NBA vs NFL:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, NFL had more branded searches than NBA among sports leagues worldwide. NFL was estimated to have 101M branded searches compared to NBA’s 7.5M, and held a 50.3% Share of Search versus NBA’s 3.7%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, NBA or NFL?
Compare the sports leagues people choose between. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for NFL, NBA. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | NFL | Premier League | AFL | NBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 42.4% | 28.5% | 0.51% | 28.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 40.2% | 26.9% | 0.22% | 32.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.5% | 35.5% | 0.13% | 28.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.7% | 28.6% | 0.13% | 28.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 8.2% | 50.1% | 0.5% | 41.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 3.8% | 42% | 3.1% | 51.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 1.9% | 38.2% | 2.8% | 57.1% |
| May 2026 | 1.1% | 34.1% | 2.5% | 62.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 3.5% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 86.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 11% | 20% | 24.5% | 44.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 25.6% | 57.2% | 9.4% | 7.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.3% | 41.4% | 4.6% | 3.7% |
How has the NBA and NFL comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: NBA took it in February 2026, NFL took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NBA’s estimated Share of Search among sports leagues worldwide moved from 28.5% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 68M to 7.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NFL’s estimated Share of Search among sports leagues worldwide moved from 42.4% to 50.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 101M.
How did search popularity change for sports leagues worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, NFL overtook Premier League to become the leader among sports leagues worldwide, with 50.3% estimated Share of Search.
In September 2026, NBA lost estimated Share of Search among sports leagues worldwide, from 7.7% to 3.7%.
Other head-to-heads among sports leagues
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NBA’s and NFL’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.
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.