Opticians in the United Kingdom:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Specsavers was the most searched optician brand in the United Kingdom, accounting for 52.2% of all searches among the eight brands we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Specsavers showed up in every answer. Specsavers was recommended most often, coming first in two out of four responses.
SpecsaversShare of searches 52.2%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Vision ExpressShare of searches 15.6%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
BootsShare of searches 15.6%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Glasses DirectShare of searches 10.5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
SelectSpecsShare of searches 3.1%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top opticians in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Specsavers appeared every time. Specsavers was recommended most often, coming first in two out of four answers. Glasses Direct was second, and SelectSpecs was third. Optical Express, which ranked seventh in searches, was not mentioned at all.
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.
- Specsavers4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Glasses Direct3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- SelectSpecs3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Vision Express2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Boots2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Cubitts2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Optical Express0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Bloobloom0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about opticians
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I buy glasses in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best opticians in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best place to buy prescription glasses online in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“opticians”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“glasses online”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Which opticians do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each optician brand by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight optician brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Specsavers, Vision Express, Boots, Glasses Direct, SelectSpecs. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Specsavers | Vision Express | Boots | Glasses Direct | SelectSpecs | Cubitts | Optical Express | Bloobloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 52.9% | 15.9% | 15.8% | 8.7% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.64% |
| Nov 2025 | 52.9% | 15.9% | 15.8% | 8.7% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.64% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.9% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 8.6% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.78% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.4% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 8.8% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.65% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.4% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 10.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.74% |
| Mar 2026 | 55% | 16.6% | 13.5% | 9.1% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.67% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.3% | 18.4% | 15% | 10.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.74% |
| May 2026 | 50.4% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 10.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.74% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.4% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 10.5% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.63% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.3% | 15.4% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.62% |
| Aug 2026 | 48.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 9.8% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.72% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.2% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 10.5% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.63% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 52.2% | 823K | 0% | +3.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 15.6% | 247K | -18.3% | -2.3 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 15.6% | 246K | -18.3% | -2.3 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 10.5% | 165K | 0% | +0.7 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 3.1% | 49.5K | +22.2% | +0.7 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.1% | 18.1K | -18.5% | -0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.1% | 18.1K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.63% | 9.9K | -18.2% | -0.1 points |
52.2%
Held 1st. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.3 points.
15.6%
Held 2nd. 247K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
3.
Boots15.6%
Held 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
10.5%
Held 4th. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
3.1%
Held 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
6.
Cubitts1.1%
Held 6th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
1.1%
Held 7th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.63%
Held 8th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among opticians in the United Kingdom?
8 brands
In September 2026, Specsavers was the most searched among optician brands in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 823K branded searches, 52.2% of all searches for the eight we track. Vision Express is in 2nd place, 36.6 percentage points behind at 15.6%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specsavers | 52.9% → 52.2% | 55%Mar 2026 | 48.9%Aug 2026 | 1st |
| Vision Express | 15.9% → 15.6% | 18.5%Feb 2026 | 15.4%Jul 2026 | 2nd |
| Boots | 15.8% → 15.6% | 17.9%Aug 2026 | 13.5%Mar 2026 | 3rd |
| Glasses Direct | 8.7% → 10.5% | 10.5%Jun 2026 | 8.6%Dec 2025 | 4th |
| SelectSpecs | 3.2% → 3.1% | 4.6%Jul 2026 | 2.4%Aug 2026 | 5th |
| Cubitts | 1.4% → 1.1% | 1.7%Apr 2026 | 1.1%Sep 2026 | 6th |
| Optical Express | 1.4% → 1.1% | 1.4%Nov 2025 | 1.1%Aug 2026 | 7th |
| Bloobloom | 0.64% → 0.63% | 0.78%Dec 2025 | 0.62%Jul 2026 | 8th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Specsavers’ share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom decreased from 52.9% to 52.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Glasses Direct’s share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom increased from 8.7% to 10.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Specsavers’ share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom peaked at 55% in March 2026 and was lowest at 48.9% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vision Express’ share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom peaked at 18.5% in February 2026 and was lowest at 15.4% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Boots’ share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom peaked at 17.9% in August 2026 and was lowest at 13.5% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Glasses Direct’s share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom peaked at 10.5% in June 2026 and was lowest at 8.6% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SelectSpecs’ share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom peaked at 4.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 2.4% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vision Express, Boots, SelectSpecs, Cubitts, Optical Express and Bloobloom held steady: their share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom opticians in September 2026?
7 changes
In September 2026, Specsavers gained share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom, from 48.9% to 52.2%.
In September 2026, SelectSpecs gained share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom, from 2.4% to 3.1%.
In September 2026, Glasses Direct gained share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom, from 9.8% to 10.5%.
In September 2026, Vision Express lost share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom, from 17.9% to 15.6%.
In September 2026, Boots lost share of searches among opticians in the United Kingdom, from 17.9% to 15.6%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Cubitts in the United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Optical Express in the United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted for opticians?
10 search terms
Each brand's share of searches among opticians comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.
Specsavers
1 branded search term
- specsavers
Vision Express
2 branded search terms
- vision express
- vision express opticians
Boots
1 branded search term
- boots opticians
Glasses Direct
1 branded search term
- glasses direct
SelectSpecs
2 branded search terms
- select specs
- selectspecs
Cubitts
1 branded search term
- cubitts
Optical Express
1 branded search term
- optical express
Bloobloom
1 branded search term
- bloobloom
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Specsavers vs Vision Express: compare popularity
- Specsavers vs Boots: compare popularity
- Specsavers vs Glasses Direct: compare popularity
- Specsavers vs SelectSpecs: compare popularity
- Vision Express vs Boots: compare popularity
- Vision Express vs Glasses Direct: compare popularity
- Vision Express vs SelectSpecs: compare popularity
- Boots vs Glasses Direct: compare popularity
- Boots vs SelectSpecs: compare popularity
- Glasses Direct vs SelectSpecs: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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