Brandwave

NotebookLM vs Perplexity:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NotebookLM had more branded searches than Perplexity among AI research assistants worldwide. NotebookLM had about 24.5 million branded searches, while Perplexity had 13.4 million. NotebookLM made up 60.8% of all AI research assistant searches we track, and Perplexity accounted for 33.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI research assistants, NotebookLM appeared in four of the five answers and Perplexity in three. Perplexity was mentioned before NotebookLM in three out of four answers that named either.

Among AI research assistants worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NotebookLM, about 82% more searches than Perplexity

NotebookLM 24.5M searchesPerplexity 13.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

NotebookLM, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Perplexity in 3

NotebookLM in 4 of 5Perplexity in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Perplexity, named ahead of NotebookLM in 3 of 4 answers

Perplexity first in 3NotebookLM first in 1

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Top AI research assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NotebookLM was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Perplexity was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Perplexity was listed before NotebookLM 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. Elicit1st
  2. Perplexity2nd
  3. NotebookLM3rd
  4. Consensus4th
  5. Scite5th
  6. Semantic Scholar6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Elicit5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NotebookLM4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Consensus4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Perplexity3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Scite3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Semantic Scholar1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI research assistants

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is NotebookLM or Perplexity more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NotebookLM and Perplexity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six AI research assistants we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

NotebookLM and Perplexity among AI research assistants worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for NotebookLM, Perplexity. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNotebookLMPerplexityConsensusElicitSemantic ScholarScite
Oct 202523%73%2.2%1.1%0.58%0.12%
Nov 202530.6%65.1%2.6%0.99%0.54%0.13%
Dec 202542.1%53.8%2.5%0.95%0.52%0.13%
Jan 202649.7%45.8%2.8%1.1%0.5%0.12%
Feb 202649.9%45.6%2.6%1.1%0.62%0.12%
Mar 202653.3%41.8%2.8%1.2%0.8%0.11%
Apr 202658.3%37.1%2.8%1.1%0.59%0.1%
May 202662.7%32.7%3%0.94%0.52%0.08%
Jun 202662.6%32.7%3.3%0.94%0.42%0.08%
Jul 202660.3%34.6%3.2%1.1%0.63%0.08%
Aug 202660.8%33.7%3.6%1.1%0.61%0.1%
Sep 202660.8%33.4%3.8%1.1%0.75%0.12%

How has the NotebookLM and Perplexity comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: NotebookLM took it in January 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NotebookLM’s share of searches among AI research assistants worldwide moved from 23% to 60.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.9M to 24.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Perplexity’s share of searches among AI research assistants worldwide moved from 73% to 33.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 37.7M to 13.4M.

How did search popularity change for AI research assistants worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for NotebookLM worldwide rose 106.1% over 12 measured months, from 11.9M to 24.5M in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Perplexity worldwide fell 64.4% over 12 measured months, from 37.7M to 13.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

18 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NotebookLM’s and Perplexity’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.

NotebookLM

2 branded search terms

  • notebook lm
  • notebooklm

Perplexity

16 branded search terms

  • comet browser
  • comet perplexity
  • perplexity
  • perplexity ai
  • perplexity ai app
  • perplexity ai search
  • perplexity app
  • perplexity browser
  • perplexity comet
  • perplexity finance
  • perplexity ia
  • perplexity labs
  • perplexity max
  • perplexity pro
  • perplexity search
  • perplexity.ai

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI research assistants

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