Brandwave

NielsenIQ vs Touchstone Research:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NielsenIQ had more branded searches than Touchstone Research among market research companies worldwide. NielsenIQ had about 228,000 branded searches, while Touchstone Research had 260. NielsenIQ made up 22.4% of all market research company searches we track, and Touchstone Research accounted for 0.03%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about market research companies, NielsenIQ appeared in three of the five answers and Touchstone Research in two. NielsenIQ was mentioned before Touchstone Research in three out of four answers that named either.

Among market research companies worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NielsenIQ, about 877 searches for every 1 for Touchstone Research

NielsenIQ 228K searchesTouchstone Research 260 searches

Who does AI mention more?

NielsenIQ, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Touchstone Research in 2

NielsenIQ in 3 of 5Touchstone Research in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

NielsenIQ, named ahead of Touchstone Research in 3 of 4 answers

NielsenIQ first in 3Touchstone Research first in 1

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Top market research companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NielsenIQ was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Touchstone Research was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NielsenIQ was listed before Touchstone Research in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Ipsos1st
  2. Kantar2nd
  3. Nielsen3rd
  4. NielsenIQ4th
  5. Forrester Research5th
  6. Circana6th
  7. YouGov7th
  8. Touchstone Research8th
  9. Mintel9th
  10. B2B International10th
  11. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Ipsos5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NielsenIQ3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kantar3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Forrester Research3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • YouGov2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Circana2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Nielsen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • B2B International2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Touchstone Research2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Euromonitor1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about market research companies

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 21, 2026.

Is NielsenIQ or Touchstone Research more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NielsenIQ and Touchstone Research by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 market research companies we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

NielsenIQ and Touchstone Research among market research companies worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for NielsenIQ, Touchstone Research. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthIpsosYouGovNielsenIQGfKKantarCircanaEuromonitorMintelVerianNielsenForrester ResearchB2B InternationalTouchstone Research
Oct 202525.8%21.1%19.1%9.4%11.6%2.8%2.8%4.2%1.3%1%0.57%0.08%0.03%
Nov 202519.7%24.1%22.3%10.8%10.8%2.7%3.2%3.2%1.2%1.4%0.43%0.09%0.03%
Dec 202522.1%22.1%24.6%10%10%3%2.4%3%1.1%1.1%0.48%0.08%0.02%
Jan 202619.8%24.2%26.4%8.9%8.9%2.7%2.7%3.3%1.2%1.5%0.43%0.09%0.03%
Feb 202621.5%21.5%24.4%9.7%9.7%2.9%2.9%4.3%1.1%1.3%0.58%0.09%0.04%
Mar 202622.8%22.8%21.2%10.2%10.2%3.1%3.1%3.8%1.4%0.92%0.5%0.08%0.04%
Apr 202627.4%22.4%20.8%8.2%10%2.5%2.5%3.7%1.1%0.9%0.4%0.07%0.04%
May 202624.2%24.2%22.5%7.3%10.8%2.7%2.2%3.3%1.2%1.2%0.35%0.07%0.03%
Jun 202630.4%20.3%23.1%6.1%9.2%2.7%2.2%2.7%1.2%1.5%0.36%0.07%0.02%
Jul 202621.8%26.7%24.7%6.6%9.8%2.9%2%2.4%1.1%1.6%0.39%0.08%0.03%
Aug 202626%21.3%24.1%7.8%9.6%2.9%2.3%2.3%1.3%1.9%0.38%0.08%0.03%
Sep 202624.1%24.1%22.4%8.9%8.9%3.2%2.7%2.7%1.5%1.2%0.35%0.07%0.03%

How has the NielsenIQ and Touchstone Research comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for market research companies worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, YouGov overtook NielsenIQ to rank 2nd among market research companies worldwide, with 24.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, NielsenIQ lost share of searches among market research companies worldwide, from 24.1% to 22.4%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Touchstone Research worldwide fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 260 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NielsenIQ’s and Touchstone Research’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.

NielsenIQ

2 branded search terms

  • nielseniq
  • niq

Touchstone Research

1 branded search term

  • touchstone research

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among market research companies

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