Friendbuy vs Smile.io:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Friendbuy had more branded searches than Smile.io among referral marketing platforms worldwide. Friendbuy had about 1,310 branded searches, while Smile.io had 970. Friendbuy made up 3.4% of all referral marketing platform searches we track, and Smile.io accounted for 2.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about referral marketing platforms, Friendbuy appeared in two of the five answers and Smile.io in none.
Who do people search for more?
Friendbuy, about 35% more searches than Smile.io
Who does AI mention more?
Friendbuy, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Smile.io in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Friendbuy, the only one of the two named
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Top referral marketing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Friendbuy was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Smile.io did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
ReferralCandy5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- GrowSurf4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Referral Rock3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Referral Factory3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Viral Loops2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Friendbuy2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Talkable1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Yotpo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Mention Me0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Smile.io0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about referral marketing platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which referral marketing platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best referral marketing platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best referral marketing platform for customer referrals?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“referral marketing platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“customer referral software”
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 Friendbuy or Smile.io more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Friendbuy and Smile.io by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 referral marketing platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Friendbuy, Smile.io. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Yotpo | Mention Me | Ambassador | Talkable | Viral Loops | Extole | ReferralCandy | Friendbuy | GrowSurf | Referral Rock | Smile.io | Referral Factory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 52.3% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 3.7% | 5.7% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 3.7% | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 48.9% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 4.2% | 9.7% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.8% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 4.5% | 6.9% | 3.2% | 5.8% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.8% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 6.2% | 3.5% | 5.3% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.9% | 35.9% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 4% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 44% | 19.6% | 7.1% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 3.2% | 4.9% | 2% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 48.7% | 14.5% | 7.9% | 4.2% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.9% |
| May 2026 | 49.7% | 14.8% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 3% | 4.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.9% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 3.8% | 3% | 3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.3% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 47.1% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.6% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 5% | 5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% |
How has the Friendbuy and Smile.io comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Friendbuy took it in December 2025, Smile.io took it in January 2026, Friendbuy took it in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Friendbuy’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide moved from 1.9% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1K to 1.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smile.io’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1K to 970.
How did search popularity change for referral marketing platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Smile.io fell from 9th to 11th among referral marketing platforms worldwide.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Friendbuy worldwide rose 29.7% over 12 measured months, from 1K to 1.3K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Friendbuy’s and Smile.io’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.
Other head-to-heads among referral marketing platforms
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