Brandwave

Banana Boat vs EltaMD:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Banana Boat had more branded searches than EltaMD among sunscreen brands worldwide. Banana Boat had about 143,000 branded searches, while EltaMD had 60,500. Banana Boat made up 3.3% of all sunscreen brand searches we track, and EltaMD accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sunscreen brands, EltaMD appeared in two of the four answers and Banana Boat in none.

Among sunscreen brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Banana Boat, about 2 searches for every 1 for EltaMD

Banana Boat 143K searchesEltaMD 60.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

EltaMD, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Banana Boat in 0

EltaMD in 2 of 4Banana Boat in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

EltaMD, the only one of the two named

EltaMD first in 2Banana Boat never named

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Top sunscreen brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, EltaMD was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Banana Boat did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. La Roche-Posay1st
  2. Neutrogena2nd
  3. EltaMD3rd
  4. Blue Lizard4th
  5. Supergoop!5th
  6. Nivea–
  7. Ultra Violette–
  8. Banana Boat–
  9. Bondi Sands–
  10. Sun Bum–
  11. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • La Roche-Posay4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Neutrogena3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Blue Lizard3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • EltaMD2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Supergoop!1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Nivea0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Ultra Violette0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Banana Boat0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Bondi Sands0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Sun Bum0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about sunscreen brands

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Banana Boat or EltaMD more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Banana Boat and EltaMD by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 sunscreen brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Banana Boat and EltaMD among sunscreen brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Banana Boat, EltaMD. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLa Roche-PosayNeutrogenaNiveaUltra VioletteBanana BoatSupergoop!Bondi SandsSun BumEltaMDBlue LizardNaked SundaysVacationCOOLA
Oct 202543.4%22.3%15.7%4.8%4.6%2.6%2.1%1.5%1.4%0.23%0.85%0.39%0.14%
Nov 202547.4%19.9%17.1%3.3%2.8%2.9%2.2%1.4%1.3%0.17%1%0.42%0.12%
Dec 202547.9%21.6%14.7%3.3%3.5%2.7%2.2%1.7%1.1%0.21%0.72%0.38%0.12%
Jan 202646.1%20.8%16.6%3.3%4%2.8%1.9%1.8%1.2%0.3%0.59%0.39%0.14%
Feb 202648.6%20.9%14.9%2.9%3.5%2.9%1.9%1.7%1.3%0.32%0.47%0.48%0.19%
Mar 202648.6%19.2%12.1%3.9%3.6%3.9%2.2%2.4%1.6%0.72%0.56%0.76%0.28%
Apr 202647.7%18.8%11.9%3.6%3.9%4.7%2.7%2.4%1.6%0.86%0.64%0.89%0.27%
May 202645.8%18.1%11.5%4.7%3.8%5.4%2.7%2.9%1.5%1.5%0.67%1.1%0.32%
Jun 202641.8%17.1%12.3%6%4.2%5.2%2.9%3.8%1.7%2.5%0.83%1.2%0.44%
Jul 202642.1%16.7%17.5%5%4%4.3%2.1%3.1%1.4%1.7%0.65%1%0.36%
Aug 202643.9%21.2%15.8%4.5%4%3.2%1.8%1.9%1.2%0.97%0.62%0.7%0.21%
Sep 202642.3%19.9%18.1%6.5%3.3%2.9%2.1%1.7%1.4%0.63%0.59%0.51%0.13%

How has the Banana Boat and EltaMD comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Banana Boat was ahead of EltaMD in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Banana Boat’s share of searches among sunscreen brands worldwide moved from 4.6% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 192K to 143K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, EltaMD’s share of searches among sunscreen brands worldwide held steady at 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 60.5K.

How did search popularity change for sunscreen brands worldwide in September 2026?

1 change
  1. In September 2026, Banana Boat lost share of searches among sunscreen brands worldwide, from 4% to 3.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Banana Boat’s and EltaMD’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.

Banana Boat

2 branded search terms

  • banana boat
  • banana boat spf

EltaMD

2 branded search terms

  • elta md
  • eltamd

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sunscreen brands

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