Brandwave

Cloudflare vs Google Cloud:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cloudflare had more branded searches than Google Cloud among cloud hosting platforms worldwide. Cloudflare had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Google Cloud had 2.6 million. Cloudflare made up 31.2% of all cloud hosting platform searches we track, and Google Cloud accounted for 20.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cloud hosting platforms, Google Cloud appeared in all five answers and Cloudflare in two. Google Cloud was mentioned before Cloudflare in every answer.

Among cloud hosting platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cloudflare, about 55% more searches than Google Cloud

Cloudflare 4.1M searchesGoogle Cloud 2.6M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Google Cloud, mentioned in every answer we collected

Google Cloud in 5 of 5Cloudflare in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Google Cloud, named ahead of Cloudflare in every answer

Google Cloud first in 5Cloudflare never first

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Top cloud hosting platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Cloud appeared in all five answers. Cloudflare was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Cloud was listed before Cloudflare in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Amazon Web Services1st
  2. Google Cloud2nd
  3. Microsoft Azure3rd
  4. Vercel4th
  5. Cloudways5th
  6. DigitalOcean6th
  7. Cloudflare7th
  8. Linode–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Google Cloud5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon Web Services5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Azure4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DigitalOcean4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Vercel3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cloudflare2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cloudways2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Linode0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cloud hosting platforms

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 19, 2026.

Is Cloudflare or Google Cloud more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cloudflare and Google Cloud by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight cloud hosting platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Cloudflare and Google Cloud among cloud hosting platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cloudflare, Google Cloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCloudflareVercelGoogle CloudAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft AzureLinodeCloudwaysDigitalOcean
Oct 202516.2%8.8%16.4%44.2%13.2%0.65%0.53%<0.01%
Nov 202555.3%7.4%13.7%13.6%9.1%0.45%0.45%<0.01%
Dec 202538%11.3%21.1%17%11.3%0.69%0.69%<0.01%
Jan 202627.4%15%22.7%18.3%15%0.74%0.74%<0.01%
Feb 202626.9%18%24%18%12%0.49%0.73%<0.01%
Mar 202627%18%23.7%18%12.1%0.4%0.73%<0.01%
Apr 202627.9%22.8%22.7%15.2%10.2%0.41%0.75%<0.01%
May 202629.7%19.8%22.2%16.2%10.8%0.44%0.8%0%
Jun 202629.3%19.6%23.2%16%10.7%0.53%0.65%0%
Jul 202630%20%21.5%16.4%10.9%0.54%0.66%<0.01%
Aug 202632.3%21.6%20.9%14.5%9.6%0.48%0.58%0%
Sep 202631.2%20.9%20.2%17.1%9.3%0.69%0.57%<0.01%

How has the Cloudflare and Google Cloud comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Cloudflare took it in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cloudflare’s share of searches among cloud hosting platforms worldwide moved from 16.2% to 31.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Cloud’s share of searches among cloud hosting platforms worldwide moved from 16.4% to 20.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.3M to 2.6M.

How did search popularity change for cloud hosting platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Cloudflare lost share of searches among cloud hosting platforms worldwide, from 32.3% to 31.2%.

  2. In September 2026, Google Cloud lost share of searches among cloud hosting platforms worldwide, from 20.9% to 20.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cloudflare’s and Google Cloud’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.

Cloudflare

1 branded search term

  • cloudflare

Google Cloud

4 branded search terms

  • google cloud
  • google cloud console
  • google cloud messaging
  • google cloud platform

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cloud hosting platforms

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