Brandwave

McKinsey & Company vs PwC:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, PwC had more branded searches than McKinsey & Company among consulting firms worldwide. PwC had about 1 million branded searches, while McKinsey & Company had 450,000. PwC made up 17.4% of all consulting firm searches we track, and McKinsey & Company accounted for 7.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about consulting firms, McKinsey & Company appeared in all four answers and PwC in one. McKinsey & Company was mentioned before PwC in every answer.

Among consulting firms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

PwC, about 2 searches for every 1 for McKinsey & Company

PwC 1M searchesMcKinsey & Company 450K searches

Who does AI mention more?

McKinsey & Company, mentioned in every answer we collected

McKinsey & Company in 4 of 4PwC in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

McKinsey & Company, named ahead of PwC in every answer

McKinsey & Company first in 3PwC never first

Follow McKinsey & Company vs PwC and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top consulting firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, McKinsey & Company appeared in all four answers. PwC was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. McKinsey & Company was listed before PwC in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. McKinsey & Company1st
  2. BCG2nd
  3. Bain & Company3rd
  4. Oliver Wyman4th
  5. Deloitte5th
  6. EY-Parthenon6th
  7. Kearney7th
  8. L.E.K. Consulting8th
  9. Accenture9th
  10. PwC10th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • BCG4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • McKinsey & Company4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Bain & Company4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Deloitte3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Accenture2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Oliver Wyman2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • EY-Parthenon2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • L.E.K. Consulting2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Kearney2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • PwC1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about consulting firms

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is McKinsey & Company or PwC more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for McKinsey & Company and PwC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten consulting firms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

McKinsey & Company and PwC among consulting firms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for PwC, McKinsey & Company. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDeloitteAccenturePwCBCGMcKinsey & CompanyBain & CompanyOliver WymanEY-ParthenonL.E.K. ConsultingKearney
Oct 202530.4%24.9%16.6%10.8%9.1%5%1.5%1%0.37%0.26%
Nov 202531.7%26%17.3%9.2%7.8%5.2%1.3%0.86%0.31%0.22%
Dec 202524.2%29.8%19.8%8.7%8.9%6.1%1.2%0.8%0.24%0.21%
Jan 202627.4%27.4%18.3%9.7%8.2%5.9%1.7%0.9%0.27%0.25%
Feb 202627.8%27.8%18.5%9.9%8.3%5%1.4%0.92%0.27%0.25%
Mar 202626.9%26.9%17.9%9.5%9.8%5.8%1.6%1.1%0.26%0.24%
Apr 202627.3%27.3%18.2%9.7%10%4.9%1.3%0.9%0.27%0.25%
May 202628.7%28.7%15.8%10.2%8.6%5.1%1.4%0.95%0.28%0.21%
Jun 202629.1%29.1%16%9%8.7%5.1%1.4%0.96%0.29%0.23%
Jul 202629.1%29.1%16%9%8.7%5.1%1.4%0.96%0.29%0.23%
Aug 202628.5%28.5%15.6%8.8%8.5%7.2%1.4%0.94%0.34%0.24%
Sep 202631.8%26%17.4%9.2%7.8%4.6%1.6%1%0.31%0.22%

How has the McKinsey & Company and PwC comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • PwC was ahead of McKinsey & Company in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, McKinsey & Company’s share of searches among consulting firms worldwide moved from 9.1% to 7.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PwC’s share of searches among consulting firms worldwide moved from 16.6% to 17.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1M.

How did search popularity change for consulting firms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, PwC gained share of searches among consulting firms worldwide, from 15.6% to 17.4%.

  2. In September 2026, McKinsey & Company lost share of searches among consulting firms worldwide, from 8.5% to 7.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using McKinsey & Company’s and PwC’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.

McKinsey & Company

1 branded search term

  • mckinsey

PwC

1 branded search term

  • pwc

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among consulting firms

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free