Brandwave

Apple Photos vs digiKam:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apple Photos had more branded searches than digiKam among photo management software worldwide. Apple Photos had about 90,500 branded searches, while digiKam had 40,500. Apple Photos made up 0.5% of all photo management software searches we track, and digiKam accounted for 0.23%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo management software, Apple Photos appeared in four of the five answers and digiKam in three. digiKam was mentioned before Apple Photos in three out of five answers.

Among photo management software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apple Photos, about 2 searches for every 1 for digiKam

Apple Photos 90.5K searchesdigiKam 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apple Photos, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, digiKam in 3

Apple Photos in 4 of 5digiKam in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

digiKam, named ahead of Apple Photos in 3 of 5 answers

digiKam first in 3Apple Photos first in 2

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Top photo management software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple Photos was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. digiKam was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. digiKam was listed before Apple Photos in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Adobe Lightroom1st
  2. Google Photos2nd
  3. digiKam3rd
  4. Excire4th
  5. Apple Photos5th
  6. Mylio Photos6th
  7. ACDSee7th
  8. Photo Mechanic–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Adobe Lightroom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Photos4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple Photos4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mylio Photos4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Excire4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • digiKam3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ACDSee3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Photo Mechanic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about photo management software

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 Apple Photos or digiKam more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Photos and digiKam by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight photo management software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Apple Photos and digiKam among photo management software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Apple Photos, digiKam. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle PhotosAdobe LightroomApple PhotosdigiKamACDSeePhoto MechanicMylio PhotosExcire
Oct 202591.8%6.9%0.75%0.18%0.18%0.13%0.03%0.01%
Nov 202593.6%5.5%0.5%0.15%0.15%0.09%0.02%0.01%
Dec 202592.2%6.6%0.61%0.22%0.18%0.11%0.03%0.02%
Jan 202693.5%5.6%0.41%0.19%0.15%0.09%0.02%0.01%
Feb 202692.5%6.6%0.5%0.18%0.15%0.11%0.02%0.01%
Mar 202693.5%5.7%0.41%0.19%0.12%0.09%0.02%0.01%
Apr 202693.5%5.6%0.41%0.15%0.12%0.09%0.02%0.01%
May 202693.8%5.4%0.42%0.19%0.1%0.1%0.02%0.01%
Jun 202692.5%6.4%0.5%0.23%0.12%0.12%0.02%0.02%
Jul 202693.4%5.6%0.51%0.23%0.12%0.12%0.02%0.01%
Aug 202693.8%5.3%0.42%0.23%0.1%0.08%0.02%<0.01%
Sep 202692.5%6.5%0.5%0.23%0.12%0.12%0.02%0.01%

How has the Apple Photos and digiKam comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for photo management software worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for digiKam worldwide rose 22.4% over 12 measured months, from 33.1K to 40.5K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Photos worldwide fell 33% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Photos’ and digiKam’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.

Apple Photos

1 branded search term

  • apple photos

digiKam

1 branded search term

  • digikam

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among photo management software

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