Altra vs New Balance:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, New Balance had more branded searches than Altra among running shoe brands in the United Kingdom. New Balance had about 12,100 branded searches, while Altra had 9,900. New Balance made up 8% of all running shoe brand searches we track, and Altra accounted for 6.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about running shoe brands, New Balance appeared in two of the five answers and Altra in one. New Balance was mentioned before Altra in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
New Balance, about 22% more searches than Altra
Who does AI mention more?
New Balance, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Altra in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
New Balance, named ahead of Altra in 2 of 2 answers
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Top running shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, New Balance was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Altra was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. New Balance was listed before Altra in every answer that named either.
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.
ASICS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
HOKA4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Nike3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Adidas3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Brooks3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Puma3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- New Balance2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
On1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Altra1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Saucony1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about running shoe brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which running shoes should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best running shoe brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best running shoes for beginners?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“running shoes”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best running shoes”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 26, 2026.
Is Altra or New Balance more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Altra and New Balance by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 running shoe brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for New Balance, Altra. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Nike | Adidas | ASICS | HOKA | On | Brooks | New Balance | Altra | Saucony | Inov-8 | Puma | Mizuno |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 18.6% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 8.3% | 3% | 1.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 20.9% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 9.3% | 2.3% | 1.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 20.9% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 7.6% | 2.3% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 21% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 3.4% | 6.3% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 17.8% | 14.6% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 18.8% | 15.4% | 8.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 3.8% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 20.1% | 16.5% | 9% | 9% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 9% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 18.9% | 15.5% | 8.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 19% | 15.5% | 8.5% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 19.3% | 15.8% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 4.7% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 18.3% | 15% | 8.2% | 10% | 10% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 3% | 1.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 17.8% | 14.6% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 8% | 8% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 2.9% | 1.2% |
How has the Altra and New Balance comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- New Balance was ahead of Altra in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Altra’s share of searches among running shoe brands in the United Kingdom moved from 4.5% to 6.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among running shoe brands in the United Kingdom moved from 8.3% to 8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom running shoe brands in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Altra overtook Inov-8 and Saucony to rank 8th among running shoe brands in the United Kingdom, with 6.5% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Altra’s and New Balance’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.
Altra
1 branded search term
- altra running shoes
New Balance
1 branded search term
- new balance running shoes
Other head-to-heads among running shoe brands
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