Common App vs UCAS:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Common App had more branded searches than UCAS among university application platforms worldwide. Common App was estimated to have 1.8M branded searches compared to UCAS’s 1.5M, and held a 54.1% Share of Search versus UCAS’s 44.3%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Common App or UCAS?
Compare the platforms students apply to universities through. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Common App, UCAS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Common App | UCAS | ApplyBoard | Studyportals | Coalition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 76.2% | 22.7% | 0.62% | 0.5% | — |
| Nov 2025 | 54.2% | 44.4% | 0.8% | 0.66% | — |
| Dec 2025 | 49.2% | 49.2% | 0.89% | 0.73% | — |
| Jan 2026 | 44% | 54.1% | 0.98% | 0.98% | — |
| Feb 2026 | 43.6% | 53.3% | 1.8% | 1.4% | — |
| Mar 2026 | 38.7% | 57.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | — |
| Apr 2026 | 38.4% | 57.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | — |
| May 2026 | 38.4% | 57.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | — |
| Jun 2026 | 33.9% | 62% | 2% | 2% | — |
| Jul 2026 | 43.1% | 52.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | — |
| Aug 2026 | 54.1% | 44.3% | 0.8% | 0.8% | — |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Common App and UCAS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 11 months ending August 2026: UCAS took it in January 2026, Common App took it in August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Common App’s estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide moved from 76.2% to 54.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 1.8M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCAS’s estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide moved from 22.7% to 44.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 1.5M.
How did search popularity change for university application platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Common App overtook UCAS to take the highest estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide, at 54.1%.
In August 2026, UCAS lost estimated Share of Search among university application platforms worldwide, from 52.7% to 44.3%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Common App’s and UCAS’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.
Common App
1 branded search term
- common app
UCAS
1 branded search term
- ucas
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.