Brandwave

Twitch vs YouTube:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Twitch had more branded searches than YouTube among live streaming platforms worldwide. Twitch had about 30.4 million branded searches, while YouTube had 90,500. Twitch made up 93.6% of all live streaming platform searches we track, and YouTube accounted for 0.28%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about live streaming platforms, YouTube appeared in all five answers and Twitch in four. YouTube was mentioned before Twitch in three out of four answers.

Among live streaming platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Twitch, about 336 searches for every 1 for YouTube

Twitch 30.4M searchesYouTube 90.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

YouTube, mentioned in every answer we collected

YouTube in 5 of 5Twitch in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

YouTube, named ahead of Twitch in 3 of 4 answers

YouTube first in 3Twitch first in 1

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Top live streaming platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, YouTube appeared in all five answers. Twitch was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. YouTube was listed before Twitch in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. YouTube1st
  2. Twitch2nd
  3. TikTok3rd
  4. Kick4th
  5. Rumble–
  6. Trovo–
  7. DLive–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • YouTube5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Twitch4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • TikTok4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kick4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rumble0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Trovo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • DLive0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about live streaming platforms

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 19, 2026.

Is Twitch or YouTube more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Twitch and YouTube by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven live streaming platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Twitch and YouTube among live streaming platforms worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTwitchRumbleTikTokKickYouTubeTrovoDLive
Oct 202593.7%3.8%1.4%0.42%0.28%0.19%0.28%
Nov 202592.5%4.6%1.7%0.5%0.28%0.18%0.28%
Dec 202591.6%5.5%1.7%0.5%0.27%0.18%0.27%
Jan 202692.5%4.6%1.7%0.5%0.28%0.18%0.28%
Feb 202692.9%4.6%1.4%0.5%0.28%0.15%0.23%
Mar 202692.8%4.6%1.4%0.5%0.28%0.15%0.28%
Apr 202692.6%4.6%1.4%0.75%0.28%0.12%0.28%
May 202692.7%4.6%1.4%0.75%0.34%0.12%0.1%
Jun 202693.6%3.8%1.4%0.76%0.34%0.1%0.07%
Jul 202693.4%3.7%1.7%0.62%0.41%0.1%0.06%
Aug 202694.2%3.1%1.4%0.93%0.23%0.08%0.05%
Sep 202693.6%3.8%1.4%0.76%0.28%0.1%0.07%

How has the Twitch and YouTube comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Twitch was ahead of YouTube in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Twitch’s share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide moved from 93.7% to 93.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 37.2M to 30.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube’s share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide held steady at 0.28%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.

How did search popularity change for live streaming platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Twitch lost share of searches among live streaming platforms worldwide, from 94.2% to 93.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for YouTube worldwide fell 17.7% over 12 measured months, from 110K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Twitch’s and YouTube’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.

Twitch

1 branded search term

  • twitch

YouTube

1 branded search term

  • youtube live

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among live streaming platforms

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