GrowSurf vs Viral Loops:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Viral Loops had more branded searches than GrowSurf among referral marketing platforms worldwide. Viral Loops had about 1,900 branded searches, while GrowSurf had 1,000. Viral Loops made up 12.4% of all referral marketing platform searches we track, and GrowSurf accounted for 6.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about referral marketing platforms, GrowSurf appeared in four of the five answers and Viral Loops in two. GrowSurf was mentioned before Viral Loops in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Viral Loops, about 90% more searches than GrowSurf
Who does AI mention more?
GrowSurf, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Viral Loops in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
GrowSurf, named ahead of Viral Loops in 4 of 4 answers
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Top referral marketing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GrowSurf was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Viral Loops was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. GrowSurf was listed before Viral Loops in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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- GrowSurf4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Referral Rock3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Referral Factory3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Viral Loops2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Friendbuy2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Talkable1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Mention Me0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Extole0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about referral marketing platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which referral marketing platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best referral marketing platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best referral marketing platform for customer referrals?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“referral marketing platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“customer referral software”
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 GrowSurf or Viral Loops more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for GrowSurf and Viral Loops by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine referral marketing platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Viral Loops, GrowSurf. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Mention Me | Talkable | Viral Loops | Extole | ReferralCandy | Friendbuy | GrowSurf | Referral Rock | Referral Factory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 18% | 12% | 18% | 9.7% | 14.8% | 5.1% | 5% | 9.5% | 8% |
| Nov 2025 | 18.8% | 9.9% | 22.9% | 8.4% | 12.8% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 8.3% | 8.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 18.2% | 11.9% | 18.2% | 8.3% | 15.3% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 27.7% | 9.7% | 14.9% | 8.3% | 12.7% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.2% | 5.3% | 8.1% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.5% | 8.2% | 12.5% | 7% | 10.6% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.4% | 10.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 7% |
| May 2026 | 35.7% | 10.3% | 13% | 7.1% | 10.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 7% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.2% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 7.9% | 9.8% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 6% | 6% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.8% | 9.7% | 11.5% | 9.8% | 10% | 8% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.7% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 28.7% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 8.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.7% |
How has the GrowSurf and Viral Loops comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Viral Loops was ahead of GrowSurf in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GrowSurf’s share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide moved from 5% to 6.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Viral Loops’ share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide moved from 18% to 12.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.6K to 1.9K.
How did search popularity change for referral marketing platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Viral Loops gained share of searches among referral marketing platforms worldwide, from 10.3% to 12.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GrowSurf’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.
GrowSurf
1 branded search term
- growsurf
Viral Loops
1 branded search term
- viral loops
Other head-to-heads among referral marketing platforms
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