Criteo vs Google Ads:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Criteo had more branded searches than Google Ads among display advertising platforms worldwide. Criteo was estimated to have 41.4K branded searches compared to Google Ads’ 33.1K, and held a 24.5% Share of Search versus Google Ads’ 19.5%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Criteo or Google Ads?
Compare the platforms used to buy display ads. 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 Criteo, Google Ads. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | The Trade Desk | Criteo | Google Ads | Amazon DSP | AdRoll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 29.2% | 29.3% | 12.9% | 23.6% | 4.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.6% | 29.8% | 16% | 19.6% | 5% |
| Dec 2025 | 27.7% | 27.6% | 18.1% | 22.1% | 4.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 33% | 27% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 4.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.1% | 27.9% | 18.3% | 15% | 4.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.7% | 25.1% | 16.5% | 16.5% | 4.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 28.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% | 18.1% | 3.8% |
| May 2026 | 31.8% | 24.8% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 3.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.1% | 28.8% | 18.9% | 18.9% | 3.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.3% | 31.5% | 20.7% | 16.9% | 3.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.6% | 24.5% | 19.5% | 16% | 3.4% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Criteo and Google Ads comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Criteo was ahead of Google Ads in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Criteo’s estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide moved from 29.3% to 24.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 61.5K to 41.4K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Google Ads’ estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide moved from 12.9% to 19.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 33.1K.
How did search popularity change for display advertising platforms worldwide in August 2026?
3 changes
In August 2026, The Trade Desk overtook Criteo to take the highest estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide, at 36.6%.
In August 2026, Criteo lost estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide, from 31.5% to 24.5%.
In August 2026, Google Ads lost estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide, from 20.7% to 19.5%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Criteo’s and Google Ads’ 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.
Criteo
3 branded search terms
- criteo
- criteo retail media
- criteo.com
Google Ads
1 branded search term
- googleads
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.