% | 2 | 22.2K | 0.14% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | 5M | 31.1% | 2 | 27.1K | 0.17% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | 5M | 31.1% | 2 | 27.1K | 0.17% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | 5M | 28% | 2 | 22.2K | 0.12% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## How each brand is measured

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using American Express’ and Mastercard’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.

- **American Express**: Measured on the search term “american express”.
- **Mastercard**: Measured on the search term “mastercard credit card”.

- [American Express profile](/demand/global-en/brands/american-express)
- [Mastercard profile](/demand/global-en/brands/mastercard)
- [All credit cards worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/credit-cards): The set both shares are measured inside, 6 brands.

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is more popular in search, American Express or Mastercard?

In August 2026, American Express had more branded searches than Mastercard among credit cards worldwide. American Express was estimated to have 5M branded searches compared to Mastercard’s 22.2K, and held a 28% Share of Search versus Mastercard’s 0.12%.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "American Express vs Mastercard: Which is more popular by branded search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/american-express-vs-mastercard

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/american-express-vs-mastercard. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.