Brandwave

Google Alerts vs Sprout Social:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Alerts had more branded searches than Sprout Social among brand monitoring tools worldwide. Google Alerts had about 246,000 branded searches, while Sprout Social had 91,300. Google Alerts made up 55.2% of all brand monitoring tool searches we track, and Sprout Social accounted for 20.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about brand monitoring tools, Google Alerts and Sprout Social each appeared in three of the five answers. Sprout Social was mentioned before Google Alerts in three out of four answers that named either.

Among brand monitoring tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Alerts, about 3 searches for every 1 for Sprout Social

Google Alerts 246K searchesSprout Social 91.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Google Alerts in 3 of 5Sprout Social in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Sprout Social, named ahead of Google Alerts in 3 of 4 answers

Sprout Social first in 3Google Alerts first in 1

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Top brand monitoring tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Alerts was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social was listed before Google Alerts in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Brand241st
  2. Brandwatch2nd
  3. Sprout Social3rd
  4. Meltwater4th
  5. Awario5th
  6. Talkwalker6th
  7. Mention6th
  8. Google Alerts8th
  9. YouScan–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Brand245 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Brandwatch4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Meltwater4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Alerts3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Talkwalker2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Awario2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mention2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • YouScan0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about brand monitoring tools

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 20, 2026.

Is Google Alerts or Sprout Social more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Alerts and Sprout Social by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine brand monitoring tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Google Alerts and Sprout Social among brand monitoring tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Alerts, Sprout Social. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle AlertsSprout SocialBrandwatchBrand24TalkwalkerYouScanAwarioMeltwaterMention
Oct 202550.9%23%10.2%6.9%6.9%1.1%0.75%0.14%0.07%
Nov 202549.1%22.1%12.1%8.1%6.6%1.1%0.73%0.14%0.08%
Dec 202553.9%20%10.8%7.3%5.9%1.2%0.65%0.13%0.07%
Jan 202655.7%20.5%9.2%6.1%6.1%1.2%0.83%0.16%0.09%
Feb 202653.4%19.9%10.8%7.2%5.9%1.8%0.8%0.21%0.08%
Mar 202653.9%19.9%10.8%7.3%5.9%1.2%0.66%0.18%0.09%
Apr 202653.7%20%10.8%7.3%5.9%1.4%0.64%0.21%0.1%
May 202653.7%20%10.8%7.3%5.9%1.4%0.54%0.26%0.09%
Jun 202653.7%20%10.8%7.3%5.9%1.4%0.54%0.26%0.07%
Jul 202656.4%20.9%9.3%6.2%5.1%1.2%0.56%0.2%0.09%
Aug 202656.4%20.9%9.3%6.2%5.1%1.2%0.57%0.2%0.05%
Sep 202655.2%20.5%11.1%6.1%5%1.2%0.67%0.16%0.06%

How has the Google Alerts and Sprout Social comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for brand monitoring tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Google Alerts lost share of searches among brand monitoring tools worldwide, from 56.4% to 55.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sprout Social worldwide fell 32.8% over 12 measured months, from 136K to 91.3K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

11 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Alerts’ and Sprout Social’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 Alerts

1 branded search term

  • google alerts

Sprout Social

10 branded search terms

  • social listening sprout social
  • social media sprout social
  • sprout social
  • sprout social app
  • sprout social influencers
  • sprout social listening
  • sprout social platform
  • sprout social reporting
  • sprout social social media
  • sprout social tiktok

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among brand monitoring tools

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