vLex vs Westlaw:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Westlaw had more branded searches than vLex among legal research platforms worldwide. Westlaw was estimated to have 201K branded searches compared to vLex’s 40.5K, and held a 35.9% Share of Search versus vLex’s 7.2%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, vLex or Westlaw?
Compare the legal research platforms businesses run on. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Westlaw, vLex. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | LexisNexis | Westlaw | vLex | Bloomberg Law | Fastcase | Casetext |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.8% | 44.8% | 7.4% | 1.8% | 0.54% | 0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.8% | 39.1% | 9.6% | 1.9% | 0.46% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 48.6% | 39.7% | 8% | 2% | 0.57% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.6% | 39.7% | 8% | 2.4% | 0.47% | 0.87% |
| Feb 2026 | 53.2% | 35.6% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 0.42% | 0.95% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.6% | 35.2% | 8.6% | 2.6% | 0.51% | 0.51% |
| Apr 2026 | 52% | 34.7% | 10.5% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.62% |
| May 2026 | 52.1% | 34.8% | 10.5% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.9% | 34% | 12.5% | 1.7% | 0.41% | 0.49% |
| Jul 2026 | 54.3% | 29.7% | 13.3% | 1.8% | 0.52% | 0.34% |
| Aug 2026 | 53.8% | 35.9% | 7.2% | 2.2% | 0.64% | 0.29% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the vLex and Westlaw comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Westlaw was ahead of vLex in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, vLex’s estimated Share of Search among legal research platforms worldwide moved from 7.4% to 7.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 40.5K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Westlaw’s estimated Share of Search among legal research platforms worldwide moved from 44.8% to 35.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 201K.
How did search popularity change for legal research platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Westlaw gained estimated Share of Search among legal research platforms worldwide, from 29.7% to 35.9%.
In August 2026, vLex lost estimated Share of Search among legal research platforms worldwide, from 13.3% to 7.2%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using vLex’s and Westlaw’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.
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.