Proton Drive vs Smash:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Proton Drive had more branded searches than Smash among file sharing services worldwide. Proton Drive had about 246,000 branded searches, while Smash had 40,500. Proton Drive made up 0.35% of all file sharing service searches we track, and Smash accounted for 0.06%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about file sharing services, Proton Drive and Smash each appeared in two of the five answers. Proton Drive and Smash were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Proton Drive, about 6 searches for every 1 for Smash
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top file sharing services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Proton Drive was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Smash was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Proton Drive and Smash were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Google Drive1st
Dropbox2nd
WeTransfer3rd
OneDrive4th
Smash5th
Filemail6th- Proton Drive7th
MEGA8th
Box9th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- WeTransfer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Dropbox5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Google Drive4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- OneDrive3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Proton Drive2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Filemail2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Smash2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- MEGA2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Box1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about file sharing services
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which file sharing service should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best file sharing services?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best file sharing service for large files?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“file sharing services”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“send large files”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Proton Drive or Smash more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Proton Drive and Smash by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine file sharing services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Proton Drive, Smash. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Drive | OneDrive | WeTransfer | Dropbox | Proton Drive | Filemail | Smash | MEGA | Box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.2% | 18.7% | 22.8% | 6.9% | 0.19% | 0.15% | 0.06% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 53% | 15.8% | 23.7% | 7.1% | 0.19% | 0.13% | 0.05% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 52% | 15.6% | 23.3% | 8.6% | 0.23% | 0.15% | 0.06% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.4% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 0.25% | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 55.4% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 0.25% | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 51.1% | 18.7% | 22.8% | 6.9% | 0.28% | 0.1% | 0.06% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 55.4% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 0.25% | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 55.3% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 0.3% | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.3% | 18.4% | 22.5% | 8.3% | 0.27% | 0.12% | 0.07% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.9% | 15.9% | 23.6% | 7.1% | 0.29% | 0.11% | 0.06% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 55.2% | 16.6% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 0.37% | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 53.3% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 7.2% | 0.35% | 0.11% | 0.06% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
How has the Proton Drive and Smash comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Proton Drive was ahead of Smash in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Proton Drive’s share of searches among file sharing services worldwide moved from 0.19% to 0.35%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 246K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smash’s share of searches among file sharing services worldwide held steady at 0.06%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.
How did search popularity change for file sharing services worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for Proton Drive worldwide rose 82.2% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 246K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Proton Drive’s and Smash’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.
Proton Drive
1 branded search term
- proton drive
Smash
1 branded search term
- fromsmash
Other head-to-heads among file sharing services
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