Brandwave

Nerds vs Swedish Fish:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Nerds had more branded searches than Swedish Fish among candy brands worldwide. Nerds had about 262,000 branded searches, while Swedish Fish had 110,000. Nerds made up 9.5% of all candy brand searches we track, and Swedish Fish accounted for 4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about candy brands, Nerds appeared in two of the five answers and Swedish Fish in none.

Among candy brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Nerds, about 2 searches for every 1 for Swedish Fish

Nerds 262K searchesSwedish Fish 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Nerds, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Swedish Fish in 0

Nerds in 2 of 5Swedish Fish in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Nerds, the only one of the two named

Nerds first in 2Swedish Fish never named

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Top candy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nerds was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Swedish Fish 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.

  1. Sour Patch Kids1st
  2. Haribo2nd
  3. Skittles3rd
  4. Nerds4th
  5. Jolly Rancher5th
  6. Warheads6th
  7. Starburst7th
  8. Trolli8th
  9. Mike and Ike9th
  10. +3 more
  11. Swedish Fish–
  12. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Sour Patch Kids5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Haribo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Skittles3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nerds2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Jolly Rancher2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mike and Ike2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Warheads2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Starburst2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Airheads2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Swedish Fish0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about candy brands

5 answers

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 26, 2026.

Is Nerds or Swedish Fish more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Nerds and Swedish Fish by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 candy brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Nerds and Swedish Fish among candy brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Nerds, Swedish Fish. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHariboSkittlesSour Patch KidsNerdsJolly RancherTwizzlersHi-ChewSwedish FishJelly BellyMike and IkeTrolliWarheadsStarburstAirheadsMaynards Bassetts
Nov 202523.2%18.9%10.4%11.6%8.5%5.7%3.8%3.8%3.8%2.5%3.8%1.4%1.4%1.1%0.05%
Dec 202523.8%19.4%10.6%9.7%8.7%5.8%3.9%3.2%4.8%3.2%3.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%0.06%
Jan 202624.7%20.2%11%8.8%9%4.9%4.1%3.3%4.1%2.7%3.3%1.2%1.5%1%0.06%
Feb 202624.4%20%10.9%10%8.9%4.9%4%3.3%4%2.7%3.3%1.2%1.3%0.99%0.04%
Mar 202623.8%19.5%10.7%9.8%8.7%4.8%3.9%3.9%4.8%3.2%3.2%1.4%1.2%0.96%0.06%
Apr 202624.2%19.8%10.8%8.6%8.9%4.8%4%4%4.8%3.3%3.3%1.2%1.3%0.98%0.06%
May 202623.6%19.3%10.6%9.7%8.6%5.8%3.9%3.9%4.7%2.6%3.9%1.2%1.2%0.95%0.04%
Jun 202623.4%19.2%10.5%9.6%8.6%5.7%4.7%3.9%3.9%3.1%3.9%1.2%1.2%1.2%0.07%
Jul 202623%18.8%10.3%10%8.4%5.6%4.6%3.8%4.6%3.1%3.8%1.1%1.2%1.4%0.05%
Aug 202621.7%21.7%9.7%8.9%9.7%5.3%4.4%3.6%4.4%3.6%3.6%1.3%1.1%1.3%0.06%
Sep 202620.8%20.8%11.4%8.5%9.3%6.3%4.2%4.2%4.2%3.4%3.4%1.3%1.1%1%0.05%
Oct 202620%20%13.4%9.5%9%6%4%4%3.3%3.3%3.3%1.5%1.4%1.2%0.05%

How has branded search for Nerds and Swedish Fish changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Nerds was ahead of Swedish Fish in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Nerds’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide moved from 11.6% to 9.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 275K to 262K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Swedish Fish’s share of searches among candy brands worldwide moved from 3.8% to 4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 110K.

How did search popularity change for candy brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Nerds overtook Jolly Rancher to rank 4th among candy brands worldwide, with 9.5% of the searches.

  2. In October 2026, Swedish Fish rose from 9th to 8th among candy brands worldwide.

How are Nerds’ and Swedish Fish’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nerds’ and Swedish Fish’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.

Nerds

2 branded search terms

  • nerds candy
  • nerds gummy clusters

Swedish Fish

1 branded search term

  • swedish fish

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among candy brands

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