Microsoft Learn vs PMI:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Learn had more branded searches than PMI among IT certification providers worldwide. Microsoft Learn had about 351,000 branded searches, while PMI had 9,900. Microsoft Learn made up 22.9% of all IT certification provider searches we track, and PMI accounted for 0.65%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about IT certification providers, Microsoft Learn appeared in three of the five answers and PMI in none.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Learn, about 35 searches for every 1 for PMI
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Learn, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, PMI in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Learn, the only one of the two named
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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. PMI did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
CompTIA1st
Cisco2nd- Microsoft Learn3rd
ISC24th
AWS Certification5th
PRINCE2–
PMI–
GIAC–
EXIN–
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which IT certification provider should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best IT certification providers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best IT certification provider for a career certificate?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best it certifications”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“it certification courses”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Microsoft Learn or PMI more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Learn and PMI 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.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Learn, PMI. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Cisco | Microsoft Learn | CompTIA | AWS Certification | PRINCE2 | PMI | GIAC | ISC2 | EXIN | Axelos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.6% | 23.2% | 24.5% | 12.5% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.4% | 24.4% | 21% | 13.1% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.43% | 0.23% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.3% | 27.4% | 19.6% | 14.7% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.48% | 0.26% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 36% | 28% | 20% | 12.3% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.27% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.9% | 22.5% | 19.4% | 12.1% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.49% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.3% | 25.6% | 18.7% | 11.7% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 0.38% | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.7% | 22.7% | 19.5% | 12.2% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.21% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 41.1% | 25.8% | 18.8% | 11.8% | 1.1% | 0.86% | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 42.2% | 27.4% | 15.8% | 12.1% | 1.1% | 0.89% | 0.32% | 0.18% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 44.9% | 28.1% | 14% | 10.5% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.34% | 0.19% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 47% | 24.3% | 17.5% | 9.1% | 0.99% | 0.66% | 0.3% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.7% | 22.9% | 20.6% | 8.8% | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.29% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the Microsoft Learn and PMI comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Learn was ahead of PMI in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Learn’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 23.2% to 22.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 307K to 351K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PMI’s share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide moved from 0.92% to 0.65%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 9.9K.
How did search popularity change for IT certification providers worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Microsoft Learn lost share of searches among IT certification providers worldwide, from 24.3% to 22.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for PMI worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 9.9K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Learn’s and PMI’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.
Microsoft Learn
2 branded search terms
- microsoft certification
- microsoft learn
PMI
1 branded search term
- pmi certification
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