Microsoft Entra vs Palo Alto Networks:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Palo Alto Networks had more branded searches than Microsoft Entra among zero trust platforms worldwide. Palo Alto Networks had about 135,000 branded searches, while Microsoft Entra had 74,000. Palo Alto Networks made up 21.6% of all zero trust platform searches we track, and Microsoft Entra accounted for 11.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about zero trust platforms, Microsoft Entra and Palo Alto Networks each appeared in two of the five answers. Palo Alto Networks was mentioned before Microsoft Entra in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Palo Alto Networks, about 82% more searches than Microsoft Entra
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Palo Alto Networks, named ahead of Microsoft Entra in 2 of 3 answers
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Top zero trust platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Entra and Palo Alto Networks were each mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Palo Alto Networks was listed before Microsoft Entra in two out of three answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Zscaler1st- Palo Alto Networks2nd
Microsoft Entra3rd- Cloudflare One4th
Netskope5th
Appgate6th
Akamai–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Zscaler3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Netskope3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Palo Alto Networks2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft Entra2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Cloudflare One2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Appgate1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Akamai0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about zero trust platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which Zero trust platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best Zero trust platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best Zero trust platform for network security?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“zero trust security”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cloud security platform”
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 Microsoft Entra or Palo Alto Networks more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Entra and Palo Alto Networks by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven zero trust platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft Entra. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Zscaler | Akamai | Palo Alto Networks | Microsoft Entra | Netskope | Cloudflare One | Appgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.1% | 22% | 14.7% | 9.9% | 12.1% | 0.59% | 0.72% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.2% | 24.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 0.79% | 0.65% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.9% | 23.3% | 19.2% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 0.93% | 0.76% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.4% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 11% | 11% | 0.98% | 0.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.4% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 11% | 11% | 0.98% | 0.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.4% | 19.4% | 19.4% | 13% | 10.7% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.4% | 23.7% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
| May 2026 | 39.9% | 21.9% | 17.8% | 9.8% | 8% | 2% | 0.58% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.8% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 2.6% | 0.78% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.9% | 17.1% | 20.8% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 2.8% | 0.68% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.2% | 16.3% | 24.3% | 10.9% | 8.9% | 2.7% | 0.65% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.2% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
How has the Microsoft Entra and Palo Alto Networks comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Palo Alto Networks was ahead of Microsoft Entra in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Entra’s share of searches among zero trust platforms worldwide moved from 9.9% to 11.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Palo Alto Networks’ share of searches among zero trust platforms worldwide moved from 14.7% to 21.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 135K.
How did search popularity change for zero trust platforms worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Akamai overtook Palo Alto Networks to rank 2nd among zero trust platforms worldwide, with 21.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Microsoft Entra gained share of searches among zero trust platforms worldwide, from 10.9% to 11.8%.
In September 2026, Palo Alto Networks lost share of searches among zero trust platforms worldwide, from 24.3% to 21.6%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Entra’s and Palo Alto Networks’ 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.
Microsoft Entra
1 branded search term
- entra id
Palo Alto Networks
1 branded search term
- palo alto networks
Other head-to-heads among zero trust platforms
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