Madewell vs Max:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Madewell had more branded searches than Max among women's fashion retailers worldwide. Madewell had about 823,000 branded searches, while Max had 18,100. Madewell made up 0.88% of all women's fashion retailer searches we track, and Max accounted for 0.02%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about women's fashion retailers, Madewell appeared in three of the four answers and Max in none.
Who do people search for more?
Madewell, about 45 searches for every 1 for Max
Who does AI mention more?
Madewell, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Max in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Madewell, the only one of the two named
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Top women's fashion retailers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Madewell was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Max did not appear in any of the four answers.
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.
Old Navy3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Madewell3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Zara2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Uniqlo2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Nordstrom2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Aritzia2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Anthropologie2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Quince2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
H&M1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Max0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about women's fashion retailers
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which women's fashion retailer should I shop at?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best women's fashion retailers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best women's fashion retailer for everyday clothes?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“women's fashion retailers”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“women's clothing store”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 Madewell or Max more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Madewell and Max by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 women's fashion retailers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Madewell, Max. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Zara | H&M | Uniqlo | Old Navy | Nordstrom | Aritzia | Anthropologie | Cotton On | Madewell | Country Road | Quince | Seed Heritage | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.5% | 20% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 6% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.81% | 0.66% | 0.26% | 0.16% | 0.02% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.4% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 6% | 6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 0.98% | 0.8% | 0.27% | 0.16% | 0.02% |
| Dec 2025 | 38% | 17% | 13.9% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 0.84% | 0.84% | 0.35% | 0.17% | 0.02% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.4% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.34% | 0.14% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 40% | 17.9% | 14.6% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.72% | 0.89% | 0.35% | 0.18% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 39.1% | 17.5% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.87% | 0.87% | 0.34% | 0.17% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.9% | 17.8% | 14.6% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.88% | 0.88% | 0.34% | 0.18% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 37.6% | 20.6% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.83% | 0.83% | 0.39% | 0.17% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 40.1% | 22% | 12% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3% | 2% | 0.73% | 0.89% | 0.34% | 0.18% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.8% | 17.8% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 8% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2% | 0.72% | 0.88% | 0.34% | 0.14% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.2% | 17.5% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.87% | 0.71% | 0.41% | 0.17% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.7% | 17.7% | 14.5% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.88% | 0.72% | 0.42% | 0.18% | 0.02% |
How has the Madewell and Max comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Madewell was ahead of Max in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Madewell’s share of searches among women's fashion retailers worldwide moved from 0.81% to 0.88%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Max’s share of searches among women's fashion retailers worldwide held steady at 0.02%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for women's fashion retailers worldwide in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither Madewell nor Max moved beyond provider rounding among women's fashion retailers in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Madewell’s and Max’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.
Other head-to-heads among women's fashion retailers
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