Microsoft Purview vs Smarsh:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Purview had more branded searches than Smarsh among email archiving platforms worldwide. Microsoft Purview had about 60,500 branded searches, while Smarsh had 9,900. Microsoft Purview made up 20.3% of all email archiving platform searches we track, and Smarsh accounted for 3.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email archiving platforms, Microsoft Purview appeared in three of the five answers and Smarsh in two. Microsoft Purview was mentioned before Smarsh in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Purview, about 6 searches for every 1 for Smarsh
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Purview, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Smarsh in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Purview, named ahead of Smarsh in 3 of 3 answers
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Top email archiving platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Purview was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Smarsh was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Purview was listed before Smarsh in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mimecast1st- Microsoft Purview2nd
Proofpoint3rd
Google Vault4th
Barracuda5th
Smarsh6th
Global Relay–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Mimecast5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Proofpoint4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Google Vault4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft Purview3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Barracuda3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Smarsh2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Global Relay0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about email archiving platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which email archiving platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best email archiving platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best email archiving platform for business compliance?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“email archiving platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best email archiving”
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 20, 2026.
Is Microsoft Purview or Smarsh more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Purview and Smarsh by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven email archiving platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Purview, Smarsh. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Mimecast | Microsoft Purview | Proofpoint | Google Vault | Barracuda | Global Relay | Smarsh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.8% | 17% | 20.8% | 7.6% | 6.4% | 6.2% | 4.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.5% | 18.8% | 23% | 8.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 3.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 37.3% | 16.7% | 20.4% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 4.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.1% | 17.2% | 21% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 3.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.4% | 18.8% | 23% | 8.4% | 6% | 5.6% | 3.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 34.4% | 18.9% | 23.1% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 3.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.8% | 21.2% | 21.2% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 33.5% | 18.3% | 22.4% | 10% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.5% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 7.4% | 6% | 6% | 4% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.1% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 8.6% | 8.3% | 5.7% | 3.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.4% | 18.8% | 23% | 8.5% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.8% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 3.3% |
How has the Microsoft Purview and Smarsh comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Purview was ahead of Smarsh in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Purview’s share of searches among email archiving platforms worldwide moved from 17% to 20.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 60.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smarsh’s share of searches among email archiving platforms worldwide moved from 4.2% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 9.9K.
How did search popularity change for email archiving platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Microsoft Purview overtook Proofpoint to rank 2nd among email archiving platforms worldwide, with 20.3% of the searches.
Smarsh’s share of searches among email archiving platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4% to 3.3% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Purview’s and Smarsh’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 Purview
1 branded search term
- microsoft purview
Smarsh
1 branded search term
- smarsh
Other head-to-heads among email archiving platforms
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