Google Ads vs The Trade Desk:Which is searched more?
In August 2026, Google Ads had more branded searches than The Trade Desk among display advertising platforms worldwide. Google Ads was estimated to have 4.1M branded searches compared to The Trade Desk’s 62K, and held a 96.2% Share of Search versus The Trade Desk’s 1.4%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Google Ads or The Trade Desk?
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 Google Ads, The Trade Desk. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Google Ads | The Trade Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 94.7% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 95.9% | 1.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 96.4% | 0.97% |
| Jan 2026 | 95.7% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 95.9% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 95.9% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 96.1% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 95.9% | 1.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 96.4% | 1% |
| Aug 2026 | 96.2% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — |
How has the Google Ads and The Trade Desk comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Google Ads was ahead of The Trade Desk in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Google Ads’ estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide moved from 94.7% to 96.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.1M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, The Trade Desk’s estimated Share of Search among display advertising platforms worldwide held steady at 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 61.3K to 62K.
How did search popularity change for display advertising platforms worldwide in August 2026?
1 change
In August 2026, The Trade Desk rose from 4th to 2nd among display advertising platforms worldwide.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Ads’ and The Trade Desk’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.
Google Ads
2 branded search terms
- google ads
- googleads
The Trade Desk
4 branded search terms
- the trade desk
- the trade desk dsp
- the trade desk programmatic advertising
- thetradedesk.com
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.