Brandwave

Navien vs Rheem:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Navien had more branded searches than Rheem among tankless water heater brands worldwide. Navien had about 57,700 branded searches, while Rheem had 12,100. Navien made up 72.9% of all tankless water heater brand searches we track, and Rheem accounted for 15.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about tankless water heater brands, Navien and Rheem each appeared in three of the five answers. Navien was mentioned before Rheem in every answer.

Among tankless water heater brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Navien, about 5 searches for every 1 for Rheem

Navien 57.7K searchesRheem 12.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Navien in 3 of 5Rheem in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Navien, named ahead of Rheem in every answer

Navien first in 3Rheem never first

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Top tankless water heater brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Navien and Rheem were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Navien was listed before Rheem in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Rinnai1st
  2. Navien2nd
  3. Rheem3rd
  4. Noritz4th
  5. Takagi–
  6. EcoSmart–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Navien3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rheem3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rinnai3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Noritz1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Takagi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • EcoSmart0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about tankless water heater brands

5 answers
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best tankless water heater?”

    1. 1Rinnai
    2. 2Navien
    3. 3Rheem
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which tankless water heater brand is most reliable?”

    1. 1Rinnai
    2. 2Noritz
    3. 3Navien
    4. 4Rheem
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Should I get a gas or electric tankless water heater?”

    1. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “tankless water heater”

      1. Searched Google, AI Overview

        “best tankless water heater”

        1. 1Rinnai
        2. 2Navien
        3. 3Rheem

      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 27, 2026.

      Is Navien or Rheem more popular in search?

      This chart shows how often people search Google for Navien and Rheem by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six tankless water heater brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

      Navien and Rheem among tankless water heater brands worldwide, by month

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

      View monthly share of searches table
      MonthNavienRheemNoritzTakagiRinnaiEcoSmart
      Oct 202568.8%20.5%6.1%2.7%1.5%0.54%
      Nov 202571.1%17.4%6.3%2.8%1.5%0.84%
      Dec 202564.1%23.4%7%3.1%1.6%0.76%
      Jan 202664.4%24.9%6.1%2.7%1.4%0.54%
      Feb 202668.7%20.4%6.1%2.7%1.7%0.36%
      Mar 202667.4%22.6%5.5%2.4%1.6%0.49%
      Apr 202658.6%31.8%5.2%2.3%1.5%0.57%
      May 202653.7%35.7%5.8%2.6%1.7%0.52%
      Jun 202667.4%20%7.3%2.6%2.2%0.53%
      Jul 202667.2%21.3%6.3%2.8%1.9%0.46%
      Aug 202667.2%20%7.3%2.6%2.2%0.8%
      Sep 202672.9%15.3%6.8%2.4%2%0.61%

      Rheem sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “rheem tankless”.

      How has the Navien and Rheem comparison changed over the last 12 months?

      3 findings
      • Navien was ahead of Rheem in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Navien’s share of searches among tankless water heater brands worldwide moved from 68.8% to 72.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74.6K to 57.7K.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rheem’s share of searches among tankless water heater brands worldwide moved from 20.5% to 15.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 12.1K.

      How did search popularity change for tankless water heater brands worldwide in September 2026?

      2 changes
      1. In September 2026, Navien gained share of searches among tankless water heater brands worldwide, from 67.2% to 72.9%.

      2. In September 2026, Rheem lost share of searches among tankless water heater brands worldwide, from 20% to 15.3%.

      How are branded searches counted?

      4 search terms

      Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Navien’s and Rheem’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.

      Navien

      3 branded search terms

      • navien
      • navien tankless
      • navien tankless water heater

      Rheem

      1 branded search term

      • rheem tankless

      How the Brand Demand Index is measured

      Other head-to-heads among tankless water heater brands

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