Brandwave

Brooks vs New Balance:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, New Balance had more branded searches than Brooks among running shoe brands worldwide. New Balance had about 11.1 million branded searches, while Brooks had 1.2 million. New Balance made up 20.6% of all running shoe brand searches we track, and Brooks accounted for 2.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about running shoe brands, both Brooks and New Balance appeared in all four answers. Brooks was mentioned before New Balance in every answer.

Among running shoe brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

New Balance, about 9 searches for every 1 for Brooks

New Balance 11.1M searchesBrooks 1.2M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Brooks in 4 of 4New Balance in 4 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Brooks, named ahead of New Balance in every answer

Brooks first in 4New Balance never first

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Top running shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Brooks and New Balance showed up in all four answers. Brooks was listed before New Balance in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. ASICS1st
  2. Brooks2nd
  3. HOKA3rd
  4. New Balance4th
  5. Nike5th
  6. Saucony6th
  7. On7th
  8. Mizuno8th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • New Balance4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • ASICS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Brooks4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Nike3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • HOKA3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Saucony3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • On2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Mizuno1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about running shoe brands

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Brooks or New Balance more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Brooks and New Balance by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight running shoe brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Brooks and New Balance among running shoe brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for New Balance, Brooks. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNikeNew BalanceASICSHOKAOnSauconyMizunoBrooks
Oct 202544.4%24.2%13.8%7.7%3.8%2.1%2.2%1.8%
Nov 202550.5%23.3%11.1%6.4%3.4%1.9%1.7%1.6%
Dec 202548.9%21.6%12.7%7.2%4.2%1.8%1.9%1.6%
Jan 202650.6%19.2%13.6%6.8%3.5%2.3%2.1%1.9%
Feb 202647.9%21.9%12.9%7.5%3.6%2.2%2%2.1%
Mar 202647.9%21.7%12.8%7.4%3.7%2.6%1.9%2.1%
Apr 202643%23.8%14%8.2%4.2%2.9%1.7%2.2%
May 202644.5%20.1%14.6%8.5%4.7%2.9%2.2%2.4%
Jun 202644.9%20.5%14.5%8.2%5.3%2.5%1.8%2.3%
Jul 202646.1%20.7%15.2%7.3%3.9%2.6%1.9%2.2%
Aug 202641.7%22.7%16.4%8%3.6%3.3%2%2.2%
Sep 202645.2%20.6%15%7.3%4.4%3%2.3%2.3%

How has the Brooks and New Balance comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • New Balance was ahead of Brooks in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brooks’ share of searches among running shoe brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1M to 1.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among running shoe brands worldwide moved from 24.2% to 20.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.6M to 11.1M.

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

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, New Balance lost share of searches among running shoe brands worldwide, from 22.7% to 20.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Brooks fell from 7th to 8th among running shoe brands worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Brooks’ and New Balance’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.

Brooks

6 branded search terms

  • brooks adrenaline
  • brooks ghost
  • brooks glycerin
  • brooks running
  • brooks running shoes
  • brooks shoes

New Balance

1 branded search term

  • new balance

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among running shoe brands

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