SEO Brand vs SmartSites:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, SmartSites had more branded searches than SEO Brand among SEO agencies worldwide. SmartSites had about 5,400 branded searches, while SEO Brand had 1,300. SmartSites made up 11.6% of all SEO agency searches we track, and SEO Brand accounted for 2.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO agencies, SmartSites appeared in two of the four answers and SEO Brand in none.
Who do people search for more?
SmartSites, about 4 searches for every 1 for SEO Brand
Who does AI mention more?
SmartSites, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, SEO Brand in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
SmartSites, the only one of the two named
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Top SEO agencies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, SmartSites was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. SEO Brand did not appear in any of the four answers.
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.
Coalition Technologies2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
WebFX2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- SmartSites2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Searchbloom2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Victorious2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
OuterBox0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Ignite Visibility0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
SEO Brand0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about SEO agencies
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which SEO agency should I hire?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best SEO agencies?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best SEO agency for a small business?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“seo agencies”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“seo company”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 SEO Brand or SmartSites more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for SEO Brand and SmartSites by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight SEO agencies we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for SmartSites, SEO Brand. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Coalition Technologies | WebFX | OuterBox | SmartSites | Ignite Visibility | Searchbloom | SEO Brand | Victorious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 23.9% | 32.5% | 19.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 0.95% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 33.3% | 29.6% | 18.2% | 9.9% | 5.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 18.8% | 37.5% | 23% | 10.2% | 5.6% | 1.4% | 2% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 26.9% | 34.7% | 18% | 9.8% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 25.3% | 33.7% | 16.9% | 11.3% | 6.1% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 32.6% | 27.9% | 17.8% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Apr 2026 | 40.8% | 23.9% | 14.9% | 9.9% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 1.6% |
| May 2026 | 35.7% | 28.6% | 16% | 8.7% | 5.7% | 1.4% | 2% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.8% | 26.3% | 18.5% | 10% | 6.6% | 1.3% | 2% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 34.2% | 25.2% | 18.7% | 10.2% | 6.7% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.2% | 24.3% | 18.4% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.7% | 22% | 21.2% | 11.6% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.1% |
How has the SEO Brand and SmartSites comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- SmartSites was ahead of SEO Brand in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SEO Brand’s share of searches among SEO agencies worldwide moved from 2% to 2.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1K to 1.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SmartSites’ share of searches among SEO agencies worldwide moved from 10.7% to 11.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 5.4K.
How did search popularity change for SEO agencies worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, SEO Brand overtook Victorious to rank 7th among SEO agencies worldwide, with 2.8% of the searches.
In September 2026, SmartSites gained share of searches among SEO agencies worldwide, from 6.7% to 11.6%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SEO Brand’s and SmartSites’ 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.
SEO Brand
2 branded search terms
- seo brand
- seobrand
SmartSites
1 branded search term
- smartsites
Other head-to-heads among SEO agencies
- Coalition Technologies vs WebFX: compare popularity
- Coalition Technologies vs OuterBox: compare popularity
- Coalition Technologies vs SmartSites: compare popularity
- Coalition Technologies vs Ignite Visibility: compare popularity
- WebFX vs OuterBox: compare popularity
- WebFX vs SmartSites: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.