Brandwave

Friendbuy vs Viral Loops:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Viral Loops had more branded searches than Friendbuy among referral programme platforms worldwide. Viral Loops had about 1,900 branded searches, while Friendbuy had 1,310. Viral Loops made up 5.4% of all referral programme platform searches we track, and Friendbuy accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about referral programme platforms, Viral Loops appeared in three of the five answers and Friendbuy in two. Friendbuy was mentioned before Viral Loops in two out of three answers that named either.

Among referral programme platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Viral Loops, about 45% more searches than Friendbuy

Viral Loops 1.9K searchesFriendbuy 1.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Viral Loops, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Friendbuy in 2

Viral Loops in 3 of 5Friendbuy in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Friendbuy, named ahead of Viral Loops in 2 of 3 answers

Friendbuy first in 2Viral Loops first in 1

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Top referral programme platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Viral Loops was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the 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. Friendbuy was listed before Viral Loops 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. ReferralCandy1st
  2. Referral Rock2nd
  3. Rewardful3rd
  4. Referral Factory4th
  5. Friendbuy5th
  6. Viral Loops6th
  7. Talkable7th
  8. Yotpo–
  9. Ambassador–
  10. Smile.io–

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
  • Referral Rock5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Viral Loops3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Rewardful2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Friendbuy2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Referral Factory2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 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
  • Ambassador0 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 programme 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 Friendbuy or Viral Loops more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Friendbuy and Viral Loops by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten referral programme platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Friendbuy and Viral Loops among referral programme platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Viral Loops, Friendbuy. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthYotpoRewardfulAmbassadorTalkableViral LoopsReferralCandyFriendbuyReferral RockSmile.ioReferral Factory
Oct 202554.5%8.9%7.2%4.8%7.2%5.9%2%3.8%2.2%3.2%
Nov 202549.7%12.2%6.5%4.3%9.9%5.5%2.3%3.6%2.6%3.6%
Dec 202552.4%12.9%6.8%4.5%6.8%5.8%2.4%3.1%2.3%3.1%
Jan 202649.3%14.8%8%4.2%6.4%5.5%2.2%3.6%2.5%3.6%
Feb 202650.7%15.3%6.6%4.3%6.6%5.6%2.3%3%2.5%3%
Mar 202649.6%14.9%8%4.2%6.5%5.5%2.3%2.9%3.1%2.9%
Apr 202651.4%15.6%8.3%4.4%5.6%4.5%2.3%2.3%2.5%3%
May 202652.2%15.8%6.8%4.5%5.6%4.6%2.4%2.4%2.6%3.1%
Jun 202654.1%13.4%8.8%4.6%4.6%4%3.2%2.4%2.4%2.4%
Jul 202654.5%13.4%8.8%3.9%4.7%4%3.2%2.5%2.5%2.5%
Aug 202650.1%15.1%10%4.4%4.4%3.7%3.6%2.8%3.1%2.8%
Sep 202651%12.6%10.2%5.4%5.4%3.8%3.7%2.8%2.7%2.5%

How has the Friendbuy and Viral Loops comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for referral programme platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Viral Loops gained share of searches among referral programme platforms worldwide, from 4.4% to 5.4%.

  2. 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?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Friendbuy’s and Viral Loops’ 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.

Friendbuy

2 branded search terms

  • friendbuy
  • friendbuy referral

Viral Loops

1 branded search term

  • viral loops

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among referral programme platforms

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