Brandwave

Google Cloud Run vs Podman:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Cloud Run and Podman were level in searches among container platforms worldwide, with an estimated 76.6K versus 74K branded searches, at 10.8% and 10.5% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about container platforms, Google Cloud Run appeared in three of the five answers and Podman in none.

Among container platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Cloud Run and Podman are searched for about as often as each other.

Google Cloud Run 76.6K searchesPodman 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Google Cloud Run, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Podman in 0

Google Cloud Run in 3 of 5Podman in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Google Cloud Run, the only one of the two named

Google Cloud Run first in 3Podman never named

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Top container platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Cloud Run was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Podman 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.

  1. Kubernetes1st
  2. Docker2nd
  3. Google Cloud Run3rd
  4. Amazon ECS4th
  5. OpenShift5th
  6. Azure Container Apps6th
  7. Podman–
  8. containerd–
  9. Rancher–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Kubernetes5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Docker5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Cloud Run3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenShift3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Azure Container Apps3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon ECS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Podman0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • containerd0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Rancher0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about container 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 20, 2026.

Is Google Cloud Run or Podman more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Cloud Run and Podman by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine container platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Google Cloud Run and Podman among container platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Cloud Run, Podman. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKubernetesDockerGoogle Cloud RunPodmanOpenShiftAzure Container AppscontainerdAmazon ECSRancher
Oct 202555.3%4.1%10.2%13.6%11.1%1.8%1.8%1.2%0.9%
Nov 202554.8%4%11.4%13.5%11%1.8%1.8%0.98%0.72%
Dec 202544.5%20%11.3%10.9%8.9%1.5%1.5%0.8%0.59%
Jan 202656.1%4.1%11.7%13.8%9.2%1.8%1.5%1%0.76%
Feb 202617.4%71%3.6%3.5%2.9%0.57%0.47%0.31%0.24%
Mar 202619.8%65.5%4.1%4.9%4%0.65%0.53%0.35%0.28%
Apr 202650.6%4.6%13.9%15.2%10.2%2%1.7%1.1%0.71%
May 202658.1%4.3%12.1%11.7%9.5%1.6%1.3%0.85%0.65%
Jun 202657.9%4.3%12%11.6%9.5%1.9%1.3%0.85%0.63%
Jul 202652.9%4.8%13.5%13%10.6%2.1%1.4%0.95%0.72%
Aug 202654.7%4%13.9%13.5%9%1.8%1.5%0.98%0.61%
Sep 202642.6%23.3%10.8%10.5%8.6%1.7%1.1%0.76%0.56%

How has the Google Cloud Run and Podman comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 5 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Google Cloud Run took it in December 2025, Podman took it in January 2026, Google Cloud Run took it in February 2026, Podman took it in March 2026, Google Cloud Run took it in May 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Cloud Run’s share of searches among container platforms worldwide moved from 10.2% to 10.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 67.6K to 76.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Podman’s share of searches among container platforms worldwide moved from 13.6% to 10.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.

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

3 changes
  1. In September 2026, Docker overtook Google Cloud Run and 2 others to rank 2nd among container platforms worldwide, with 23.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Google Cloud Run lost share of searches among container platforms worldwide, from 13.9% to 10.8%.

  3. In September 2026, Podman lost share of searches among container platforms worldwide, from 13.5% to 10.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Cloud Run’s and Podman’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 Cloud Run

2 branded search terms

  • cloud run
  • google cloud run

Podman

1 branded search term

  • podman

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among container platforms

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