Brandwave

Chick-fil-A vs Subway:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Chick-fil-A had more branded searches than Subway among fast food chains worldwide. Chick-fil-A had about 24.9 million branded searches, while Subway had 20.4 million. Chick-fil-A made up 10.3% of all fast food chain searches we track, and Subway accounted for 8.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fast food chains, Chick-fil-A appeared in all four answers and Subway in one. Chick-fil-A was mentioned before Subway in three out of four answers.

Among fast food chains worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Chick-fil-A, about 22% more searches than Subway

Chick-fil-A 24.9M searchesSubway 20.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Chick-fil-A, mentioned in every answer we collected

Chick-fil-A in 4 of 4Subway in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Chick-fil-A, named ahead of Subway in 3 of 4 answers

Chick-fil-A first in 3Subway first in 1

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Top fast food chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Chick-fil-A appeared in all four answers. Subway was mentioned in one out of four: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in the Google AI Overview. Chick-fil-A was listed before Subway in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Chick-fil-A1st
  2. McDonald's2nd
  3. Taco Bell3rd
  4. Wendy's4th
  5. Popeyes5th
  6. Subway6th
  7. Raising Cane’s7th
  8. Shake Shack8th
  9. Burger King–
  10. KFC–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • McDonald's4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Chick-fil-A4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Taco Bell4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Wendy's3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Popeyes2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Raising Cane’s2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Shake Shack2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Subway1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Burger King0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • KFC0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about fast food chains

4 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 19, 2026.

Is Chick-fil-A or Subway more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Chick-fil-A and Subway by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 fast food chains we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Chick-fil-A and Subway among fast food chains worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Chick-fil-A, Subway. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMcDonald'sBurger KingChick-fil-AKFCSubwayTaco BellWendy'sPopeyesCarl's Jr.Raising Cane’sShake ShackNando's
Oct 202541%12.4%10.1%10.1%8.3%6.7%5.5%3%0.91%0.74%1.1%0.02%
Nov 202543.8%10.8%8.8%10.8%7.2%7.2%4.8%3.2%1.2%0.97%1.2%0.02%
Dec 202546.1%11.3%9.2%11.3%6.2%6.2%4.1%2.8%1%0.83%1%0.02%
Jan 202642%12.7%10.4%10.4%6.9%6.9%4.6%3.1%0.93%0.93%1.1%0.02%
Feb 202640.3%12.1%9.9%12.1%8.1%6.6%4.4%3%1.1%1.1%1.3%0.02%
Mar 202641.4%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.5%3.1%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Apr 202641.5%12.5%10.2%10.2%8.4%6.8%4.6%3.1%0.92%0.75%1.1%0.02%
May 202641.6%12.5%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.8%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%1.1%0.02%
Jun 202641.8%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.93%0.76%0.93%0.02%
Jul 202646.4%11.4%9.3%9.3%7.6%6.2%5.1%2.3%0.84%0.68%0.84%0.02%
Aug 202645.3%11.1%9.1%11.1%7.5%6.1%5%2.2%0.82%0.82%1%0.02%
Sep 202641.7%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.4%6.9%4.6%2.5%0.92%0.92%0.92%0.02%

How has the Chick-fil-A and Subway comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Chick-fil-A was ahead of Subway in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chick-fil-A’s share of searches among fast food chains worldwide moved from 10.1% to 10.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 24.9M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Subway’s share of searches among fast food chains worldwide moved from 8.3% to 8.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 20.4M.

How did search popularity change for fast food chains worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Chick-fil-A overtook KFC to rank 3rd among fast food chains worldwide, with 10.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Subway gained share of searches among fast food chains worldwide, from 7.5% to 8.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Chick-fil-A’s and Subway’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.

Chick-fil-A

2 branded search terms

  • chick fil a
  • chickfila

Subway

1 branded search term

  • subway

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among fast food chains

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