Questel vs The Lens:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Questel had more branded searches than The Lens among patent search platforms worldwide. Questel had about 8,100 branded searches, while The Lens had 6,920. Questel made up 1.3% of all patent search platform searches we track, and The Lens accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about patent search platforms, The Lens appeared in all five answers and Questel in three. The Lens was mentioned before Questel in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Questel, about 17% more searches than The Lens
Who does AI mention more?
The Lens, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
The Lens, named ahead of Questel in every answer
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Top patent search platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Lens appeared in all five answers. Questel was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. The Lens was listed before Questel in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Google Patents5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Espacenet5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- The Lens5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
PatSnap4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Derwent Innovation4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Questel3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Orbit Intelligence3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- USPTO Patent Public Search3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Lens.org1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about patent search platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which patent search platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best patent search platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best patent search platform for prior art research?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“patent search tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“patent search platform”
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 Questel or The Lens more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Questel and The Lens by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 patent search platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Questel, The Lens. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Patents | Espacenet | PatSnap | WIPO PATENTSCOPE | Questel | The Lens | Lens.org | Orbit Intelligence | USPTO Patent Public Search | Derwent Innovation | Anaqua |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 73.6% | 18% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.88% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.38% | 0.16% | 0.39% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 73.9% | 18.1% | 2% | 2% | 0.89% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.43% | 0.14% | 0.31% | 0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 73.2% | 18% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.88% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.52% | 0.48% | 0.32% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 74.3% | 18.2% | 2% | 2% | 0.89% | 0.96% | 0.89% | 0.33% | 0.26% | 0.26% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 74.1% | 18.1% | 2% | 2% | 0.72% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.26% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 72.7% | 17.8% | 2.4% | 2% | 0.87% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 0.47% | 0.87% | 0.26% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 73.4% | 17.9% | 2% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.42% | 0.26% | 0.26% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 73.2% | 17.9% | 2.4% | 2% | 0.88% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.33% | 0.88% | 0.21% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 71.8% | 17.6% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.92% | 0.86% | 0.42% | 2.9% | 0.16% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.7% | 13.6% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.81% | 0.87% | 0.81% | 0.35% | 11.1% | 0.2% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 68.7% | 16.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1% | 1.1% | 1% | 0.35% | 6.2% | 0.24% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 73% | 17.8% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.37% | 0.26% | 0.21% | <0.01% |
How has the Questel and The Lens comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Questel took it in June 2026, The Lens took it in July 2026, Questel took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Questel’s share of searches among patent search platforms worldwide moved from 0.88% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 8.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Lens’ share of searches among patent search platforms worldwide held steady at 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.9K.
How did search popularity change for patent search platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Questel rose from 8th to 5th among patent search platforms worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Questel’s and The Lens’ 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.
Other head-to-heads among patent search platforms
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