Brandwave

ISC2 vs Microsoft Learn:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Learn had more branded searches than ISC2 among IT certification providers worldwide. Microsoft Learn had about 351,000 branded searches, while ISC2 had 2,400. Microsoft Learn made up 22.9% of all IT certification provider searches we track, and ISC2 accounted for 0.16%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, Microsoft Learn appeared in three of the five answers and ISC2 in two. ISC2 was mentioned before Microsoft Learn in two out of three answers that named either.

Among IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Learn, about 146 searches for every 1 for ISC2

Microsoft Learn 351K searchesISC2 2.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Learn, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, ISC2 in 2

Microsoft Learn in 3 of 5ISC2 in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

ISC2, named ahead of Microsoft Learn in 2 of 3 answers

ISC2 first in 2Microsoft Learn first in 1

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Top IT certification providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Learn was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. ISC2 was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. ISC2 was listed before Microsoft Learn in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. CompTIA1st
  2. Cisco2nd
  3. Microsoft Learn3rd
  4. ISC24th
  5. AWS Certification5th
  6. PRINCE2–
  7. PMI–
  8. GIAC–
  9. EXIN–
  10. Axelos–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Cisco5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CompTIA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Learn3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ISC22 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AWS Certification1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PRINCE20 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PMI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • GIAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • EXIN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Axelos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about IT certification providers

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 ISC2 or Microsoft Learn more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for ISC2 and Microsoft Learn by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten IT certification providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

ISC2 and Microsoft Learn among IT certification providers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Learn, ISC2. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCiscoMicrosoft LearnCompTIAAWS CertificationPRINCE2PMIGIACISC2EXINAxelos
Oct 202536.6%23.2%24.5%12.5%1.4%0.92%0.5%0.27%0.02%<0.01%
Nov 202538.4%24.4%21%13.1%1.4%0.96%0.43%0.23%0.02%<0.01%
Dec 202535.3%27.4%19.6%14.7%1.3%0.88%0.48%0.26%0.02%<0.01%
Jan 202636%28%20%12.3%1.7%1.1%0.6%0.27%0.02%<0.01%
Feb 202642.9%22.5%19.4%12.1%1.3%0.89%0.49%0.26%0.02%0.02%
Mar 202641.3%25.6%18.7%11.7%1.3%0.86%0.38%0.25%0.02%0.02%
Apr 202642.7%22.7%19.5%12.2%1.3%0.9%0.4%0.21%0.02%<0.01%
May 202641.1%25.8%18.8%11.8%1.1%0.86%0.31%0.26%0.02%0.01%
Jun 202642.2%27.4%15.8%12.1%1.1%0.89%0.32%0.18%0.02%<0.01%
Jul 202644.9%28.1%14%10.5%1.2%0.77%0.34%0.19%0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202647%24.3%17.5%9.1%0.99%0.66%0.3%0.16%0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202645.7%22.9%20.6%8.8%0.97%0.65%0.29%0.16%0.01%<0.01%

How has the ISC2 and Microsoft Learn comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Microsoft Learn lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 24.3% to 22.9%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for ISC2 worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ISC2’s and Microsoft Learn’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.

ISC2

1 branded search term

  • isc2 certification

Microsoft Learn

2 branded search terms

  • microsoft certification
  • microsoft learn

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among IT certification providers

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