Busbud vs FlixBus:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, FlixBus had more branded searches than Busbud among bus booking platforms worldwide. FlixBus had about 7.5 million branded searches, while Busbud had 301,000. FlixBus made up 35.7% of all bus booking platform searches we track, and Busbud accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bus booking platforms, FlixBus appeared in all five answers and Busbud in four. Busbud was mentioned before FlixBus in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
FlixBus, about 25 searches for every 1 for Busbud
Who does AI mention more?
FlixBus, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Busbud, named ahead of FlixBus in 4 of 5 answers
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Top bus booking platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FlixBus appeared in all five answers. Busbud was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Busbud was listed before FlixBus in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- FlixBus5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Greyhound5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wanderu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Busbud4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
redBus2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Megabus1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
BlaBlaCar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bus booking platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bus booking platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best bus booking platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best bus booking platform for coach tickets?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“book bus tickets”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bus tickets online”
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 Busbud or FlixBus more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Busbud and FlixBus by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven bus booking platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for FlixBus, Busbud. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | FlixBus | redBus | BlaBlaCar | Busbud | Greyhound | Megabus | Wanderu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.3% | 38.3% | 25.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.31% |
| Nov 2025 | 35.5% | 35.5% | 23.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 0.35% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.8% | 33.8% | 27.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 0.33% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.7% | 35.7% | 23.9% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.24% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.6% | 35.6% | 23.8% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.29% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.6% | 35.6% | 23.8% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.29% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.6% | 38.6% | 25.9% | 1.3% | 1% | 1.3% | 0.26% |
| May 2026 | 31.6% | 38.6% | 25.8% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.8% | 33.8% | 27.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.27% |
| Jul 2026 | 38.5% | 31.5% | 25.8% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1% | 0.26% |
| Aug 2026 | 31.6% | 38.6% | 25.8% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.26% |
| Sep 2026 | 35.7% | 35.7% | 23.9% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.29% |
How has the Busbud and FlixBus comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- FlixBus was ahead of Busbud in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Busbud’s share of searches among bus booking platforms worldwide moved from 1.3% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 301K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FlixBus’ share of searches among bus booking platforms worldwide moved from 31.3% to 35.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 7.5M.
How did search popularity change for bus booking platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, FlixBus overtook redBus to become the leader among bus booking platforms worldwide, with 35.7% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Busbud’s and FlixBus’ 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.
Other head-to-heads among bus booking platforms
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