Brandwave

ChatPDF vs NotebookLM:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NotebookLM had more branded searches than ChatPDF among AI PDF tools worldwide. NotebookLM had about 24.5 million branded searches, while ChatPDF had 246,000. NotebookLM made up 86.2% of all AI PDF tool searches we track, and ChatPDF accounted for 0.87%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI PDF tools, ChatPDF appeared in all five answers and NotebookLM in three. NotebookLM was mentioned before ChatPDF in three out of five answers.

Among AI PDF tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NotebookLM, about 100 searches for every 1 for ChatPDF

NotebookLM 24.5M searchesChatPDF 246K searches

Who does AI mention more?

ChatPDF, mentioned in every answer we collected

ChatPDF in 5 of 5NotebookLM in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

NotebookLM, named ahead of ChatPDF in 3 of 5 answers

NotebookLM first in 3ChatPDF first in 2

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Top AI PDF tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, ChatPDF appeared in all five answers. NotebookLM was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. NotebookLM was listed before ChatPDF 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 Acrobat1st
  2. NotebookLM2nd
  3. ChatPDF3rd
  4. Humata–
  5. PDF.ai–
  6. AskYourPDF–
  7. Documind–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Adobe Acrobat5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ChatPDF5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NotebookLM3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Humata0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PDF.ai0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AskYourPDF0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Documind0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI PDF tools

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 20, 2026.

Is ChatPDF or NotebookLM more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for ChatPDF and NotebookLM by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven AI PDF tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

ChatPDF and NotebookLM among AI PDF tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for NotebookLM, ChatPDF. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNotebookLMAdobe AcrobatChatPDFHumataPDF.aiAskYourPDFDocumind
Oct 202567.1%27.6%4.7%0.23%0.28%0.08%<0.01%
Nov 202573.4%21.7%4.4%0.18%0.21%0.08%<0.01%
Dec 202579.8%17.7%2.2%0.11%0.16%0.05%<0.01%
Jan 202681.1%17.2%1.5%0.07%0.11%0.04%<0.01%
Feb 202679.6%18.7%1.5%0.09%0.11%0.03%<0.01%
Mar 202683.8%14.4%1.5%0.08%0.11%0.03%<0.01%
Apr 202687%11.2%1.6%0.08%0.1%0.03%<0.01%
May 202686.9%11.6%1.3%0.05%0.08%0.02%<0.01%
Jun 202685.3%13.5%1%0.05%0.08%0.02%<0.01%
Jul 202682.7%16.3%0.86%0.04%0.08%0.02%<0.01%
Aug 202685.1%13.9%0.86%0.05%0.06%0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202686.2%12.8%0.87%0.05%0.05%0.01%<0.01%

How has the ChatPDF and NotebookLM comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • NotebookLM was ahead of ChatPDF in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChatPDF’s share of searches among AI PDF tools worldwide moved from 4.7% to 0.87%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NotebookLM’s share of searches among AI PDF tools worldwide moved from 67.1% to 86.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.9M to 24.5M.

How did search popularity change for AI PDF tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, NotebookLM gained share of searches among AI PDF tools worldwide, from 85.1% to 86.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for ChatPDF worldwide fell 70.1% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 246K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ChatPDF’s and NotebookLM’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.

ChatPDF

1 branded search term

  • chatpdf

NotebookLM

2 branded search terms

  • notebook lm
  • notebooklm

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI PDF tools

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