KFC vs Popeyes:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, KFC had more branded searches than Popeyes among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom. KFC had about 823,000 branded searches, while Popeyes had 246,000. KFC made up 35.7% of all fried chicken chain searches we track, and Popeyes accounted for 10.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fried chicken chains, KFC appeared in all three answers and Popeyes in one. KFC was mentioned before Popeyes in every answer.
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Top fried chicken chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, KFC appeared in all three answers. Popeyes was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. KFC was listed before Popeyes in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Wingstop1st
KFC2nd
Slim Chickens3rd
Nando's4th
Dave's Hot Chicken5th
Popeyes6th
Jollibee7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- KFC3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Wingstop3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Slim Chickens3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Nando's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Dave's Hot Chicken2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Jollibee2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Popeyes1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about fried chicken chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best fried chicken chain in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular chicken chains in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which UK chain has the best chicken wings?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“fried chicken”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“chicken shop”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.
Is KFC or Popeyes more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for KFC and Popeyes by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven fried chicken chains we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for KFC, Popeyes. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | KFC | Nando's | Popeyes | Wingstop | Dave's Hot Chicken | Slim Chickens | Jollibee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46.2% | 20.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 2.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.6% | 20% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 6% | 4.9% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.1% | 23.1% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 2.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 34.3% | 28.2% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.8% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 4.8% | 2.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 40.2% | 22.2% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 37% | 24.9% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 2.7% |
| May 2026 | 37.6% | 25.3% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 2.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 41.4% | 22.8% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 5.6% | 3.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.7% | 25.4% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 2.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.8% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 35.7% | 23.9% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 7.2% | 3.2% |
How has the KFC and Popeyes comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- KFC was ahead of Popeyes in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KFC’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom moved from 46.2% to 35.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.8M to 823K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Popeyes’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom moved from 9.3% to 10.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 246K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom fried chicken chains in September 2026?
2 changes
KFC’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 41.4% to 35.7% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Popeyes in the United Kingdom fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 246K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using KFC’s and Popeyes’ 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.
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