Brandwave

Google Keyword Planner vs SE Ranking:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Keyword Planner had more branded searches than SE Ranking among SEO tools worldwide. Google Keyword Planner had about 356,000 branded searches, while SE Ranking had 49,500. Google Keyword Planner made up 19.3% of all SEO tool searches we track, and SE Ranking accounted for 2.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO tools, SE Ranking appeared in three of the five answers and Google Keyword Planner in two. SE Ranking was mentioned before Google Keyword Planner in three out of four answers that named either.

Among SEO tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Keyword Planner, about 7 searches for every 1 for SE Ranking

Google Keyword Planner 356K searchesSE Ranking 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

SE Ranking, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Google Keyword Planner in 2

SE Ranking in 3 of 5Google Keyword Planner in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

SE Ranking, named ahead of Google Keyword Planner in 3 of 4 answers

SE Ranking first in 3Google Keyword Planner first in 1

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Top SEO tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, SE Ranking was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Keyword Planner was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. SE Ranking was listed before Google Keyword Planner 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. Semrush1st
  2. Ahrefs2nd
  3. Screaming Frog3rd
  4. SE Ranking4th
  5. Google Keyword Planner5th
  6. AnswerThePublic6th
  7. Moz Pro7th
  8. Mangools8th
  9. Ubersuggest9th
  10. Serpstat–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Semrush5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ahrefs5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Screaming Frog4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SE Ranking3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Keyword Planner2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AnswerThePublic2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Moz Pro2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ubersuggest1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mangools1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Serpstat0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about SEO 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 21, 2026.

Is Google Keyword Planner or SE Ranking more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Keyword Planner and SE Ranking by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten SEO tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Google Keyword Planner and SE Ranking among SEO tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Keyword Planner, SE Ranking. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSemrushGoogle Keyword PlannerAhrefsUbersuggestAnswerThePublicSE RankingMangoolsSerpstatMoz ProScreaming Frog
Oct 202537.4%19.4%20.3%11%7.4%3.3%0.67%0.44%0.13%<0.01%
Nov 202539.6%17.8%17.5%11.5%9.4%2.8%0.7%0.46%0.11%<0.01%
Dec 202540.8%18.4%14.8%11.9%9.7%2.9%0.89%0.39%0.14%<0.01%
Jan 202635.2%18.2%19.1%12.6%10.3%3.1%0.94%0.42%0.15%<0.01%
Feb 202636.2%18.7%19.5%10.6%10.5%3.2%0.79%0.42%0.17%<0.01%
Mar 202654.6%13%14.1%9%6%2.2%0.55%0.36%0.13%<0.01%
Apr 202641.5%16.5%17.3%11.4%9.3%2.8%0.7%0.38%0.14%<0.01%
May 202637%18.2%19.1%10.3%8.4%5.6%0.77%0.42%0.15%<0.01%
Jun 202640.9%18.4%16.7%11%9%2.7%0.67%0.36%0.13%<0.01%
Jul 202639.9%22.7%17%9.1%7.5%2.7%0.67%0.3%0.13%<0.01%
Aug 202642.3%19.4%17.5%9.5%7.8%2.3%0.7%0.31%0.11%<0.01%
Sep 202645.5%19.3%16.4%9%6%2.7%0.66%0.29%0.09%<0.01%

How has the Google Keyword Planner and SE Ranking comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Google Keyword Planner was ahead of SE Ranking in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Keyword Planner’s share of searches among SEO tools worldwide moved from 19.4% to 19.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 436K to 356K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SE Ranking’s share of searches among SEO tools worldwide moved from 3.3% to 2.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 49.5K.

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

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for SE Ranking worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 49.5K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Google Keyword Planner worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 436K to 356K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Keyword Planner’s and SE Ranking’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 Keyword Planner

2 branded search terms

  • google keyword planner
  • keyword planner

SE Ranking

1 branded search term

  • se ranking

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among SEO tools

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