ApplyBoard vs UCAS:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, UCAS had more branded searches than ApplyBoard among university application platforms worldwide. UCAS was estimated to have 1.5M branded searches compared to ApplyBoard’s 27.1K, and held a 44.3% Share of Search versus ApplyBoard’s 0.8%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, ApplyBoard or UCAS?
Compare the platforms students apply to universities through. 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.
Share of Search by month for UCAS, ApplyBoard. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Common App | UCAS | ApplyBoard | Studyportals | Coalition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 76.2% | 22.7% | 0.62% | 0.5% | — |
| Nov 2025 | 54.2% | 44.4% | 0.8% | 0.66% | — |
| Dec 2025 | 49.2% | 49.2% | 0.89% | 0.73% | — |
| Jan 2026 | 44% | 54.1% | 0.98% | 0.98% | — |
| Feb 2026 | 43.6% | 53.3% | 1.8% | 1.4% | — |
| Mar 2026 | 38.7% | 57.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | — |
| Apr 2026 | 38.4% | 57.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | — |
| May 2026 | 38.4% | 57.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | — |
| Jun 2026 | 33.9% | 62% | 2% | 2% | — |
| Jul 2026 | 43.1% | 52.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | — |
| Aug 2026 | 54.1% | 44.3% | 0.8% | 0.8% | — |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the ApplyBoard and UCAS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- UCAS was ahead of ApplyBoard in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, ApplyBoard’s estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide moved from 0.62% to 0.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 27.1K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCAS’s estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide moved from 22.7% to 44.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 1.5M.
How did search popularity change for university application platforms worldwide in August 2026?
3 changes
In August 2026, Common App overtook UCAS to take the highest estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide, at 54.1%.
In August 2026, UCAS lost estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide, from 52.7% to 44.3%.
In August 2026, ApplyBoard lost estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide, from 2.1% to 0.8%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ApplyBoard’s and UCAS’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.
ApplyBoard
1 branded search term
- applyboard
UCAS
1 branded search term
- ucas
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.