Brandwave

Customer.io vs Stream Chat:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Stream Chat had more branded searches than Customer.io among in app messaging platforms worldwide. Stream Chat had about 60,200 branded searches, while Customer.io had 12,300. Stream Chat made up 41.2% of all in app messaging platform searches we track, and Customer.io accounted for 8.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about in app messaging platforms, Stream Chat appeared in three of the five answers and Customer.io in one. Stream Chat was mentioned before Customer.io in two out of three answers that named either.

Among in app messaging platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Stream Chat, about 5 searches for every 1 for Customer.io

Stream Chat 60.2K searchesCustomer.io 12.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Stream Chat, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Customer.io in 1

Stream Chat in 3 of 5Customer.io in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Stream Chat, named ahead of Customer.io in 2 of 3 answers

Stream Chat first in 2Customer.io first in 1

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Top in app messaging platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Stream Chat was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Customer.io was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Stream Chat was listed before Customer.io in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Intercom1st
  2. Stream Chat2nd
  3. Braze3rd
  4. OneSignal4th
  5. Appcues5th
  6. Sendbird6th
  7. Customer.io7th
  8. Iterable–
  9. Airship–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Stream Chat3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • OneSignal3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Braze3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sendbird3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Intercom3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Appcues2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Customer.io1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Iterable0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Airship0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about in app messaging 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 21, 2026.

Is Customer.io or Stream Chat more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Customer.io and Stream Chat by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine in app messaging platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Customer.io and Stream Chat among in app messaging platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Stream Chat, Customer.io. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthStream ChatOneSignalCustomer.ioBrazeAppcuesSendbirdIterableIntercomAirship
Oct 202535.2%39.8%8%4%4.3%7.8%0.43%0.31%0.14%
Nov 202532.4%43.8%7.3%3.9%4.7%7.1%0.39%0.28%0.12%
Dec 202534.3%41.4%8.3%4.1%4.4%6.6%0.43%0.32%0.17%
Jan 202638%38.9%7.8%4%4.2%6.2%0.44%0.3%0.13%
Feb 202631.6%40.7%10%4.9%5.3%6.5%0.48%0.31%0.17%
Mar 202655.8%27.8%5.6%2.7%3%4.5%0.34%0.22%0.09%
Apr 202634.9%42%8.4%3.4%3.7%6.7%0.42%0.27%0.14%
May 202646.5%34.7%6.9%3%3.7%4.6%0.42%0.22%0.1%
Jun 202664.6%22.9%4.7%2.3%2.5%2.5%0.26%0.12%0.08%
Jul 202662%24.2%5.3%2.3%2.9%2.9%0.28%0.14%0.09%
Aug 202638.6%39.1%8.6%3.8%4.6%4.6%0.4%0.22%0.15%
Sep 202641.2%38.4%8.4%3.9%3.7%3.7%0.38%0.22%0.14%

How has the Customer.io and Stream Chat comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for in app messaging platforms worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Stream Chat overtook OneSignal to become the leader among in app messaging platforms worldwide, with 41.2% of the searches.

How are branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Customer.io’s and Stream Chat’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.

Customer.io

6 branded search terms

  • customer io
  • customer io crm
  • customer io email
  • customer io sms
  • customer io whatsapp
  • Customer.io

Stream Chat

2 branded search terms

  • getstream
  • stream chat

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among in app messaging platforms

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