iCloud vs Outlook:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Outlook had more branded searches than iCloud among email providers worldwide. Outlook had about 155.2 million branded searches, while iCloud had 1.2 million. Outlook made up 23.6% of all email provider searches we track, and iCloud accounted for 0.19%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email providers, iCloud and Outlook each appeared in three of the five answers. Outlook was mentioned before iCloud in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Outlook, about 125 searches for every 1 for iCloud
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Outlook, named ahead of iCloud in 3 of 3 answers
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Top email providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, iCloud and Outlook were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Outlook was listed before iCloud in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Gmail1st
Proton Mail2nd- Outlook3rd
Fastmail4th
iCloud5th
Zoho Mail6th
Yahoo Mail–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Gmail4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Proton Mail4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Outlook3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- iCloud3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Fastmail3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Zoho Mail1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Yahoo Mail0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about email providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which email provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best email providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best email provider for personal email?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“secure email service”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“email service”
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 19, 2026.
Is iCloud or Outlook more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iCloud and Outlook by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven email providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Outlook, iCloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Gmail | Outlook | Yahoo Mail | Zoho Mail | iCloud | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 61.4% | 22.9% | 15% | 0.5% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 56.6% | 25.9% | 16.9% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.6% | 25.9% | 16.9% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.5% | 26% | 16.9% | 0.37% | 0.22% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.9% | 24.7% | 14.7% | 0.4% | 0.19% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.4% | 23% | 15% | 0.33% | 0.19% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 61.4% | 23% | 15% | 0.41% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 56.5% | 26% | 16.9% | 0.37% | 0.21% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 58% | 24% | 17.3% | 0.47% | 0.21% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.1% | 23.1% | 15% | 0.5% | 0.19% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.8% | 24.8% | 14.7% | 0.48% | 0.19% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 63.1% | 23.6% | 12.7% | 0.42% | 0.19% | 0.05% | <0.01% |
How has the iCloud and Outlook comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Outlook was ahead of iCloud in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iCloud’s share of searches among email providers worldwide moved from 0.18% to 0.19%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Outlook’s share of searches among email providers worldwide moved from 22.9% to 23.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 154M to 155M.
How did search popularity change for email providers worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Outlook lost share of searches among email providers worldwide, from 24.8% to 23.6%.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iCloud’s and Outlook’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.
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